“Manolos” The LBD of Shoes

Manolo Blahnik

Sultan of slippers, holy man of heels all superlatives are justified for Manolo Blahnik. His shoes are the choice for anyone wanting the real deal, a handmade, artisan experience, nothing remotely mass produced. He works all the time, sketching designs as well as all his ad campaigns, and travelling to Italy to oversee manufacture. His sister Evangeline holds the reigns in London and he escapes to his house in Bath to regain his equilibrium when he can. He hates wedges, platforms and believes in the power of heels and the sex appeal they convey.

Blahnik and Sarah Jessica Parker

• Born in 1943 in the Canary Islands to a Spanish mother and Czech father and raised on a banana plantation, he moved to Paris in 1968 to become a set designer
• A chance introduction to Diana Vreeland, then editor-in-chief of American Vogue, set him off on shoes design
• His first collection was designed for Ossie Clark in 1972
• In 1973, he opened Zapata, a boutique on Old Church Street in London which was regularly frequented by Bianca Jagger
• Bianca wore Manolo Blahniks to her famous Studio 54 birthday entrance on a white horse in 1977
• Madonna once described shoes designed by Blahnik as “better than sex”. Blahnik, known for a wit as sharp as his heels, simply responded: “You have to admire her, she hides her lack of talent so well”

Manolo Blahnik inspires huge loyalty and devotion and was named Accessory Designer of the Year by the British Fashion Council in 1990 and in 1999. He also has honorary doctorates from the Royal London College of Art and the Royal Society of Arts of Britain and many fashion honors and awards in his name. In 2003, there was a retrospective exhibition of his drawings, memorabilia and collections at the Design Museum in London. Then in 2006, photographer Eric Boman collaborated with him on his cult shoe book, “Blahnik” by Boman.

Carrie with her “Manolos” in “Sex and the City”

But his number one die hard fan Carrie Bradshaw from “Sex and the City” is probably the world’s most famous Manolo Blahnik wearer. Thanks to her he became a living legend for the new millennium woman; he gain many fans because of the popular show and that’s why he loves Carrie too. “I adore Ms. Parker,” Blahnik revealed. “The character she played has had such a role in my career, I cannot help but regard both of them as muses! I adore cinema generally and a large chunk of my collections is inspired by it. It could be a character, a scene, or just the spirit of a movie. I watch them all night long.”