Trend: Soft Rock

As the summer months dwindle to a quiet close, the Grand Mademoiselle is itching to don something ... naughty, and head out on the town for a night of debauchery and mayhem. The fashion history annals offer much in the way of going-out-gear, ranging from the glitz and glamor of Studio 54 to the raucous, in-your-face chutzpah of the Bowery Ballroom. However, taking these styles and downplaying them to fit your life can be tricky, easily degenerating into cheap knock-0ffs and costume-y wannabes. The best way to ensure that you stay one step ahead of the style pack is to pick fabulous separates, mixing and matching demure pieces with wild ones to keep the interest without compromising good taste.


To avoid being the joke of Great Jones Street, steer clear of black leather biker jackets and torn jeans by throwing together an uptown, bad-girl ensemble from Olsen Twin brainchild Elizabeth & James. Their designs are, quite simply, thrilling, comprised of a surprising panoply of delectable pieces to choose from. The Grand M is wild about the golden fringe jacket, replete with oodles of glittering strands of fabulous fringe (a great disco throwback) without looking silly. The simple hook-and-eye closure, rounded neckline, and easy 3/4 sleeves ensure style success and are the epitome of modern soft rock dressing. To up the oomph factor, wear the fringe jacket over a gorgeous pair of slinky back stirrup leggings, the latest incarnation of an 80's icon. The new leggings are impossibly chic and look incredible when paired with pumps or boots.


Keep the motif alive and be the talk of Mulberry Street by slipping into a luscious pair of studded, knee-high, flat black leather boots. With great designers churning out gorgeous variations for the fall, you'll have plenty of options to choose from, and the Grand M suggests going for a soft rock aura by donning flats, since nothing screams vamp tramp louder than a pair of high-heeled black leather boots. Opt for the 'Ivy' by Loeffler Randall, with it's easy, demure low-wedge heel, golden snap details, and sumptuous Vachetta leather upper. The 'Ivy' is the pinnacle of soft rock style know-how, simultaneously conveying good sense and wild times in the same gesture. Go a little bolder with a good 'ol Sigerson Morrison concoction, always guaranteed to turn heads with great design and gorgeous details. The classic 'Studded Leather' boots are a true soft rock dream, made of luscious black leather stripes and adorned with studs that run to the knees. These boots would look wonderful when paired with leggings, keeping a rein on the rock-and-roll gesture and transcending cliches with fabulous style.


Be the toast of Canal Street with a great accessory to top off the look and prepare yourself for a night on the underground town. Load up on hardcore, overly-embellished rings with dangerous adornments juxtaposed with lady-like materials. Think bats and diamonds, lions and crystals, or skulls and pearls, as accomplished by this gorgeous 'Skull Charm' ring from Rachel Leigh. A good statement ring will take you far, and the cluster of shiny, multi-colored pastel freshwater pearls look decadently sinful against a pewter skull charm.

Feel Good Fashion

While we all gain a tremendous burst of excitement from donning new garments, the recent trend toward feel-good fashion focuses on outpourings of charity and goodwill, with designers turning to everything from eco-friendly fabrics to charitable donations. The Grand Mademoiselle has selected a few of the best recent efforts that are sure to make you feel good, inside and out. Truly, you don't have to be a vegan to slip into organic shoes, and you needn't be a wealthy philanthropist to enjoy the thrill of monetary donation.


Design company TOMS began with a truly magnificent mission: to make life more comfortable, and the Grand M can attest to the fact that TOMS has succeeded brilliantly. Self-labeled as "Shoes for Tomorrow", TOMS is dedicated to improving the lives of children in need, and does so to the tenth degree by donating a pair for every one purchased. With a glorious give and take like this, not to mention a fantastic price and ultra-lightweight construction, Grand M's everywhere should feel free to enjoy as many pairs of TOMS as suit their fancy. Recently, the designs have taken a super-cute turn, with TOMS utilizing everything from bright colored canvas to silver sequins adorning their superb flats. The Grand M is simply wild about the 'Twain', with its sumptuous leather sock liner, navy canvas upper and cream text relaying feel-good messages. At the end of the day, it's really all about looking down at one's shoes and feeling fabulous!

