Manolo Blahnik is a famous Spanish designer recognized for his luxurious footwear models for women. He was born on November 27, 1942, in Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain. After his studies he traveled to London in 1965, where he worked at a fashion boutique. By 1973, he was already opening his first store.
Manolo Blahnik unique and highly creative designs feature luxurious materials, glitter, and intricate details, such as beading and hand-stitched embroidery. His collections include pumps that are like stilettos but with a higher heel and some platform under the front sole. His shoes are known for their elegant and feminine styles. Among the famous women who have worn them are Princess Diana, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Rihanna.
Blahnik has received a multitude of awards for his work within the fashion industry, including the prestigious CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. He continues to design shoes for his brand, sold in department stores and luxury boutiques across the world.
We have put together a list of 15 things you did not know about Blahnik.
1. Upbringing
He was raised in a banana plantation and began to learn shoemaking at home.
2. Studies
His parents sent him to Switzerland to study at the University of Geneva, where he earned a degree in International Law and later in Literature.
3. Training
He continued training, now focused on art, at both the Louvre School and the School of Fine Arts in Paris. Entranced by the exoticism of the city, he eventually settled in London. There, he combined his experience as a clerk with his talent for writing articles for L’Uomo Vogue Italia.
4. The beginning
Paloma Picasso accompanied him to New York, where he met Vreeland (director of Vogue in 1971), who encouraged him to dedicate himself to shoe design. Manolo Blahnik’s persistence made his creations world-renowned in a relatively short time—only a decade.
5. Debut
He made his debut in 1971 creating designs for Ossie Clark.
6. Vogue Cover
In 1974, he was photographed by David Bailey for the cover of Vogue UK alongside actress Angelica Huston. This made Blahnik one of the few men to ever grace the cover of this magazine.
7. Studio 54
Bianca Jagger made an appearance at the iconic Studio 54 in New York riding a white horse and wearing Manolo Blahnik sandals.
8. Celebrities
Among the celebrities who have been his most faithful followers are Paloma Picasso, Bianca Jagger, Madonna, Lady Diana. Blahnik has also designed footwear for colleagues such as Calvin Klein, John Galliano, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, and Christian Dior.
9. North American Market
Between 1978 and 1979, his firm entered the North American market and opened its first store on Madison Avenue.
10. Manolo Blahnik Shoes for Men
In 1983, he carried out his first designs for men’s shoes.
11. The Simpsons
In 1991, his shoes made an appearance in an episode of the The Simpsons.
12. Nicknames
Anna Wintour, director of Vogue USA, calls him “the angel of fashion.” He likes to call himself a “shoe technician.”
13. Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts
In 2002, the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, awarded him the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts.
14. Manolo Blahnik Shoes
Manolo says that the shoes have taught him “to be patient, to be orderly in my thoughts.” Perhaps this is what makes Manolo Blahnik shoes timeless and authentic works of art.
15. Vogue Spain Retrospective
Vogue Spain organized a great retrospective of his work in 2017, which included a selection of about 212 shoes and 80 original drawings by the designer.
Today, at 80, Blahnik wants to continue working as long as he can. “My greatest successes are still ahead,” he said in an interview with The Guardian.
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