Manolo the Book
Manolo says, many of the internet friends of the Manolo have been saying to the Manolo, "Manolo, why do you not write the book? It would be most super fantastic, indeed."
At the first, the Manolo he was resistant to the idea of the book. Who would pay the $18.99 in the American dollars to read the blatherings of the humble Manolo, especially if this it can be obtained for the free at the Manolo's blogs.
But then the literary agent of the Manolo he convinced the Manolo that the book it was the very good idea, that perhaps many people they would pay this money to hear the Manolo pontificate on the fashion and the celebrity, and that this world of ours, this crazy mixed up world of ours, it needs the Manolo now more than the ever.
And so, the Manolo, he has decided to write the book, one filled with the wit, wisdom, and fashion advice of the Manolo.
Now, of the course, the Manolo he needs two more things. First he needs the publisher. (By the way, if you are the publisher who would like to give the Manolo the giant advance, please contact the Manolo immediately so that he may put you in the touch with the literary agent of the Manolo, so that the wire transfer details they may be worked out.)
The second thing the Manolo he needs is for his many internet friend to tell him what they would like to see the Manolo write about in this theoretical book of his.
It is no secret that left to his own devices the Manolo he would love to write the book about how the Hollywood it has mistreated the genius that is the Hasselhoff, but the literary agent of the Manolo he has nixed this idea.
So, help the brother out, and leave the ideas for the Manolo in the comments section of this post. The Manolo he eagerly awaits your help.
At the first, the Manolo he was resistant to the idea of the book. Who would pay the $18.99 in the American dollars to read the blatherings of the humble Manolo, especially if this it can be obtained for the free at the Manolo's blogs.
But then the literary agent of the Manolo he convinced the Manolo that the book it was the very good idea, that perhaps many people they would pay this money to hear the Manolo pontificate on the fashion and the celebrity, and that this world of ours, this crazy mixed up world of ours, it needs the Manolo now more than the ever.
And so, the Manolo, he has decided to write the book, one filled with the wit, wisdom, and fashion advice of the Manolo.
Now, of the course, the Manolo he needs two more things. First he needs the publisher. (By the way, if you are the publisher who would like to give the Manolo the giant advance, please contact the Manolo immediately so that he may put you in the touch with the literary agent of the Manolo, so that the wire transfer details they may be worked out.)
The second thing the Manolo he needs is for his many internet friend to tell him what they would like to see the Manolo write about in this theoretical book of his.
It is no secret that left to his own devices the Manolo he would love to write the book about how the Hollywood it has mistreated the genius that is the Hasselhoff, but the literary agent of the Manolo he has nixed this idea.
So, help the brother out, and leave the ideas for the Manolo in the comments section of this post. The Manolo he eagerly awaits your help.
posted by Manolo at Monday, March 07, 2005
33 Comments:
The literary agent, he would be doing the Manolo a serious disservice if he were to discourage the Manolo from including his trenchant and syntactically innovative commentary on the Hasselhoff, the Lagerfeld, Daniel Day-Lewis, and other such icons in the Manolo's book.
Of course, the book it should be structured around an aesthetic of the shoes, but there is room in such a book for the thoughts of the Manolo on the people also, especially the people in the public eye who design and wear shoes...
Make it a coffee table-quality book, in terms of the photographic and paper quality and overall production design. Surely the shoe designers they will be tripping all over themselves and their shoes to have them included in the Manolo's book (even, perhaps, those whom you wish to include for purposes of disgust and disdain).
You should absolutely write a book! You could write a very entertaining book about the way that fashion unfolds and its gaffes, and it would be that much more marvelous than any others available.
While the Hasselhoff is very important, he is not necessarily the subject of an entire book. He may be worth an anecdote, however.
Please avoid it looking like an advertisement, like a poster above suggests. Make it an attractive book, but make it readable! A pocket guide to how not to look like an idiot, if you will, not a coffeetable book. (You will not really make these decisions. Your publisher will. You could probably pitch it one way or another, however.)
This is a very exciting prospect, and I for one would be more than willing to part with 18.99 or more dollars of my Good Money for such an item. One thing that I have always thought the Manolo would have a great aptitude for is the perennial favorite of fashion pundits, the "DOs and DONTs". The VICE and the Glamour magazines, they go there, but they tend to be lacking in the super fantastic, I think we can agree.
