A banana plantation in the Canary Islands is not the first place most people would associate with high fashion, but that’s where acclaimed shoe designer Manolo Blahnik grew up. Based in London since 1968, Blahnik left his home in Santa Cruz de la Palma in 1965 to study architecture at the University of Geneva and art at L’École du Louvre in Paris.

This unique confluence of rural upbringing and cosmopolitan interests endeared Blahnik to friends like Paloma Picasso who, in 1971, introduced him to Diana Vreeland, the then-editor of “Vogue.” “Your shoes in these drawings are so amusing,” she famously told Blahnik after looking through his portfolio. “Go make shoes.”

Make shoes he did, designing for a boutique in Chelsea called Zapata, which he bought and renamed after himself in 1973. The financing for the purchase was the result of Blahnik’...

Blahnik’s shoes have always had one foot, if you will, in fashion and the other in architecture. A very early design from 1971 for Kansai Yamamoto featured a brick-shaped shoe made out of cork and covered in patent leather. In 1976, a shoe called Guge featured straps that were inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

At other times in his career, Blahnik has treated his shoes almost as figures, bedecking a simple blue mule from the 1980s, for example, with a contrasting coral necklace on the vamp. His slides and slippers often drip with costume jewels until they resemble a Miriam Haskell or Trifari confection from the 1930s, ’40s, or ’50s. No wonder noted collectibles author Judith Miller has described Blahnik’s shoes as “jewelry for the feet.”

One of the last one-man operations in the fashion industry, Blahnik is known for his craftsmanship and attention to even the smallest details. Despite his success, he carves the wooden lasts (or molds) for his shoes himself, as well as the heels. And even though he has a factory in Italy turning out his high-heel pumps, mid-heel halters, and sandals with vine-like ankle wraps, the handwork on Manolos, as they are collectively known, is so extensive that less than 100 pair are produced a day.

Over the years, Manolos have accented the fashions of everyone from Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior to Calvin Klein and Isaac Mizrahi. Clients have included two of Mick Jaggar’s wives (Bianca and Jerry Hall), Princess Di, Jackie O., Madonna, and Marge Simpson who, though not a client in the strict sense, reveals the extent of Blahnik’s reach into popular culture. Indeed, the obsession of the Carrie Bradshaw character in “Sex and the City,” which debuted in 1998, made Manolo Blahnik a household name.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Interviews & Articles

Sex, Power, and High Heels: An Interview with Shoe Curator Elizabeth Semmelhack

I came to the Bata Shoe Museum as a cultural art historian with a strong interest in things that are made for immediate consumptio… [more]

Shoe Collector Jonathan Walford on Why Footwear Is So Seductive

I moved to Toronto in the early 1980s because I wanted to work at the Royal Ontario Museum, which had a costume and textiles depar… [more]

Our Bodies, Our Stilettos

Behold the power of the stiletto heel. Despite all the advances women have made, it's one fetish we can't seem to escape, a parado… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

All About Shoes

All About Shoes

From Canada's Bata Shoe Museum comes a visually impressive exhibit focusing on the history of the shoe from traditi… [read review or visit site]

Virtual Shoe Museum

Virtual Shoe Museum

This virtual museum from Shoe Icons Publishing showcases over 800 pairs of shoes and related reference information.… [read review or visit site]



Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 98 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Women's Manolo Blahnik Silver Dress Sandals$1k Worn Once Manolo Blahnik Bb Cobalt Blue Suede Pointed Toe Pump Tpf 36.5Manolo Blahnik Black Bb Patent Leather Point Toe Pumps $595 Size 39~ Manolo Blahnik Neon Pink Patent Leather (sexy Electric Hue!) 37.5Manolo Blahnik Cuttabolo 5.5Manolo Blahnik Silver Metallic Leather & Mesh Bb Pumps $685 Size 36.5Manolo Blahnik Black Bb Patent Leather Point Toe Pumps $595 Size 37.5Manolo Blahnik Mary Jane Black Patent Heels Eur 42Tough-yet-sexy!***$515 Manolo Blahnik Black Leather "caged" X-strap Heels 38Manolo Blahnik Patent Leather Insert Ankle Cuff Heels 38.5 Hand Made In ItalyManolo Blahnik Beige Leather High Heels W/dustbag Sz 36 Us 6 Manolo Blahnik Bb Polished Cork Pump Sz. 40 $1065Manolo Blahnik Black Fersen Translucent Suede-trimmed Sandals $765 Size 38Manolo Blahnik Callamu Black Crocodile Heel Sandal,classic And Collectible 38.5 Brand New Manolo Blahnik Carolyne Suede High-heel Halter/slingback Green Sz: 41Manolo Blahnik Leather Sandal With Flowers - Kitten Heel Thongs Sz 40.5*manolo Blahnik**nwob**msrp $795**cork Strappy Sandals W/heel Sz 41Elegant Strappy Manolo Blahnik 39Auth Manolo Blahnik Taupe Suede Pointed Toe Kitten Heels Sz 39 9 Manolo Blahnik Black Leather Pointed Toe Grommet Detail Heels Shoes Sz 38 8Manolo Blahnik Pink Berry Print Pointed Toe Mules Pumps Sz 39.5 9.5 BoxManolo Blahnik Shoes Europe Size 39 Us 9Manolo Blahnik Violet Silver Snakeskin D'orsay Pumps Size 38 1/2 Manolo Blahnik Authentic Dark Red Wine Leather Booties Shoes Sz: 35.5 Us: 5.5Manolo Blahnik, Black, Patent Leather, Size 38.5Authentic Manolo Blahnik Shoes- Silver - Size 10100% Authentic Manolo Blahnik Silver Sandals 6Manolo BlahnikManolo Blahnik Black Kitten Heels With Tie Bows Size 39 Us 8 1/2Manolo Blahnik 37 1/2Manolo Blahnik Closef Toe Open Back Slide. Kitten Herl Sz 40 Us 9. Sexy!Manolo Blahnik Nude Leather Pointed Toe Carolyne Slingback Heels Pumps Sz 39 9Manolo Blahnik Pink Leather Bow Detail Pointed Toe Flats Sz 37.5 7.5Manolo Blahnik Tan Pointed Toe Ankle Tie Leather Mules Sz 39 9Manolo Blahnik Pumps Cheetah Pony Hair Leather Bow Kitten Heels 37 1/2 AuthenticManolo Blahnik Tan Bow Laces Embellished Pointed Toe 2" Heel Slingbacks Sz 9m Beautiful Manolo Blahnik Spanish Style Sling-back Stilettos Embroidered 39 / 8Manolo Blahnik *authentic* Hot Pink Patent Leather Strappy Heel Sz 39 9 *exc*Manolo Blahnik Hangisi Satin Pump, Cobalt BlueManolo Blahnik Black Leather Slingback Point Toe Pump Shoe 37Manolo Blahnik Gold Leather Pointed Toe T Strap Pumps Heels Sz 39 9Manolo Blahnik Carolyne Low Heel ,cream Leather, New,never Worn, Size 39Manolo Blahnik Silver Snakeskin Embossed Open Toe Sandal Heels Size 36.5 New$1878 Manolo Blahnik Jeweled Rhinestone Silver Janet Wedding Shoes 37.5 7.5Manolo Blahnik Black Slingbacks Size 38 7.5 M Excellent ConditionManolo Blahnik Brown Suede Ankle Booties Shoes Sz 38.5 8.5 M $650 Retail Manolo Blahnik Python Sandals Size 7.5Manolo Blahnik Summer Slide Pumps Sz 35 1/2Manolo Blahnik Capretto Bianco Size 7 Nib M Perfro Vernice NeroManolo Blahnik ShoesManolo Blahnik Black Leather Point Toe Classic Heel Italian Shoe 37 1/2Manolo Blahnik Black Suede Leather Open Toe Kitten Heel Slingback Sandal 40Manolo Blahnik Dark Navy Leather Strappy Open Toe Slide Sandal 40 1/2Manolo Blahnik Black Suede Leather Point Toe Classic Heel Italian Shoe 37 1/2Manolo Blahnik ShoesManolo Blahnik Green Snakeskin Strappy Heels Size 37.5Authentic Manolo Blahnik Women's Heels 37.5/7.5Manolo Blahnik Heel With Cutouts - Size 41 - Gently Worn In BoxManolo Blahnik 38Manolo Blahnik 6.5/36.5 Gold Metallic Sandals Shoes Flats

Recent News: Manolo Blahnik Shoes

Source: Google News

Arethusa al tavolo Wine Bar/Restaurant in Bantam Is Fabulous, Food Sublime
Litchfield County Times, June 18th

An appetizer, scrambled eggs in their shells 'Manolo Blahnik Style, with lobster, shaved truffles, chives, Grey Goose creme and Osetra caviar. Laurie Gaboardi-The Litchfield County Times. View and purchase photos. Arethusa al tavolo, the wine bar and ...Read more

Fashion Diary Update: June/July
Nouse, June 18th

With the help of Manolo Blahnik's CEO George Malkemus, her line will be more heritage than feathers. Launching exclusively at Nordstrom, with prices around the $200 mark, we may look rather than touch. Finally, nine of France's most luxurious brands...Read more

Just for kicks: shoe swap hits town
Winnipeg Free Press, June 18th

Is your footwear wish list more likely to include the names Michael Jordan and LeBron James than Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik? Do you think nothing of spending hundreds, even thousands, of dollars on a pair -- make that multiple pairs -- of shoes that ...Read more

Patricia Field: 'Sex And The City is a religion'
Telegraph.co.uk, June 17th

Sex And The City's legendary stylist Patricia Field on taking the show's costumes on a world tour, John Galliano and how it feels to be the woman who made Manolo Blahnik world famous. BY Bibby Sowray | 17 June 2013. Patricia with Roberto and Amadeo of ...Read more

Sarah Jessica Parker teams with Manolo Blahnik
Vancouver Sun, June 11th

Sarah Jessica Parker has signed up with Manolo Blahnik CEO George Malkemus to market her own line of shoes, plus handbags and trench coats. Need I explain that Parker's character on Sex and the City was obsessed with Blahnik shoes? The new line, to ...Read more

Manolo Blahnik Clarifies Recent SJP Coverage
PR Newswire (press release), June 7th

Following recent media reports and discussions on social media, Manolo Blahnik International Ltd would like to clarify that neither the company nor its founder, chairman and designer, Manolo himself, is involved in the recently announced partnership ...Read more

Step Into SJP's Shoes
Vogue.com, June 7th

Rather fittingly, Parker has chosen to collaborate on the range with George Malkemus, CEO of Manolo Blahnik - the label that, as Bradshaw, she helped put firmly on the fashion map. The accessories line will also feature an edit of bags and a few trench...Read more

Journalism's Louboutin Problem
Slate Magazine (blog), May 28th

inspired the blog Above the Law to dub her a “litigatrix,” and reported that “her shoes—which include pairs from designers Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin—are so legendary that everyone from the president down teases her about her footwear...Read more