Manolo Blahnik Drawings

by Anna Wintour, Michael Roberts (Photographer)

"Manolo Blahnik's shoes are as good as sex. And they last longer."―Madonna Diane Von Furstenberg has more than eighty pairs; Paloma Picasso has been a fan since she was fourteen; Bianca Jagger and Kate Moss, to name just a few, are fellow addicts. For three decades, Blahnik's sense of the theatrical wedded to the finest materials and superlative craftsmanship have held the fashion world spellbound, and his creations have graced the catwalks of great designers from Yves Saint-Laurent to Isaac Mizrahi to John Galliano.

Here, collected together for the first time, are over one hundred exquisite drawings that Blahnik makes at the outset of the design process. These sketches are executed with such exuberance and deftness that they have become as sought after as the shoes themselves (they often fetch up to $15,000.00 at charity auctions). Inimitable in style, the drawings, beautifully reproduced in this book with special inks, vividly convey Blahnik's unique vision. Whether it's a Grecian sandal designed for Galliano, with a snake-like strap slithering up the calf, or an emerald- and bead-fringed satin mule, the seductive attention to detail in the drawings conjures up the shoe itself. Illuminating introductions by Anna Wintour and Michael Roberts explore why Manolo Blahnik's shoes inspire such passion, and these are complemented throughout the book by the words of admirers including Suzie Menkes, Donatella Versace, and David Hockney.

Michael Roberts also contributes a photographic essay showing Blahnik at work in his studio, making sketches, preparing the wooden lasts, and supervising the production of his shoes at his factories in Italy. A final "scrapbook" section includes Manolo Blahnik's own photographs of family, friends, and inspirational places. 150 illustrations, 120 in full color

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Art, Reference, Coffee Table Books

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Anna Wintour, OBE is a British fashion editor and the editor-in-chief of American Vogue, a position she has held since 1988. She became interested in fashion as a teenager. Her father, Charles, editor of the Evening Standard, often consulted with her on how to make the newspaper's coverage relevant to the youth of mid-1960s London. After dropping out of school at 16, she began a career in fashion journalism. Her career took her across the Atlantic, with stints at New York and House & Garden. She returned home for a year to turn around British Vogue, and later assumed control of the franchise's magazine in New York. She revived a stagnant publication, earning her wide acclaim in the industry.

Like one of her predecessors, Diana Vreeland, she has become a fashion icon. Her pageboy bob haircut and frequently-worn sunglasses have become a common sight in the front row of many fashion shows. Away from the cameras, she has become as much an institution in the fashion world as her magazine. Widely praised for her eye for fashion trends and support for younger designers, her aloof and demanding persona has earned her the nickname "Nuclear Wintour" and alienated some associates. She has also drawn both praise and criticism for her willingness to use the magazine and its cachet to shape the industry as a whole. Animal rights activists have also singled her out for her continued promotion of fur, and other critics have charged her with using the magazine to promote elitist views of femininity and beauty, focusing on rich and thin women.

A former personal assistant, Lauren Weisberger, wrote the 2003 bestselling roman à clef The Devil Wears Prada, later made into a successful film starring Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, a fashion editor widely believed to be based on Wintour. In 2009 she was herself the focus of a film, R.J. Cutler's documentary The September Issue, a documentary about the making of the magazine's landmark issue in September 2007. The film chronicles her work on the five-pound (2 kg) 840-page issue, the largest issue Vogue ever sent to press.

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since finishing Deborah Batterman's book Shoes Hair Nails I retrieved this little gem of a book which belongs to my daughter, but is a delight to look at.

There are few words but the quotes of those who love his shoes and the inspiration behind his designs. I don't have a shoe fetish but I love these drawings and the "art" of shoe-making.

A delight for scribblers, dessiners, shoe lovers or just an alternative book for the coffee table!

[Precious]

I haven't even read the book

[Adria 🌝 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous! Just received a used copy from eBay and I’m so glad it’s part of my collection. ❤️👠

[Manny Villa · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Yasmin Radwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvellous book for fashion lovers. A must buy

[The_reem · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's not a story it's kinda like a catalogue