I don't normally comment here but today I will.
I read a lot of really really great blogs and I think you are really brilliant. In fact, even my boyfriend who is a social worker who wears birkenstocks and helps the homeless and does not care about fashion or celebrity reads your blog because you are so witty and clever.
That being said: One of my favorite parts of your blog is how you give very gentle kind advice that is both funny and non-threatening. A Manolo book that featured advice on both the fashion basics and the fashion advanced that is both clever and honest would be great because then there is appeal for all the different people at the different levels of knowledge.
Mostly though, Manolo, I am pretty sure that whatever you write it will be grand and people will like it. I wouldn't normally purchase the book of a blogger, but yours I would get.
All that being said, please do not be the blogger to abandons blog and audience for the book writing. That would be sad. <3
The Manolo has much to say about the shoes, but I think that this is not enough to make the book compelling.
Rather, I think that explorations about the timeless nature of the truly great fashion, such as the post about GQ and Miuccia, these are the musings that I think the Manolo should explore. The critique of the fashions and of the people wearing them, they are amusing but fleeting. The posts I come back to read again are those where Manolo contemplates the underlying themes in fashion.
Of course there could still be many pages on 'making your wardrobe super fabulous' and of course on the fabulousness of the Hasselhoff and the strangeness of the industry. But I would buy this book for the ruminations on the Manolo of the very nature of fashion.
The Manolo's Guide to Becoming Super Fantastic!
Don't forget to tell the story of how the young Manolo he was forced to cobble together shoes out of the tissue boxes. The editor of the Odyssea says the narrative nonfiction, it is very hot right now.
Chapter One
In a postapocalyptic landscape, where the hobbled, desperate citizenry is left to wear nothing but acrylic knitted ponchos and Teva sandals, leaving their hairy toe knuckles exposed to the skies, the Emperor of the Undead, Karl the First, rules over the land with an iron hand in a white lace glove. Women, creatures who once bore a natural dignity, now stagger about under the horrible burden of their artificially fattened lips, squeezing themselves into metallic gold lycra party dresses for the pleasure of their grotesque rulers. The hues of nature in the variety of the human coloration have been lost to the eyes, having been replaced by the orange skin of the oompah-loompah, the blonde hair of the Donatella, who it is said that if she looks right at you you will turn to stone. Yet in the hallways, the alleys, the dark cafes, behind every backyard fence, you hear the whispering and the muttering, and the muttering, it rises to a cry, and the cries lift to the fuchsia and green heavens: And the people say,
"Where is the Manolo? Where are the beautiful shoes?"
For in the cobbler's shop, accompanied by the renegade craftsman Daniel Day-Lewis, who bears an awl and wears a fearsome beard to disguise himself, the Manolo consults with the oracle, the Miuccia, and she tells the Manolo, go, go with these magical shoes I am giving (and she gives him a pair of silver sneakers that would make any person cry for the beauty of them), and she says, go and make the truth known to them who need you, go and defeat the Lagerfeld and the Donatella, go and overcome the Long Island that has infected the world, have the tailors rise up and show the people what a beautiful pair of pants looks like, let them see the shine of your buttons and the dignity that must be accorded the casing that graces the human foot, for beauty is truth, truth beauty — that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know.
The Manolo, from his secret lair beyond the view of his enemies, begins to reflect on the meaning of delight, on why the beautiful shoe, it is important to the soul of the world...the sole of the world...
Please write of the shoes in the abstract: discuss the D'orsay pump, the stiletto, the court shoe, and the virtues and vices of each.
The Manolo, he must write this book! And I agree with the comment above about what makes your blog so super-fantastic. It is your fashion advice given with both humor and kindness, your wittily gracious criticism(the Evil One notwithstanding), and your clearly stated principles (both fashion and otherwise) that make your blog a daily stop off for me. The shoes and celebrities draw the reader in - but it is the clever social commentary that satisfies. A book that focuses on these themes would be a sure hit - and useful to many.
Even better, then I could introduce all my non-blog reading friends to the wit and wisdom of the Manolo.
