Black Suede Manolo Blahnik Heels
View Similar Items
Black Suede Manolo Blahnik Heels
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 40 1/2 (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: 223910324411stDibs: AU140403435642
Manolo Blahnik
There may be no designer with as wide a breadth of references as the fashion and footwear icon Manolo Blahnik, whose stated sources of inspiration for the creation of his sublime shoes include — but are not limited to — Diana Vreeland, ancient Greece, 21st-century architecture, Spanish cinema and Piet Mondrian.
It’s a fittingly robust list for someone who has spent a lifetime in the self-described “pursuit of beauty.”
Born in 1942 in Spain’s Canary Islands, Blahnik had an early exposure to shoemaking: During World War II, his designer-shoe-loving mother enlisted a local cobbler to teach her to make her own footwear from available materials. The young Blahnik was intrigued.
After briefly studying law in Switzerland with the intention of becoming a diplomat, Blahnik moved to Paris, where he took a job in a vintage clothing shop while studying art at École des Beaux-Arts as well as set design at the art school of the Louvre. It wasn’t until years later, however, that he would realize his calling as a shoe designer. In the late 1960s, Blahnik relocated to London, where he worked for both the Sunday Times and Vogue. In the early 1970s, the renowned American Vogue editor Diana Vreeland saw his sketches and urged him to pursue footwear.
After a debut collection for celebrated fashion designer Ossie Clark — featuring models that Blahnik had gotten to know through his work in the fashion industry, among them Twiggy — received acclaim, he created footwear for illustrious dressmaker Jean Muir and apprenticed with professional shoemakers in London to perfect his craft. By 1973 he had bought out the shoe boutique Zapata and made it his own. Bloomingdale’s introduced him to the American market with a collection a few years later.
Vintage Manolo Blahnik shoes are famous for their theatricality, as the designer is well known for the whimsical, fantastical elements he brings to footwear, often in an explosive palette. “I have always approached color in a bold way, from all angles and variations,” he once said. “Always searching for the poetry of an impossible color.” Tack on teetering height as a trademark that took shape from early on.
“Those poor girls couldn’t walk properly, but people loved it,” the designer recalled of his early models. “Sir Cecil Beaton said to me, ‘Is this a new way of walking?’” To take it from pop culture, it indeed might have been: People are still talking about the night that Bianca Jagger dazzled, horseback, at Studio 54 in a Halston dress and Blahnik shoes on her 30th birthday, and, decades later, the footwear icon was rendered a household name during the long-running television series Sex and the City.
Today, Manolo Blahnik remains a virtual synonym for luxury shoes. Find a range of his footwear and handbags on 1stDibs.
- Valentino Black/Grey Leather, Suede and Mesh Bounce Low Top Sneakers Size 39By ValentinoLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Coming in a classic silhouette, these designer sneakers are a seamless combination of luxury, comfort, and style. These sneakers are finished with signature details and comfortable i...Category
2010s Italian Shoes
- Christian Louboutin Black Leather and Calfhair Smoking Slippers Size 43By Christian LouboutinLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2A perfect blend of luxury, style, and comfort, these designer smoking slippers are made using quality materials and can be paired with a host of outfits from your wardrobe. Includes...Category
2010s Italian Moccasins
- Jimmy Choo Beige Lace and Patent Leather Kayden Ankle Strap Platform Sandals SizBy Jimmy ChooLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Coming from the house of Jimmy Choo, these nude Kayden sandals are set on a platform sole and slender heels. It comes with a delicate beige lace body and detailed with patent leather...Category
2010s Italian High Heels
- Miu Miu Beige Patent Leather Crystal Embellished Pointed Toe Pumps Size 37By Miu MiuLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Make a chic style statement with these designer pumps. They showcase sturdy heels and durable soles, perfect for your fashionable outings! Includes Original Box, tips, Original DustbagCategory
2010s Italian Heels
- Gucci Black Leather Web Lace Up Sneakers Size 45.5By GucciLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Coming in a classic silhouette, these designer sneakers are a seamless combination of luxury, comfort, and style. These sneakers are finished with signature details and comfortable i...Category
2010s Italian Shoes
- Bottega Veneta Lilac Intrecciato Leather Lido Slide Sandals Size 38By Bottega VenetaLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2One of the most hot-selling designs, the Bottega Veneta Lido sandals adorn the feet of top celebrities and influencers. These beauties have been crafted from leather in a COLOR hue t...Category
2010s Italian Sandals