Manolo the Columnist
Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post.
0Dear Manolo,
I’m going to Toronto in three weeks for a series of important business meetings. I’m worried that my shoes, most of which were purchased in Atlanta, will be unsuitable for the weather. What would you recommend?
Dahlia
Manolo says, ayyyy! You are going to Toronto in December! It will be like the trip to the North Pole, with all of the natives riding on reindeer and drinking maple syrup vodka straight from the tree. Pack your skis!
Actually, the Manolo, who has been in Toronto only once, in February, found that the weather was marginally better than Chicago, meaning that one only wished for death when out of doors.
In such cases of extreme climate, the Manolo recommends boots; stout, warm and weatherproof boots, made of something like walrus skin, or narwhal blubber. Of the course, as this is the business trip, one must not wear something that would cause one to lose face with the natives, who, impervious to the weather, appear in public in their shirt-sleeves until their very breath freezes in the air and tinkles to the snow as ice crystals. At which point they put on the windbreakers.
Look, here is the Devine from La Canadienne, the waterproof boot with the slip-resistant sole made in Canada, by elves! It is perfect!
Comments
Victor 17 years ago
In their attempt to increase revenue, the Express had to remove the picture of the boot! It’s a shame, because that is a beautiful boot!
Manolo the Shoeblogger 17 years ago
It was probably the Manolo’s fault, as he sometimes forgets that with the boot recommendations he needs to be less long-winded, as the bigger shoe picture means there is less room for the writing.
Of the course, this would not be the problem if he did not habitually deliver his column to the Express at the last minute, thus allowing too little time for proper editing.
Ah, but such are the burdens of working under the deadline, no?
Judith in Ymmmbria 17 years ago
I love Toronto and feel colder here in Italy than I did there. But then, one dresses for the weather there, whereas here one must expose as much flesh as will catch the eye of the local Italians. Which is quite a lot of flesh, and this leads to treating tights as if they were flannel-lined jaeger wool trousers. At this moment, the sky is a leaden black with wind so strong it is blowing birds off their desperate pathways to Africa.
That said, Toronto and its ilk are why thermal socks and fur-lined boots were invented; they may even have invented them.
Just don’t for any reason accept an invitation to Georgian Bay between 31 October and 1 May. It’s sort of a Canadian joke and leads to facial frostbite.
Miss Janey 17 years ago
These are FABULOUS. Boots are the best thing about cooler temps…
JayKay 17 years ago
Walrus skin, narwhal blubber, windbreakers after exhaling ice crystals and elves…
Oh Manolo, how you make me laugh!
Cathy in Toronto 17 years ago
Yes, the boots are lovely, and should be just the thing. Apart from that, wear layers. Although there will most likely be snow on the ground by that time, the weather is doing strange things these day – a couple of years ago there was golfing in December, and even Halloween was unseasonably warm this year. Otherwise, our weather is much like Chicago’s if not a smidge warmer. December is winter in both cities, so make sure you have a winter coat and gloves.
Cathy in Toronto 17 years ago
Oh, and I’m still looking for elves, I’d love a pair of those boots to appear at my house overnight!
Phyllis 17 years ago
*sigh* I have been lusting after a pair La Canadienne’s for a while now.
But are they really and truly waterproof? It’s hard to believe winter boots that stunning would also be durable in the slush and muck.
Annalucia 17 years ago
The Annalucia lived in Toronto for seven years and has been in Chicago for the past twenty-nine, so you may take it from her: there is little difference between their winters. They are both on the 42nd parallel give or take a few minutes of arc, and they are each fronted by a Great Lake. The only notable difference is that the Chicago winters have the occasional sunny day, while in Toronto the sun disappears entirely between October and April. At least it did in the Annalucia’s youth; why this should be, she has no idea.
Oh yes – the boots. Very handsome.
Rachel of Cyberia 17 years ago
Wait, maple syrup vodka?
Can such things be?
Hilary 17 years ago
Yes, Toronto is *exactly* like that in December. You didn’t miss a single thing.
Yes, the La Canadienne boots are waterproof and saltproof and proofedy proof. They’re quite amazing.
Julia 17 years ago
Canadians carry their indoor shoes in bags and put them on when they get where they are going. It keeps dirt from being tracked into houses and by ‘dirt’, I include snow mushed up with salt and dirt or “slush”. Make sure you have boots for outdoors and then any regular shoe will work indoors.
Laren 17 years ago
Speaking as a shoe loving torontonian…the boots are fantastic, yes, but at this time of the year, there won’t be enough snow (if there is any snow at all, barring a freak snowstorm) for you to have to worry about slush and salt. Rain is a different matter, though, and after January…well, then it’s time to bundle up! I echo the layering comment, though.