Fashion Icons Encyclopedia.Manolo Blahnik.

The author of Carrie Bradshaw s shows.

He began his career as a shoemaker at home, where he was raised under the security of a banana farm. His parents sent him to study in Switzerland as a youngster, where he earned degrees in International Law and Literature from the University of Geneva. With his degrees in hand, he proceeded to Paris to complete his education at the Louvre School and the School of Fine Arts, this time focusing on the world of art. Finally, he settled in London, lured by the city's exoticism, where he worked as a clerk while penning pieces for the Italian Vogue L'Uomo.

Blanhik met Vreeland during a trip to New York with his friend Paloma Picasso. She was the woman who inspired Blanhik to devote his life to the world of shoes. The canary's perseverance ensured that his designs were renowned worldwide in a remarkably short period of time — little under a decade. His ability, combined with the popularity of some of his most ardent fans, including Picasso herself, Bianca Jagger, Madonna, and even the late Lady Di, quickly made manolos a legitimate status symbol and a vital feature on the catwalk. So much so that Blahnik has designed shoes for industry heavyweights including Calvin Klein, John Galliano, Carolina Herrera, and Oscar de la Renta.