Sandalled

With the spring season silenced, the Grand M is keen on throwing herself feet-first into the fantastic onslaught of summer sandals. Designers are ripe with eager yet age-old ideas and brilliant motifs, fashioning impeccably turned-out turn-outs reflective of a more modern, thoughtful, and mature design frame of mind. Flip-flops and espadrilles are so five years ago. The 2009 sandal draws heavily on the gladiator trend of winter and fall, bringing a refreshingly updated take on a cold weather staple to open-toed perfection. The twist lends a wise air to this summer's sandals, demonstrating an abiding love of style and cool-headed know-how that unavoidably surfaces in toe-thongs, earthy brown hues, and historically-minded details (think Homer, Virgil, Ovid) displayed in perennially human, functional forms and eco-inspired flourishes. Drumroll please...


Easily the Grand M's favorite this season, the Gwyneth 'Zola' is an oasis in a desert of bad sandal memories, effortlessly restoring the multi-colored bead to new life and respectability among the footwear elite. The sumptuous sandalwood suede upper cascades in gentle blooms along a sturdy T-strap, each fold trimmed in charming, elementary school beads. A typically hokey-pokey, unsophisticated embellishment finds itself at home on the 'Zola', and it makes the Grand M wonder what the uproarious outcry against Crayola-colored beading a few years back was all about.


For an edgier look, the Grand M raves about Chie Mihara's summer collection of finely-crafted, off-beat, elegant sandals. The 'Miosen' delivers on Mihara's luxurious promise to perfection, combining a serious-minded, oiled amber leather ankle wrap with playful, huarache-esque scissoring, contrast stitching, and oversized jewel atop the vamp's apex. This is a fashion veteran's sandal, offering the best of what's been in delightful conjunction with the best of what is. The Grand M intends to pair her pair with light, white tanks and slim denim capris in an assortment of washed-out watercolor hues.


To wear with everything, the Grand M is sticking with 80%20's whimsical 'Millie', ideal for everyday wear and decidedly female in form. The cut-out leather leaves and tri-buckled, ankle-hugging upper seamlessly blends the rough and tumble mold of a gladiator with elfin delicacy and measured confidence. The 'Millie' rides the fence between casual and dressy, offering a perfect choice for those in-between ensembles and guaranteeing a generous handful of compliments from passers-by. The undertone of each sandal picked here is subtlety and a return to style simplicity - a welcome gesture after towering platforms, grotesquely contorted, futuristic wedges, and ho-hum, boring basic flats, inspiring the Grand M to be sandalled by irony and wit in 2009.

My Shoe Stock Stimulus Package

The title of this post is somewhat misleading. The Grand Mademoiselle has no grand scheme for retail reinvigoration, nor does she gasp in astonishment at the current state of economic affairs (if we promise to pay for something, but don't have the money to fulfill said promise, isn't the whole thing bound to collapse?). Just a thought. However, the Grand M has taken a page from the powers that be, and has decided to throw real money at the problem anyway, hoping it will all just go away. The fantastic part? My shoe collection (which was growing dusty from a general lack of enthusiasm) has been remarkably restored thanks to some brilliant new designs by some brilliant shoe designers! It's time to wipe away the doom and gloom and step out in a gorgeous pair of decidedly different shoes. The Grand M had just about given up hope of finding anything really exciting to ignite her footwear fashion passion, when lo and behold, oodles and scads of delicious designs turned up (and all at once, it seems). The following are my four most recent acquisitions:


The 80%20 'Molly' open-toe hidden wedge heel, in a fabulously proletarian olive canvas, are made impossibly chic by oiled chestnut leather straps that adorn the vamp and twist and turn about the ankle, held closed by a darling buckle. The result is a bootie-slash-wedge-slash-sandal that makes the Grand M swoon with delight. The leather ankle straps cause the shaft to ripple, fold, and crease, creating a blooming blossom of green around your legs, while offering a hint of the red and white striped lining within. Plus, the 3" hidden wedge heel adds effortless height without seeming garish or pushy. Truly, the Grand M has never seen a shoe like this before, and intends to wear it with everything from jeans to shorts to skirts to harem pants. Top the whole outfit off with some subtle but flashy jewelry. If you really want to pop, try wearing anything with princess cut diamonds.


