Summer Style Inversion

The Grand Mademoiselle absolutely loves the tension sparked by the conflicting patterns, colors, and styles of summer fashion. In truth, the most satisfying way to quiet the swelling cacophony of competing trends is to assuage the situation by throwing out all the rules to make room for a freshly conceived, modern take on the old assumption that to be successful, an ensemble must convey a consistent theme from head to toe.

Two themes continue to captivate the Grand M with each passing summer. First, the ethereal, gauzy romanticism of bright whites, pale taupes, faded golds, and sheer shifts as featherlight and gentle as the breeze that carries dandelion seeds. Against this, the Grand M cannot resist the glorious mysticism of tribal prints, bold oranges and browns, wooden jewelry, and ethnic ensembles that reveal the underlying outlook of a culture. What ties these two themes together is their authentically organic appeal, insofar as both remind the Grand M of the earth's bounteous offerings and rich layers of life, in all its polar manifestations.

To celebrate these two parts of one whole, the Grand M suggests a style inversion of girl scout swap meet proportions. Take a floaty, English country dress and wear oodles of Persian mirrored bangles. Pair a Moroccan scarf with a smocked linen Oxford button-down. Too much of the same is so ... safe, so break free of the restrictive limits encompassing a definitive trend and mix pieces that reflect different outlooks. Start with a romantic dress, such as the Madison by designer Julie Haus, who manages to impart a distinctly vintage feeling to this undeniably feminine, metallic gold confection. The forgiving jersey fabric, short puff sleeves, pin-tucked bust, and easy knife pleats at the waist lend an air of old-fashioned modesty to this unassuming dress. If you prefer something longer, opt for DKNY's Tiered Maxi Dress, effortlessly constructed of stunningly white and airy voile with a gently gathered bodice, ruffly tiered skirt, smocked empire waist, and surprising side pockets. The Maxi Dress absolutely oozes ethereal girlishness, conjuring images of maidens picking flowers in a golden field, their gently waved tresses shimmering in the sunlight.Instead of pairing these gossamer garments with equally angelic shoes, take a different route and channel a bit of hard-edged, ancient Roman bravado, imbued with a touch of sleek Saharan boldness. The Swain sandal by designer Matt Bernson is sure to fit the bill, with its rich tobacco hue, vegetable oil dyed leather upper, zipper details, and wraparound ankle straps. The Swain is minimalistic, tough, and refreshingly grounded, providing the perfect antidote to the saccharin sweetness of floaty frocks. Going against the grain by pairing the Swain with a romantic dress leaves open the question of what would normally complete the ethereal theme; hence, the Grand M thinks that Bernardo's Must sandal solves the puzzle. Available in muted gold or pale pewter, the Must has a softly corded metallic leather upper and is adorned with delightful vintage disk hardware, reminiscent of a peasant girl walking among cornstalks in the foggy glow of a rising sun.The Must seems the natural compliment to the Madison or Maxi dress, but to accomplish a summer style inversion, the Grand M suggests pairing this sandal with a frock more suited to the Swain's composition. Designer Maria Bonita Extra's Comie Print Dress is the perfect piece to pair with the Must. The jaunty Brazilian print is exuberantly earthy, and the subtly tented proportions are pleasantly exaggerated by knife pleats at the neck and shoulders with a tie-belt at the waist to keep the shape under control. The cloud-inspired printed panels, splashed with vibrant yet muted hues, demonstrates the Grand M's earlier contention that these two opposing summer themes are married by their shared foundation in all things organic, leading to a match made in summer style heaven.

The Sweet Life: Summer Giveaway

For the Grand Mademoiselle, there is nothing more satisfying than solving the infuriating puzzle of matching the perfect summer sandal with its equally perfect handbag mate to achieve a classy and understated warm weather wardrobe staple. While the winter months afford the ease of pairing chic leather boots with luxurious wristlets and sinfully supple hobos, the summer season proves to be an unrelenting source of fashion frustration. Does any bag really go with beaded thongs or sequined peep-toe slides? How can one possibly pull off a sophisticated summer solstice ensemble if footwear leans toward the casual and handbags morph into kitschy carryalls? The seemingly irresolvable discord between summer shoes and bags stems from the materials, colors, and shapes involved. Technicolor slides and plastic flip-flops invade a market already saturated by cutesy straw clutches and canvas totes emblazoned with cheeky messages, leaving the Grand M buried beneath the oppressive weight of summer style ennui.

However, hope abounds in the collections proffered by footwear and handbag designers Dolce Vita and Lesa Wallace, respectively. Both prove that it is indeed possible to find simple and chic creations, that when paired, reveal sultry summer style in all its steamy splendor. Lesa Wallace's recent handbag collection is absolutely stunning, replete with lush leathers and rich with the spirit of a singularly personal passion that translates to match every woman's inner style life. Designer Wallace launched her first handbag line in 2003, and has recently garnered loads of fashion media attention given the wonderfully sensitive point of view that is irrepressible in her collections. Wallace's mission is quite dear to the Grand M's heart: to design the ultimate handbag line that will bear witness to current trends while retaining that classic element which secures a bag eternal glory. It is more than fair to say that Wallace has successfully seen her mission through, and her latest collection makes the Grand M swoon.

For the Grand M who prefers a roomier companion, the Prosperity bag offers all the perks of a posh leather carryall without the fuss and fiddlesticks typically associated with summer styles. This magnificent shoulder bag features dual zippered compartments and handsome front pockets, all gently formed of tumbled Italian washed leather in a variety of subtle tones. The Grand M prefers the Prosperity in Black, however, don't be afraid to choose a bolder hue to carry on your journey through the blistering streets. Available in Medium and Large, the Prosperity is destined to enter the handbag Hall of Fame, alongside such luminaries as the Balenciaga Motorcycle or (dare I say it) the Hermes Birkin.

If the Prosperity proves too much bag for you, select the Nature Clutch in Cork, adorned with a hard-edged polished brass turn lock, and be-speckled with delicate flakes of shimmering metallic gold to offset the organic beauty of the Nature's Cork pattern. The feminine proportions and light hue of this wondrous clutch provide the perfect antidote to the doldrums of beachy summer totes. Make the most of Lesa Wallace's incredible creations by donning a pair of surprisingly elegant, chic, and un-stylized T-Strap thong sandals by Dolce Vita. Slide into the gloriously crafted patent shine of the Dahlia as you reach for your Prosperity bag or Nature Clutch and head out on a languid day of window shopping. Available in a sizzling quintet of patent Black, Red, Green, and Silver, the Dahlia epitomizes the happy union of laid-back summer style with modest fashion know-how. The demure and functional 1" rubber wedge heel adds an element of comfort to the Dahlia's uptown aura, and the adjustable side buckle ensures that your tootsies will be snugly confined despite the sandal's airy, open construction. Now, my dear Grand M's, for the really, really, FANTASTIC news! After calling upon the steadfastly loyal ladies at Barefoot Tess, the Grand Mademoiselle is offering a free pair of Dolce Vita Dahlia's to one lucky reader. To enter, kindly email your name, address, shoe size, and color preference to grand.mademoiselle@gmail.com. The winner will be notified on Friday, June 13th via email and her Dahlia's shipped merrily on their way!