Fashion

MANOLO ON THE SOUL OF MY SHOES

03/31/2018

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I’ve never been one to buy into the “should have” lists- especially ones that come with an expiration date. The idea of telling someone that they’re behind in life because they haven’t picked a signature fragrance by their 25th Birthday, or haven’t invested in an expensive arm chair by their 30th, has always rubbed me a little the wrong way. Mostly because it makes me feel like I’m behind the 8 Ball or that I’ve failed as an adult woman who still occasionally browses through the racks of Forever 21. What can I say, I’m a sucker for a bargain!

If you’ve ever taken the time to actually click through any of these articles, you’ll almost always find a classic pair of Manolo Blahnik BB’s listed as a must-have. And though I buck the idea of someone telling me by what age I should own things entirely, I will fess up that I am a proud owner of a pair of the black leather pumps, and the story of how I bought them may just be my favorite fashion memory of all time.

A fun fact that most people don’t know- I hold a degree in Fashion Marketing and Merchandising. When I was earning this degree- somewhere in between working as the Student Producer for the end of year Spring runway shows and making a dress out of tin foil and other recyclables for my final project- I wrote a paper on the life, career and creative vision of Mr. Manolo Blahnik himself. He tops my list of favorite designers; in part because of my obsession at the time with Carrie Bradshaw and Sex & the City, and in part because his career as a designer began with him making shoes for the lizards in his parent’s garden out of tin foil. (Clearly we share a thing for tin foil.)

Regardless of my feelings for these “listicles,” I always knew I would treat myself to a pair of Manolos some day. To me, they were the epitome of an “I made it” purchase. One that I was saving as a treat for a time in my life and career where I felt I deserved to frivolously spend that much on myself. So in 2014, when I was invited to drop by Barney’s New York in Chicago for a personal appearance by Mr. Blahnik, I knew that time had arrived.

To say that Manolo Blahnik was gracious doesn’t do him justice. To say that I was star-struck is an even bigger understatement. Surrounded by my colleagues and my boss (who is also a dear friend), Mr. Blahnik and I discussed my love for his shoes and his feelings on Chicago, while he ever-so-kindly signed “To Natalie, Manolo Blahnik” on the sole (or should I say soul?) of my newly purchased BB’s. And I would never be the same again.

To you, Mr. Blahnik- I thank you for giving me the fashion memory of a lifetime. I thank you for your beautiful shoes that make me feel like a million dollars whenever I slip them on. I thank you being the saving grace among the “should haves”. And I thank you for being just eccentric enough to also believe that tin foil is a good idea to use in a design.