Philly Fringe

September has arrived, and with it the Philly Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe!  Over two weeks of the unusual, the obscure, the absurd, the unexpected, and the oddball, taking place all around the city.  There’s something for everyone, and it’s a great way to experience something new and support local artists!  In honor of the festival, I give you shoes inspired by three shows you might be interested in:

In Barbie Blended: A Pop Rockin' Musical by Theatre Underground, Sophie wants to be a rock star. Her mom wants her to be a beauty queen. Her neighbor wants her to look like Megan Fox. And Barbie wants her to become a woman. A world premiere musical that investigates the consequences of growing up in the caffeinated age of twitter, pop music, and pornography.

 

Of course it’s a pink shoe—we’re talking about Barbie here!  The Glamm by BCBGeneration is pink (or black) suede, with a one-inch platform and four-inch heel—and it covered in pink rhinestones!  Pink rhinestones, people!!  Yours for $118 from Macy’s.

Devotedly, Sincerely Yours is a swingin’ big band portrait of a courageous female starlet of the United Service Organization (USO) who risked her life to entertain American troops overseas during World War II. This compilation of archival texts and songs investigates war as experienced by a "soldier in greasepaint."

Why, hello sailor!  These Sexy Sailor Shoes are bright blue with white stripes around the foot and peep toe.  The finishing touch is the bow and red anchor at the toe!  Available in small, medium, or large (6, 8, or 10) from HalloweenCostumes.com.

Open Air is the festival’s signature event.  Imagine walking along on a balmy evening in late September, and you’re looking up the Ben Franklin Parkway. You speak into your phone and twenty-four robotic searchlights—placed along a half-mile stretch of the Parkway—move to the sound of your voice, interpreting your inflections into motion and transforming the city’s skyline. You stop speaking (or singing or humming or rapping) and the lights continue to move, controlled now by other speakers collaborating with you from up and down the Parkway.

I love how the Marilyn by Type Z looks just like the light beams of Open Air criss-crossing over the Parkway.  It’s made of black suede and faux leather, has a 3.5-inch heel and half-inch platform, and would add just a touch of rock to any outfit.  Also available in pink on red, tan on nude, navy, gray, brown, and black patent; your choice for $79 from Zappos.

Barbie Blended runs tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday in the Gershwin Y Blackbox Theater (tickets are $15).  Devotedly, Sincerely Yours is also tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday at the Off-Broad Street Theater at First Baptist Church (tickets are $18).  Open Air runs from September 20 to October 14 along the Parkway, and it’s free!  There are a ton of other options too—go!  Explore!

Sales this weekend:

Aerosoles: End of summer sale—save up to 65%

Bakers: Take 25% off select styles

Bloomingdale’s: Free returns on orders through 9/19; free shipping on orders over $150; extra savings if you’re a Loyallist!

Call it Spring: Free shipping on all orders over $45

Lord & Taylor: Save 20% off the newest looks (with limited exclusions) with savings pass or promo code NOW

Macy’s: Fall shoe sale: 20-30% off seasonal styles (and sandal clearance, 50-75% off)

Payless: Buy one, get one half off

Steve Madden: 30% off using code BOOT30