That's one of the wackiest links I've seen here. However, the compliments, they are kinda back-handed, no?

P.S. Not being familiar with Mr. Blahnik, I'm assuming the language is a piss-take, right?

SoddingNancyTribe | October 18, 22:41 CET

Changed the link to make it permanent, ummm who Manolo?

Simon | October 18, 23:19 CET

That's weird.

mister0 | October 18, 23:23 CET

Does anyone else get bugged when people say Firefly had a low budget. Cause it didn't. The pilot itself was one of Fox's most expensive ever. Just because alot of the series is set in a frontier doesn't make it cheap. The CGI is very slick, in fact, some of the best I've ever seen on a sci-fi show. And I love all the little touches they'd do like the floating chandelier or the hologram map(?) from Trainjob.

Not to mention the cost of building the set for Serenity or all the location shooting they did.

[ edited by eddy on 2005-10-18 21:27 ]

eddy | October 18, 23:26 CET

ummm who Manolo?

dies

insists on taking Simon shopping the next time he is in LA

Allyson | October 18, 23:45 CET

Yeah...I'm backing up Simon here...who's Manolo?

And, by the by, "the humor of Manolo I find is lacking."

UnpluggedCrazy | October 18, 23:57 CET

Ah.

When in doubt, use Google.

That shopping offer sounds good.

Simon | October 19, 00:07 CET

Keep in mind, the Manolo writing this blog is not the same Manolo who makes the shoes.

killinj | October 19, 00:09 CET

Really really bizarre. I agree with unpluggedCrazy, in that The humor and wit and insight of the Manolo was entirely lost on the acp.
The blog, for some reason, is popular among fashion insiders, though. I found more about it here.

But, uh, glad the manolo is (sort of) liking Firefly? I guess?

acp | October 19, 00:11 CET

LOL, what a weird association. Hee, Manolo Blahnik is one of the big -- if not THE biggest -- names in high fashion shoe design. There's a famous episode of Sex in the City where Carrie is robbed at gunpoint and the villain even takes her last season Manolo Blahnik shoes! I think they were pink slingbacks, but I could be wrong about that.

punkinpuss | October 19, 00:15 CET

I only know of Manolo Blahnik because of Cordy's backhanded compliment of Eve's shoes in "You're Welcome".

electricspacegirl | October 19, 00:23 CET

Simon, guessing this bit of dialogue from Cordy (to Eve) in "You're Welcome" didn't completely register:

"Get out of that chair and I will feed you those Manolo Blahniks.

Which are stunning, by the way."

[ edited by Chris inVirginia on 2005-10-18 22:30 ]

Chris inVirginia | October 19, 00:27 CET

Whoa, electricspacegirl, a near simultaneous post about exactly the same thing!

Chris inVirginia | October 19, 00:30 CET

To quote Mal when seeing River in a Box- "Huh!"

The comment is kind of mixed, but I just sort of disagree with the points. I'll start off with those that are actually factual, and can't really be disputed-

"Firefly is low budget"- as Eddy said, no way was Firefly low budget. Fox was putting some faith in Joss, they saw how good Buffy and Angel were despite their limited ratings success, and saw the potential there, that Joss was a good writer and director and that if he found the right concept then they could make it successful.

Of course as well all know by now, that didn't work out, but the point was, before they decided to misunderstand Joss's vision, they had a lot of confidence in him, and Firefly did have good production values, higher in fact than Buffy or Angel (which were both pretty superb in that respect) and it showed. How can it possibly be low budget?

I'll agree with him that Firefly was well executed, and there were occasional leaps of logic (the whole Tracey situation) but in general I didn't think it was particularly illogical once you got used to the concept itself. And I wouldn't call the plots lame at all, a couple weren't perhaps the strongest but even they allowed a lot of great character development.

Then there's his positive comment that "the concept of using the language and the tropes of the western in the modern space opera, it is somewhat original and very well executed".

Well this I kind of disagree with. Joss is a master of blending all types of genres- comedy with tragedy, drama with action, modern with old, and Firefly is a concentration of that, the creation of a very specific and interesting world, but I wouldn't say it's the first time it's been done. Even Star Wars, itself a distillation of many other genres, dealt with a similar sort of attitude to Firefly- space feels lived in, and it's not all shiny chrome and spaceships, but that it feels authentic.

