Salacious Sculpture and Jimmy Choo

"So You Think You Can Dance" and Jimmy Choo

My sculptor husband is having an opening at Marx & Zavattero downtown San Francisco tonight of his latest work. We've had months and months of thinking, sketching, experimenting and building on his part; and lots of active listening, emotional supporting and tongue-biting on my part. Most of the tongue-biting has to do with safety concerns about the bubbling vat of hot tar in the studio below the living room window and the tarry footprints on the wood floor. But it's a small price to pay as the resulting sculptures are very exciting and "salacious" as the press release says.

But now that the work is done and installed in the gallery, here is the big question: What do I wear to the opening? Inspired by Matt's new work in asphalt, I think my patent leather Jimmy Choo booties extend the shiny black theme. So I'll wear those for sure, and as for the rest of the outfit...?

The Mad Fascinators' Party

How did I go this long without hearing of a Fascinator until now? And I've been known to hot glue a small artificial Christmas tree to a headband and wear it to a holiday party. I called it a hat, but "Fascinator" would've been a much better descriptor. As Wikipedia defines it "... a delicate, slightly-to-very frivolous head decoration...".  A web search shows that the British Royals have cornered the market on these things. 

A group of us friends are giving my girly girlfriend Karen a birthday celebration next Sunday. All attendees are requested to wear hats. But Krafty Karen has gone beyond the hat and held a Fascinator-making session last weekend. She provided a treasure chest of materials. We started with small round convex mesh bases which we covered with fabric. Then added flowers, feathers, netting, rhinestones, ribbons, faux butterflies and anything else that inspired us. 

As you can see, mine is still a work in progress. But getting close. I'll have it done this week and can give it  a trial run by wearing it on April 29th at 4 am when I watch the Royal Wedding on TV. 

More Balenciaga

Matt's sketches of Balenciaga ensembles

One of the things I love about San Francisco is my membership to the Fine Arts Museums, the de Young and the Legion of Honor. With my free express admittance for two, I can treat myself and a friend to a day of viewing beautiful things.


So I strolled the Balenciaga show again last Saturday. This time with my husband, Matt, and two friends. I noticed details I hadn't seen before. And it's even more meaningful to see an artist through the eyes of another artist.

My First Pair of Manolos

It was 1994 and my husband Matt and I had been dating for only about six weeks when he surprised me with a beautifully wrapped gift about the size of a shoebox. Matt is an artist and can make just about anything, so a pair of shoes was the last thing I thought would be in the box. I peeled back the wrapping paper and saw the glossy white understated box with “Manolo Blahnik” printed on the end. Still not believing I lifted the lid and found these beautiful high-heeled black suede oxfords with a gorgeous hint of shiny black patent trim.  

Not only had Matt zeroed in on one of my favorite shoe styles, but he braved the Neiman Marcus women’s shoe department, found my exact size and spent way more money than he should have. Even back then they were some of the most expensive shoes one could buy. Of course I cried. And then I immediately tried them on falling in love with them and Matt. Two years and several pair of luxury shoes later, we married. And seventeen years later, I still wear these. How’s that for CPW?