Manolo Blahnik ─ Fleeting Gestures and Obsessions

Photographer’s note by Michael Roberts; Contributions by Pedro Almodóvar, Mary Beard, Eric Boman, Sofia Coppola, Gioacchino Lanza Tomasi, Manuela Mena, Rafael Moneo, Phyllis Posnick, Peter Schlesinger, and André Leon Talley
 
Now available at a new, lower price, this is the first comprehensive volume dedicated to documenting the influences and life work of Manolo Blahnik, one of the most influential and talked about icons in contemporary fashion.
 
Featuring more than forty years of shoe design, this is the definitive monograph of the work of Manolo Blahnik, one of the titans of contemporary fashion. Drawing inspiration from the worlds of architecture, art, film, and literature, Blahnik is a master of the art of the shoe. His exciting use of color, unprecedented designs, and exquisitely sculpted heels make his shoes some of the most coveted in the world. Featuring more than 250 iconic designs from his archive, the book reveals for the very first time the inspirations behind his singular artistic vision.
 
This book is conceived as a comprehensive survey of Blahnik’s work and provides access to never before seen photography of his designs. With insightful chapters devoted to Blahnik’s most powerful relationships and inspirations—including Marie Antoinette, the personas and tastes of Diana Vreeland and Cecil Beaton, Spanish and Italian film, the works of Goya and Velasquez and the Prado Museum—this book is a personal look into the man behind the shoes. Beautiful photography and thoughtful essays and conversations by fashion writers, curators, and colleagues give readers a unique opportunity to access Blahnik’s vivid and creative world.

Manolo Blahnik is a shoe designer and founder of his eponymous shoe brand. Pedro Almodovar is a film director. Mary Beard is a Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge. Sofia Coppola is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and actress. Rafael Moneo is a Spanish architect. Andre Leon Talley is the former American editor-at-large for Vogue magazine. Michael Roberts is a British fashion journalist, illustrator, photographer, and film director.