Of Pirouettes And Paso Doble

Dance, in all its wild variations, has always maintained a sacred kinship with fashion. Whether you don a crinoline tutu and pink satin ribbons or flaunt the brashly neon ruffles of a flamenco gown, the essence of dance unavoidably boils down to style. The difficulty of translating this style to the street turns on the fact that the fashion of dance retains a flair for the dramatic and an exuberantly costumed air. Surely, no one would walk off the dance floor in a sequined leotard and leggings to dine at the Plaza Hotel. However, there are exciting ways to convey the style of dance while keeping one's head below the clouds. The latest interpretations of the Mary Jane offer a glimpse of this possibility by evoking long hours spent dancing the night away on shiny, gleaming hardwood floors, flanked by walls of mirrored glass and portraits of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. With their towering heels and matte leather uppers, the new Mary Jane's are decidedly simple, austere, and old fashioned in a most glamorous way.

The Devay heel from designer Taryn Rose takes this two-stepping theme to perfection, with its three inch partial-wedge heel, matte black patent leather upper, and surprisingly chic elastic gore strap. The elastic strap serves to separate the Devay from the pack as an inspired portrayal of the balance between fluidity and musculature that epitomizes the dancer's physique. The Grand Mademoiselle also adores the Dance heel from designer All Black, which comes in a variety of subdued shades and enjoys a hidden platform, a glorious three and a half inch heel, and an oversize strap and buckle. From these towering heights, your calves will be thrown into high relief, while the sturdiness of the heel's construction disallows tumbling down.
The next question is what to wear with these gorgeous ballroom, bossa nova belles. To avoid looking like you just came in from dance lessons, pair these hokey-pokey heels with unexpected and seemingly ill-suited pieces. The Grand M would love to wear Taryn Rose's Devay with See by Chloe's short sleeve Ethnic Print dress, fashioned of luxurious silk twill and patterned with a cheeky tribal print that works against the overtly stylized Devay. Additionally, the thigh-grazing length of Chloe's dress creates pure limb heaven when paired with the towering height and stark shape of Taryn's heel. This is truly a glorious combination, and the effect suggests a wild tango performed alongside an Aboriginal Red River jig.

Take a harder edge with All Black's Dance heels by wearing them with Loeffler Randall's khaki satin bomber jacket, adorned with stud details at the pockets and subtle ruching at the hem and cuffs. This represents a new twist on dance style mix, combining the ballroom elegance of the Dance heel with the punky, disco stomp of the bomber jacket. What makes this match work is not only the marriage of two completely different styles, but the complimentary hues and the waltz-like refinement of the bomber's satin coating. The contrasts keep these pairings fresh, modern, and far from costume-y while evoking the buoyant joy of dance, heightened by the meeting of radically different styles, eras, and tones. Tie Nightcap Clothing's long, braided leather Fairy Headband, accented with faceted crystals and beaded fringe, around your forehead and the world becomes your oyster as you two-step, salsa, and watusi your way down the city sidewalks...