manolo blahnik

Manolo Blahnik On The Art Of Toe Cleavage

Filed under: Shoes

The February issue of Hemispheres Magazine contains an interview with the legendary Manolo Blahnik. The interviewer finds that the king of stilettos is as charming as his shoes. Blahnik, who is 68, still designs every shoe in his collection, first drawing them out on paper and later sculpting prototypes from beechwood. He opened his first U.S. shop in 1979 but didn't become a household name until "Sex And The City" turned his shoes into the ultimate aspirational footwear.

Blahnik for his part is sanguine about his lot in life saying that "things happen to me by accident. But now I love what I do and can't live without it." He's emphatic about hating exercise saying that he'd have been miserable in ancient Greece. As for shoes, the fabulous Manolo thinks toe cleavage ought to be subtle. He prefers pumps to sandals. Check out the complete article for his thoughts on the iPad, his favorite actresses and more.

Tags: manolo blahnik, shoe designer

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Manolo Blahnik Turns Legendary Shoe Into A Charm

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Shoes

You'll soon be able to wear your Manolo Blahniks around your neck. Manolo Blahnik and TOUS have announced the launch of an jewelry collaboration featuring the designer's "Campari" shoe. Manolo Blahnik for TOUS will be launched this March in 300 TOUS boutiques world-wide, starting in Mexico and then Rockefeller Center in Manhattan.

The idea for the collaboration began with a fateful encounter. Manolo Blahnik met Rosa Tous at a luncheon in Madrid last summer and commented on the teddy bear pendant she was wearing. She said she would love for him to design a piece for TOUS and the idea was born to use the mary jane shoe 'Campari,' as a charm. Rosa added that the shoe should be dangling from a gold chain with a diamond button. And so began Manolo Blahnik for TOUS.

Tags: manolo blahnik, mary jane shoes, top

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Manolo Blahnik Zala Leather Boots

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes

Manolo Blahnik's Zala Boots ($1243) combine the ruggedness of a shearling boot with the sexy silhouette of high-heels resulting in a striking yet balanced look. The Zala adds a casual yet upscale touch to your outfit, and even more so with exposed white stitching. However, I think they would exude a polished and flushed look with similar color stitching instead.

Designed in dark brown leather and accented with a fold over creamy sheepskin liner and leather tie, the Zala Boot offers warmth and style wrapped in a chic pair of heels. Heel measurements: 4".

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Tags: boots, heels, manolo blahnik, shearling, shearling boo, shoes

Travel + Leisure Commissions Artists for Project Globe Auction

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art, Charity, Big Givers

Travel + Leisure has announced its collaboration with 18 prominent artists including Maya Lin, Manolo Blahnik and April Gornik, to create specially-commissioned pieces to be auctioned as part of its second annual Project Globe event. Following the auction, the magazine will donate all proceeds to Future Generations, a non-profit conservation and community development organization. The online auction starts today at tlprojectglobe.com, where bidders are swiftly staking their claims.

The diverse group of photographs, sculptures and jewelry, all of which aim to celebrate travel's positive impact, will be shown at GlassHouses in New York City on September 19 and 20. Photographs from the auctioned items will be featured in Travel + Leisure's October Style + Culture issue, on newsstands September 23. See the gallery for a selection of items at auction.

Gallery: Project Globe Auction

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Tags: april gornik, AprilGornik, art, auctions, future generations, FutureGenerations, manolo blahnik, ManoloBlahnik, maya lin, MayaLin, project globe, ProjectGlobe, travel leisure, Travel Leisure

Ruby Slippers To Benefit Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Shoes, Charity, Children

Nineteen to-covet designers including Oscar de la Renta, Manolo Blahnik, Alberta Ferretti and Christian Louboutin are teaming up with Warner Brothers and Swarovski to reinvent Dorothy's ruby slippers to commemorate the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. This time, we're not in Kansas anymore. Based on some of the designer sketches we've seen, we're talking Swarovski-fied, ruby red protect-me-from-the-evil-witch stilettos. Basically what sweet little Anne Hathaway could have used in The Devil Wears Prada.

Each designer will craft a mere two pairs, and the shoes will make their debut September 4 during New York Fashion Week, posing in Saks Fifth Avenue's window before moving on to Miami's Art Basel and further appearances throughout 2009. The iconic slippers will then be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Tags: alberta ferretti, AlbertaFerretti, art basel, ArtBasel, auction, dorothy, elizabeth glaser ped..., ElizabethGlaserPed..., louboutin, manolo blahnik, ManoloBlahnik, oscar de la renta, OscarDeLaRenta, saks fifth avenue, SaksFifthAvenue, shoes, wizard of oz, WizardOfOz

The Classicist: 10 Yrs. of Paul Smith at Westbourne House

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style, The Classicist

Brilliant British designer Sir Paul Smith recently celebrated an important milestone in his colorful career: the 10th anniversary of his incredible flagship store in London's Notting Hill, Westbourne House. The perfect realization of a long term dream of Sir Paul's, the shop is designed to feel like someone's tastefully, quirkily lavish London home, and features a unique range of men's and women's clothes and accessories, housewares and knickknacks alongside a cllection of jewellery, books, art and antiques.

The architecturally-significant establishment is also the center of his exclusive bespoke tailoring operation. Smith says he still gets a thrill every time he walks in the door. To commemorate the anniversary, Smith and friends like shoe maestro Manolo Blahnik have created of limited edition products, available exclusively at Westbourne House, including watercolors, hand-painted plates, jewelry and a retro radio.

