Manolo's Shoe Blog

MAY
2015 05

Met Gala 2015: Charlie Chan Meets the Dragon Ladies!

Manolo says, Confucius say, museum who hold big party for fashion world, get trash on exhibits. . . What ever you do, mortal, do no stare directly into the face of the Sarah Jessica Parker, lest ye be turned to stone. . . Look! It is the Maggie Gyllenhaal, and she has come to the gala straight from the automat where she was restocking the sandwiches. . . It is amazing what can be accomplished today with the animatronic technology. Still working on the artificial intelligence, though. . .

FEB
2013 05

The Face of Villainy

Manolo says, the English archeological nabobs have made the facial reconstruction of the newly found bones of the Richard the 3, and not surprisingly he has the very shifty eyes…. Here is the close-up of the artist’s reconstruction.

NOV
2012 22

Happy Thanksgiving

Ah, Thanksgiving, the day on which people all over the great United States of America come together to gorge themselves on turkey and pretend they prefer foodie Aunt Clara’s pomegranate confit with pink shallot relish to the can-shaped cranberry deliciousness that won the Cold War. Considering the American importance of the date –not only is it Thanksgiving, it’s the 49th anniversary of JFK assassination– I should do a retrospective of Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis’ fondness for Roger Vivier’s pilgrim pumps. Unfortunately, I’m both lazy and jetlagged and so here’s a snap of the La Veuve Kennedy four years later…

OCT
2012 01

Steven Tyler Is Here to Remind You That It Is October

Manolo says, it is the Tevas with the painted toenails that make this ensemble especially ghastly.

SEP
2012 18

Are you Having a Garbo Moment?

I know I am. Let’s all find our key light and lift our tweezers high (but responsibly) to celebrate the natal day of Sweden’s own Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, aka the glamorous Greta Garbo. Tweezerman slanted tweezers, the Frye Lois Oxford, Waterproof French Anglobasque beret, made in France by Nielba, and luscious cashmere-lined leather gloves from Fratelli Orsini, on sale and available in 15 colors. Of course, if only the real thing will do, several of Garbo’s signature berets are up for auction. Air of mystery sold separately.

SEP
2012 06

The Hillary Clinton Pantsuit Rainbow

Manolo says, it is the the kandy-kolored tangerine-flake streamline Secretary of State!

AUG
2012 27

The Prince Who Would be Like the King

Manolo says, fresh off his triumph in the Las Vegas touring company of Hair, Prince Harry then decides that it is time to boogie down, Jamaican-style, mon… But, what are those shoes on his feets? He was pictured wearing a pair of bright blue suede Russell and Bromley desert boots. The shoes, which are known as “Chuck”, retail for £115 and are officially due in stores in a fortnight. Since arriving in Jamaica last week, the Prince has already appeared in public in a pair of tobacco coloured desert-style boots. They also comes in darker brown as well as blue…

AUG
2012 14

The Kardashian Kaboose

Manolo says, on the one of the hands, it is both startling and mesmerizing, like the second moon, brighter than the first, suddenly looming into view in the clear night sky. On the other of the hands, it is her greatest, if not only, talent. On the third of the hands, this provides the much needed corrective to the unattainable standard set by the booties of the Olympic beach volleyball. On the fourth of the hands, this will undoubtedly send Mrs. Ice-T back to the plastic surgeon. On the fifth of the hands, dayyyyyuuuumn, girl. Just, dayyyyyyuuumn.

JUL
2012 30

Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Lochte Loves the Shoes!

Manolo says, 130 pairs of the shoes! Mr. Lochte’s dream is to eventually become a clothing designer. “I want to be different, and fashion gives me that outlet to do that,” he said, lounging on a couch after a practice in loose basketball shorts, a T-shirt that read “Google Me” and black Dolce & Gabbana slippers. For public events, he steps it up: Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren have dressed him, and he was signed by Ford Models. […] “Ho, I think I have about, a total of 130 pairs of shoes,” Mr. Lochte said, warming to the subject. “So…

JUL
2012 28

We Are Not Amused, Olympic Edition

JUL
2012 27

Madonna: Keepin It Classy

Manolo says, behold, the two sides of Madonna, devilish and angelic First… Showing us her wares, like the fallen Magdalene. Second… Writhing in divine ecstasy, like the holy mystic.

JUL
2012 26

Madonna’s New Truth or Dare Shoes are Boring & Derivative

Manolo says, the Manolo does not wish to be so cruel as to kick someone when they are down, but zzzzz… Shoe designing is not easy, and yet other celebrities, such as the Jessica Simpson and the Carlos Santana(!) have been able (with professional help) to produce the decent looking shoes for the mass market. Madonna has played it safe, predictable, with her blacks and grays and shapes we have seen before. She needs to introduce either the trendier colors, the unusual finishes, or the more daring shapes, probably all three. Since she she has none of these, there is…