Whose Shoes Wednesday

Manolo asks, whose shoes?

Louboutin Dillian Flower For the Tuesday

Manolo says, it is Tuesday and you are back at your desk doing whatever it is you do with the computer and those endless stacks of paper for the eight hours each workday you are not engaged in pointless meetings or bureaucratic wrangling, or avoiding your backbiting co-workers.

Did that sound bitter?

Sorry. You are not bitter, not exactly. You are perhaps disgruntled, and certainly anxious, maybe even slightly angry.

Ever since your company was taken over late last year by MegaMongoManic Corp, your formerly decent job has morphed into the Mr. Toad’s Wild Day Job, with rumors of impending layoffs and financial collapse–each more dire than the last–clambering up and down the office grapevine.

But, you have grown used to that, so perhaps that is not the cause of your aggressive case of the blahs. Perhaps it is the fact that summer has well and truly ended, marking yet another season down the old tubes.

Sigh.

Well, there is nothing for it but shoes, your oldest and bestest friend, always ready to make you feel better when the world has you at its mercy.

Look! Here is the Dillian Flower Pumps fron Christian Louboutin.

Christian Louboutin Dillian Flower Pumps

If looking at this shoe (one of the most wonderful and stylish of this season) does not send the blahs packing, nothing will.

SEP
2009
18

Laced shoes and Japan = “Dame yo”

Manolo says, the Manolo has received the note from one of his readers, offering guidance on the topic of shoes suitable for wearing in Japan.

Manolo:

The shoes that you recommended today for an upcoming Japan trip are very cute, but very impractical for the Western traveler to Japan. It’s very typical to take off one’s shoes when entering museums, temples, restaurants, workplaces, and some kinds of lodging. A tourist could easily have to take off and put shoes back on a dozen times in a day. Do you really want to have unlace and relace every time? “Ie” (no). So shoes without laces are the way to go on any trip to Japan (and true for most Asian countries where shoe removal is quite common.) And make sure your socks don’t have holes or that your toes look cute.

BTW, of course, Japanese people wear shoes with laces, but the backs are often broken down because they try to avoid lacing by stuffing their feet into the shoes as if they were slip-ons. And “dame yo” roughly means “not good”, “don’t do it”, etc.

Jennifer

Arrigato, Jennifer-san, for your most helpful comments.

Here, then, is the more appropriate shoe, the Cole Haan Air Harmony short black bootie, something comfortable, stylish, and able to be worn with both pants and skirts.

Cole Haan Air Harmony Short Boot   Manolo Likes!  Click!

Also, the Manolo’s internet friend Bob sends us the link to the very amusing Tokyo Street Style Blog.

SEP
2009
18

Manolo the Columnist: Onitsuka Tiger by Asics

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

Dear Manolo,

In October I’m going on a three-week business trip to Japan. I’ve never been to Japan and so I have no idea what to wear when I’m not dressed in my business finery. What do you suggest?

Linda

Manolo says, sadly the Manolo has never been to Japan, Mysterious Land of the East, where peoples eat the raw fish and dress like Hello Kitty Lolita Samurai Warriors. Or perhaps like the Sailor Moon Gothic Rockabilly Shoguns. The Manolo cannot say for sure.

The problem is, that the most popular Japanophile websites and magazines prefer to highlight unusual youth subcultures at the expense of the more mundane. And thus even though we who have never visited Japan can easily distinguish between six types of Japanese Lolitas (Classic Lolita, Gothic Lolita, Princess Lolita, Punk Lolita, Sweet Lolita, and Grotesque Lolita) we cannot tell you what ordinary people are wearing on their days off.

Thus the Manolo’s primary rule for travel remains operative: that when travelling abroad one should not substantially change one’s usual mode of dress. Do not attempt to “go native”. Instead, you must do as the Victorian ladies and gentlemen did when making the Grand Tour, and maintain your own native costume even in the most unlikely of situations.

Here is the Onitsuka Tiger by Asics in the colors blue and mandarin. Who knows if the Japanese actually wear these? Who cares? They are super kawaii!

Onitsuka Tigers by Ascis   Manolo Likes!  Click!

SEP
2009
17

The Nerd in Chief

Manolo says, you should see his collection of action figures.

Whose Shoes Wednesday…The Answer!

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers it is the jackass, Kanye West!

Congratulations to the Manolo’s internet friend Jane Canuck for being the first person to correctly identify this jackass of note.

Whose Shoes Wednesday!

Manolo asks, whose shoes?

SEP
2009
15

Writer’s Block!!!

Manolo says, aaaaaaaayyyyyyy! The Manolo has been suffering from the terrible case of blogger’s block! Many and profuse are the apologies which he tenders to you.

SEP
2009
11

Manolo the Columnist: Reese Boot from Elizabeth and James

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

Dear Manolo,

I’ve just accepted a job on the other side of the country, and I’ve decided that in honor of this big move I’m going to redo my image at ripe age of 28. I want to be one of the cool kids. What would you recommend?

Kristy

Manolo says, asking the Manolo to give advice on how to be cool, is like asking Donald Trump for advice on how to be less vulgar. You may get the reasonably coherent answer, but you can be certain that its source is entirely theoretical.

Having said this, the Manolo notes that coolness is more about attitude than clothing, and indeed, the coolest persons are often those whose dress is the most minimalistic. Consider, as we must always, the example of Marlon Brando, who defined the ultimate coolness dressed in nothing but the white t-shirt, Levis 501s, and Converse All Stars. As you may see, the leather motorcycle jacket, usually taken as the marker of the coolest of cats, is strictly optional.

And here the Manolo must note that if you have to ask how to be cool, you’ve already lost. Coolness is the zen koan: he who wishes to be cool is not.

Look here is the Reese from Elizabeth and James, the suede ankle bootie that would go well with your new all black wardrobe!

Reese from Elizabeth and James   Manolo Likes!  Click!

Whose Shoes Wednesday…The Answer!

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the Rachel Zoe!

Congratulations to the Manolo’s internet friend Irene, who was the first to identify this pigeon-toed person of note.

SEP
2009
09

Whose Shoes Wednesday

Manolo asks, whose shoes?

What the Manolo Is…

Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is…

Listening to…

Reading…

Listening to…

If you have not read this book, How I Became The Famous Novelist, you are missing out on the remarkably funny thing.