Manolo the Columnist
Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post.
0Dear Manolo,
I’m starting a new job in January, but once again, my generosity has outdone my commonsense and I’ve spent all of my money on Christmas gifts. Please help me find some affordable work shoes.
Cindy
Manolo says, as always the Manolo gives the same counsel, to not buy the cheap shoes of pain and suffering and the fake leather, but to save your moneys and buy the high quality shoes of comfort and stylishness. Beautiful shoes will make you stand straighter and feel more confident, the exact qualities desired by the employers.
Yet, how well the Manolo knows what it is like to have the bank ruptured after the spending spree of generosity, and thus be the poor person who is forced to fashion his own super fantastic employment shoes out of the cardboard wrapping paper tubes and the crumpled credit card receipts.
Thus the Manolo would commend to his friend the shoes of the Franco Sarto as being among the most stylish of the affordable shoes, shoes that will do the job until sufficient capital is accumulated for the truly wonderful feetwear.
Look here is the Impala by Franco Sarto, the handsome professional pump with the understated feminine detail.
Comments
diane 18 years ago
Very pretty work shoes…. but what is one to do when ones feets are too fat to fit into the pretty work shoes… and too big to squish into a size 10? Size 11 wide for me, and size 12 for my 16 year old daughter are hard to find in pretty styles.
Brian's babymomma 18 years ago
Diane-
May I recommend the transvestite shops in SF? They are all about pretty in the big sizes!
Never teh Bride 18 years ago
The Franco Sarto shoes have saved me on many occassions in which I needed to sport pretty feet but had nothing but dust in my wallet.
gemdiva 18 years ago
Diane,
Try zappos.com for extra large sizes. I too wear an 11 wide and have had much success there. They offer size 12 also. Happy shopping :-)
Bon Mot 18 years ago
Lovely shoes, and even lovelier in the non-black colors. But, oh dear, three out of four of the Zappos commenters mentioned the dearth of comfort. Must we always suffer for beauty?
aimlessjoys 18 years ago
Well, the Franco Sarto Lira slingback looks good to me today, w/my horrible winter toes to hide until the next trip to the glorious spa-land which I look forward to w/all my heart although it will be near the end of January, and thus I must make do with my own tender mercies to the toes. Thank god for the traveling bubbles footspa someone gave me last Christmas. I will go feed it a couple of drops of lavender oil & soak as I dream of future excursions after the credit card lineup goes away & also I will avoid dropping any delicate machinery into it this time… Ahhh, next trip to Dallas I will be looking for the Franco Sarto feetswear, for sure! Thanks, many thanks!
pbird 18 years ago
Nope. The transvestites go in for hideous spike heels. Unless they’re doing better these days. I wear 13 W and I have looked there. Zappos is fairly good and bigfeet.com.
Lolita 18 years ago
nice and very classic but, what do you think about all this new trends:
http://lolita.blogg.se/291206110025_skotrende_2007.html#trackback
annoyed reader 18 years ago
hello! 2.75″ is NOT an easy to wear work heel height. lower. 2.5″ is the highest for work…
La Petite Acadienne 18 years ago
It depends on one’s work, and on one’s comfort with a higher heel. Personally, I think that heel height is perfect for work — high enough to be elegant and flattering, but not distractingly high. If you are on your feet all day, you’d probably like something lower, but if not, then I think those are a lovely and appropriate work shoe.
Never2ManyShoes 18 years ago
I agree, La Petite. Since I sit at the Desk all day, i feel 2.75″ is actually too short for me. I go in for the taller heels since my longest trip is to the ladies’ room.
LAfoodie 18 years ago
Diane —
As a couple of others have already mentioned, zappos.com is fantastic for the bigger-footed among us (even Franco Sarto deigns to make a size 12 now and again!) You might also try Nordstroms online and designershoes.com. If you are willing to spend a bit more, Stuart Weitzman makes most styles in up to a 12.
roz 18 years ago
I have had much luck with Franco Sarto for those holiday/evening shoes you don’t need to wear for long (and don’t want to repeat next year), but I haven’t found they hold up well for everyday work shoes. I agree with the Manolo’s original advice to save up for some really high quality shoes.
I have had slightly more luck with Ann Taylor shoes for inexpensive shoes (they do go on sale for almost nothing!)
joy 18 years ago
I have several pairs of good quality expensive shoes and they are really worth it, they will last much longer and look much more professional for work. I’ve found bruno magli and bally to be great shoes, and also, I found them one sale. either at the bally store (in major cities) ~$180 or at DSW (bruno magli ~$150) where you can find great deals so they weren’t so expensive even though they retail for ~$400.