ROMANCE EXPLOSION

I'm a huge fan of Explosions in The Sky; but their first 'official' music video for Last Known Surroundings, the opening track of their latest album, leaves a lot to be desired.

I may as well have sat in front of a Windows (ew!) screensaver.

To be fair, it gets better towards the end and the music alone is of course awesome, but still, you're from Texas, give us some beef.

The video's not in YouTube (that's like, SO, helpful!) format but you can check it out here.

GET IN MY VAN

So, Vans have invited me to their super-hip-private-party-at-a-skate-park-in-Brooklyn this weekend.

Smith Westerns, shoes AND free food & drink.

Needless to say, SILLY excited.

WHAT WAS SHE THINKING? #1

Today I'm making the most of my last fix of the 'great' British summertime before heading to NYC; obviously by wearing clothes suitable for the fall. (Oh yeah, totes getting down with the lingo.) 

Cardigan: T by Alexander Wang

Vest: Aubin & Wills

Jeans: Helmut Lang

Loafers: Office (keeping it real)

Most awesome scarf in the world: Isabel Marant

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

It's got a ghost AND sequins.

The sheer immensity of awesomeness of this sweater from the Markus Lupfer AW11 collection speaks for itself.  

This is a case of need rather than want.

GOOD CLEAN FUN

As a big Bon Iver fan, I almost thought it impossible to better the debut record, For Emma, Forever Ago; yet with the self-titled 'difficult second album' having dropped this week, it's plain to see that Justin Vernon's genius is never ending.

It's difficult to choose a favourite track, but the ethereal tones of Wash. seem to really stand out. I normally hate the clichéd description of music as 'haunting' but I fear this is nothing less.

LISTEN TO WASH. HERE

The whole album is the perfect sort of thing to wallow to in the wintertime whilst we fret about heating bills and people who probably never loved us in the first place.

Just my sort of record.

 #spinstertillidie

GASTRO PORN #1

Epic Meal Time, grim and genius in equal measures; a group of grown men doing what we wish we'd been allowed to do as 11 year olds - swear excessively and make, let's be honest about it, edible ART, out of foods that our parents did their very best to hide from us.

(Then we get to university and most of our vegetable intake comes from Subway and when you get peas at Nando's your friends assume you're on a health kick.)

Don't judge me, although I would like to point out at this stage that I am a vegetarian now. Sort of.

HAVE A NICE TRIP

It's almost impressive. 

WHAT AN IDIOT

Any musical act consisting of a socially awkward male in his early twenties and a piece of plywood overcrowded with synthesizers and a MacBook obviously gets my vote and Idiot Glee is easily a front runner in the 'geeks with wood (HA!) and synths' genre.

The Kentucky native makes upbeat electro soul-pop paired with vocals Robin Pecknold would be proud of. An odd fusion but it somehow works.

His album, 'Paddywhack', is out now.

SPECKY FOUR EYES

I find it odd that there's such a big market for sunglasses in the UK in the summertime alone (OMG the weather's just so good!) let alone many brands putting on a massive spread when it gets to the winter months too.

Saying that,  cult British brand Cutler & Gross can do no wrong in my eyes; please excuse the pun. (I wrote it as an accident but then concluded that it was vaguely hilarious.)

Their Autumn/Winter 2011 collection is a veritable pornography of eyewear lushness, relatively simple designs and colours, but maintaining the antiquated yet classic glamour that will never stop being cool.

If the same samaritan who's going to buy me my Liberty sale picks could also make a stop to the C&G flagship in Knightsbridge it would be very much appreciated.

WANT WANT WANT (OBVS FROM LIBS)

It's sale season and more importantly, it's Liberty's sale season. For someone who is meant to be living off a student loan, I tend to spend more time than is acceptable in this particular store (thank you interest free credit card); so it's probably a good thing I'm across the pond for the summer.

Instead of  doing the obvious and spending excessive amounts online, I thought, instead, I'd just post all the pretty things i need in the vain hope that some unknown samaritan will send me an anonymous package in the mail.

Always relying on the kindness of strangers and all that (check the Tennessee Williams paraphrase, I'm down with it.) 

ACNE - Navy suede biker jacket £504 (was £720)

ACNE - Black sheer shirt £119 (was £170)

SEA NY - Sleeveless shirt dress £192.50 (was £385)

LIBERTY - Wicker print MacBook Pro carry case £80 (was £160)

"A SNIPER WOULDN'T TAKE THEM OUT"

More for the benefit of the Northern Irish fraternity, although I am sure other nationalities will be just as horrified.

 It speaks for itself.  Thanks (I think) to Harriet for posting on Twitter.

LIFE'S A BEACH (HOUSE)

Yes, I know they're not new or cutting edge but Beach House are one (although there are a lot) band I always keep coming back to.

The Frenchy (Victoria Legrand) and the Baltimore native (Alex Scally) have been making music in their current get-up since 2004 and, rarely for me, I'm a fan of the majority of their work, however this particular iTunes (and wherever else you find it shared illegally) exclusive version of 'Real Love' off of their most recent album, 'Teen Dream', is one of the loveliest things I've listened to in a long time.

