Inside the Manolo Sale: Flying Stilettos, Andre Leon Talley, Insanity

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• Size 40, no laces, still hot
• Price list! The second column is total price including tax.
• Size 41
• The sad 38.5 table

After over two hours of waiting, we swept into midtown's Manolo Blahnik sale with a wave of fellow shoppers and immediately had to duck a flying pair of heels thrown by a staffer. First impressions: Watch your head.

As of 10:30am, the selection had already been pillaged. There aren't a ton of exotic skin shoes left—just some kitten heels and mules. But there are a lot of mules, many satin, sequined, or otherwise embellished. (For prices, check out the slideshow above.)

Size 36.5 isn't bad, but size 36 looked dunzo, size 37 was anemic, and there were only seven or eight pairs of heels on the 37.5 pile. If you wear anything between 39.5 to 41, though, you'll have better luck. In the smaller sizes, the selection is quite summery: Gold sandals, white patent stilettos with black piping, strappy kitten heels, gladiators. Size 40.5 has a much bigger selection, with more boots and other fall-friendly options. And size 41 is the most plentiful—we even saw a basic black kitten heel pump.

The problem, as shoppers keep pointing out, is that lots of shoes are missing their mates. And as the head staffer pointed out soon after we arrived, everything is already out on the floor. There's no anti-hoarding policy, so sizes are starting to get jumbled—you might have to check every table to find what you want.

In the middle of the chaos sits Andre Leon Talley, with an animal print throw on his lap and a pile of shoes at his feet. He's politely refusing photos because he's sick, but that hasn't stopped him from doling out advise. As we left, we heard him screaming "Yes, yes, YES! Oh GIRL!" Must have been a really good pair.
· All the Usual Suspects Come Out for the Manolo Sale [Racked NY]
· Dealfeed: Manolo Blahnik [Racked NY]