Punched-Up Pairings

Certain elements inescapably compliment each other in a multitude of arenas, from the rustic simplicity of a perfect wine pairing with a buttery brie, to the devout conviction in harmonious zodiac attunements.  With the spirit of made-to-be-together in mind, the Grand Mademoiselle would like to burglarize the elite enclave housing fashion's elemental edicts.  Perhaps the perfect pairing is achieved by mixing an impeccably tailored coat with rugged boots, or a delicate chiffon Marchesa gown with a bomber jacket (a la Ralph Lauren's inimitable grace and genius for intuiting what makes a combination sing).  Let the halls of Harper's Bazaar adumbrate with carefully conceived, exquisitely executed, irreverently polished pairings.  The key is to keep them within the bounds of good taste, and to choose breathtaking, well-tailored pieces as anchors to align the intended effect, which should be luxurious, playful, and thoroughly intelligent.  The perfect pairing demands wit, first and foremost.

It seems obvious for the Grand M to begin with the shoes and work from there.  To provide inspiration for this theme, it is entirely fitting to select two pairs on opposite sides of the footwear spectrum; one epitomizing lavish opulence, and the other imparting a decidedly guileless, enthusiastic, bucolic vigor.  The 'Zoe Fur' flat by Maloles is ornate beyond compare, fashioned of sumptuous leather with all the freshly-mined luster of pewter ore.  The golden, coppery nappa upper is delightfully twisted in a chic pleat across the vamp, and adorned with a simple espresso grosgrain ribbon tie.  What's more, this ridiculous confection is fully lined with honey-toned fur, complete with feathery tufts peeking down along the seams on each heel.  To find a perfect pairing for these fanciful Maloles ballet flats, look no further than an artfully tailored blazer in an unassuming solid color.  Proenza Schouler provides the perfect piece with a lily-white stretch cotton fold-over blazer.
The low V-neck, single button front closure, and deco-revival double lapels bring the 'Zoe Fur' flats down a notch, thus preventing one from looking too "made-up", which the Grand M never finds flattering.  The simple cotton fabric, demure white tone, and innocently structured long-sleeved blazer pairs perfectly against the over-the-top golden, fur-lined, pleated, Maloles extravaganza.  Although, just to raise some eyebrows, I'd coyly tuck Matthew Williamson's 'Atomic' structured clutch neatly in the crook of my elbow and demonstrate my fearless love of fashion.

In truth, the rigid construction of the clutch pairs nicely with the Proenza blazer, and the multicolored silk, neatly embellished with bands of mirrored sequins in a gentle gradient of surprisingly muted neon tones is dazzling to behold.  Additionally, it has nothing in common with the Maloles ballet flats and looks marvelous against the stark white of the blazer.


Now, let's take a different approach to the perfect pairing by grounding our ensemble with the Tashkent 'Stoney' boot, crafted of a ruggedly refined rich brown leather upper, rising to a 16.5" shaft atop a 1" heel and endlessly entwined in layer upon layer of sturdy leather strips, encircling the 'Stoney' from top to bottom in tone-on-tone hide.  Tashkent is one of the Grand M's favorite shoe designers, marrying a solid, work-horse mentality with the innovative delicacy of an imaginative, couture sensibility.  What to pair with these gorgeous boots?  To the Grand M, they scream for a modern, crisply-cut dress coat to add an excitingly body-conscious and painstakingly proportioned dimension to the Tashkent's haphazard richness.  The 'Lantern Hem Coat', sold by Topshop is the perfect piece to pair with the 'Stoney' boots.  Made of a fantastic alpaca and wool blend, the 'Lantern' remains true to its moniker, featuring a futuristic, spirited bell-shaped hem
, lovingly fitted waistline affixed with a dual-button flap closure, slightly flared sleeves, and a deliciously over-sized collar.  The shape is at once retro and fashion-forward, barely able to conceal its intended purpose of flawlessly exhibiting a woman's figure.  Furthermore, the unexpectedly sedate teal color lends an extra layer of originality, steering it away from becoming just another well-shaped, black, boiled-wool Park Avenue peacoat.  The point of the perfect pairing is to pay attention to what each piece contributes on its own, that is, what it has to say.  Then, find another piece that has a different point of view, but with enough common ground to carry on a delightful conversation.

