MAY
2009 29

Shoes

Manolo the Columnist

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

Dear Manolo,

I’m in love. Well, moderately infatuated really, but the object of my desire has no idea I like him. I’m planning on telling him soon, but I am scared (and am too young to purchase liquid courage), and I need help. I feel that shoes that are cute, flirty, and comfortable in case I need to run away and cry in a bathroom after possible rejection could be the answer. Can you point me in the right direction?

Elizabeth

Manolo says, as the immortal, if somewhat tone deaf, Tab Hunter sang in his 1957 smash hit, “They say for every boy and girl, there’s just one love in this whole world, and I know I’ve found mine…Young Love. First Love.”

Frankly, the Manolo prefers the 1959 Connie Francis version of this song, as the lyrics, “just one kiss from your sweet lips, will tell me that your love is real,” are immensely more poignant when sung by the female, thus capturing as they do the exact difficulty of being the romantic young woman in modern world.

On the one of the hands, the modern young women of feeling is now sometimes required to tell that big lunk with the baseball cap on backwards exactly how she feels. And yet, on the other of the hands, the result may be disappointment, or, to quote Connie Francis again, “Stupid Cupid, you’re a real mean guy.”

Look, here are the Demara from BCBGirls, the strappy platform sandal in the lovely rose color.

MAY
2009 28

Manolo's Internet Friends

Very Sad News

Manolo says, the Manolo has just received this very sad email from the sister of his internet friend The Debutaunt.

Dearest Manolo,

Alas, I must share news that is sad. Your internet friend, The Debutaunt, recently lost her battle against leukemia.

On behalf of her family, I want to thank the Manolo and your readers for the support given to her in trying times. Debby wrote a final blog post when she knew she was going to die as a way of reaching out to the various internet friends she’s made over the years. I felt I should forward it because it has meaning to me, and I figure it may have meaning to others who cared about her. The Manolo can find it here: www.debutaunt.com .

Even in the end, when she was confined to the bed, she still remained superfantastic. I think the both of us watched just about every episode of “What Not to Wear” because Bravo was one of the few channels worth watching at the hospital. Half the fun of that show is commenting on when we disagree with Stacy and Clinton, or believe the haircuts were change for the sake of change and not flattering. The fashion is much better TV to watch in the hospital than the news.

Grazie molte,
Steph, Deb’s sister

Please remember Deb and her family in your prayers and thoughts, and please also remember that Deb’s 9-year-old daughter will need our help in more concrete ways.

MAY
2009 28

Manolo Blahnik

The Maestro Speaks!

Manolo says, here is the short interview with the maestro di tutti maestri, himself, Manolo Blahnik. After seeing this you will have to agree that he is absolutely delightful.

MAY
2009 28

Whose Shoes Wednesday

Whose Shoes Wednesday…The Answer!

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the sexy race car driver, Danica Patrick!

Congratulations to the Manolo’s internet friend Teresa K, who was the first to correctly identify this week’s personage of note.

MAY
2009 27

Whose Shoes Wednesday

Manolo asks, (somewhat belatedly) whose shoes?

MAY
2009 27

Handbags, Manolo's Internet Friends

Ayyyy! Monday Puzzle Corner

Manolo says, this week, our friend Spirit Fingers gives us the most delightful Hermes based puzzle ever!

MAY
2009 26

Crocs, Shoes

The Crocs Death Spiral

Manolo says, far be it from the Manolo to engage in the unseemly gloating, but…

Crocs have been on a downward spiral for months now. Fashion people have rejoiced at the thought of Crocs — the bubonic plague of footwear — succumbing to the economy and dying out altogether in the foreseeable future. Earlier this month, the company reported a loss of $22.4 million in the first quarter (last year they only lost $4.5 million in that period). The outlook seemed dismal for Crocs yet bright for feet everywhere! But like so many unattractive fashion trends (high-wasted tapered pants, Arden Wohl headbands, leg warmers, scrunchies … ), Crocs are poised to survive, quite possibly flourish. In March they brought on John Duerden as president and CEO. Charged with turning the company around, he’s painfully optimistic.

I had probably dismissed it as a fad. I thought, this is not going to last, but as I began to look at the company, it became clear to me that there was a passionate group of consumers out there … I still believe there is a buzz out there in the marketplace; there are consumers who like the idea of Crocs shoes.

Oh. Good. Heavens. Duerden plans to recover from the losses by laying people off, refining Crocs’s signature injection-molded technology, and continuing global expansion in markets like Japan and Southeast Asia.

“The Bubonic Plague of Footwear“? Ha!

Clearly the Manolo’s work here is almost done.

MAY
2009 22

Flats, Kate Spade, Shoes

Manolo the Columnist

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

Dear Manolo,

I am in an existential crisis. At 40, I am about to be divorced, I am mother to a nearly 6-year-old son, and I am a lawyer. I need a pair of shoes that will lighten the stresses on my soul, that will feel ever-so-slightly frivolous to put on. I need fun shoes. I need a pair of shoes that I can wear with Capri pants to the playground, that will tell the other mothers that, even though I am an underpaid, overworked, single mother, I still rock in my soul.

Monica

Manolo says, ever since the Manolo wrote about the curative power of shoes the few weeks ago, he has been receiving letters such as this one. And, all because Dr. Manolo, consulting specialist in the medicine of the broken heart, refuses to put the sugar-coating on the bitter pills he prescribes. He tells it like it is, to wit, if you wish to wash that man right out of your hair, first you must go shoe shopping.

No time to wallow in self-pity, do as the Manolo’s friend Monica has done, and rush the patient to the nearest shoe sale, stat! Make way, people! This is the medical emergency! Can you not see that this woman needs shoes?

Here is the Vera from Kate Spade, the frivolously fantastic pom-pom skimmer in white tumbled leather, just in time for summer. Dr. Manolo says, take two of these and call your best friend in the morning to gloat.

MAY
2009 21

Whose Shoes Wednesday

Whose Shoes Wednesday…The Answer!

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the Jennifer Hudson!

Congratulations to the Manolo’s internet friend Long Island who was the first to correctly identify this week’s personage of note.

MAY
2009 20

Ayyyyy!

Ayyyy! Toes Amok!

Manolo says, Ayyyy! Eva Herzigova, has uncontainable feet!

MAY
2009 20

Flats, Sandals, Shoes

BCBGirls for the Wednesday

Manolo says, it is only Wednesday, but already you have begun to think about the long weekend ahead, causing your workday productivity to plummet.

What to wear on the first Saturday of summer? Hmm, something casual, and yet with the little bit of style; something that says, I am the creative person, relaxed and unpretentious, perhaps the little tiny bit hippyish, yet without the overpowering stink of patchouli.