Razor | October 19, 00:35 CET

And again, this Manolo is not Manolo Blahnik.

KernelM | October 19, 01:03 CET

If the designer is not featured at Target, I don't know 'em...

And shoes...I really don't see the fascination. Maybe it's because I never look at people's feet. I'm a bad LA girl, I know...

Rogue Slayer | October 19, 01:14 CET

That's ok, Rogue Slayer. Joss looks at feet enough for both of you.

Lioness | October 19, 01:21 CET

at the bottom of the page...
Disclaimer: Manolo the Shoeblogger is not Manolo Blahnik

Mr Universe | October 19, 01:22 CET

Wait, are you all saying we suspect there's no connection between Manolo's Shoeblog and the designer, Manolo Blahnik? Now I'm confused . . .

SoddingNancyTribe | October 19, 01:25 CET

That's ok, Rogue Slayer. Joss looks at feet enough for both of you.

Tru dat. That big ol' foot fetishist!

Rogue Slayer | October 19, 01:29 CET

SNT...

This..is gonna be worth it...

Chris inVirginia | October 19, 01:33 CET

Screw Blahnik. It's all about the Fluevog.

Caroline | October 19, 01:39 CET

I like to wear Clark shoes. This is possibly the surrealist thread in ages.

Simon | October 19, 01:54 CET

I stomp on your Fluevog's with my Steve Madden's.

Allyson | October 19, 01:59 CET

Don't really know from footwear, but I did almost buy a pair of Bruno Magli's the other day before I hipped to their unsavory connotation. Nice shoes though.

SoddingNancyTribe | October 19, 02:27 CET

And that is some serious stompin', Allyson. It is Earth Shoes for me.

Lioness | October 19, 02:28 CET

Are Doc Marten's still popular? I used to have a great pair of those back in my early 90s Grunge period. The Goatee! The horror.

Simon | October 19, 02:29 CET

Ahem. Some of us still have goatees . . . *crawls off to snuggle with his Caterpillar boots*

SoddingNancyTribe | October 19, 02:33 CET

SNT, those wouldnt' be the "ugly ass Bruno Magli" shoes OJ Simpson said he never had, would they?

Okay, thread is veering into hyperspace...to surreality, and beyond!

Chris inVirginia | October 19, 02:33 CET

Fluevogs! I had a pair but they didn't fit me well and I tripped over them and messed up my knee. Nice boots though.

And now, after a short but very sweet love affair with my Steve Maddens (they quit making my favorite style!) I wear Tsubos and now Crocs - the weirdest but most comfortable shoes I've ever worn.

ETA: Simon, I was also into the Doc Martin Grunge back in the early 90's, but I found Docs just weren't being made very well anymore. I never found them very comfortable.

[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-10-19 00:43 ]

electricspacegirl | October 19, 02:34 CET

I had to fly all the way to NYC to buy me a pair of Angel brogues. They´re Satan resistant. While I bought them, Mr Fluevog himself was signing the inside of my friend´s boots. She owns 40 pairs of his shoes. I have a long way to go yet.

By the way, thanks for that link Zelda.

Caroline | October 19, 03:12 CET

Caroline, is your friend named Imelda, by any chance?

'Cos that's a whole lot of shoes, you know.

Chris inVirginia | October 19, 03:20 CET

Hubby swears by Eccos...more money than I like to spend on a pair of shoes-though probably cheaper than most designer shoes.

Thankfully he's a guy who wears out one pair of shoes until they fall apart. Sometimes guys lack of caring about clothes comes in handy.

Rogue Slayer | October 19, 03:22 CET

It would make the heart of Manolo happy to see all this discussion about the fabulous shoes!

lycoming | October 19, 03:33 CET

That's totally me. Part of the reason is that my I have big, wide feet and it's hard to find shoes, the other reason is that I hate to shop. Yeah I know - I'm a shame to the shoe-crazy gender.

electricspacegirl | October 19, 04:21 CET

I like Minx shoes :) they come in purple (among other shiny colours..), and comfortable. Plus, they're made just down the road from me, so yay no people slaving for $1 a day in a sweat shop to make them

[ edited by vera on 2005-10-19 03:09 ]

vera | October 19, 05:08 CET

That's totally me. Part of the reason is that my I have big, wide feet and it's hard to find shoes, the other reason is that I hate to shop. Yeah I know - I'm a shame to the shoe-crazy gender.

