In a world inundated with designer flexing, one shoe brand offers a subtle respite:
Manolo Blahnik.
Manolo Blahnik shoes are, like, the Eres of bathing suits — subtle, yet visibly perfect.
… but, you all ready knew that.
If you know a shoe is by Manolo Blahnik, you know.
… but, do you know how they fit?
Manolo Blahnik Shoe Sizing
For comparison, my other shoe sizes run:
-Adidas Stan Smiths, US 8
–Chanel Shoes, FR 39
–Christian Louboutin, IT/EU 39.5
–Golden Goose, IT/EU 39
–Hermès, FR 39
–Isabel Marant, FR 39-40
-Nikes, US 8.5
–Repetto, FR 39.5-40
Manolo Blahnik shoes generally run a half size small.
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty details and go over a bunch of different Manolo shoe sizes…
Manolo Blahnik Amr Mary Jane Heels Sizing
These Manolo Amr Mary Jane heels are a size 39.5.
With a 90mm/3.5” heel, these Mary Janes are high; however, you’re strapped in with the adjustable belt on the top of your foot.
There are 5 slots for the buckle to go through, so you can wear them as tightly as you need to.
Comfort Level: 9/10, I’d likely rank them a 10/10 if I were better at walking in high heels due to the lack of any rubbing on my foot.
Manolo Blahnik Maysale Mule Sizing
It’s probably, and admittedly, because of Alexa Chung that Manolo mules crossed my mind.
She wore the pair I wanted, but was too scared to order because I didn’t know how they fit.
After the video I was like, “dang!, I should’ve taken the sizing risk!”
Similar to Chanel two-tone ballet flats, what once looked like something your upperclass granny would wear now look cool.
These Manolo Blahnik Maysale mules are a size 39.5.
In a 39, these Maysale mules bordered on looking too small, because they are so narrow at the toe.
My heel was just at the end and it looked like my foot was kind of hanging off the edge.
Half a size up, in 39.5, they look generous and almost too big — but I’d rather they look too big than too small (although Chung must have spent a lot of time with Tim Gunn at some point because she does “make it work”).
… I’d prefer that they’re a pinch big, because my feet widely and wildly fluctuate in size based on traveling, what I had for dinner, and the weather outside.
Comfort Level: 5.75/10 — difficult to walk in and the upper toe box kinda hurts my foot.
Manolo Blahnik Ballerimu Sizing
My Manolo Blahnik Ballerimu flats, in Woven White, are a size 39.5.
These shoes look massive when they’re not on my foot.
However, because the toe is so angular, the extra space is appreciated.
I also have a pair, in Brown, in a size 40.
Depending on how “big” your foot feels (idk if that makes sense, but my feet sometimes feel bigger), consider sizing up a half size to a full size in the Ballerimus.
Comfort Level: 8.75/10, the toe box is essentially the same as the Maysale mules, however because they’re flat they aren’t as frustrating to walk in… however I can see how they will rub on the top and sides of my feet.
Manolo Blahnik Callamu Mules/Sandal Sizing
My Manolo Blahnik Callamu sandals are a size 39.
What feels like a lifetime ago, I saw these shoes at Barneys and fell in love with them.
At the time, I was unemployed, so a $800 pair of shoes was out of the question.
While Barneys has shuttered, FWRD had them in my size-ish, and, today I’m in a position where I can give myself a Manolo treat.
They don’t have a thong between your toes, so your foot will slide down while walking in them.
They might look a pinch too small, but I frankly don’t care.
They’re amazing.
Comfort Level: 8/10, after you get over how the straps are quite wide and your foot will massively slide down while wearing.
Manolo Blahnik Sandals Sizing
In Manolo Blahnik’s Riran sandals, in silver, I took a size 39.5.
Casual, dressy, shiny, Manolo’s sandals are a low-fuss warm weather sandal.
Initially, I tried these in a 39 and they were ridiculously tiny, but in a 39.5, they’re perfect.
Comfort Level: 10/10, they’re elevated slide sandals that don’t cause blisters due to the soft leather — no notes.
Don’t Forget That These Aren’t My First Pair of Manolos…
Impressions
Basically, mostly everything we’ve learned from Sex and the City is true.
It’s a show that shows the rest of the world that no matter how big NYC is, running into an ex-whatever does actually happen in real life.
… and a it’s show that shows how no matter how bad your day was, a little treat in the form of Manolo Blahnik shoes will help you recover from that awkward run-in from a past life.
At this point, I couldn’t help but wonder: is that Manolo treat really worth it?
Yes, because…
1- As a privately/family owned company, Manolo seems to do it for the love of the shoe; not to make a ridiculous profit
Where Chanel seems to be in a never-ending quest to find their clients’ top spend amount, Manolo keeps their price increases relatively more in line with standard inflation.
In the Pilot episode of SATC (aired in 1998), Carrie talks about how women will spend $400 on a pair of strappy Manolo Blahnik sandals.
In 2025, a pair of strappy Manolo Blahnik sandals will set you back $935.
In 1998, $400 would be $791.56 in today’s money — so, “only” $143.44/16.8% off the mark 27 years later.
2- They’re wearable
Manolo Blahnik barely, and rarely, pulls any stunts.
Manolo’s shoes are focused on their practical, yet beautiful, wearability — heck, Rihanna’s collaboration in 2016/7 was wearable, even if you aren’t a global music icon.
But, if you don’t want to run around in these shoes, they sure can brighten up your closet.
… and if you do wear them?
Well, they’re the ideal shoe to wear when you inevitably run into an ex in the city…
L-R: Kate Moss x Zara Flowy top with Isabel Marant x H&M earrings, Kate Moss x Zara belt, Marc Jacobs Makeup Bag, and Rag & Bone Cigarette Jeans; Isabel Marant earrings, Isabel Marant dress, and a Kate Moss x Zara Leather Hobo; Burberry trench coat with Nili Lotan Cami dress and an S/S 04 Mystery Green Balenciaga Makeup Bag.
Pros & Cons
Pros
–Logo less: For those who want their shoes to be a 100% iykyk shoe, Manolos are basically it.
–Price: OK, maybe this is shocking to put, since it’s a luxury shoe, but pricing feels fair since Manolos are handmade in Italy and aren’t ridiculously expensive as most designer shoes.
Cons
–Sizing: TBH, I worry that it looks like I’m wearing clown shoes in some pairs, because I need a 39.5 and the shoe looks so large and then my foot looks so large in it.
Fun fact that I didn’t know where else to put: The dots on the sole of the shoe are an internal code and correspond to which factory they were made in! (source: me, I got curious and emailed Manolo’s customer service.)
Quiet luxury is, admittedly, kind of boring.
However, Manolo Blahnik shoes offer a respite from the usual navy turtleneck or all-cream cashmere outfits that we associate with that ludicrous term.
They’re the unusual shoe that happens to also be an unassuming statement in itself.
Manolo Blahnik shoes are available from Bergdorf Goodman, FWRD, Net-a-Porter, Neiman Marcus, and Saks among other retailers.
Note: newinspired uses affiliate links which costs you nothing… but means a lot to me. When you use these links, the money newinspired earns gets reinvested in blog content. Absolutely nothing on newinspired is “gifted” or sponsored, I purchase each item with my own money. Affiliate commissions are used to purchase new items to honestly & thoroughly review. If you found this review helpful, consider using them to support newinspired.
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