For something a bit more tame, the Grand M went in search of the perfect, most comfortable, everyday-wear type of sandal, and was thrilled to find the Corso Como 'Santorini', which manages to blend simplicty and elegance to perfection. The supple leather upper, which comes in brown, black, and white, is effortlessly design-conscious with its T-strap contour and tiny stacked wedge heel. The footbed screams heaven to tired tootsies, and this is the kind of sandal one can wear all day and with anything, always pulling off that ineffable "I just look good" vibe that seems so out of reach. I intend to wear mine with a pair of dark rinse skinny jeans and a gossamer cotton men's style broadcloth shirt, loosely tucked in, and perhaps a set of paper thin gold bangles.


For a sandal with a little more panache, the Grand M chose the 'Moon' by Dolce Vita. This is a girl's night out type of sandal, which also easily translates to both casual and elegant events. The unexpected pairing of metallic leather and dreamy suede ankle straps makes the 'Moon' an archetypal shoe-lover's fantasy. What's more, the rubber sole makes this sandal extremely comfortable for traipsing about town in, and the flashy metallic vamp can easily be tempered by the subdued, elegant suede ankle wraps, and vice versa, lending a high degree of versatility to this sandal. Perhaps I've just been bored to death by last season's turnout, but I feel absolutely captivated by this design and am newly inspired by the beauty of shoes. The Grand M will step out in a corseted, bustier-style maxi dress in some bold tribal print, or perhaps in some unexpected hue (emerald? garnet?) while wearing these sandals.


The Grand Finale: The Grand M stepped out of her comfort zone and got herself a pair of Dolce Vita 'Marcel' gladiator sandals. With their brasstone studs and buckles, impossibly tall shaft that hits just below the knee, and easy access back zip closure, the Grand M simply couldn't resist. There's nothing quite like walking around while wrapped in layer upon layer of leather straps; a cage for the calves, if you will. The toe thong is an unexpected treat, and the flat rubber sole keeps the 'Marcel' from being too silly. In truth, the Grand M found it to be quite easy to pair with many wardrobe staples, and it seems to work best when it doesn't have to compete with anything else that's too showy. The 'Marcel' is enough on its own. Wear them with an ensemble in a contrasting style, such as a demure, mid-thigh poplin skirt in cherry red, paired with a simple gray cotton tee and topped off by a delicately printed, monochromatic scarf and diamond studs.

In sum, to hell with the economy. My shoe stock has now been properly stimulated.

Me & My Maloles

The Grand Mademoiselle is a sucker for a high-quality, buttery-soft, rich leather shoe. Give me gentle folds of supple skins over immovable, stain-resistant, nylon and I'm a happy woman. Always in search of the perfect leather shoe, the Grand M can say with confidence that each design put forth by Maloles puts even the best of the rest to shame. Established in 2004, Maloles has earned its way to the top of the Grand M's "It Shoes" list for its commitment to luxury and comfort, achieved through 'Sacchetto' artisan craftsmanship (translation: these shoes fit like a glove). Each piece blends the whimsy of ballet with an unrivaled air of refinement. Add gorgeous accents like cut-outs, gentle pleats, and dainty bows, and you've got yourself a truly classic set of shoes. The Grand M simply can't get enough! Now, thanks to the creative lady-geniuses at Barefoot Tess, Maloles are available up to a size 13. Here are the Grand M's favorites for Spring 2009:


If you're looking for a little heel, opt for the kittenish "Zoe" heel in either basic black or this fabulous rosey-gold metallic. The pleated vamp, complete with tiny keyhole cut-out and leather bow, makes the "Zoe" a flirty way to up the dressy ante on an otherwise casual ensemble.


If flats are more your style, pick the "Zoe" flat, which carries through all of the lovely accents of the "Zoe" heel and is available in black and robin's egg blue. In either color, the "Zoe" flat is a wonderful alternative to your run-of-the-mill, been-there-done-that basic old ballet flat. It's girlish without being childish, and comfortable enough to wear all day. Additionally, the rounded toe is a welcome relief from the sea of silly pointed toe flats that seem to fill the sidewalks and crowd department store windows.


But the real show-stopper, in the Grand M's opinion, is the "Cornelia" flat in scrunchy, patent navy blue leather. Humbly adorned with no silly vamp details, the "Cornelia" wows from behind with a cheeky surprise, namely, a preppy canvas striped bow on the heel. The Grand M deems the "Cornelia" the "It Shoe" of Spring 2009, and the mixture of simplicity, luxury, and one unique element to add a special twist are key themes for footwear in the coming year. For the Grand M's smaller-footed friends, visit netaporter.com and pick the "Zoelie" silver metallic flat, with its adorable lace vamp cutout and over-sized whip-stitch bow trim. This is a driving shoe taken to the highest degree, and the Grand M is over the moon for the unexpected lace insert.