On the day we were supposed to speak, a volcano erupted on the Canary Islands, where Manolo Blahnik is isolating during the pandemic. The designer, who still uses a landline, and I were furiously trying to reach each other, to no avail. When we finally connected—more than 24 hours later, once the phone lines in his area of Spain were back up—Blahnik is apologetic and utterly gracious. In fact, he sounds every bit as charming as you would expect of a man who has made a signature look of impeccably tailored suits worn with dandyish bow ties and tortoiseshell glasses.
The image of Manolo Blahnik—both the man and his designs—is so clearly etched into our minds because he has been a footwear legend for 50 years now. Like the most famous pop stars, his shoes are known by their first names only. In fact, they have routinely been namechecked by the most famous pop stars—and one very famous fictional TV character.
Blahnik has managed to stay on top of his game for so long because he eschews—detests even—so many of the things that define fashion design and marketing these days. Trends and hype do not interest him. His shoes are faultlessly elegant, timeless in the best possible way, and inspired by a dazzlingly rich mine of references that can range from the Italian Renaissance to Imperial China. That last quality is a reflection of how his brilliant mind works. In conversation, his stories—all insider accounts of fashion lore—have a way of tumbling into one another. He can go from reminiscing about Diana Vreeland in one breath to raving about John Galliano the next, before ending on a rant about ugly sneakers. Here, a no‑holds‑barred conversation with the legend himself.
Denne historien er fra December 2021-utgaven av Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
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Denne historien er fra December 2021-utgaven av Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Great Unknown
It's a fresh chapter for Thai actress Nuttanicha "Nychaa" Dungwattanawanich as she strikes out on her own.
FINDING XANADU
Adventure, magic and freedom await in the land of the blue sky, Mongolia.
TALKING POINTS
From the worlds of Art, Culture, Travel and Design.
TIMELESS LUXURY
In Hosanna Swee and Tom Chng's stunning apartment, an eye for detail and love for horological collectibles reveals an elegant and minimalist escape.
PRIM FOR PRIMETIME
Chanikarn \"Prim\" Tangkabodee reminisces on her journey from a child actor to a superstar in-the-making.
INSPIRATION
The suave music artiste is no stranger to the world of fashion. In fact, he describes fashion as the forefront of his and his family's personal expression, as well as a form of manners.
WELL, SUITED?
As attitudes towards dress codes shift, is the suit about to exit our closets?
DARK HORSE
In his next role and what is easily his most challenging character to date―actor Brian Ng wants one thing from you: your hatred.
THE POWER OF PERETTI
In a hidden village of Sant Marti Vell in Spain, where Elsa Peretti lived, loved and created enduring symbols of design and beauty for Tiffany & Co., Kenneth Goh traces and marvels at her 50 years of legacy.
REDEFINING ROYALTY
Chaumet's Charles Leung talks to BAZAAR about the beauty and the resilience of the 244-year-old French jewellery brand in a new era.