Manolo Blahnik

[legaldiva]

I like the first slingbacks, but I'm not a fan of the "gunmetal" color leather.

 

[Echoes]

Not real wild about the three-strap, but the rest are OK. Overpriced though, I'm sure.

 

[luckyme]

talk about riding boot chic, I never thought I would see this...

Upscale Living Magazine
Friday, March 30, 2007 (Click here for full article)

STRAPPY OR SASSY, EVERY GIRL DESERVES A GREAT PAIR OF MANOLOS



Most females know who Manolo Blahnik is and for those who didn’t, Carrie Bradshaw reassured us that every woman needs a little self-indulgence every now and then.


Manolo Blahnik began his glamorous career in the 1970s designing shoes (opening his first shop in London’s Chelsea district) and today his name remains synonymous with the timeless beauty and exquisite design associated with Hollywood’s leading ladies.


While his name can be detected under most A-list actresses’ feet, the Manolo Blahnik business remains somewhat small with just one shop in London and a boutique in New York City. Blahnik still holds a hands-on approach to the business by creating the design, from sketch inception to advertising campaign.
Blahnik’s first collection was designed for Ossie Clark in 1972 and since then, the stylish shoes have graced the heels of such famous names as Biana Jagger, Princess Diana, Madonna. Today, some of the world's leading designer catwalks feature Manolo Blahnik shoes for their models, including Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Calvin Klein, John Galliano and Michael Kors.

Blahnik recreated period shoes for the movie “Marie Antoinette,” which was directed by Sofia Coppola and he has now introduced a new line of footwear made in northern Italy, outside Milan – equestrian riding paddock boots. There are seven different styles of the Manolo paddock boots — Ricko, Feba, Ary, Lera, Barro, Dory and Ebick - including alligator skin for the rider with especially discerning taste.

“As a kid when I was under 18, I used to ride, cared for horses and competed some,” said Patrick Doherty, who now has exclusive distribution for the Manolo Blahnik riding boots. “I was always involved in the horse crowd and have always kept in touch with people who ride.”

While attending a horse show in Palm Beach in 2006, Doherty knew the equestrian crowd would be the perfect clientele for a Manolo Blahnik pairing. “It occurred to me while attending a horse show last year in Wellington that the equestrian crowd, comprised of some of the most tapped-in fashionistas, would welcome a new footwear option, especially one designed by Manolo Blahnik,” Doherty said.

Doherty approached a friend who worked at Manolo Blahnik with the idea and the designer later devised eight styles for Doherty to be sold exclusively through his Equestrian Chic company.

“I had a friend who worked for Manolo Blahnik and I knew the brand was incredible,” he noted. “I saw there was truly a market for it. I was in the right place at the right time, I guess. I know the horse community so Manolo Blahnik gave me the distribution. He came up with the designs for the boots and I am able to distribute them through Equestrian Chic.”

Today, the Manolo Blahnik name has become known as a champion of timeless beauty and expertly crafted styles.

“The Manolo Blahnik paddock boots represent a marriage of fashion and equipment,” said Kim Jacobs, who rides at the Myopia Hunt and Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic with husband, Charles, an accomplished equestrian who has served on the United States Equestrian Team and is the executive vice president for the Boston Bruins. “I have always been a fan of Manolo Blahnik but I wasn’t sure the boots would be wide enough for me. I got the leopard boots, which are almost too pretty to ride in but also got the traditional Ebic and Barrow paddocks to ride with. They are a pretty shoe and very comfortable.”

For the crowd addicted to the famous strappy sandals, Manolo Blahnik’s equestrian line has already become a guilty pleasure.

“My next pair will be the Dory G. espresso alligator boots,” Jacobs said. “They are such a beautiful boot. The black patent leather boots are gorgeous with soft, nice leather. Manolo Blahnik really creates works of art.”

More information about Manolo Blahnik equestrian boots, which are priced from $995 (and range up to $5,500 for the top-of-the-line alligator paddock boot), can be found on Doherty’s website www.equestrianchic.com or by calling (646) 330-5362.

 

[- JMJ -]

Not saying that I approve, but the designers do this to themselves by pricing their items so obscenely high. NO pair of shoes is worth $400, $500, $700 or more. None. NO exceptions....

I doubt that there is more than $30 or so in materials in any pair of Manolo or CL shoes, and maybe another $40-$50 in labor. Even $200 would be a 100%+ markup. There is NO justification for $400 or more, not even the 'name'.

My sense of logic acknowledges that your statements are absolutely correct, but the visual desires surging through my mind tell me that I sure would like to have the CL’s pictured in your avatar – NO EXCEPTIONS. -

 

[Caffeine]

---neimanmarcus.com


---bergdorfgoodman.com

the purple pair is beautiful! is it platform? it's less like the traditional Manolos but they are so special!

 

[Caffeine]

The Manolo Spring Summer sale at their botique in NYC

you mean it is going on right now?

 

[PursePrincess]

YUp!!...I like the purple one too.....Classic and trendy at the same time!

 

[fashionispoison]

i want to get the mary jane peep toes

 

[Jetsetgirl]

I love those:

www.neimanmarcus.com

 

[Velony]

Love those too especially the peep toe mary janes.

 

[Mona13]

wow - LOVE those nude peep toe mary janes!! i just went to order them - but they are on back order until 12/07

 

[PursePrincess]

Love those too especially the peep toe mary janes.

Ditto

 

[guccigal07]

hi ladies, I'm back. I have a few shoes to post and a few comments to post.

I glanced on the thread the other day and saw a post that disturbed me....and I realized it was time.

So, I am going to bed now, but I will be posting some fun stuff soon.

 

[Guessgirl96]

I doubt that there is more than $30 or so in materials in any pair of Manolo or CL shoes, and maybe another $40-$50 in labor. Even $200 would be a 100%+ markup. There is NO justification for $400 or more, not even the 'name'.


Madden, Oh Deer, VS and others that knock-off designer brands are filling the marketplace need that the 'names' ignore. But I do think Madden got a little too close to the line recently.

You are probably right about the shoes costing around $80-$100 each to make. But then when you add up the cost for advertising, models, runway shows (not manolo specifically but most designers), then factor in that they dont sell as many pairs so they need a higher mark up, it ads up quick. I also know that from wholesale to retail the markup is around 250% depending on the designer. You also end up paying for the SAs which of course make more at a neimans store than at steve madden, and the boutiques in places like NY and La where space is very expensive.

I hate these prices too but I can see where they are coming from. Lets say a shoe costs $80 to make. I have no idea what advertising costs are but I'll add $20 per shoe, and then with a 100% markup to wholesale they come out to $200. With the final 250% markup it ends up being $500 which is around what these shoes cost.

 

[Zarina]

hi ladies, I'm back. I have a few shoes to post and a few comments to post.

I glanced on the thread the other day and saw a post that disturbed me....and I realized it was time.

So, I am going to bed now, but I will be posting some fun stuff soon.

Great to see you and your lovely shoes again

 

[leyla m.]

hi gucci!!!

 

[guccigal07]

thanks! I am going to post some good new ones!

 

[guccigal07]

just got these...this week....

 

[guccigal07]

these as well

 

[leyla m.]

gucci both of them are stunning!!