Shoe Wars: Blahnik Vs. Louboutin

Photo: Manolo Blahnik

The New York Times put Manolo Blahnik on the cover of their weekend style section, declaring the return of the comfortable, ladylike pump.  On the same day, the Times UK profiled Christian Louboutin, who basically says that women are thrilled to wear debilitating shoes—as long as they look great.

The two luxury cobblers have been pitted against each other for years.  Blahnik, who’d long been a favorite of the woman who has hundreds of dollars to spend on pumps, became a household name post-Sex and the City.  Manolos epitomized Carrie Bradshaw’s shoe fetish and were often featured in the series—in one case at the center of an episode—as well as the first movie.  But as the series wound down, Louboutin’s red soles gained traction in real life.  The Parisian offered whimsical shoes on 6″ heels with a never-before-seen pitch and soles that screamed, “I’m rich!”

But now, according to the Times and thanks to the economy, women don’t want their shoes to scream.  Instead, they want classic pumps in flattering shapes that are comfortable enough to wear throughout the day, which means Manolos are back.  Bergdorf Goodman has a wait list, Andre Leon Talley likens them to milk, “They’re a staple, something you have to have in your refrigerator, like butter or milk,” and SJP herself said of a recent photo shoot, “I walked in and looked around and saw all these shoes, and then I spotted the Manolos and it was like water in a desert.”

On the opposing side, Louboutin said in the Times, “A little discomfort is balanced by something else, which has to do with desire. You feel yourself, empower yourself, know yourself. You are aware of your body. This little act of discomfort pays off in lots of other ways.”

The truth is that the two happily co-exist, and there will always be a customer for each.  But regardless of where you stand on the debate, it should be noted that three pages into the Times‘ style section was a half page spread of neck-breaking shoes from designers like Alaia, Nicholas Kirkwood and Miuccia Prada snapped by Bill Cunningham during New York Fashion Week.  So who says you can’t have your basic black pump and lace-up Kirkwood bootie, too?