Smith, whose known for his signature multicolored stripes, opened his first clothing shop in 1970 and showed his first menswear collection under the Paul Smith label in 1976. Today Westbourne House is one of 14 Paul Smith shops in England; there are also outlets in Paris, Milan, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines, Korea, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and others, as well as dozens in Japan, where Sir Paul is something of a cult figure. Today he has 12 different collections including Paul Smith, Paul Smith Women, Paul Smith Jeans, Paul Smith London, Paul Smith Bespoke, Paul Smith Shoes, Paul Smith Fragrance and Paul Smith Spectacles. The company's annual revenue as of 2006 exceeded $600 million.

Gallery: Paul Smith & Westbourne House

A men's look from the current collection.

Tags: Bespoke, British design, BritishDesign, Daniel Day-Lewis, DanielDay-lewis, Fashion, London, manolo blahnik, ManoloBlahnik, Notting Hill, NottingHill, Paul Smith, PaulSmith, Westbourne House, WestbourneHouse

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The Classicist: A Savile Row Makeover

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style, The Classicist

Welcome to The Classicist, our new column devoted to timeless style, enduring elegance, and true, built-to-last luxury as opposed to mere extravagance....

Savile Row stalwart Anderson & Sheppard, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, is steeped in tradition, to say the least. Yet while other old-fashioned bastions of upper-class masculine British taste have been sold off or hideously modernized, A&S has managed to adapt and survive -- thanks to a strong-willed woman.

Anda Rowland, daughter of the firm's longtime owner, natty British millionaire Roland "Tiny" Rowland, who took over the business a few years ago, has set about bringing it into the 21st century without sacrificing one whit in the way of elegance.

The firm not only outfitted the great Fred Astaire - perhaps the best dressed man the modern world has ever known - but also Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, authors Evelyn Waugh and Somerset Maugham, Gary Cooper, Noel Coward, Sir Laurence Olivier, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Duke Ellington.

Gallery: Anderson & Sheppard: Savile Row Style

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Tags: london, manolo blahnik, ManoloBlahnik, men, ralph lauren, RalphLauren, savile row, SavileRow, tailoring, vanity fair, VanityFair

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Manolo for Men

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes

Manolo Blahnik is much beloved of the ladies but he hasn't done much for the men lately.That's about to change. Vogue UK reports that Manolo has created a six-piece collection for men. The designs that Vogue shows are not for the average man. Sure, the red Oxford isn't too far out there but it would take a special man to pull off the leopard-print sandal or the lace-up peep-toe slingback. The collection should be out in stores in February.

Think Manolo is the only one with daring designs for men's shoes? Check out more intriguing men's shoe options in the gallery below.

Gallery: Luxurious Men's Shoes

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Tags: fashion, manolo blahnik, men, menswear, shoes

The Manolo Candle

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Fashion sites recently buzzed with the news that the illustrious Manolo Blahnik wasn't completely happy with the "Sex and the City" phenomenon that led to his shoes having increased name recognition. Apparently the fact that most people now know his name is somehow offensive to him as he has been quoted as saying that the show led to a vulgarization of his name. Manolo is not above using his own name for increased profit, now, for fans of the shoe there is a Manolo candle. What does Manolo smell like? It has notes of fig, ivy, violet, chocolate and musk. The candle which comes in a brushed glass holder with a big black Manolo logo on it. The mineral wax candle sells for $75. Ironically this type of lower-priced Manolo offering could be a big hit with the "vulgar" hordes he decries who can't spend a few hundred dollars on shoes but still want something with the Manolo name.

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Tags: candle, manolo blahnik

Estee Lauder Oscar Swag

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping, Cosmetics and Fragrance

And the Oscar swagfest begins... Estee Lauder has announced their 2006 Estee Lauder Luxury Beauty Spa Experience for nominees to indulge, relax and prepare for their big night with a spa experience. The Estee Lauder "Dream Team" will travel to each nominee and let them choose a customized spa day. Those in need of a little boost can check out the Perfectionist Power Facial by Dr. Jay Calvert which includes a light laser procedure and then a Power Patch placed on the area around the eye for 20 minutes. And for sunless tan addicts (like Charlize Theron) there is new Winning Glow Tanning Treatment which provides a full face and body exfoliation and bronzing with Estee Lauder's sunless tanners. A Bentley Continental Flying Spur will transport nominees to and from their Spa appointments and chauffeur the Estee Lauder Dream Team to the nominees on location. And of course there is a swag bag which includes Estee Lauder products, Manolo Blahnik sandals, Michael Kors sunglasses, a tiger's eye necklace, a set of Harcourt black crystal wine goblets and La Grande Dame Veuve Clicquot champagne (very similar to last year's offering).

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Tags: baccarat, celebrity, estee lauder, EsteeLauder, manolo blahnik, michael kors, oscar, schwag, swag, veuve cliquot

Rose Manolo Blahnik Shoes

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Forget long-stemmed roses which only wither and die. How about these roses for Valentine's Day. These black satin Manolo Blahnik shoes have three pink enamel roses along the T-strap. The shoe is a 3.5" heel and has an adjustable ankle strap and a matching rosy interior. At $815 they are pricier than the long-stemmed dozen but will last a lot longer.

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Tags: manolo blahnik, romance, rose shoes, RoseShoes, valentine's day