10 Facts About Manolo Blahnik

Manolo Blahnik's high heels are one of the most coveted and iconic shoes in the world. But there’s much more to the designer and his shoes that meets the eye. Keep reading for some interesting facts about Manolo Blahnik.

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1. Blahnik’s Beginnings

Manolo Blahnik's fashion sense came from his mother, she had a penchant for creating Catalan espadrilles. In fact, the designer said, "I’m sure I acquired my interest in shoes genetically or at least through my fingers when I was allowed to touch them as they were made,". 

As a child, Manolo invented footwear for dogs, cats and lizards from ribbons, lace and foil from cigarette blocks. 

2. He Brought The Stilleto Back

In the 1970s, trendy footwear consisted of chunky platforms primarily. What’s more, making designer shoes on a large scale was not only impractical but unprofitable. So, Manolo Blahnik created a sleek stiletto heel that was sexy and still comfortable enough for everyday wear. The BB Pump quickly gained popularity against all odds. By the 80’s, his shoes were found on the runways of high fashion designers like Calvin Klein, Yves Saint Laurent, Issac Mizrahi, and more.  

FUN FACT: Did you know? Salvatore Ferragamo invented the Stilleto heel. Learn more interesting facts about Ferragamo. 

3. Sex and the City Famous

In the 90’s, a designer didn’t ‘make it’ until they were featured on the Sex And The City. Manolo Blahnik’s became the ‘it’ heel after Carrie Bradshaw professed her love for Blahnik heels. But it wasn’t just one scene or an episode, the fictional character developed a fanatical devotion to everything Monolo Blahniks. The fame from the show overwhelmed the designer, who was shocked that so many people would line up in department stores to get their shoes autographed by him. In fact, in the year 2000, 30,000 pairs of Manolo Blahniks were sold each year at luxury prices. 

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4. Manolo Blahnik Has A Documentary

The film, Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards offers a rare glimpse into the life of the Spanish designer, who really did begin his sartorial career by making shoes for lizards out of Cadbury wrappers when he was a child. Hence, the title. The film shows Manolo’s love for his craft,  "My joy in life is spending time in the factories, you see," Blahnik says. "It is quite sad to say that, but this is the only thing I love."

5. He Has Collaborated With Other High Fashion Designers

Manolo Blahnik has worked on most of his designs, solely by himself (pun intended!). However, he is known to collaborate with other high fashion designers like Calvin Klein, Isaac Mizrahi, and John Galliano, amongst others.

6. He Owns Over 10,000 Pairs

Yes, that’s right, Manolo Blahnik lives with over 10,000 pairs of his own designs in his English home. 

7. Manolo Blahnik Designed Shoes for Hollywood Film: Marie Antoinette

When film director Sofia Coppola was asked about Marie Antoinette’s wardrobe. The answer was simple: Let them wear Manolo Blahniks! 

Blahnik looked at old artwork of the French queen’s fashion and designed similar shoes with a modern, Manolo twist. He eventually designed hundreds of custom-made pairs for the movie. 

8. Manolo Blahnik Men’s Shoes

In the early 70’s, Blahnik designed men’s shoes for a London boutique called Zapata. In 1972, Blahnik landed the opportunity of crafting shoes for an Ossie Clark fashion show. Celebrities and socialites flocked to the Zapata shop to pick up pairs of his shoes. 

However, he admits that enjoys creating women’s high heels far more than men’s shoes. 

9. Adored By Famous Fashionistas Everywhere

Everyone knows that Manolo Blahnik’s are glamorous and chic yet comfortable enough to strut in. Some of these celebrities include Iman, Lauren Bacall, Bianca Jagger, Jane Birkin and, even Rihanna. In his film, Blahnik is seen collaborating with Rihanna, whose face lights up once she sees the denim wash, crotch-high boots dreamed up by Blahnik. "I love a shoe that can make another girl jealous.”

10. Hangisi High Heels

The highly coveted Hangisi heels feature a signature Swarovski crystal buckle with an average of 144 stones. The name literally translates to ‘which one’ in Turkish, but according to the shoemaker, he thought the name sounded romantic. 

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Where To Buy Manolo Blahniks

Finding authentic designer shoes can be difficult when the markets are flooded with inauthentic items. That’s why Luxity prides itself on providing 100% authentic pre-owned designer shoes, handbags, watches, clothes and more. Shop online or visit us at one of our three boutiques to shop till you drop!