High Art

The Grand Mademoiselle is tired. Tired of the tried-and-true, cookie cutter, been there done that attitude infecting fashion this fall. Where is the drama, the sex appeal, the art, the magic and mystery, the innovation, the lust, the new? Enter shoe designer turned art world maverick Mark Schwartz to the rescue, who has managed to bring the Grand M back from the depths of design despair with an invigorating dose of gorgeous paintings to remind her of the fun that fashion is intended to embody. Schwartz is no rookie, and his impressive portfolio includes work with Roger Vivier and inspiration from cultural icon Andy Warhol. Certainly, Schwartz's own shoes are unbelievably gorgeous, hence having garnered the attention of the Oprah crowd and beyond. However, his soulful, sexy paintings of shoes are what make the Grand M all atwitter. Schwartz has a singular way of infusing real interest back into a lackluster season, with his tantalizing and downright haunting paint-and-paper depictions of that holy of holies: ladies footwear. Above all, what makes his work so wonderful is his obvious commitment to an often overlooked side of shoes, namely, the movement and spontaneity captured by the shape and construction of a beautiful pair. Schwartz's paintings are heady with the rich sense of newness, of individuality, all with a strict attention to paying due reverance to the artistic shape that women's shoes exhibit.

With this in mind, the Grand M is armed and ready to embark on her own renewed shoe sojourn, and the latest creations from Marni and Faryl Robin provide her with a reason to believe that shoes are every bit as fantastic, whimsical, and imaginative as Schwartz's paintings represent them to be. This season, the Grand M will strive to celebrate the beauty of shoes with every tippy-tap upon the earth, reveling in the glory captured by an avant garde outlook with a bit of fairy tale magic. Look for pieces with an unexpected shape, a unique twist on an old classic, or perhaps even a bold new color to revive the interest that a good shoe always arouses. Marni's peep-toe ankle boots are a perfect example, not only for their towering platform, but for their marvelous reworking of traditional taupe and the sweet surprise of an open toe on an ankle bootie. What's more, the imaginative tweed trim between the wood and leather is remarkly chic and refreshingly new. For something a little more down to earth, opt for Faryl Robin's electic 'Doobie' heel, with its quirky, off kilter charm and cheeky zebra stripe printed suede lining. The marvelous mixture of rich textures, combined with an asymetrical T-strap and fabulously unusual cone heel add layer upon layer of celebratory rapture to the 'Doobie', capturing the slightly left of center sex appeal that Schwartz's paintings strive to portray. Find all of Schwartz's work at http://www.highheeledart.com and let the celebration begin!