If you are a fan of "Sex and the City," then you have undoubtedly heard of Manolo Blahnik. Manolo Blahnik is a shoe designer who was born in the Canary Islands on November 27, 1942. He studied art and fashion in Geneva and Paris before launching his career in the fashion industry. His unique and artistic perspectives on shoe design have allowed Blahnik to make a name for his shoes in countries around the world. Today, his shoe designs are legends, and his vintage and contemporary designs still remain big sellers in the fashion capitals of the world such as New York, Paris and Tokyo.

Manolo Blahnik Gets His Start
Like most great fashion designers, Manolo Blahnik did not start out designing independently. After graduating from the University of Geneva, he spent some time in Paris studying fashion. He got a job in a little London boutique called Zapata in 1968. His position in this boutique provided him with the exposure that he needed to develop his understanding of the fashion world, which he used to write for Vogue Italia.

His entrance into the world of shoe design occurred as the result of an infamous meeting with Diana Vreeland. She took a look at his fashion portfolio and told him flat out that his forte was in shoe design. For shoe lovers the world round, this was an epiphany that lead to the development of one of the most famous shoe lines in the world.

In 1972, Blahnik was asked by Ossie Clark to design shoes for one of his fashion shows. This was the start of the Blahnik line. Shortly after this runway show, Blahnik borrowed 2,000 pounds Sterling, bought Zapata and started his own footwear boutique.

The Manolo Blahnik Shoe
The history of shoes would not be complete without mentioning the designs produced by Manolo Blahnik. His shoes are known for their unique shapes, unique ornamentation, heels and straps. Some of the most memorable shoe designs created by Blahnik include the original Blahnik shoe produced for Ossie Clark in 1972, the Cherry Shoe and the Piaggi.