I agree with Ruby and Domestigirl. A book that wittily and kindly describes what works in fashion and what doesn't work, using photographs to illustrate Manolo's points, but not of the trendiness, per se, but of the timelessness of the fashion that works and why. I like when, for example, you show the old Prada adverts. What makes a designer great and what makes a designer trendy and how you can translate that into the fashion on the every day girl with the every day budget. Granted, anything you write, I will buy, so you can go on and on on the Hasslehoff or the Day-Lewis and I will read.
I have thought about the wonderful possibility that the Manolo should reveal his handsome visage in a photograph and mini-biography, perhaps inside one of the flaps of the book cover. But alas, I think that would ruin some of the mystique of the Manolo...besides, I think your publisher would be set against it. So we all continue to ponder the tantalizing question, "who is the genius that is the super-fantastic Manolo?"
So many good ideas ... must the Manolo write only one book? Edna would most certainly buy both a coffee table book, full of pictures of the beautiful shoes and stories about them (as a poster above suggested, perhaps about the history of different types of shoes?), as well as a Manolo guide to being superfantastic (as yet another poster suggested). It's true, you have so much knowledge about the shoes, and you give great advice in such a kind and honest way, that it may be too hard to fit it all in only one book.
Ahh the Manolo, so much he knows about the shoes and the fashion, but so little he knows about the book.
Doesn't the Manolo know that the book, it is already written? Doesn't the Manolo realize that some young woman has already bought it at the Barnes and Noble and is experiencing for the first time the magic of fashion?
It only falls down to the Manolo now to put this book onto paper, or onto the 1 and 0's of our digital universe, whichever the Manolo prefers.
The book that I see finished is the true story of the evil Lagerfeld and his henchmen and young wunderkind Designer Gunter, who is the Lagerfeld's half-son, who trap the young designer with the magic touch into their evil plan to sell their under-designed wares at the Walmart.
In the end the young designer creates the magic shoes which when tapped together bring forth the good witch Miuccia who saves the young designer and sets her free to design for the much more upscale Target.
Perhaps you can have the other Manolo or La Miuccia write the forward. I am sure they would be thrilled as you are a Super Fantastic writer!
As for the book itself I agree with the 1st post and add that it would be great to have a sort of thread through it as well - perhaps, as other readers suggest - the backstory of the Manolo or entries of how the Manolo spent his day before he writes the super fantastic blog entries? Or perhaps use your script that includes the Hasselhoff. You could also do a Dear Mrs. Exeter a la American Vogue and use Sonja's title. Whatever you decide I would definitely fork over the 18.99 - please make it look pretty too so I can give it as a gift to other friends who love the fashion as the Manolo does.
Here is one humble blog devotee's wishes for the book of the Manolo: some of Manolo's life story; insight into the creative process; sage fashion advice; funny stories; pictures!
Might I add that this reader has seen Vanity Fair's best dressed list and it set her teeth on edge! We should take the advice from zillionaires who hire stylists? No! It is for the Manolo, a true man of the people, to give advice to the poor folk who wish to be Super Fantastic!
Life has many facets, with appearance and grooming being more of an important part to some than to others. What people seem to be looking for is meaning. Some people find it in external objects, and are happy with what others might judge to be superficiality. Some others use what they have materially as tools towards reaching greater meaning for themselves beyond the satisfaction that material objects can bring. Still others--a relative few--find their greatest satisfaction in helping others to find greater meaning in their own lives.
So yes, Manolo, please do write your book, and write it much in the way that encompasses what your blog is about. Your kindness, compassion, and integrity combined with your social savvy, astute observations, and razor-sharp wit makes you probably the only one who could successfully write such a book. Many people will derive enjoyment and greater meaning from it, no matter what level of meaning they are seeking.
manolo,
can you perhaps also include some of the questions from your many internet friends? i deeply enjoy (and *cheer*) your commentary on fashion (especially on how it shouldn't make one look ridiculous) but also, the questions from the other internet friends are useful as they are clearly applicable to the wider audience.
as you can see, we are all needing your advice.
