Manolo Blahnik Metallic Gold Reptile Embossed Leather Sandals With Flowers
View Similar Items
Manolo Blahnik Metallic Gold Reptile Embossed Leather Sandals With Flowers
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 37 (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Possibly worn once if at all.
- Seller Location:Portland, OR
- Reference Number:Seller: 72811stDibs: LU22324108531
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.
- 1980s Manolo Blahnik London Shoes Rare Vintage gold Metallic Strappy Heels 39By Manolo BlahnikLocated in Portland, ORThese Manolo Blahnik vintage shoes came from an estate of high end designer clothing and accessories from the 1980's. These gold metallic shoes are labe...Category
1980s Italian Shoes
- Salvatore Ferragamo Vintage Gold Silk Scarf Print Slingback Leather ShoesBy Salvatore FerragamoLocated in Portland, ORThese lovely scarf print Salvatore Ferragamo silk and leather slingback heels have a slightly squared pointed toe. We actually had the matching scarf to these shoes but sold it a cou...Category
1990s Italian Heels
- Jimmy Choo Black Satin Shoes Rhinestones Feathers Heels Size 37By Jimmy ChooLocated in Portland, ORThese black satin Jimmy Choo shoes are perfect for the holidays! These designer heels have pretty black feathers and rhinestones and are labeled a size ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoes
$150 Sale Price50% Off - Jimmy Choo Shoes D'Orsay Pumps in Glitter Champagne Size 37.5 W/ Box & BagBy Jimmy ChooLocated in Portland, ORThese are beautiful Jimmy Choo Logan Shoes in size 37.5 with peep toes. These d'orsay peep toe pumps come with their original dust bag and box. ...Category
2010s Italian Heels
- Barneys Fuzzy Blue Pony Fur Shoes Mules w/ Bows & 3.75 Inch Heels in Size 37By Barneys New YorkLocated in Portland, ORThese Barney's New York blue pony fur backless mules or slides have leather trim heels and pretty leather bows. These shoes are labeled a size 37 and were made in Italy. These are 3....Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoes
$100 Sale Price66% Off - Jimmy Choo Abel White Leather Shoes with Silver Studs Unworn Size 37.5By Jimmy ChooLocated in Portland, ORThese beautiful Jimmy Choo white leather Abel heels with silver studs are new in their original box. The shoes are marked a size 37.5 and have 4" heels, and are 3 and 1/8" wide at the widest part of the soles. The box is marked 133Abel Nappa W/Mic.Degr.STD - whte/silver. These incredible shoes originally retailed for over $700. These would make the perfect bridal shoe...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoes
- Michael Kors Collection Size 8 Gold Leather Chain Link High Heel Sandals / ShoesBy Michael KorsLocated in San Diego, CAFabulous MICHAEL KORS COLLECTION Runway gold leather + metal chain link high heel open toe sandals! Features a comfortable gold leather and elastic sling back. Heavy duty gold chain ...Category
2010s Italian High Heels
- 1960s Gold Leather Size 6 N Knee High Vintage 60s Mod Retro Go-Go Boots ShoesLocated in San Diego, CAAmazing mid - late 60s gold leather go-go boots ! Features matte gold metallic. Leather sole. Zipper up the inner leg. Can easily be dressed up or down. Great with a skirt, dress, shorts, or tucked into skinny jeans. A lovely authentic pair of gogo boots...Category
1960s American Boots
$656 Sale Price25% Off - New 1970s Connie Smith Bullocks Wilshire Size 7.5 Gold Metallic Strappy HeelsLocated in San Diego, CASexy vintage never worn CONNIE SMITH for KIMMEL at BULLOCK'S WILSHIRE gold metallic Size 7.5 strappy sandals / high heels! Gold metallic leather adds just the right amount of splash ...Category
1970s American High Heels
$600 Sale Price20% Off - Pair of Art Noveau Antique Sterling Silver Shoe Buckles c1890 by William KerrLocated in valatie, NYPair of Art Noveau Antique Sterling Silver Shoe Buckles c1890 by William Kerr. The buckles are oval and the fronts have engraved decoration, with a ...Category
Late 19th Century American Shoes
- Balenciaga Stretch Knit Knife Boot Red 36 FRBy BalenciagaLocated in DOUBLE BAY, NSWBrand: Balenciaga Product: Stretch Knit Knife Bootie Size: 36 Fr Colour: Red Heel: 11 Cm Material: Stretch Knit: 65% Viscose, 30% Polyammide, 5% Elastan Condition: Prist...Category
2010s Shoes
- Balenciaga Printed Leather Pumps 40 FRBy BalenciagaLocated in DOUBLE BAY, NSWBrand: Balenciaga Product: Printed Leather Pumps Size: 40 Fr Colour: Grey & Multi-Tone Print Heel: 11.5 Cm Material: Smooth Leather Condition: Pristine; Never Worn Acco...Category
2010s Shoes