I'm actually with you on that one electric space girl. I tend to let my shoes die horrid death before I buy new ones. I also have only a few pairs and very few that are for fashion purposes. (and I have trouble finding fashionable ones I like)

I live in a city where I walk everywhere anyway though so fashionable shoes are just not fun to get around in.

nna_funk | October 19, 05:30 CET

Personally, I'm a big fan of my Blundstones. Great boots. I do need to find some new, cool shoes though. I'm in high school for chrissakes. I can't wear Blundstones all year round. That's just weird. Of course, it's getting into winter now... so I'm going to have to start wearing them again. I also have Birkenstocks - 'cause who doesn't love Birkenstocks?

ETA: Gotta love the Manolo Blahniks Google ads on Whedonesque now. We're so hip!

[ edited by adam_tvs on 2005-10-19 03:37 ]

Knuckleball | October 19, 05:36 CET

Ooh, adam_tvs, Blunnies rule! Wife bought me a pair after an Aussie pal visited and was very proud of his...The Legend!

Chris inVirginia | October 19, 05:49 CET

Caroline, next time fly to Vancouver to get your Angel shoes. This is where John Fluevog started, after all - and as far as I know, he still lives here. His original store is still on Granville Street.

samatwitch | October 19, 06:06 CET

Makes me want to introduce all sorts of topics just to see what Google does with them. Hmm, maybe I'll go back and check our party thread.

Lioness | October 19, 06:43 CET

Docs are still around Simon. I still have mine and primarily wear them for working, where I'm outside and climb many a stair. However, they are still fine to wear when much of the other attire is black. Don't know about anyone else's but mine just don't seem to be falling apart. And it's been awhile since that purchase.

WhoIsOmega? | October 19, 07:37 CET

Ah, shoes, of which I have far too many. I'm perpetually torn between fashion and comfort. I have a pair of Fluevog Angel brogues, too, and boots in the same style, but they're so heavy/sturdy I tend to wear them mostly in winter. (As per promise, no sign of Satan yet.)

Naot, Rieker, Ecco and Clarks form my everyday lineup, with some wilder stuff NSFW on the side. Though I can't do heels over 2" because of residual effects from a foot injury years ago, I admit to privately shoe-lusting over sky-high heels no person in their right mind would try teetering around on in the real world. Manolos only in my mind mean happier, if not flashier, feet on the ground. And, cool stompy boots never go out of style.

Also, if you've never been there, Zappos is shoe heaven. Hide the plastic!

Wiseblood | October 19, 09:36 CET

Hear this: I have tried a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes. A pair of the really high and weird looking ones. And OMG, they were amazingly comfortable! Not barefoot-in-the-sand comfortable, but they-are-hugging-my-feet-oh-I-must-look-stunning comfortable.

I liked it.

For women with low self esteem I suggest buying a pair of Blahniks instead of having breast surgery. It's healthier, last longer, and cost about the same...

( In case you are wondering, I bought neither shoes nor breasts. I am totally comfortable and in tune with my low self esteem)

[ edited by onesnailshort on 2005-10-19 10:00 ]

onesnailshort | October 19, 11:56 CET

Ok, did not mean to be sexist, but I don't know if there are Manolo Blahniks in men sizes

onesnailshort | October 19, 12:02 CET

Wait now...there are shoe-fans who get the insides of their shoes *signed*?

Honestly, I live in a completely different world than some people :-)

GVH | October 19, 12:35 CET

Well he was all 'Come, I vill haf to zign ze inzide of your shoeze'. But without the German accent.

Caroline | October 19, 13:04 CET

Heh. It still strikes me as odd. But strangely funny :-)

GVH | October 19, 13:36 CET

Woah...weeeeeird thread...turned out to be quite the wacky fun after I posted with dismay. Alas, I miss another chance at not taking life so seriously.

