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

Dear Manolo:

I’m a working girl, and worse, a shop girl. Normally, I’m restricted to plastic shoes from discount dealers, but this year my family gave me $200. I’ve decided the best way to spend it is on a new pair of cute, flirty but practical, black work shoes. What would you recommend that can be worn while climbing ladders, and can be teamed with both pants and skirts?

Valeria

Manolo says, how well, the Manolo remembers his own days as the young shop boy, working in the famous shoe store of the Mercurio Bahamonde y Albornoz. Each morning the Manolo was up early and off to the shop, where he spent the day blissfully working among beautiful shoes and the people who loved them.

Of the course, the salary that Don Mercurio provided was meager, although one could supplement it by taking home packing material, which could be fashioned into perfectly comfortable sleepwear and bedding. And how luxurious it was, in the young Manolo’s tiny, seventh floor, walkup flat, to lie there snuggly warm in the giant pile of tissue paper, shredded cardboard, and packing peanuts.

Look it is the Zia from Juicy Couture, the adorable little black flat that is both flirty and practical.