Studs in Space

The recent return of studded shoes, jackets, and bags is dangerously reminiscent of the over-the-top punk scene, running the risk of remaining a shtick and not a style. However, the Grand Mademoiselle firmly believes that it is possible to don this revived trend without looking like a tired throwback to the bygone days of biker chic and CBGB's. The trick is to make the stud a symbol of luxury, and to pair it with gentle, billowy shapes to offset the angular, hard-edged, pyramid proportions. Think Sid Vicious meets Yohji Yamamoto, as punk rock staples meet stratospheric and unearthly designs.

It's easy to accomplish this when a notoriously elegant shoe designer like Loeffler Randall incorporates stud details into softly folded black leather. The 'Eppy' is a classic open-toe sling-back with a demure 2.5" heel and gathered leather criss-cross vamp, tastefully embellished by brazen gold studs embedded within the folds. Since the studs are buried within a gorgeously designed shoe, they reflect a refined, otherworldly, art-deco aesthetic, evoking a stroll past I.M. Pei's architecture rather than across a barroom floor littered with peanut shells. To keep this feeling alive, avoid ruining the upscale meets downtown image of the 'Eppy' by wearing something similar. Instead, the Grand M recommends going in the opposite direction by pairing studded shoes with exaggerated balloon sleeves or sleekly triangular hemlines. If you're a jeans kind of gal, stick with a classic pair of cigarette legs in a muted gray tone to sidestep the potential rock-and-roll fiasco that is black jeans with black shoes (which admittedly almost never actually match anyway). Although it's summer outside, the Grand M simply can't resist this jacket top by Emilio Pucci. The cropped balloon sleeve jacket is made of heavenly light gray wool and is fantastically fun and futuristic, with its larger-than-life proportions, collarless neckline, and back ruching. Since the jacket fails to imitate the style of the studded heels, both come across as freshly modern and unique, downplaying the cartoonish quality of the former and the redundancy of the latter. Furthermore, the gray on gray effect is downright ghostly, and reminds the Grand M of a mysterious extra-terrestrial soldier, off to kick some alien you-know-what in some serious shoes. If you're a dressy kind of gal, opt for Celine's cocoon V-neck black wool confection, with its odd, spectral shape and monochromatic vibe. The dress tones down the forcefulness of the studs with its intricate darting, origami-esque pin-tucking, and visionary yet slightly vintage cocoon hem. Either way, both pieces are markedly un-punk, and thus thwart the possibility that you'll be channeling a bygone trend by piling on studded accessories and casual, torn clothing. The Grand M loves the contrast between the anarchic melody of gold studs and the ephemeral simplicity of innovative and odd shapes. If you absolutely must wear another studded something, pick a piece with studs that aren't carbon copies of your style foundation. The 'Eppy' would look divine with Juicy Couture's black onyx geometric ring, which features deep black pyramid studs bookending a glorious gold wraparound band.