There's something wrong with our hearts
When they beat pure, they stand apart
In the black room, the light
Watch the seabird fall
Real love, it finds you somewhere with your back to it...

I MOUSTACHE YOU A QUESTION

I stumbled across this bad boy card whilst searching 'moustache' on Etsy. (As you do.)

Unfortunately it was too late to order for Fathers' Day tomorrow but I feel it merits a post as it really is fan-TACHE-tic. (Seriously, I wish I'd come up with this one.)

There's always next year for this particular token of my affections; although I fear my father's interest in facial hair may not be experiencing the same levels of ignition as my own.

I moustache [must ask] him to find out.

I'll stop now.

I moust(ache) know more...

AN APPLE A DAY...

Funnily enough, this post is not related to my insatiable addiction to Apple products, instead it concerns this pretty sexy (in a schoolchild way, so I've probably chosen the wrong adjective to start with) APC tee.

Now I'm not normally one for t-shirts, furthermore paying for t-shirts which are basically a glorified advert for the label; but this beauty from the French designers' Resort - Winter 2011 collection just has something about it.

They do their part.

RAG & BONE(R)

Vintage- inspired boots are another thing that, along with leopard print, could easily fall into the abyss of manufactured, try-hard trends thanks to the likes of River Island, The Saturdays and Diana Vickers (she's, like, so indie).

This sort of footwear was super cool when people started sporting 'workhouse chic' as a joke a few years ago, when the boots in question were most likely genuinely vintage (second hand and scabby); but as the beady eyed fashion proletariat spied their  idols subscribing to the trend, high-street moguls got on board and 'vintage' footwear seemed to lose a bit of its credibility.

Now enter super hip New York label Rag & Bone. With their Wessex lace-up boots my faith is being restored in the sort of shoes that our great grandparents would be proud of.  At a US retail price of $495 (plus tax) they're no snip, but let's just tell ourselves they'd be a great investment.

Another one.

*insert witty pun about tribes*

#Tribes #love #babes #makingcamdencoolagain (#notreally)

PRETTY POLLY

Another Mulberry post. Of course. I wish they'd stop making bags I need.

Despite this burgundy bad boy bearing more than a passing resemblance to its label mate and last summer's hot pick, 'Neely', the latest style by these current English high-flyers will ensure their profits just keep going up and up. (Thanks Alexa!)

Donations of £850 are greatly welcomed. TA.

AND IF A PICK-UP TRUCK REVERSES INTO US

This evening someone backed their pick up truck into my car. (Yes, I am currently holidaying in hicks-ville.)

I've had The Smiths' 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out'  stuck in my head since;  only obviously doing the needful and changing the lyrics in the chorus because I am so wonderfully creative and amazing.

Between this and my vegetarianism I'm getting more like Morrissey everyday. BLEAK.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU, SO I HAVE.

For those of you that know me well,  heavy, instrumental post-rock and anything Northern Irish (despite my background) would probably be the last thing you could imagine me being into.

Alas, Belfast band, And So I Watch You From Afar, (NI peeps will now understand the 'so I have' reference) have lured me away from the synthetically (quite literally) produced beats that so many people- who- try- too- hard- to- be- hipster currently find themselves conscripted to.

This live session video of BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPION can probably attribute most of its view count to me. OBsessed.

And if the music isn't your thing - first of all, it should be and secondly, check out the beardy boy in the Japandroids shirt. HE SO FINE.

IF YOU SEEKAE ME

                                          
Sydney based band Seekae are one of the best 'I'm-a-trendy-stoner- with- a- synth' acts around at the minute. One particular track 'Void,' off of their debut album, 'The Sound of Trees Falling on People', is perfect for summertime listening but will certainly stay with you long after the sun has gone.
More recent releases from the Aussie threesome have had more of a grimy edge to them but are by no means any less listenable.
They are definitely one more reason to pay for your Spotify subscription.

BIRD IS THE WORD

Leopard print has been done to death. Soz n' chips but it's true. Kerry Katona well and truly hammered the final nail into the proverbial coffin when she 'stepped out' (as the Daily Mail would say) in this oh-so-chic monstrosity (yeah, we know you're skinny(ish) but don't pretend like that makes up for your lack of a soul.)
ANYWAY take heed of Mulberry's latest tact with the animal theme. This 'Polly' dress from the SS2011 collection is OH SO FINE. Still sporting the relatively neutral tones as fostered by its feline forefather, the feather print of this particular piece is no doubt waiting to be ripped off by high-street stores everywhere. And to be honest, if it saves me £450, I wouldn't mind THAT much.

I LOAF MY LOAFERS

So... Dr. Martens TOTALLY have special 15% discount online until the end of June. What's that I hear you say? Do I really need another pair of shoes? Well. No. But still... LOOK HOW PRETTY!!
Best of British INNIT.