The National Portrait Gallery and Shoes

Cheers! Happy Wednesday!

Today I had a splendid visit to the British Museum with my boyfriend, where we spent the morning on the ground floor enjoying the Grecian , Egyptian, and Middle Eastern history. The marble figures remaining from the Parthenon were exquisite! I was really inspired by one particular Grecian necklace, though. It appeared to wear like a collar, and the base was a solid gold wire, maybe a little less than a centimeter thick. Gold bees were on the collar in two places, each about the size of a thumb. The most magnificent part, though, were the life-like gold stems and leaves surrounding the middle two-thirds of the necklace. the stems were about two inches from the collar and the gold shaped into leaves was absolutely stunning. While statement necklaces are still having a strong following in the States, they are absolutely nothing compared to what I saw today. I (sadly) forgot my camera as I was heading to the museum today, but I will take a photo of it tomorrow and post it for everyone to enjoy! 

This afternoon, I enjoyed taking a walk to the National Portrait with some of my colleagues, where we enjoyed the exhibit for the Taylor Wessing photographic prize. The exhibit featured the 100 best portraits of the 4,500 entered into the Taylor Wessing photography competition. The first place winner was a portrait of jump jockey Kate Walsh, a color head shot by Spencer Murphy. While a very good portrait, it certainly was not my favorite. The one I enjoyed best was of organist Cameron Carpenter and his personal trainer by Oliver Mark. The photograph was entirely bizarre, but had a very lush composition and a luxe feeling about it. The portrait was taken directly above the subject, as if the photographer was on the ceiling; no walls are shown in the photograph. Carpenter is dressed in a traditional black tuxedo with bright shiny cerulean oxfords. He is posed lying on the floor of what appears to be his personal home, with a smug expression and his right hand placed above him and his left hand hidden. A male, apparently his personal trainer, is lying atop of him like a lover, entirely in the buff. His face is hidden in Carpenter's neck and shoulder, but this figure is what makes the photographic so thematically interesting. The ground is covered in mismatched fur rugs, with shiny wooden floors peaking through the rugs. One of the rugs is nearly the exact cerulean that Carpenter's oxfords are, which makes the photograph appear staged. A baby grand piano frames the bottom left corner of the photograph, adding to the luxe of the photograph and the rich composition. Had it not been for the personal trainer in the buff, this photograph could have been an ad for Harrods, but the addition of the male lover makes this would-be luxurious portrait an intimate look into Carpenter's life.

Lastly, on the way back from the National Portrait Gallery, I noticed just how bad of shape my shoes are in. They have a tear on the back corner of my right foot, and the sole is essentially gone. I got them for an excellent price in the States, but don't know what to expect to pay for a good pair of shoes in London. I'm hoping I can get a good pair on sale for about £60. They are over-the-knee grey suede boots, but after three years of wear, the London streets finally killed them off. Tomorrow I am venturing to find good, durable shoes that are also stylish. I think I'm looking for a wedge ankle boot or another over-the-knee boot with a slight heel. I noticed there were lots of shoe stores on Neal Street, and I know there's loads of options around Oxford and Bond street, but I will go venturing tomorrow and hopefully return with a new pair of shoes!

xo
BJordan