Anyway...



...Wow. And I didn't remember this because...? *kills self*



And, if I may say so, Quentin Tarantino looks at feet enough for the entire population of the 'verse...

UnpluggedCrazy | October 19, 13:59 CET

Would this be a good moment to remind people to watch Chiwetel Ejiofor in 'Kinky Boots'?



SNT, I have always rather suspected that in real life you are a 300 pound, 6 foot rapper with a bad attitude and a lot of bling to boot :)

So lets go then homeboy!

My Birkenstocks hip hop on your Caterpillars. German engineering it’s where it’s at. Plus mine have little flowers all over them.

miranda | October 19, 14:58 CET

Sorry to interrupt. Thought I was at Whedonesque. Can someone tell me where it moved?

palehorse | October 19, 16:29 CET

The mall?

gossi | October 19, 16:41 CET

Hey, even Buffy was a lot about footwear. Remember Giles in Earshot? Statements can be made in a lot of ways. It just goes to show that we at Whedonesque are a diverse bunch of people.

Further OT: Don't you think that the world would be a better place if the skinheads stopped wearing the Doc Martin steeltipped boots and wore Birkenstocks? Try kicking something or someone when you are wearing sandals! I'm very peaceful when I'm wearing mine.( This was a pot shot at skinheads and nothing else, by the way.)

I have a tendency to be a bit more agressive in my high heels, though.

onesnailshort | October 19, 18:11 CET

Eve mentions Manolo Blan...whatevers too. I remember the line and a story about the show having to buy a pair in order to be able to say the line even though they were not going to be seen on screen. They came up for sale on E-bay recently.

If it wasn't for TV I would never have heard of the one or two brand names I do recognize on this thread. Shopping and fashion are not for me. That's probably why I didn't know Manolo wasn't Blanak.(sp) Though I think they may be sharing an apartment.

I'm with electricspace girl. Plus, never saw the facination of shoes at all. First thing I do whenever possible is take them off. Bare feet for me.

(Boy, I'm very disjointed this morning. Random thinking much?)

newcj | October 19, 18:14 CET

We're drownin' in footwear!

Chris inVirginia | October 19, 18:59 CET

Sort of on-topically, I always thought this line by Angel about Cordelia and her Sunnydale girlgang in "Rm w/a Vu" was one of his funniest in S1:

They ruled the high school. Decided what was in, who was popular. It was like the Soviet secret police if they cared a lot about shoes.

With around 50 shoe references in the Slayerverse, it's probably safe to say shoes occupy an important place in the thinking of those characters. For sure, nobody's ever made kicking butt in a spiky boot look more plausible (or hot) than the Buffster!

Wiseblood | October 19, 21:56 CET

You don't know how right you are Wiseblood. I thought I remembered something about David and feet (please just don’t ask…) and I found the reference (and don't ask where either).

This is what David Boreanaz of the vampire series, Angel, recently stated in FHM's September 2002 Issue:

Yes, actually, I’ve got a big female foot fetish, a pedicure is always in my repertoire, as is massaging the foot with olive oil. I like seeing open-toed shoes so you’ve got shoe cleavage on the heel – that’s a big, big thing for me. And then foot cleavage as well, which is when you can just see the tops of the toes exposed at the front of the shoe. Watch out for women with one long toe that hangs over – that means she’s horny and aggressive in bed."

miranda | October 19, 22:30 CET

Miranda, I...uh...I won't ask...

(Somehow very disturbing in a way I can't put my finger on...and probably don't want to. ;-o )

newcj | October 19, 23:06 CET

While I hate shopping and only own 3 pairs of shoes (two of which I wear all the time), I think shoes are important. You can tell a lot about a person by the shoes they wear. It's why I'm so darn picky when it comes to buying them. I want my shoes to be well-made and special. It drives my mother crazy during the rare times we go shopping together.

electricspacegirl | October 19, 23:33 CET

So, Joss & DB. Do you suppose it is one of the questions asked while casting? "Tell me, what do you think of feet?" Chris in Virginia, nice Spike quote! And who can forget Buffy not quaking in her stylish yet affordable boots?

Lioness | October 20, 06:06 CET