For those interested in heel shapes, here's what I've been able to figure out so far...
(And please please feel free to correct me on anything here! This is just what I've gathered from direct observation of my Manolo boxes and from general shoe-stalking research. I'm far from an expert -- it's just my OCD-ish need to delve and categorize!)
PUX: stick-straight, square heel
Perhaps it's the clean lines and crisp angles that give this heel a fresh, modern look?
Here's my teal suede BB 105 with the PUX heel:
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And, to illustrate what I said in an earlier post about the BB 105 bordeaux liquid patent at Neiman Marcus... On the left is what was available in 2013, with the PUX heel. On the right is what Neiman's offers now in 2014, with what I think is called the Tora heel (?):
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They actually both look great, but I much prefer the more balanced dimensions of the PUX heel. The Tora, which I've likened to a martini glass, is lovely in its own way, but to me personally it seems rather top-heavy, and the stick of the heel (which, btw, is rounded, not squared) looks thinner than in the PUX version. Perhaps my bias is due to the fact that I'm only 5'3", and my calves are not slim, so I'm imagining that the top-heavy shape but delicate thinner stick of the Tora might look too "wobbly" and just won't fit my body type??? (Or maybe I'll completely change my mind if I actually try on a pair in person??) :wondering
PIN: slightly flared, with "squared" angles throughout the length of the heel
Here are three of mine with the PIN heel:
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The first two are 90mm. The third one is my patent black BB 70. I love the PUX on the BB 105, but for the 90 or 70, I prefer the slightly flared PIN heel. (However, I've noticed that Saks and Barney's are now carrying BB 90 with the PUX, and it actually looks quite nice!)
BAG and VAL: more distinctly flared heels
My chartreuse Sedaraby has the BAG heel, and the merlot the VAL heel:
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Both heels seem almost equally flared, and both have nicely rounded contours at the top. However, the BAG remains rounded from top to bottom, whereas the VAL starts to take on square-ish corners as it reaches the bottom -- just look at the heel lifts.
(to compare the VAL and PIN: the PIN is less flared, and has the squared angles almost throughout, top to bottom... I'm trying really hard to tame the nerd in me that wants to do a triple Venn diagram!!)
And there are so many other Manolo heel shapes that I'd love to explore if I had the time... would love to read what you can add!!
I've read somewhere that Mr. Blahnik still personally carves his own wooden lasts and heels when designing.
Anyway, sorry if I've bored you with all these trivial details. Thanks for indulging me!
Leafspark - Thank You for an excellent post!!! I really appreciate your posts on heel style and how to identify each one. I have to go look at all of my MBs now...
