In the wise words of Mr Fresh Prince “Summer, summer, summertime. Time to sit back and unwind.” Lounging by the pool for days on end has never appealed to me though so by unwinding I mean ‘get up nice and early and fill your head with information’. Luckily I have some likeminded insomniac friends so these trips are anything but boring.

MORE: PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5

Natural History Museum, London

science museum architecture london

How could you not be fascinated by science? A field that dares to ask ‘Why not?’ and always pushes the boundaries of traditional thinking. The Science and Natural History Museums are some one of my favourite places in London to waste away an afternoon.

The geological Earth Sciences department is a treasure in of itself. As Carl Sagan brilliantly put it “The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff.” It’s fascinating looking through all the different materials knowing that elements of them are present within us all.

science museum architecture londonscience museum architecture

I also got a little moment of victory as the entire day Krissy and I were discussing whether dinosaurs had feathers. Turns out that birds are some of their direct descendants and that there were multiple species of feathered dinosaurs. So take note men! You can win an argument against women, they tend to find it hard to fight against facts 🙂

V&A – Victoria and Albert Museum

victoria albert museum london

If science isn’t your poison make sure to visit the the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design – The V&A. Housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects, it was founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince www.bantuhealth.org/tadalafil-buy/ Albert. It’s also right across the road so really, you have no excuses. At the time of our visit Clarks showcased a brilliant perspective into the history of shoes that I wish to share with you now.

Shoes are commodities and collectables. The luxurious and impractical shoes that clearly signal privilege and status have long been objects of desire. Today, a pair of shoes by Jimmy Choo or Prada is a more covered possession than any other item of clothing. Spending large amounts of money on a pair of shoes is pleasurable because it is excessive.

victoria albert museum london

Throughout the centuries and across cultures, footwear has symbolised high social status. Often impractical in decoration and shape, these shoes make a clear statement that the wearer does not engage in manual labour. The design of shoes has created many identifiable symbols of supremacy and privilege, from the red heels of Louis XIV’s court to the elaborately embroidered moccasins worn by the Iroquois elite. These shoes just like a pair of Loubouti ns today, show that the wearer belongs to an exclusive circle.

Height is perhaps the most conspicuous way that social status can be represented. High shoes make the wearer literally stand above the crowd, easily spotted and admired in a gathering. From the platform sandals of ancient Greece to today’s sleek stilettos, increased height creates a teetering object of desire.

STYLEGRAM

If you enjoyed this post make sure to share it with your friends using the links below and check out my latest lookbook for Topmans’ Great Britain, Great Suits campaign. Alternatively check out my latest travel journal from Barcelona.

As always stay classy and if you wish to be featured in one of our roundups please contact [email protected] or tag your social posts with #styledivision

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST