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FROM KIMBERLY

I've been fascinated with Greek and Roman art and antiquity my entire life - I'm quite sure a very early visit to Ludington Court at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art started it all.  I have fond childhood memories of the museum where my mother was a docent for many years. Years later, I even met my husband there!  As a lapsed Art History student, I am still enchanted by museums of all sorts; that said the MET remains the ne plus ultra - especially with the addition of the MET Breuer. This makes for the perfect trio between the MET on 5th and The Cloisters. Pictured here is a bronze sculpture in the largest of the Greek and Roman galleries, standing on a finely tessellated floor surrounded by grand columns - very much evoking an ancient villa - quite a transformation from what was once a restaurant!

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FROM KIMBERLY

I love the earthy and elegant muted tans, blush and nudes of the textiles above - a palette echoed in many of the dresses featured in "Manus x Machina" (Hand and Machine), the Costume Institute's Spring 2016 exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Like many, I (mistakenly) believed that Haute Couture was the epitome of high fashion because it was all executed by hand for a specific client. This exhibit showcases the fact that both highly sophisticated machine work as well as hand work goes into the creation of these otherworldly dresses. Pictured here is a fitted, yet frothy dress of lace and tulle from the House of Givenchy, Autumn/Winter 2011/12. There are a bevy of festive, fascinating ensembles from many different eras organized by technique: Plissè (Pleating), Dentellerie (Lacework), Plumasserie (Featherwork) - etcetera - the online overview  is an interesting glimpse of the show from the comfort of your home

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FROM KIMBERLY

There is something beguiling about an empty stairwell; an invitation, an air of intrigue – what's beyond that corner, who is up in those rooms above? Glancing at these stairs I can't help but imagine a 17th century contessa, draped in silk, lace and baroque pearls climbing the stairs to the "primo piano" to hear a new form of music, opera; this was the era it was created. This image was taken at the beyond-exquisite Palazzo Lomellino in Genoa – with very limited access I only saw the atrium, courtyard, and nyphaeum, so next time would plan an entire trip around their open day – the first Saturday of each month. Meanwhile their beautiful website and virtual tours must suffice – a glimpse into another time and space.