If you're searching for fashionable shoes in eco-friendly, luxe fabrics, turn to the Grand M's recent British style find, Beyond Skin. Their fantastically gorgeous collection labeled Sui Generis features stunning shoes ranging from demure daytime flats to sky-high evening pumps, all crafted from organic materials. Each pair is hand made to order, lending the entire collection a singular luxury, enhanced by tastefully subtle colors and simple shapes. What's more, Beyond Skin adheres to an ethically-sound work practice, uses no animal products, and follows the philosophy of creating gorgeous, ethical footwear for discerning style-led women. The Grand Mademoiselle is absolutely drooling over the 'Grace' heel, with its beautifully luxurious lavender upper and delightfully sensuous cut (not the mention the ridiculously towering heel!).

When in search of a feel-good handbag to go with all these charming shoes, look no further than venerable up-and-comer Vegan Queen, whose whimsical, nuanced designs are destined to delight even the most stringent vegan style maven. The self-proclaimed leader of "Eco-Luxury", Vegan Queen is committed to the mission of promoting a luxurious, healthy lifestyle while insuring a sustainable future, and to that end all of VQ's designs are organic, cruelty-free, non-toxic, and recyclable. This is truly where ethics and aesthetics meet, and VQ is ecstatic about bringing gorgeous designs to fashion-conscious women who demand high-quality, stylish bags without having to sacrifice their social or environmental beliefs. The Grand M suggests picking up the crave-worthy 'VQ Clutch Wallet' to stash in any of the gorgeous bags crafted by Vegan Queen. In fact, the Clutch is so adorable, the Grand M intends to tote it solo, basking in the glow that only comes from having done something ... worthy.

Animal Crackers

Fashion has an undeniably appealing element of play, as if we're perpetually locked in some fabulous childhood game of dress-up. Without this aspect, the game loses much of its fun, and style lacks an integral channel of imagination. This lovely facet in mind, picture a whimsical school play, with children dressed as lions, antelopes, and zebras to depict some magnificent, folksy scene. Fall fashion is much the same, the key terms being imitation, proportion, material, color, shape, and craft. Take your favorite animal and seek to emulate its constitution through clothing! For this post, the Grand Mademoiselle has selected the buffalo, as depicted in Mamie Deschillie's darling work at the Smithsonian. This piece embodies a personal charm, reflected in the furry beast's quizzical stare and woolly mane, and the best way to carry bits of this fabulous work through in your ensemble is to define your theme, then select colors, shapes, and materials that successfully relate your message. A stylish response to the buffalo suggests larger proportions on top, tapering down to shiny, black heels that peek out beneath cigarette pants.


To achieve those billowy top-side angles, look no further than venerable fashion house Ports 1961, whose impeccable tailoring ensures a highly intriguing creation crafted of sumptuous materials in captivating colors. The Blouson sleeve cotton top fits the bill perfectly, with its dramatic sleeves, pullover style, inverted pleat details, and aptly titled gazelle hue. The rich golden tone, faintly reminiscent of the buffalo's softly gilded fur, is a delightful way to bring play back to your style lexicon. For a bold look, opt for a lusciously gathered Ports 1961 muslin shrug in a delicious hand-dyed safari hue that evokes barley fields and matted animal hair. The tight, unbounded dried coils are deep enough to sink your fists into, recalling the graceful mash of silk adorning the buffalo's back. Slip into this wild little shrug and you're bound to feel like loping across the grasslands ...

