It's Carolyne's birthday- she's 30 this year, and doesn't she make it look amazing?

The Manolo Blahnik signature slingback in all its iterations-high to low heels, suede to patent leather finishes, neutral tones and knockout yellow-is named for the woman who came up with the original silhouette back in 1986.

She was born in Kirksville, Missouri, and later worked with Oscar de la Renta before Mr. Blahnik; she was also president of the CFDA between 1989 and 1991. If you're the type who dreams of filling your life with fresh flowers and greenery, you might consider her your guru. With about a dozen book titles to her name-all on the subject of home design, entertaining and gardening-she embodies a certain perfectly polished East Coast style.

Carolyne-the shoe, that is-made her debut in a mid-'80s runway show, but who she is now depends on you. Blahnik himself is inspired by confident and feminine women who are secure in their style: they dance around fashion whims, they don't follow them.

Which bring us to BB, one of the brand's sexiest styles, named for the iconic Brigitte Bardot. And to the often-jeweled Hangisi; it met with fame on Sex and the City in 2008, giving women everywhere-including Carrie Bradshaw-the idea that the right kind of shoe could be every bit as symbolic as an engagement ring.

Mr. Blahnik himself has been working with pattern makers in the north of Italy for 40 years now; it's said that he creates between 150 and 200 prototypes four times each year. And while that volume is impressive, it's the relative lack of volume that says the most about the brand. Those factories take their time with each delicate vamp and spike, putting out just 100 pairs each day, in comparison to the 1,000 or more that other lines might turn out.