The Manolo Blahnik x Emilia Wickstead Collection - My Favorite Shoes and How I’d Style Them
Sketches by Manolo Blahnik
When the team from Emilia Wickstead informed me of their new collaboration with legendary shoe designer Manolo Blahnik, I hopped straightaway to check it out.
Now this will reveal my poor knowledge of shoe fashion history, but I mostly knew of Manolo Blahnik by three things; Carrie Bradshaw’s exclamation “You can take my Fendi baguette, you can take my ring and my watch, but please don't take my Manolo Blahniks!” (A quote I heard woefully late in 2023 when I watched Sex and the City for the first time), the delectable, Rococo-inspired designs in the movie Marie Antoinette, and the image of Bianca Jagger on a horse in Studio 54 (I fell down a Studio 54 rabbit trail after listening to an episode on it by Stuff You Should Know.)
I’ve worn a pair once on set. They struck me as unexpectedly comfortable. (When it comes to shoes, go comfortable or don’t bother.)
The name Manolo Blahnik has always existed on the fringes of my knowledge on designer shoes, but as I studied the new collection, I decided to look into the history of the man himself. What I’ve discovered has turned my appreciation for his sometimes whimsical, sometimes sexy, and always timeless designs into an open admiration for the designer. Consequently, his shoes have become even more iconic in my eyes.
A still from the movie Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes For Lizards overlaid with a quote from his interview with The Guardian.
This new collection is an elegant marriage between the Italian craftsmanship and comfort that makes Manolo’s so superior amongst luxury shoes, and Emilia Wickstead’s refined patterns and colors.
Speaking of the latter, I learned of her work through the striking new uniforms she designed for Air New Zealand. (This is thanks to that one night I randomly decided to compare airliner uniforms around the world.) I liked Emilia Wickstead’s choice to be culturally-meaningful and bold. I’ve also recently discovered that many of the classy looks worn by the UK Royal Family are due to Wickstead’s custom designs.
After my dive into designer shoe history, I returned to scan the new collaboration with fresh eyes and deeper appreciation.
Now the fun begins.
Here are my three favorites from the collection, and three outfit ideas for each pair. I’ve done some lo-fi photoshopping (ahem, copy and paste) and put together some looks. It’s all linked below.
Maysli Shoe in Chocolate Satin
The understated elegance and rich color is just delectable. The slingback design keeps it just versatile enough to wear with both upscale and daily looks.
Maysli Shoe in Blue & Black Striped Taffeta Faille
I love this combination of sky blue and dark brown. The Emilia Wickstead pattern choice keeps it sophisticated while still whimsical.
Lurumi Shoe in Black Double Warp Floral
It’s the slim strap and subtle textured fabric that does it for me.
So chic, so feminine, and makes your foot look as dainty as Cinderella’s.
Once your eyes are open to the magnificent world of shoes, you’ll never see a pair with indifferent eyes again.