Manolo’s Shoe Blog

Manolo says, the Manolo arose late this morning, the consequence of Daylight Saving Time and perhaps, possibly, staying out very late drinking many bottles of wine and tumblers of bourbon with his friends.

In any event, here is something pretty and perfect for your spring cocktail parties: the flowery Jardin from Stuart Weitzman.

And now the Manolo must go put some ice on his head and crack open the new bottle of aspirin.

Manolo says, what is one of the hottest and most surprising trends of this season?

The studded ballet flat!

The Memphis Ballet from Be + D.

The Dotsalot by Stuart Weitzman

The Marval by Daniblack.

One of these too cute flats, paired with the skinny jeans, and the right attitude (think: vulnerable tough girl out on the town, fresh from yoga with the chai latte, kick-starting her 1946 Indian motorcycle) and you will rock.

Manolo says, winter, winter go away, bring the Manolo the fine spring day!

So that he may see these shoes on the feets of his friends.

The Kayla from Elizabeth and James in bright multi-snake yellow-yellow-yellow.

The Lacross from Stuart Weitzman in sea patent aniline blue-blue-blue.

The Estelle Wedge from the Dolce and the Gabbana in kelly-esque, sorta-MG-racing greeny-greeny-green.

And now, this is the time on the Shoe Blogs when the Manolo dances!

Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post.

Dear Manolo,

This year, one of my New Year’s resolutions is to get my legs in better shape by St. Valentines day, so I can wear some stunning heels when I go out with my boyfriend, just in case, he, you know…pops the question, or something. Can you suggest a pair of red shoes for me to wear on the big day, something I can use as motivation to stick with it.

Emily

Manolo says, needless to say, the Manolo approves of using the promised acquisition of beautiful shoes as the carrot to spur oneself to greater accomplishment. Of the course, if one were really serious about the resolutions, one would also use the stick to enforce compliance with the new regime.

Imagine how much more motivated you would be if you swore to all your friends that if you did not meet your goals you would appear in public, at the fancy restaurant for the Dia de San Valentino Festival of Amour, in the bright orange Crocs.

For the Manolo the shame of having to wear plastic dork shoes on his feets that would certainly keep him on the Stairmaster.

As for the beautiful red shoes, the Manolo recommends the Festivity from Stuart Weitzman as being the suitable, and suitably named reward for your efforts.

Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post.

Dear Manolo,

Now that fall is here, my ballet flats seem too flimsy for the season. I’ve been looking for something more substantial, but I’m having difficulty finding a shoe I like. The problem is that I do a fair bit of walking in the city, so I need something comfortable, but I’m a girly-girl, and everything I’ve looked at thus far isn’t feminine enough. Please help.

Jeannie

Manolo says, one of the most difficult tasks for the Manolo in his role of Doctor of Shoeology is finding the walking shoes that are at once comfortable and durable, and yet do not look like something designed by the Bulgarian peasant committee.

Recommend beautiful fancy ball shoes which will make you feel as if you are gliding through the evening on the fairy wings? Right away, says the Manolo!

Comfortable autumnal shoes that do not make your inner Audrey Hepburn recoil in horror? Ayyyyyy! Not so easy!

Look here is the Pleatolo from Stuart Weitzman, the low-heeled wedge, that is halfway between the loafer and the elevated ballet slipper. It is the dainty pleating that makes the Manolo smile. It is available in the multitude of colors and finishes, of which the Manolo’s favorite is the Cranberry Glove Patent.

Manolo says, above are two similar tall boots from Stuart Weitzman, the Lacemeup and the Buttonup. The Manolo likes both, very much, indeed they are both super fantastic.

And now here is the interesting psycho-stylistic question: Which do you find sexier, the buttons or the laces?

Although, as with all matters of sexiosity, personal taste will undoubtedly figure in your answer, the Manolo has decided, after much deliberation, that he finds laces to be inherently more sexier than the buttons.

Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post.

Dear Manolo,

What is your take on the over-the-knee boot that featured prominently in the Fall 2009 Ready-To-Wear collections? I particularly love the ones I saw from Louis Vuitton, but clearly do not have the bills required for such luxury spending. In your opinion, is this a look worth investing in, or do you think it will disappear in a couple seasons, leaving me with a large hole in my wallet and a pair of boots I cannot take out into public?

Lulu

Manolo says, unless you are the Spanish grandee, French Musketeer, English privateer, or leggy under-30-year-old model it best to steer your ship clear of the historical drama signified by the over-the-knee boot.

They are so difficult to carry off well without the plumed hat and cape and/or the banging body. And it so easy to go wrong with them and end up looking like the extra on the set of the all-midget remake of “The King’s Strumpet.”

But, yes, this year marks the return of the over-the-knee boot, and if you must invest in this trend the Manolo would tell you to wait until later in the fall to see just how popular the look has become. Very popular, it will persist for the year or two. Not so popular, doomed by Spring.

Here is the 5050 flat Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots, perfect for wearing with the black tights.

Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post.

Dear Manolo,

In late August I’m attending an outdoor wedding in upstate New York. I’ve settled on a summery sort of wrap dress in a light blue color. What would you recommend in the way of footwear?

Rachel

Manolo says, the few years back the Manolo attended the late summer wedding in the Catskills. It was the wonderful celebration of love and family and friends.

Unfortunately, the weather was unseasonably hot and humid, and so even though the ceremony proceeded flawlessly, it was nonetheless difficult for the Manolo to fully enjoy the festivities, what with the quantities of sweat running off his brow and puddling up in his shoes.

And this is the problem with even the best planned of outdoor weddings. There are things which even the most attentive of bridezillas cannot control: packs of barking dogs, clouds of blood-thirsty mosquitoes, lightening strikes that set off car alarms, small aircraft towing banners advertising malt liquor, and freakishly muggy weather that leaves the guests wilted and spent, and causes the caterer to run out of cold beer before the first dance.

Look, here are the marvelous Stoneybrook from Stuart Weitzman, the low-heeled strappy sandal that will keep you cool during even the hottest of ceremonies.

Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post.

Dear Manolo,

This next week is graduating from the 8th grade graduation at a very exclusive private school, paid for in large part by my ex-husband, who will naturally be there at the graduation with his new bride, a woman 18-years his junior. As much as I would like to avoid the social awkwardness, I know that my son needs me to be there. Please suggest something to make me feel confident.

Eve

Manolo says, outside of fantastical nightmares in which you are forced to take the final exam in quantum physics (“But, I majored in English!”) while wearing nothing but your bunny slippers, encountering the ex and his cheerleader-cum-bride is the most intensely awkward and uncomfortable situation imaginable.

On the one of the hands you wish to crawl under the floorboards and die. On the other of the hands, you wish to cause someone else to die and stash the corpses under the floorboards. And yet, on the third of the hands, you know that you must put aside your desire to drive your mini-van over his new sports car, with lout and bimbo trapped inside, so that your son can fully enjoy his big day without incident.

Thus, the only proper way to conduct oneself is to be aloof and above it all, and what better way to be above it all than with the Platswoon from Stuart Weitzman? The Manolo likes this patent camel finish for the spring time event.