ADVENT DAY 10: THE ELVES AND MANOLO

Posted by Melanie Rickey, Fashion Editor at Large

The fairytale can be yours here, for £8.95

Camilla Morton is a wonderfully creative, exquisitely eccentric fashion writer who I have known for ever as we started out in our careers at the same time. Camilla has successfully made a name for herself as a fashion author, and I LOVE how she has reinvented the classic fairytales dovetailing them with the stories of modern day fashion designers careers. 

“I am enchanted by how clothes make you feel, and the people behind it,” says Morton. “Because sometimes the magic and the art of creation gets forgotten in the rush to find the next big thing.”  of course she is so right, and Camilla makes magic of Manolo's story as well as reminding me of one of my favourite fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm.

The book is packed with Manolo's signature vibrant illustrations, (above) depicting scenes from his life - his glamorous mother making her own shoes to combat wartime restrictions in style; an inspiring visit to the Theatre de Paris to watch Romy Schneider and Alain Delon and his now legendary meeting US Vogue editor Diana Vreeland who instructed Manolo to focus on footwear. Diana was instrumental in making his career.

"I would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for you meddling kids."

Scooby Doo Villain (Hanna Barbera) 

 Couldn't revisit The Elves and the Shoemaker without a look at a Hanna Barbera 1980s retelling of the tale. This is the TV of my youth. It doesn't get better. (Or schmaltzier.)