Manolo's Shoe Blog

Manolo the Columnist: Vivian from Kors by Michael Kors

2012-02-24T16:10:14Z

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

Dear Manolo,

At the end of the month, I’m taking a series of exams, the final portion being an hour long oral defense of what I wrote in the written exam concerning marriage in Rome, Latin poetry, necromancy, magic and the
Goddess Hecate; (in multiple essays, not just one). It’s very frightening, as I am just a shy and lowly undergraduate. I want to WOW my professors in the orals, but I need the confidence that can only be gotten from fabulous shoes (on a budget though, I am a college student). Do you have any suggestions?

Betsy

Manolo says, on the one of the hands, what else would one wear to take the exams about the world of Rome than the handsome pair of the gladiator sandals?

But, on the other of the hands, that would be too obvious, would it not?

And yet, on the third of the hands, the professors who are doing the examing are probably the Romanophiles, and so would certainly be amused by your choice of the feetwear.

Although, on the four of the hands, probably not.

Still, on the fifth of the hands, the sandals of the gladiator sandals are comfortable, yes?

Besides, on the sixth of the hands, it is February, and cold and wet, even in Rome itself.

Ultimately, on the seventh of the hands, you must project the aspect of confident seriousness, not frivolity, and so the Manolo recommends the Vivian from the Kors by Michael Kors, in the Taupe Kid Suede (also available in 11 other finishes.) Not exactly Roman, but when in Academia one must do as the Academians do.

Whose Shoes Wednesday… The Answer

2012-02-23T21:52:32Z

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the Sylvester Stallone!

Congratulations to the Manolo’s internet friend, the Victor, who was the first to correctly identify this week’s celebrity palooka of note.

And now, the Manolo takes this moment to remind you that 30 years ago, Sylvester Stallone was objectively beautiful.

Sylvester Stallone, Style Icon? Yes, it is true. He was!

It is strange, but the Manolo remembers the early 1980s as being the era of lamentable clothings, and yet, while watching again the 1981 Sylvester Stallone movie Nighthawks, with Billy Dee Williams, Rutger Hauer, the Manolo was struck by just how attractive the costumes were.

Whose Shoes Wednesday

2012-02-22T17:00:18Z

Manolo asks, whose shoes?

Manolo the Columnist: Licorice Too from Kate Spade

2012-02-17T13:12:15Z

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

Dear Manolo,

I will be attending the entire Wagner Ring Cycle in April at the Lincoln Center. Since we had to almost refinance our home in order to afford tickets that do not require high altitude acclimatization, I cannot afford new shoes for each performance. So I am looking for one pair of Wagner-worthy shoes. The other three pairs of shoes needed I will have to fashion from scraps of vintage breast-plates and horn.

Lenora

Manolo says, how to explain the Cycle of the Wagnerian Ring to the person who has never attended the entire thing in the single marathon week, except to note that it is at once horrifically enthralling and terribly corny.

How is it possible, the Manolo asks, that the Richard Wagner converted such ridiculous and bombastic source material – the Norse Gods are having the bad hair millennium – into the work of supreme affect?

It is the music! What else?

This music of Wagner, so stirring, so brilliant, so memorable, works the transformational magic on what is essentially the elevated flapdoodle, and thus the tangled soap opera story of the comic-book super hero is converted into the purest gold.

Plus, how can one resist the over-the-top spectacle of the handsome men being assailed by stout women in armor? It is like the candy; very chewy, very dense candy

Speaking of the candy, here is the Licorice Too from the Kate Spade, glittery perfection for the opera.

Anna Russell and The Ring of the Nibelung

2012-02-16T20:35:43Z

Manolo says, thanks to one of the Manolo’s internet friends, the Manolo has been this week contemplating the The Ring of the Nibelung.

Of the course, the Manolo being the frivolous person, can only think of frivolous things, which is why the Manolo now commends to you the delightful Anna Russell, whose explanation of the Ring Cycle (mow more than 60 years old) remains hilarious to this day.

Whose Shoes Wednesday… The Answer!

2012-02-16T19:00:30Z

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the Rene Russo!

Sadly, none of the Manolo’s internet friends were able to correctly identify this week’s celebrity of note.

Whose Shoes Wednesday

2012-02-15T16:54:43Z

Manolo asks, whose shoes?

Manolo the Columnist: from B Brian Atwood

2012-02-10T16:17:46Z

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

Dear Manolo,

Valentine’s Day is next week, and my dreamy new boyfriend has promised me a romantic night out, with dinner and possibly dancing. I’m wearing a David Meister red silk dress that’s sexy-sophisticated. Now, I need some shoes. What do you suggest?

Stephanie

Manolo says, ayyyy! The Dia de San Valentin, it is upon us, like the wild hyena of romance and expectation!

Woe be to the dreamy new man who does not deliver the goods! Goods which might best be described as the sort of Chinese take-out menu of romantic items. (Please select any two from column A: Dinner at the Expensive Restaurant; French Perfume; Belgian Chocolate; Red Roses; Original Lyric Poetry; Heartfelt Expressions of Undying Love.)

Of the course, the Day of Valentines is not the walking in the park for the young womens either. They must spend literally days in preparation, thinking about the hair and the outfit and the shoes, having extended style consultations with their gay friends, and mulling over, at exhaustive length, the romantic dynamics of their relationship.

At this early stage of the romance, all of these details are so very important. Later, after our couple has been married the dozen years or so, all that will really matter is finding the competent babysitter to watch the kids while you enjoy the heart-shaped dessert at the Factory of the Cheesecakes.

Look! Here is the Consort metallic leather asymmetrical platform sandals from the B Brian Atwood. Bold! Sexy! Sophisticated!

Whose Shoes Wednesday…The Answer!

2012-02-09T19:12:01Z

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the Gisele Bundchen!

Congratulations to the Manolo’s internet friend, The Canario, who was the first to correctly identify this week’s man-defending super-model of note.

Whose Shoes Wednesday

2012-02-08T16:36:27Z

Manolo asks, whose shoes?