The Blunnies
Manolo says, all of the recent talk of the stylish weatherproof boots reminds the Manolo that this year the Santy Claus brought the Manolo the brand new pair of the Blundstones, the Blunnies, the most famous Australian shoes you have never heard of. (Forget about the loathsome Uggs, these they are the real feetwear of the Antipodes!)
The Manolo, as you would imagine, receives many, many shoes as the gifts from the manufacturers, most of which, because he is particular about his feetwear, he tosses into the big box destined for the charity, to provide the shoes for the homeless street urchins and the out-of-work celebrity former hotties.
Occasionally, however, something will demand to be worn, and such was the case with the pair of the classic Blunnies, which the Manolo thinks handsome in the ruggedly traditional way.
Unfortunately, it is the same old problem for the Manolo, who suffers from having the excessively elegant feets, with the unusually high and graceful arches, so that even though the Blunnies they fit perfectly in the length and the width, they are painfully tight across the top of the Manolo’s foot. And so, even though they are something the Manolo would very much like to wear, it is into the box they must go.
Such are the trials of the Manolo.
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Comments
janjan 15 years ago
Manolo, if you happen to wear the men’s size ten, you would make your friend Janjan very happy indeed by sending them to her.
15 years ago
I am so pleased you have pointed this small flaw out, Manolo, as I have been considering a pair –
perfect for cold, wet weather.
However, I too have a high arch and instep.
You’ve just saved me some money.
Samantha 15 years ago
Such a shame – I would very much like my husband to have a pair, they would look most handsome.
Manolo the Shoeblogger 15 years ago
The Manolo (whose foot is exactly in size between the American sizes 10.5 and 11) must mention to his friends that unless they have the unaturally high arches most peoples can wear the Blunnies with great comfort.
Frustratingly, The Manolo cannot wear 90% of the slip-on loafers currently massed produced by the shoe factories of the world. (The one most happy exception are the classic square toed Prada loafers from Barneys which fit the Manolo like the dream.)
Ann 15 years ago
Hello to the Manolo. I bought my Blunnies seven years ago. They’re my foul-weather friend. I expect they’ll last twenty years by the look of them at this point. I have a size 10 sometimes narrow foot, and at first they felt too wide. They’re too wide at the top to be good in serious snow, but here in Nashville there’s no such thing as serious snow anymore.
I’ve lurked for many moons, but I gotta say, I’m crazy about your blog.
JayKay 15 years ago
I never thought this bit of information would *EVER* come in handy outside of this building that I work in, but we sell Reback boots to our firefighters with high arches that cannot wear the Blundstones.
Here is Reback’s website:
http://www.redbackboots.com/sliponboots.html
While they’re not quite as attractive, I hear they are a better fit for the elegant high arched foot. Redback even offers a custom insole!
15 years ago
As a gal with arches so high that only the ball and heel of my foot touch the floor when I stand, I too was worried when I bought my Blunnies. But with careful fitting they’ve ended up feeling great. They’ve been my snowy-day friends the past three years without any discomfort at all.
The Bargain Queen 15 years ago
Ha! This poses no problem for us Aussies!
To break in your Blunnies, stand in your bath-tub and fill it with lukewarm water. Make sure the shoes get soaked thoroughly. Keep them on your feet until they’re dry. They’ll stretch to whatever shape you need them to be, and should accommodate your elegant arches with no problems.
I know many accomplished Australian horse-riders who swear by it, hokey as it sounds. Although most of them wear R.M. Williams boots that are similar but just a smidgen more elegant than the Blunnies, so I can’t guarantee the results will be the same…
Manolo the Shoeblogger 15 years ago
Ayyyyyy! Many thanks to the Bargain Queen! The Manolo shall try this forthwith!
Rose Red 15 years ago
A timely post! I am travelling to New York next week for a holiday, including of course the shopping for the superfantastic shoes. Would the Manolo recommend my wearing of the Blundstones for this purpose? Or are they best kept for the snowy, outdoorsy type pursuits, rather than the shopping? Lots of walking needs comfort, but style is important too…
Jen 15 years ago
They remind me of Doc Martins.
Is the Manolo an Aussie?
Abbey 15 years ago
I know they make steel-toed versions of Blundstones, and I’ve thought about getting a pair for myself for my summer job (I work in northern Canada for the forest fire program). Even though I have to wear a hideous orange jumpsuit for work, there’s no reason I can’t have nice work boots. What makes this even better is that I get reimbursed for them. Hooray for government jobs.
e 15 years ago
These have been popular in the horse world for ages. They wear like iron and you can walk through all manner of puddles, piles of manure and mud. Brillo!
shane 15 years ago
Manolo darling, if you happen to have any Marc Jacobs Maryjanes lying around in your pile of freebies, I know a deserving woman who would not be embarassed by a charitable donation.
Mary 15 years ago
Thank you for mentioning your particular fit problem, Manolo. I have the same problem with high arch and high instep. It has been hell lately trying to find a more substantial dress/work shoe than a ballet flat with a low heel, that doesn’t have either a mary jane or an ankle strap, or that is a loafer. There isn’t a loafer made that fits my foot, and all those strappy things just dig in and hurt my feet. I keep hoping that something suitably low-vamp with a heel 1-1.5 inches will come back into style SOON.
Because soaking women’s dress shoes in the bathtub is simply NOT an option!
M 15 years ago
Sadly Blundstones will no longer be made in Australia. They closed their factory and sacked their (reportedly) 350 workers in Tasmania to move production to India and Thailand, where no doubt they will only have to pay $350 per day for their entire workforce. We disown them!
Leanne 15 years ago
Yes – I am with M – In a very public move Aussies are now refusing to buy Blunnies in protest. follow the Bargain Queen’s advice and look at RM Williams
rico 15 years ago
just to let Mary and anonymous know that high arched feet on a woman are the most attractive shape of foot in shoes or bare foot and should not ne covered by boots, in my opinion
josh cohan 15 years ago
Bontoni are the best shoes I have ever purchased, finely crafted genuine Italian leather, and they look extremely sophisticated, I get so many compliments.
Mark 15 years ago
I like John Lobb and Edward Green and am now getting hooked on Bontoni.