Manolo's Shoe Blog

SEP
2013 22

Manolo the Columnist: Lover from Fluevog

Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post. Dear Manolo, My brother’s first cousin, a lovely and quirky woman, is getting married in a “steampunk wedding” (the invitation looked like a P.T. Barnum broadside). We’ve been encouraged to “dress in the spirit of the occasion”. Please help. Marissa Manolo says, the Manolo is of the two minds about the “theme” weddings. On the one of the hands, if the simple and heartfelt ceremony featuring the groom in his best suit, and the bride in the tea-length gown of modest cut was good enough…

SEP
2013 16

Manolo the Columnist: Borders from Rachel Comey

Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post. Dear Manolo, I’m turning thirty the first week in October and my sister has booked an all day trip aboard a double-decker sightseeing bus for my family and I to celebrate the occasion. I normally live in sneakers but since I will be wearing a dress, I’ll need something that’s comfy yet durable with a feminine edge to it. Any suggestions? Elizabeth Manolo says, ayyyy! Thirty is the new fifteen! Time to put on the party dress and the big girl, grown up shoes for…

SEP
2013 10

Manolo the Columnist: Ambre from Mephisto

Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post. Dear Manolo, My husband and I are planning a trip to San Francisco and Sonoma County in late September. Between the must-see attractions in San Francisco and all of the wineries and breweries we’ll be visiting, I know we’ll be doing a lot of walking – can you recommend a comfortable shoe for the trip? Sarah Manolo says, the Manolo cannot tell you how many questions he receives from the peoples who are travelling to the California to partake of the many and varied delights…

AUG
2013 23

Manolo the Columnist: Sable from Belle by Sigerson Morrison

Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column from the Express of the Washington Post. Dear Manolo, I’ve just read that all the cool kids are wearing Birkenstocks again. Is it wrong that I’m tempted to join them? Please advise. Debra Manolo says, this where the Manolo wishes that his computer keyboard had the Grumpy Cat key, which he could push whenever he needed the strongly worded “NO!” to appear on the page. Unfortunately, his computing machine does not have this very useful function, and thus he will have to make his opinions known by plain metaphor: The Birkenstocks are…

AUG
2013 16

Manolo the Columnist: Scarlet from Isabel Marant

Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post. Dear Manolo, Let us pretend for a brief moment that money is no object for me. What would you recommend in the way of ultra-chic booties for the fall? Nan Manolo says, oh to live in the world where the money is not the object! Where every morning you could be gently awakened by your ladies maid, O’Brien, Ph.D., quietly clearing her throat as she puts the diamond-encrusted tray containing the civet cat coffee from your hillside estate in Sulawesi down onto the solid platinum…

AUG
2013 09

Manolo the Columnist: Mannie from Kate Spade New York

Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post. Dear Manolo, With fall fast approaching, I’ve begun to think about what I’m going to wear, specifically, I need a pair of fun boots for the weekends. Please recommend something. Doretta Manolo says, it is never too early to think about what to wear for the coming season, or the coming year, or even the coming decade. Indeed, thinking about what to wear in the distant future is one of the Manolo’s favorite hobbies, right next to reading the frivolous novels and taking the long…

AUG
2013 09

What to Wear if You are the Man: Desert Boots

Manolo says, since the Manolo has come out strongly against the Keen sports mandals, what then should the , sporty man of the age of the middle be wearing when he is not ‘shredding it with his homies’?” What else? The desert boot, also know as the chukka boot. This is the Branch from Base London, the smart-looking, leather dessert boot that will not only cover your man toes, but make you look like the respectable adult human, rather than the over-grown-adolescent couch surfer. Here is one more choice… This is the Gobi from Ikon, in the olive suede that…

AUG
2013 09

The Keen: At Least It Keeps the Man Toes Covered.

Manolo says, since the Manolo has recently been talking about the popular brands of the comfort shoes, perhaps it time to consider the monstrosity that is the Keen. One can go no where now without one’s senses being assaulted by these shoe-like things on the feets of the adult males who should know better. “Oooh, I am so sporty and with-it,” smugly and silently says the wearer, “I’ve got these super-hip outdoorsy sport sandals on my feet. When I wear these shoes I feel like I’m ‘shredding’ it with my ‘homies’. I look like I’m an X-Game’s athlete, don’t I?”…

AUG
2013 08

Ecco: The Comfort Shoe That is Not the FitFlop

Manolo says, one of the Manolo’s internet friends has asked him the question: Manolo, I agree that the FitFlop is an abomination, but what would you recommend by way of comfort shoes for just kicking around the farmers market on a Saturday morning? The Manolo is the fan of the Ecco, as being the non-loathsome comfort shoe that would work well for the farmers market kicking. Indeed, he has recommended the Ecco shoes on several occasions in the past. As for what he would recommend at this moment… Here is the Biom Lite 1.3 from Ecco in the silver and…

AUG
2013 07

Manolo’s Late Night Bargain: Ash Shoes from Brand Boudoir

Manolo says, from the Brand Boudoir comes the many end-of-the-season bargains on the Ash Shoes, the French brand made in Italy, for the example… This is the Lucy from Ash, the Cleopatra-inspired, kitten-heeled sandal that is selling for 57% off of the usual price. Or, if you wish the flat heel… The Lui from Ash, silver flat sandal, selling for 60% off. Both of these are the sort of sandals which will likely never go out of the style, and thus can be worn for many years to come.

AUG
2013 06

The Viviana from Hush Puppies: Who Let the Dogs Out?

Manolo says, one minute you are surfing through the luster-lacking shoe sites on the interwebs, being bored by the endless pictures of the clunky, dreary comfort-ish shoes, and the next, ayyyy!, you find out that the stodgy old Hush Puppies has gone all Fluevog! This piece of retro-Victoriana is the Vivianna lace-up, side-zipper bootie, from the Hush Puppies. The Manolo found this at the Shuperb site, and is now showing it to you, not because he especially admires it, but rather because it is the powerful evidence that the old dogs can learn the new tricks.

AUG
2013 03

Manolo’s Late Night Bargain: K&S Slingback Pumps

Manolo says, from the Manolo’s friends at the Sister Online comes the news that they are selling the K&S Shoes pumps at the good prices. For the Manolo’s American friends who do not know about the K&S Shoes, they are the old-timey, mid-market European shoe manufacturer, founded in the 1918 as Kennel und Schmenger, who have long been known for producing the well-made, if somewhat stodgy shoes. Lately, however, they have been updating their designs to make themselves more trendy and appealing. And it is working! These handsome, slingback pumps with the bow will become the Friday night, wardrobe staple,…