Celebrity shoe designer Manolo Blahnik: “I hate celebrities”

Manolo Blahnik was always known as one of the best shoe designers in the world, but his association with Sex and the City took his brand to the next level. Every time Carrie Bradshaw uttered the name “Manolo Blahnik” the shoes flew off the shelves in every part of the country. Now the man behind the shoes is trying to revise his reputation – it seems he doesn’t want to make shoes that every woman can wear. To be fair to him, his “I hate celebrities” quote might be taken out of context – he seems to really be saying something like “I hate when fake, reality-star-type ‘celebrities’ wear my shoes because they have no style.” Which is still pretty harsh, considering he makes an expensive luxury item that few women can afford and he probably wants his business to continue growing. But, whatever. I hate fake celebrities with no style too.

MANOLO BLAHNIK was being his usual infectious irrepressible self as he unveiled his spring/summer 2010 collection in Soho yesterday.

“I hate celebrities,” he revealed to VOGUE.COM. “All those pointless girls – I won’t name names, but you know who I mean. They are ‘famous’. Ridiculous. I like women with style: actresses like Uma Thurman, icons like Audrey Hepburn. I like women with style to wear my shoes.”

Women with style of any degree at all would surely be happy to sport a shoe from Mr Blahnik’s latest collection; a melee of colours and inspirations, perfectly fused with his signature delicate exuberance and presented with tea and cakes.

[From Vogue UK]

This sort of reminded of the controversy with Cristal champagne and the hip-hop/rap community. Back in 2006, Frederic Rouzaud, the managing director of Louis Roederer (the company that produces Cristal) was disdainful of the connection his champagne had within the rap community. He told The Economist that the company viewed the association with “curiosity and serenity” and when asked if the association could be detrimental, Rouzaud replied: “That’s a good question, but what can we do? We can’t forbid people from buying it. I’m sure Dom Perignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business.” Yeah… all hell broke loose after that. Jay-Z called the guy “racist” and there was a boycott and everything.

So, would fake, unstylish celebrities boycott Manolo, or is making a mountain out of a molehill? I tend to think Manolo Blahnik should have been much more gracious with his comments, but maybe he doesn’t think they’ll hurt his business in the long run. By the way, if anyone would like to see a preview of Monolo’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection, look at this loveliness. Sigh. I don’t care if I am not stylish enough for him, I still love his shoes.

Here’s Manolo at the Sex and The City DVD launch on 9/18/08. Also look who showed up at the “The Rodeo Drive Walk Of Style award in honour of Manolo Blahnik” on 9/25/08 – Lucy Liu, January Jones, Jennifer Coolidge, Hilary Duff, Nicky Hilton and Rick and Kathy Hilton. Paris was conspicuously absent. Maybe she can’t find his shoes in size 11. Credit: Apega/WENN.com