On your feet, slide into something hoof-ish, that is, with a compact heel shape to give you the illusion of teetering atop shiny black hooves, much like our buffalo buddy. The Grand M adores the Zara heel from Corso Como, with its black patent pearlized leather upper, slightly angular square toe, and chunky 3" banana heel. The charming bend gives the Zara a unique shape, that when worn with straight leg trousers imparts a devilish twist on an old-school classic. For something a bit more traditional, go with Burberry's patent leather high heel Mary Jane. An embossed logo plate adorns the low Mary Jane vamp strap, resting across a high-shine black pump. The 4" heel is no laughing matter, but if you've got the skills, definitely go for it. This delightful pump has an aggressively small, rounded toe ... very hoof-ish. For those with smaller feet, stick with a trendy Giuseppe Zanotti peep toe. This particular heel, crafted of sinfully reflective black patent leather, has a high-gloss tortoise shell 3.5" heel and a cheeky hidden platform design to give you even more oomph. Take whatever animal inspiration you need, my dear Grand M's, and play a little dress-up!

A Grand Petite August

As per the recent request of an illustrious, little-footed icon (who happens to wear a size 4.5), the Grand Mademoiselle has decided not only to add a special section of her blog devoted to the plight of Petite M's in their search for fashionable, fitting footwear, but will use this post to highlight a few options for her tiny-toed friends. In truth, finding gorgeous shoes at both extremes of the size spectrum proves difficult, and the Grand M will do everything in her power to include small sizes in her search for the perfect shoe (insofar as this is a quest which we hold in common!). To that end, the Grand M has selected some of her favorite shoes, both big and small, to pair with gorgeous, exotic summer dresses, laden with tribal and floral prints to bid adieu to August's heat.

Just as large shoes tend toward the work horse aesthetic, small shoes favor little-girl styles, and neither impetus suits the adult Grand or Petite Mademoiselle. That said, there are ways to bend every rule, and the Grand M has stumbled upon several styles that will put the old aesthetics to rest. The 'Gladio' sandal by Stuart Weitzman is a perfect blend of gilded uptown chic with playful summer sandal, and what's more, it comes in a size 4.5. This is a lovely gladiator with a glamorous makeover, replete with a lush Specchio calf leather upper in sumptuous gold. The 'Gladio' is perfectly paired with an offbeat bohemian dress in a modern cut to offset the twist on a traditional gladiator. Wear Matthew Williamson's incredible 'Ballerina Bustier' dress with the 'Gladio' for a hodge-podge ensemble worthy of any fashion mag. Williamson's navy silk chiffon bustier dress is artfully adorned with a whimsical print of dancing ballerinas and crystal embellishments. The sculpted neckline, boned bust, and layered silk makes this dress a nouveau twist on an old gypsy classic, and will take your summer look to the next level in a pinch.



If the 'Gladio' does too little for your stature, opt for a pair of towering heels in a punchy, stand-out color, such as the 'Cali' by Taryn Rose in vibrant yellow patent. The patent leather 3.5" heel, bright hue, and asymmetrical silhouette pack a lot of sexy punch in one fabulous little shoe, also available in size 4.5. The padded foot bed ensures that you'll be feeling as good as you look when you pair the 'Cali' with Roberto Cavalli's 'Multi-Print Dress', with its happy colors and outlandish mishmash of drop-dead prints. The retro print exudes modern elegance on this multi-colored silk cap-sleeve dress, and the pleated front panel, empire waist, and subtle V-neck all add more interest to an already over-caffeinated little number - perfect for an August evening out on the town.

If something a little larger is your MO, you can never go wrong with All Black, and the 'Granada' flat, with its fun snub ballerina toe fits the bill. Available in a multitude of shiny colors, the Grand M prefers the white patent, which highlights the luxe leather ruching across the vamp and comfy elastic heel. Step out in your All Black's with Sienna Miller's go-to August slip-on by designer Yoana Baraschi. Baraschi's celebrity coveted dresses are truly all the rage, and with good reason. One peek at the rich tones, intricate patterns, and flattering cuts and the Grand M is already hooked. Opt for Baraschi's 'Red Embroidered' cotton voile dress to complete the gypsy-boho hodge-podge look with a pair of patent 'Granada' flats for an evening affair, or the more casual 'Athens' Grecian sandal by Dolce Vita. The easy silver leather straps and Spartan design ensure style continuity with Baraschi's dress if you're opting for an easy day out with friends. Any way you go, it's always best to leave the prints to the dress and save simplicity for the shoes.