Manolo Blahnik was born in 1943 in the Canary Islands to a Spanish mother and a Czech father. He studied literature in Geneva and Paris, and came to London in 1971, where he soon opened his Chelsea shoe shop. Blahnik has since become a leading designer serving international markets. He has developed a reputation for ornate, romantic and exotic shoes crafted in luxurious material.
This pair of high-heeled evening shoes is characteristic of Blahnik’s exuberant embellishment. The uppers feature a delicate floral brocade which suggests patterns similar to 1750s silks. The shoes have cut-away fronts, thin, sculpted heels and almond-shaped toes.