One Day in Pompeii

I remember when I first learned about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.  It was fourth grade, I think, and I was completely fascinated from the get-go.  When a guest visited the classroom and asked what we were learning, I gave a whole rundown of Pompeii, Herculaneum, dates, times, the whole shebang.  The guest replied with a slightly bewildered, “Wow.”  When I visited Pompeii on a high school summer trip, I think I literally skipped through the city, I was so happy to actually be there.  My friends thought I was suffering from heatstroke.

I am a nerd.

But you can see why I’m excited about the One Day in Pompeii exhibit at the Franklin Institute!  It’s got wall frescos and sculptures that adorned the homes, jewelry that adorned the people, and er, some of the people.  Some of the plaster casts even showed what that people were wearing.  I don’t know if shoes are included, but those Pompeians may have worn something like these on their last days.

The Break My Heart by Gentle Souls has a nubuck leather upper… straps and straps of golden nubuck!  (Or yellow, blue, gray, silver, black, or a second gold.  That’s right: if this gold is not quite right, there’s a second gold.)  It’s lined in soft deerskin and laces up the front… simple and beautiful.  Yours for $195 from Online Shoes.

The Plato-S by Steve Madden is a little tougher-looking than the first, what with the varying studs and the three buckles.  You don’t actually have to use the buckles since there’s a zipper, but zippers aren’t historically accurate.  Use the buckles if you want to feel like an ancient Italian.  Also available in brown; your choice for $80 from Zappos.

Aah, simplicity itself.  The Braided Gladiator Sandal by Fashion Lab is only a few strands of braided faux leather, but it would look so chic with, oh, pretty much any summer skirt or dress ever made.  A zipper up the back lets you in, and they’re also available in black or gold.  They’re all different prices, but the silver is $19 at Dr. Jays.

The Lightning Gladiator by Coconuts has all these interesting loops on its leather upper… the more I stare at it, the dizzier I get!  Also available in black or silver; your choice for $60 from DSW.

One Day in Pompeii runs through April 27—and it’s open 'til 9 PM Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays!  I do love that.  Evening admission alone is $18, but daytime admission is $27.50 (though you do get the rest of the museum in that as well).

The Barnes is Back!

While its move to the new location may be controversial (not many museums inspire documentaries), nobody can argue that the Barnes Foundation has one heck of an art collection.  And after being out of view for quite some time, the new Barnes opens!  The art is back for all to see.  Pieces like Cézanne’s Leda and the Swan:

This is a rather chaste rendition of a dirty story (Zeus, you horndog!), but these shoes are nothing but sweet:

The Calvin by Butter is almost angelic—and certainly safer to have around the house than an adulterous god on the prowl.  A T-strap of white feathers connects the peep-toe with the ankle strap, and it features a four-inch heel and half-inch sole.  Also available in ivory and black; find them at Endless for $176.

Prefer sculpture?  Good news!  Dr. Barnes has quite the collection, including this one by Jacques Lipschitz:

This shoe evokes the cubist limestone of the Bather:

The Razo by Luxury Rebel has a 4.5-inch heel, 1.5-inch platform, peep-toe... this is one work shoe that says “I am here and we are going to make some changes, people!”  Yours from Piperlime for $90.

Or maybe cultural artifacts are your thing.  This Navajo bow guard is just too beautiful:

Look at the beautifully worked silver, and the turquoise cabochons!  Similar to these:

Well, the silver’s not worked quite as nicely, but the Firenzee by Coconuts does have the turquoise cabochons!  Oh, and they’re surrounded by little rhinestones.  Also available in a bronze/brown stone combo; yours for $50 from DSW.

Whatever kind of art is your favorite, be sure to visit the new Barnes—this week is mostly special events, but this weekend is the real public reopening.  It’ll be closed on Tuesdays, but it’s open from 9:30 AM-6:00 PM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sundays, and (get this!) from 9:30 AM until 10:00 PM each Friday!  Advance reservations are recommended; either call (866) 849-7056 or book tickets here.  Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students and kids between 6 and 17.  Kids 5 and younger are free!

Groundhog Day

Of all the little random holidays scattered throughout the calendar, I love Groundhog Day the best.  Not just because it’s such a Pennsylvania holiday, but because of the sheer randomness of it all.  Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow and condemn us to six more weeks of winter?  Or will he not see his shadow and grant us an early spring?  We’ll have to wait until Thursday, but there’s nothing quite like rodent-based weather forecasting!

But I digress.  How about some brown fur in Phil’s honor?

Fierce!  The Sexy Viking Boot by Ellie are suede, with laces all the way up the front, a fur cuff, and a four-inch heel.  Also available in a lighter brown and black; find them at Amazon for around $30.

Now Kathy Van Zeeland makes purses to die for, but how about this boot?  A 3.25-inch heel, three buckles, fur all the way up the nine-inch shaft... really nice.  Also available in black and taupe from QVC for about $100.

The Pilot by Stuart Weitzman is a velour wedge, three inches high, with laces up the front (see how they tie around the back of the ankle?) and, of course, faux fur.  Also available in black; find them on Zappos for $325.

The Icy Wedge Boot by Coconuts has a faux suede upper, faux fur up the side and around the top, and a four-inch wedge with half-inch platform and eight-inch shaft.  Don’t they just look cozy?  Love them!  Also available in black; pick up yours from DSW for $80.

So pull on a pair of your favorites, get up early, and see if the groundhog is giving us winter or spring!