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

Dear Manolo,

In mid-May I’m heading off to Montana to attend the wedding of my niece. Although the ceremony will be at a church, the reception is being billed as a “barn dance”. Should I show up in western wear, such as denim skirts
and boots? Please advise.

Marielle

Manolo says, sadlly, the Manolo usually only gets invited to the stuffy formal weddings with the fifteen pink bridesmaids, accompanying the bridezilla in the poofy giant dress with the thirty feet long train.

How much more fun it would be to go the Country of the Big Sky for the cowboy wedding. How much better to see the groom ride up on his old horse Leroy, hop off and swagger into the church, to await the arrival of his
betrothed, delivered to the altar in the chuck wagon, driven by her “pa”, Snuffy.

Weddings are to be the joyous occasions, why should they not also be the little bit entertaining? And what could be more entertaining than barn dance reception? And if you are attending, why not get into the spirit of
the occasion by dressing, at least the little bit, for the part. This does not mean that you have to buckle on the six guns, nor wear the Hoss Cartwright ten-gallon hat, just the smidgen of Santa Fe is more than
enough to honor the moment.

Manolo says, every girl needs the pair of cowboy boots, and not just for the Montana wedding. Here is the N9290 from Lucchese, the traditional pair of tall boots that are handsome without being too costumey.

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the Adele!

Congratulations to the Manolo’s internet friend, the Lanzarote del lago, who was the first to correctly identify this week’s golden voiced celebrity of note.

Manolo says, here is the Jossy from the Elie Tahari, the fun, flirtatious, super-fantastic, low-heeled sandals that would be perfect for the warm afternoon of strolling through the carefully-tended botanic gardens. Choose your outfit correctly, smile demurely, and let the stray strand of hair fall over your forehead, and that hunky man who invited you may try to steal the sweet kiss behind the hydrangeas!

Manolo asks, whose shoes?

Manolo says, it is Monday and you are back at your desk working away for the Man, doing that which must be done so that you will not find yourself living in the culvert under the highway out by the dog pound.

Although, sometimes, you think that, compared to the daily grind, the life of the hobo might be preferable. How much easy life would be if it was just you, your battered top hat, your handkerchief bindle, and maybe the scruffy, little Benjy dog for the companion.

You would be the member of the Noble Brotherhood of the Open Road, enjoying rustic possum stew cooked in the old coffee can, shared with people named Stinky Phil, Ollie Jim, and Boxcar Pete. Such simple fellowship, with no bosses, no deadlines, no mortgage payments to worry about.

Unlimited freedom would be yours for the taking, as long as you could avoid the railroad bulls, and not get crushed by the errant grain car.

But, then you think about having to wear the comically down-at-the heels old boots instead of beautiful shoes, and you come to your senses.

Here is something to make you feel better about your workday, the Dior Chain-Embellished Tejus-Print Suede Platform Sandal.

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

Dear Manolo,

This year, the whole family is going to New York to spend Easter with my in-laws, who are wonderfully sweet people, whom I adore. The one problem is that they go to a very traditional, fairly stuffy church. (I was raised in a more charismatic Protestant tradition, and we currently attend a church that encourages a come-as-you-are informality.) Can you recommend a shoe, something I can also wear with work clothes?

Elaine

Manolo says, Easter is one of the Manolo’s most favoritest times of the year. Spring has arrived in its fullest glory, heralded by birdsongs, and crowned in flowers. It is the season of joy and reconciliation, when the lion will lay down with the lamb, and the person in the three-piece suit will smile when he hands the church program to the bearded man in the novelty t-shirt and board shorts.

Easter is when we must put aside our differences and recognize what is most important; whether or not Coca-Cola is better than simple brown sugar for glazing the ham, or if it is best to start with the ears, or nibble
away slowly at the body so that only the chocolate bunny’s face remains, to be consumed at last only with the greatest remorse and pleasure.

Here is the Warhalla from the Sigerson Morrison, the handsome, classic, reserved mid-heel shoe that would look perfectly at home in either Westminster Cathedral or the offices of InTechTronCo, Inc.

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the Rachel Weisz!

Congratulations (again) to the Manolo’s internet friend, the Laura K, who was not only the first to identify this week’s celebrity of note, but also the big winner last week.

Manolo asks, whose shoes?

Manolo says, among the many arcane divisions, factions, schismatics, and denominations which make up the Religion of the Shoe are those exuberant charismatics who are devoted to the tassel. They are known colloquially as the Tasselites, and for them this sandal would likely be considered the sacrament.

For you, who may be more ambivalent about the tassellation, or whose devotion may be directed elsewhere, this sandal from the Stuart Weitzman would be the perfect sort of fabulously fun shoe with which to welcome the first weekend of spring.

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

Dear Manolo,

Although the weather has been unseasonably warm of late, I’m worried that it could still take a turn for the cold. It is still March, after all. So, I’m not quite ready to let it all hang out and wear sandals, just yet. What would you recommend as a sort of intermediate shoe?

Kelsey

Manolo says, it is true, we are in the period between the winter slush and the vernal warmth, that strange demi-season — one minute too cold, the next too hot, rain followed by sunshine followed by hail– the period when we are virtually guaranteed to leave the house wearing exactly the wrong thing.

Despite this inconvenience, late March should be the period of anticipatory joy; the blooms are loaded into the flowers, and the green fuse is lit. Soon, we will wake up one morning, step outside and be happily stunned by the explosion of new life, by the flowers flowering, the birds birding, and the bees being their wonderfully bee-ish selves.

If there is within us any feeling, we will skip and caper, and sing happy little songs of welcome to the new season. We will be called to remember that we, too, are animals, who have the sacred duty to celebrate the arrival of spring. Indeed how can we be dour when nature has put on her finery and is demanding to be acknowledged, like the pretty woman in the flowered dress?

Here is the aptly named Flora from Delman, the perfect lacey ballet flat for the arrival of the new season. Fear not the occasional blast of cold, spring is here!

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the Ashley Greene!

Congratulations to the Manolo’s long-time friend, the Laura K, for being the first to correctly identify this week’s celebrity of note.

Manolo asks, whose shoes?