Gold-Plated Art Decoratif

The Grand Mademoiselle has always harbored a secret hatred of studded embellishments, whether on shoes, bags, lapels, what have you. However, there remains a certain intrigue to this style, spawned by the decorative art of the 1920's, that is both harshly industrial and artistically irreverent. The gilded, art deco appeal of studs currently conveys a lack of originality, yet the Grand M is simply positive that when done right, it's really right. The key, as with most things fashion, is to keep it simple, unexpected, and well-blended. No black leather bags engulfed by geometric, metal adornments, no jeans with gold studs running up the inseam, no faux leather cuffs crammed with gilded pyramids. In an attempt to get into the swing of the stud, the Grand M has selected a few pieces that work wonderfully together, to be mixed and matched with decidedly un-art deco additions.


Delman has turned out a gorgeous example of how this trend can work successfully with the 'Ami' heel. Fashioned of luxurious black kid suede and resting atop 1.5" worth of chunky heel, the 'Ami' takes the stud and gives it a good hard shake to knock all the silliness out of it. The lovely rounded toe is elegantly capped with row upon row of tiny golden dots, adding a softer dimension to the triangular studs that wind their way around the rim. Leave it to Delman to make the stud look elegant. This is artful adornment, an homage to a classic design motif, significant to both fashion and architecture, not some punk attempt to exude an edgy ennui.

If you must jazz them up a little, make sure to wear simple clothing and add the jazz in the accessories. Steer clear of studded bags, gloves, or hats, and instead, add a sensual Parisian element with Maison Michel's breathtaking 'Sasha' multi-strand pearl headpiece, dripping with delicate amber pearls and golden hardware. This headpiece plucks the stud from its modern associations and delivers a ravishing throwback to the roots of art decoratif, exuding the excitement of a fresh burst of style invention.

Chic Shoes, Chic Home

Of the numerous fashion burdens plaguing the Grand Mademoiselle, perhaps none is more frustrating than finding a chic way to store so many chic shoes. When the shoes are beautiful, the home decor should be beautiful as well, and that involves finding a way to seamlessly blend your collection with your furnishings. Speaking of chic shoes, here are my latest picks that I desperately need to find a home within my home for:

Quite possibly the most beautiful boot I've seen in years, the 'Lark' by Tashkent by Cheyenne has quickly become a staple of my Fall/Winter 2009 wardrobe, and is an absolutely essential investment piece. It seems like everyone is pairing leggings or skinny jeans with tall riding boots or chunky-heeled booties in black or brown, indicating my hesitation to follow the trend. The 'Lark' changed my opinion entirely, and I found a fabulous way to follow the trend by twisting it to become my own. This two-tone boot has a gorgeous, dove gray suede shaft, reaching a remarkable 21" and a sturdy 1" heel, but what makes the 'Lark' so spectacularly, ridiculously, mind-blowing is the front-zip, over-the-knee style with a sweet surprise at the top, wherein you'll discover an adorably unexpected pink posey suede insert. Wear them all the way up, or fold the shaft down to expose the pink lining, and you've got two totally different looks. I've also fallen in love with the Barefoot Tess 'Fabrizia' by Faryl Robin. The elfin slip-on style is enchanting, and with three colors to choose from (sasso silver, black, and purple) it's hard to know which to pick. My personal favorite is the sasso, with its slightly burnished silver metallic leather upper, 2" hidden wedge, and of course that deliciously deep V cut vamp. I'll be wearing the 'Fabrizia' with just about everything.

Now the dreaded issue: where do I put them? No sooner had I expressed my frustration then, poof! There it was, an email from Kathy at ShoeStream with a fabulous solution to my problem. While perusing the site, I found the perfect item for my needs. Since I abhor standard shoe storage units (all those ugly plastic boxes, ick), I want something that will serve as a part of my home decor, as a piece of lovely furniture that provides the dual function of storage for my precious shoes and adding to the design and functionality of my home. Problem solved with the 'Decorative Shoe Storage Bench', a richly-hued, deep hardwood masterpiece of fashion and architectural ingenuity. Fabulous. Must have. Deep enough to store a ton of shoes, and amazingly thoughtful by including dual top doors that permit you to sit down on the bench while opening one side at a time. I can see it in my home now, perhaps in the sitting room, casually adorned with splendid pillows and throws.