The Manolo would do well to combine the same elements that the Manolo does so well in his blog: trenchant observations about celebrity, life, fashion, etc.; celebrity parody and satire; and fashion (shoes + more) advice for his humble readers in a realworld context. I for one would welcome the Manolo's advice for a stay-at-home mom like myself who must spend much of the day at playgrounds and other places where the pointy-toed expensive footwear, alas, is impractical. How is one in my position to be superfantastic when I must wipe fingerpaint and pudding off my poor shoes on a daily basis? How is one with feet as wide as the Lusitania to be fashionable? How does one who is constrained by the unsuperfantastic corporate monolith manage to express oneself in fashion whilst not jeopardizing one's prospects? etc.
A history of Prada.
Hasslehoff
This humble poster who enjoys reading The Manolo very much thinks that perhaps a history of the shoe through time with appropriate cultural commentary and many wonderful photographs of the shoes, the people and the places. Through the centuries surely The Manolo, such an astute arbiter of fashion and culture, could have commentary on past fashions and how they have come to influence current fashion.
Then next The Manolo should write a cookbook, which shoes go best with salads or perhaps a dessert party or a coffee or wine tasting? Hmmmm...could be interesting.
I would love a story, with illustrations, of the fashion awakening of the superfantastic Manolo himself.
This book that the Manolo writes, it must be funny, it must be beautiful, and it must cost no more than $18.99.
The Manolo, he must write the book, he must write the book like the wind!
The Manolo Diaries: filled with beautiful FOOTnotes.
I would love to see the Manolo write a Choose Your Own Adventure book. Perhaps it would detail the consequences of wearing cetain fashions? I think it would be super-fantastic.
I cannot wait til this book has been released! It's an amazing idea and there's no other person I can think of that would be better suited for this. You have a way of writing that is hilarious, sometimes sarcastic, yet never rude. You are incredibly wise. Manolo, you are a walking Fashion Encyclopedia and I would not be surprised if your book would beat Dan Brown's sales number.
I think it should be a pop up book of beautiful shoes, with the Manolo's commentary. Like a fairy tale shoe book for grown ups, with magical shoes bursting off of every page.
Fun, funky off beat and collectible. Full of texture and color and fun words. A Manolo classic.
I agree that a pop-up book of lovely shoes and boots would be fantastic! Please no pop-ups of pets wearing fashion .no no. please
I don't know that I have anything to add to the many terrific already-posted suggestions, but I'm just so happy to hear this news! My daughter and I cannot wait to your book--it will be a revelation and an inspiration. Viva the Manolo!
Dearest M...the book sounds like the super fantastic idea! However do not write in the abstract fashion theory hoity-toity prose--keep it witty, straight-forward and wonderful as is the blog. Mostly about the shoes and why they are the back-bone of the outfit of the womens and mens. Feel free to mention the Hasselhoff (if you must) and the Prada--leave the KL out though.
Hmmm.
As a sometime reader of Manolo I'd frankly like a book I could buy for each of my nieces. I'm pretty much appalled at whatever the current fashions are. The overall theme seems to be Hooker meets Bugs Bunny. It's pretty disgusting.
A book on classic clothing and style. Something that outlines how to dress sexy, but not trashy.
You have a problem, sir. The problem is that your stylistic prose signature, the inversion of clauses, the together with the use of the superfluous article, the, works very well in brief notes or in captions to ridiculous photographs, but may not work so well in a longer excursion.
You do seem to understand this, of course, and you dial it down in your extended meditations, but in a book, you risk losing something of your... well, your style.
The coffee-table book idea, with many pictures to arrange the words around, would dodge the issue, but I suspect you would prefer to produce something with more staying power. You are a traditionalist at heart, are you not?
I do not know what you will write about, exactly, but I suspect it will not be about fashion. You will more likely write about the things that all great writers write about-- you will write about men and women and love, about the past and the future and the problems of trying to get from one to the other, or avoid doing so. Or any of the many other things that are and have always been worth writing about.
Fashion is what you know, of course, so fashion will be your setting, and it will drive your plot (such as it is) and it will touch all of your characters (be they real or imagined), but your book will not be about fashion. It will be about something else, something that is both perfectly obvious and cleverly crafted to bloom later, upon reflection.
Oh, and while I understand the appeal of pop-up books, I find them rather tacky when marketed to adults. They are like the tattered T-shirts with the silly slogans or graphics on them-- understandable, yes, and perfectly suitable for the young, but indicative of a particular sort of panic in the hands of a grown-up.
--Ed S.
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