MANLO BLAHNIK turquoise patent leather CHAOS Sandals Shoes 38
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Zürich, CH
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Zürich, Switzerland
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- GIANVITO ROSSI petrol blue suede VERSILIA 20 Sandals Shoes 38By Gianvito RossiLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Gianvito Rossi Versilia 20 ankle strap sandals in petrol blue suede with block heel. Brand new. Measurements Imprinted Size 38 Shoe Size 38 Inside Sole 25cm (9.8in) W...Category
2010s Shoes
- AQUAZZURA blue suede MIRAGE Ankle Strap Sandals Shoes 39.5By AquazzuraLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Aquazzura Mirage ankle-strap sandals in blue suede with tan braided lace-up detail. Have been worn once and are in excellent condition. Measurements Imprinted Size 3...Category
2010s Sandals
- GIANVITO ROSSI azur blue suede GIANTVITO 105 Pumps Shoes 38By Gianvito RossiLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Gianvito Rossi Gianvito 105 pointed-toe pumps in azur blue suede. Have been worn and are in excellent condition. Come with dust bag. Mea...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Shoes
- RENE CAOVILLA cobalt blue suede ILLUSION LASER-CUT Pumps Shoes 38.5By René CaovillaLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic René Caovilla Illusion laser-cut pointed-toe pumps in cobalt blue suede and nude mesh. Brand new. Measurements Imprinted Size 38.5 Shoe Size 38.5 Inside Sole 25.5cm ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Shoes
- CHANEL blue & black leather Espadrilles Flats Shoes 37By ChanelLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Chanel CC Espadrilles in blue and black lambskin and a classic beige raffia and rubber sole. The design features a scalloped cut-o...Category
2010s Shoes
- SALVATORE FERRAGAMO dark blue suede Platform Pumps Shoes 7.5By Salvatore FerragamoLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Salvatore Ferragamo hidden platform pumps in navy blue suede with a patent leather heel. Have been worn once inside and are in virtually new condition. Measurements ...Category
2010s Shoes
- Ladies Gucci Deep Cobalt 4" Malaga Kid High Pumps Shoes Size 41 Made in ItalyBy GucciLocated in Tustin, CAClassic GUCCI closed toe, spiked high heeled pumps in Malaga kid leather, "Deep Cobalt" color are size 41, with 95 mm high heels (Approximately 4 inches). Never worn, with original G...Category
2010s Italian High Heels
- OLD CELINE PHOEBE PHILO blue pony hair grosgrain ribbon slip on flats EU37.5By CelineLocated in Hong Kong, NTOLD CELINE PHOEBE PHILO blue pony hair grosgrain ribbon slip on flats EU37.5 Reference: AEMA/A00012 Brand: Celine Designer: Phoebe Philo Model: Pony loafer Material: Leather Co...Category
2010s Italian Brogues
- GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI 2019 Tara sky blue glitter square toe chunky heel sandals EU39By Giuseppe ZanottiLocated in Hong Kong, NTGIUSEPPE ZANOTTI 2019 Tara sky blue glitter square toe chunky heel sandals EU39 GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI FROM THE 2019 COLLECTION Tara heels. Sky blue course glitter covered leather. Square...Category
21st Century and Contemporary High Heels
- new VERSACE Runway Technicolor Baroque open round toe block heel sandals EU37By Versace, Donatella VersaceLocated in Hong Kong, NTnew VERSACE Runway Technicolor Baroque open round toe block heel sandals EU37 Reference: TGAS/A05125 Brand: Versace Designer: Donatella Versace Model: Mule Collection: 2019 - Runway ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian High Heels
- new DRIES VAN NOTEN Runway slate blue rose print block heel ankle boot EU36By Dries van NotenLocated in Hong Kong, NTnew DRIES VAN NOTEN Runway slate blue rose print block heel ankle boot EU36 Reference: TGAS/B01300 Brand: Dries Van Noten Designer: Dries Van...Category
2010s Italian Boots
- new BALENCIAGA Demna blue lycra high heeled sock boots EU38 Kim KardashianBy BalenciagaLocated in Hong Kong, NTnew BALENCIAGA Demna blue lycra high heeled sock boots EU38 Kim Kardashian Reference: TGAS/D00194 Brand: Balenciaga Designer: Demna Model: Sock boot Material: Jersey Color: Blue Pattern: Solid Closure: Stretchy Lining: Black Leather Extra Details: Round toe. Signature Balenciaga sock...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Boots