What pillows you ask? I'm so glad you wondered! Anthropologie is the Grand M's go-to spot for amazing home decor (if I could pull it off, I would decorate my house with every hanging lamp they sell), and their selection of throw pillows is spectacular. Pick a few in wild patterns and colors to offset the monochromatic bench. Here are my favorites: The 'Octopus Pillow' is Thomas Paul's unique creation, depicting a mysterious and intriguingly stark black-and-white octopus print on both sides of a 22" square brown linen pillow. A bit spooky and definitely a good addition to the stern solidity of the storage bench's clean lines.

Toss some color into the mix with the 'Orimono Pillow', a luscious

melange of unique strips of brightly colored fabrics, each inspired by Japanese yukatas. At 16" by 22", it will add a new twist to your collection and dilute the curious, odd quality of the 'Octopus' (plus, it reminds me of the 'Fabrizia' with its oriental quality and lush tones). Finally, mix it up even more with the 'Wild & Wooly Pillow', bewitching with its majestic, monochromatic outline of a powerful deer, leg raised, head poised, antlers up. At 20" square, the pillow depicts this buck's bravado as he appears to emerge from a forest of lush, emerald green leaves, pink paisley swirls, odd symbols and numbers, and brightly colored flowers. The Grand M finds this pillow to be the perfect finishing touch to her new shoe bench, and it compliments the other pillows in an odd but surprisingly pleasing way. I can't wait to look at that buck as I reach in for my Tashkent 'Lark' boots and imagine chasing him through his colorful paisley forest.

New Beginnings: Luxury In Lean Times

Yes, yes, the economy stinks. Yes, yes, fashion has reacted to the current downturn very poorly by churning out uninspired, drab, been-there-done-that cheap-looking blazers to pair with terribly boring flats. It seems as though we've lost our ingenuity, our slightly crazy bravado in our attempt to express solemn solidarity. The Grand Mademoiselle thinks we need to put our noses firmly against that grindstone and wear a pair of goddamn fantastic shoes. Mind you, not just any shoes. No, no, the Grand M sees shoes that express an expansive gusto, a forward-thinking yet patiently cautious anticipation of what works for us now. What is that exactly, you may ask? It's a brilliant homage to 1970's playfulness, capturing a fearless desire to embrace odd shapes that blend the beautiful with the bizarre, thereby creating something different to lift us from a silly rut toward higher goals. Rather than waste words describing my favorite picks, allow me to drown you in bravely feel-good footwear. Drink it in, my dear Grand M's, and savor every drop.


From the suede pleated, gold-foiled oriental vibe of All Black for Barefoot Tess' Japanese Boot to the reflective sheen of Corso Como's Carro low-heeled lace-up oxford, Fall/Winter 2009 ushers in the dawn of fashion lawlessness and unbridled creativity. There's nothing subtle about snakeskin and suede, and Andrea Carrano's gorgeous Boa wedge is the new version of demure office attire, the beauty of which is that the Boa is decidedly not demure, despite its ladylike pointed toe and sweeping accents. Beyond your office walls, try something thoughtful, delightfully designed, comfortable, and a chic, unexpected cold weather surprise. The Barefoot Tess Halia heel by Faryl Robin weaves strands of autumnal leather into a low-heeled, strappy, buckled, closed-toe sandal masterpiece. The Grand M intends to pair hers with sheer metallic gray tights and a cashmere tunic. Good heavens, I'm positively swooning with pleasure at the endless succession of glorious possibilities dancing betwixt my ears.


Inject a healthy dose of high-class glitz into your end of 2009 wardrobe with the Bernardo Drama black patent scrunch flat, cheekily embellished with geometric, deco-inspired rhinestones across the toe. Never having pegged myself a rhinestone toe flat kind of lady, imagine my surprise when I discovered that I had fallen deeply in love with the Drama. No frills here, just pure womanly acumen, as if the wearer could design the Chrysler Building during a quiet daydream. I am, quite frankly, freaking out about this season's creations, all of which caught me by surprise and re-awakened my slumbering shoe sensibilities. This October has effectively reminded me why I care, and why I love (and need) to love shoes. Not quite following me? Take a good long look at Dolce Vita's Nathan boot. This deliciously exuberant thigh-high, over-the-knee, low-heeled kid suede boot demands a reach for a wad of tissues with which the Grand M may daub her dampened ducts before trying them on with everything she owns ... all at once. I'm thinking steely skinny jeans and a loose-knit dark gray mohair cable sweater that hits just a teeny tiny bit above the Nathan's heavenly hem.