Manolo Blahnik Shoe Vintage Pump Gray Satin and Tulle Diamante Detail 39 / 9
View Similar Items
Manolo Blahnik Shoe Vintage Pump Gray Satin and Tulle Diamante Detail 39 / 9
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 39 (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Miami, FL
- Reference Number:Seller: MANOLO BLAHNIK GRAY DIAMANTE SHOE1stDibs: AU1003289893
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.
- Maison Martin Margiela Men's Sneaker Paint-Finish White 43By Maison Martin MargielaLocated in Miami, FLMaison Margiela men's white paint-finish sneaker. Rare to find this fabulous Maison Margiela sneaker is perfect for the summer season for a f...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Shoes
- Hermes Unisex Sherwood Socks in Bleu Denim CashmereBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers a pair of limited edition Hermes Sherwood plaid cashmere socks featured in Bleu Denim. Designed by Katie Scott. Each sock has a small Palladium plated rivet engrave...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Shoes
- Rene Caovilla Shoe Lace Slingback Faux Fur Leopard Heel 39.5 / 9.5 NewBy René CaovillaLocated in Miami, FLMightychic ooers Rene Caovilla beautiful nude and black lace slingbacks. Front is piped in leopard fur with a thin bow. Back strap and heel are leopard print fur. Absolutely sexy ...Category
2010s Italian Shoes
- Chanel Shoe Platform Clog Limited Edition Jewel Hardware 40.5 / 10.5 NewBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers limited edition Chanel clog shoes. Beige linen with iconic cap toe. Jewel accent is detailed with cabochons in muted shades with matte gold. Tiny diamantes accentua...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Shoes
- Maison Martin Margiela Men's Sneaker Gold Ombre Limited Edition 43By Maison Martin MargielaLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers Maison Martin Margiela men's Limited Edition Ombre Gold numbered sneaker. Rare to find this fabulous Maison Martin Margiela snea...Category
2010s Shoes
- Martin Maison Margiela Men's Sneaker Graffiti Print 43By Maison Martin MargielaLocated in Miami, FLGuaranteed authentic Maison Martin Margiela men's graffiti print sneaker. Rare to find this fabulous Maison Martin Margiela sneaker is perfect for th...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Shoes
- Chanel short ecru Shearling BootsLocated in Carnate, ITShort Boots Chanel. In shearling and ecru fabric. Italian number 37. Plateau 2 cm Heel 3.5 cm Used only for photo shoots. It missed a small stitching and some marks in the ankle area...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Shoes
- Vintage 1920's Spiderweb Cut-Out Novelty Black & Red Leather Deco Shoes w/ BoxLocated in Beverly Hills, CAStunning pair of authentic spiderweb novelty leather shoes dating back to the mid 1920's. Believe it or not, they even come with their original Harris Shoe Store box covered with a matching spiderweb print. The rising hemlines of this era focused attention on the exposed leg...Category
1920s American Shoes
- Louis Vuitton Boombox Pastels Monogram Nylon SneakersBy Louis VuittonLocated in Scottsdale, AZDo not miss out on these incredible brand new Louis Vuitton monogram high top sneakers! White leather is contrasted by the most gorgeous pastel shades of pink and blue signature Louis Vuitton monogram completed with orange and yellow accents as well as gold hardware. This is a classic high top style sneaker and also features an adjustable velcro strap at the top to allow you to change up how snug/loose you want the fit to be. These are such a fun statement sneaker that are also so wearable at the same time, pair these with a Miu Miu skirt and Moschino sweater for a playful look, or let these speak for themselves and wear these with your favorite vintage Levi's and a Prada leather jacket...Category
2010s Italian Shoes
- Louis Vuitton white and black reptile Ankle BootsLocated in Carnate, ITLouis Vuitton ankle boot, in black and white reptile with the toes part covered in steel and LV branded, use signs as you can see in pics. size 39, insole a...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Shoes
- Giuseppe Zanotti Size 39 / 9 Gold Bronze and Brown Rhinestone Studded High HeelsBy Giuseppe ZanottiLocated in San Diego, CAGorgeous GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI bronze leather and brown rhinestone and stud encrusted high heel peep toe shoes! Features sparkly rhinestones on the front, and bronze round studs on the he...Category
2010s Italian High Heels
$500 Sale Price23% Off - Christian Louboutin Viera Strass Flat Lune Grey Crystal Sneakers Sz 39By Christian LouboutinLocated in Paradise Island, BSAn iconic model, the sneaker Vieira Strass is dressed this season in light-colored suede studded with strass and glitter. Fully lined in nude leather and has a red rubber sole.Category
2010s Italian Shoes
$1,426 Sale Price35% Off
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
How to Spot a Fake Hermès Birkin Bag
The iconic Birkin bag is much coveted — and often copied. Find out how to tell the real deal from a convincing fake. Of course, you don't have to worry about this on 1stDibs, where every seller is highly vetted.
This Iconic Hermès Bag Is Made from an Unexpected Material: Wood
From a house that specializes in covetable objects, this version of the Kelly is the rarest of finds.