Manolo Blahnik finds inspiration in architecture, artistic movements and the fashions of his formative years

Manuel “Manolo” Blahnik Rodríguez is an inspiration to us. At the age of 79, he is still finding joy in what he does and finding inspiration in artists and artistic movements. Season after season, Blahnik adds his touch of genius to the collection; and for this season of shoes for women, he looked at paintings and photocollages by English pop-art pioneer Richard Hamilton.
From Hamilton’s works, Blahnik transforms the sloping lines and striking colours into a sweetheart vamp seen in bold velvets for the Sinbelahi pump, Sinsli slingback and Sinbel flat. To up the fun factor, Blahnik adapts renowned photographer Cecil Beaton’s love for shooting society scenes; and from one image, Blahnik features the polka dots found on a dress and uses them in the Creosli slingback and Wed sandals.
Blahnik also studied the works of Zara Hadid, the British- Iraqi architect, and translated her abstract works into his colour blocking on the Fificlo slingback and Marule pump. From Pierrot, a colourful stock character in Italian 17th-century Commedia Dell’arte, Blahnik creates Pierrot’s distinctive smocked costume, dotting the Piera pump, Diazpa boot and Sevillamu mule with contrasting pom-poms.
Apart from personalities, Blahnik selects themes such as the grand, ornamental opera houses and from that, a series of jewel-tone satin styles with sparkling neo-baroque buckles, seen on the Martura T-strap, Cardella pump and Floritanu flat. The resurgence of Egyptian motifs upon the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in the 1920s was the starting point for a deeper dive into Egyptian-ornamented iconography.
Blahnik referenced these exotic patterns for a new geometric embellishment on the Rocisan sandal and Rociba pump. This season, Blahnik looked to icons of the golden age of cinema for Old Hollywood-inspired charm — delicate baguette crystals line the Crina pump, Crinastra sandal and BB pump, styles as timeless as their muse.