You probably know of him from Carrie Bradshaw’s dreamy closet. You’ve heard of him, you’ve drooled over his shoes and you’ve even bought a few of his designs. But did you know he was the one to bring back the stiletto craze?

In a time where platforms were all anyone could talk about, shoe designer Manolo Blahnik defied the norms ever-so elegantly. In fact, the disco fever was so prominent during the seventies that re-introducing classic stilettos was kind of a long shot. That’s until Blahnik used his irreparable talent for shoe design to rekindle the old flame, giving way to the celebrated staple Manolos!

Everyone who’s anyone was so gung-ho over the high-heeled beauties that it was a redefining moment for the fashion industry. Shoe lovers bid farewell to heavy platforms and welcomed strappy high heels with arms wide open. Think Hollywood stars and A-listers. Think Sarah-Jessica Parker and the rest of the world while you’re at it. Think pure. Stiletto. Invasion.

And the rest- as they say- was pure history! Model Elle Macpherson wore them, Lauren Hutton owned a few styles and fashion editors worshiped his designs. I mean, could you really picture your closet without at least one pair of stilettos?

Cindy Menassa