Stuff.co.nz 25/11/2011
MANOLO BLAHNIK: The legendary shoe designer was delighted to have his life story transformed into a classic fairy tale.
Manolo Blahnik says creating a new book with Camilla Morton was "like a tonic".The legendary shoe designer was delighted to have his life story transformed into a classic fairy tale called Manolo Blahnik and the Tale of the Elves and the Shoemaker.
"At this point in life, at this moment in life in Europe, this book to me was like a tonic," he said in an interview with British publication The Telegraph. "It was cathartic."
Camilla was thrilled to work with the 68-year-old.
She knew that the book had to be special to properly illustrate his magical life.
"When I was thinking of Manolo's story, I realised it couldn't just be an ordinary, boring story, it couldn't be just black and white" she explained.
"There's so much bad news and horrible news, fashion's all about escapism and beauty."
The king of footwear also remembered his time working with real-life princesses. He was particularly fond of the late British Princess Diana.
"I was in London and was privileged to have served her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales," he said. "That is to me a joy to have been able to do so. She loved us, she liked shoes, she liked everything, but she loved us. We'd close the windows [of the Chelsea boutique], the security boys were outside and nobody knew she was there, so she knew that she could have the privacy she wanted."
Manolo has also styled shoes for Britain's Prince William's wife the Duchess of Cambridge. The designer believes Diana would' have been very happy with her new daughter-in-law.
"She would have been so happy, she would have been so proud. Yes, of course!" he gushed.
"She's an exquisite creature too, a 'rara avis' of the world, a proper princess. She comes from the country - I don't even know where - but when you've got it, you've got it no matter where you come from, and she's got it!"