Two albums of 2013 that you must have

I've been slacking and lacking on blog posts. The first semester of uni was pretty intense for the most part, but it seems as if I've got a grip on it all now. Finally I've found some free time to blog and write.

So it's a new year 2014. I'm a month already in it but I just have to mention my favourite things of 2013.

I could talk about my favourite beauty, skin and hair products of 2013, but I've been using the same brands since time began. But I could do a post on my all-time-fav products? Maybe.

There's one thing that does change every year. Music. New artists, new albums, new sounds.

Here are two albums that I believe are slightly under-rated and are probably my favourite sounds of 2013.

The first is:

Haim - Days are Gone

After hearing Nick Grimshaw rambling on Radio 1 for his undying love for sister act Haim, I was intrigued to find out what the obsession was all about. 

The only songs I knew at first were 'Don't Save Me' and 'Falling'. The songs reminded me of something that I'd play blasting through my headphones and washes the dishes as do a lil girly 80s popping. 

Looking at the Haim girls I thought their sound would be something more grunge or rock n roll. Their long hair and leather jackets made them look like the feminine version of Kings of Leon (fun fact: they are supporting KoL in concert some time this year in Milton Keynes - wish I had tickets). 

The album consists of solemn, smooth bass and drums songs; like 'Let Me Go', 'Running If You Call My Name' and my favourite song that has a splash of r'n'b 'My Song 5'. There are also pop-rock girl power songs that you'd sing over and over and over again on a train journey; like 'The Wire', 'If I Could Change Your Mind' and 'Days are Gone'. Their harmonies are such a breath of sweet new fresh air, you would hear no contrived or over-the-top vocal belting. 

Definitely worth listening to. Especially fans of: Gwen Stefani, Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys.

Major Lazer - Free the Universe

When I hear this album three words come into my head, Notting Hill Carnival. Girls in shorts that seem as if they were shrunk in the wash, grimy trainers that survived the battlefield at All Saint's Road, cans of Red Stripe in a heap by the pavement and the sweet wafts of Mary-Jane that tickles your nose hairs. 

You may not understand what I'm talking about but this album is a fusion of Jamaican dancehall mixed with a lil bit of trap and electronic. 

The collaborations on here are incredible: Shaggy, Bruno Mars, Elephant Man, Santigold, Flux Pavilion, Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig and even Haim's Danielle Haim. Weird mix ain't it? 

Songs like 'Jessica' and 'Jah No Partial' have that chilled neo-Rasta vibe going on. The type of songs where you wished you had floor lengthen dreads that you sway when Ezra Koenig says 'you're the girl - I love you lots, and your locks'. 

Whereas there are other songs that make you twerk like a you had a Nicki Minaj derriere, such as 'Bubble Butt', 'Sweat' and 'Wind Up'. 

Generally all the songs on this album makes you want to dance, especially 'Mashup The Dance' and 'Watch Out For This'. I think I've overplayed this album over this winter - please bring on the summertime !


Fans of: Vybz Kartel, Ms Dynamite, Diplo (obvs cos this is his band), Skrillex and Chase & Status

It's all in black and white

It's becoming difficult for me to not buy something that is either black or white. I used to love colour! My favourite colour is pink! Though you would rarely see me wearing pink. 

Looking at my wardrobe, the majority of it looks like it belongs to a Parisian drama student. Black dresses, black tops, black trousers, etc. I try so hard not to leave the house wearing all dark clothes. 

If I'm not wearing something dark, then it will be white. I love white. The white and black combo is my fav - ah, monochrome, ah, so lovely. 

If you take a look at my tumblr you'd see reoccurring outfits photos of girls wearing white and/or black. It's such an inspiration to me - also makes me wonder if I could dare to change my style completely and go monochrome. I'd wear beautiful sheer black shirts with leather white jackets, paired with Celine-like black heeled sandals... sounds heavenly. Black and white is so easy, no fuss and no need to see if you're clashing too many colours together. 

If I do dare to do this, this will be my inspiration, my go-to when I'm clueless on outfit ideas:

BLACK

WHITE

WHITE & BLACK

(photos and source from tumblr, collage made by fotor)

NIKKI S LEE : The Chameleon

I remember seeing this picture a few months ago. I don't know why I fell in love with this photograph, but I just did.

Just seemed like a casual picture of Latinas in America. The halter neck and high waisted denim jeans, tacky and fake gold jewellery, dagger nails and tightly slicked back hair. 

But one of them is a fake Latina. 

You may pick the one that sitting down as she has Asian features, but at first I bet you just assumed she was a Latin girl? Probably half Latin and half Asian? 

Indeed, the girl sitting down is the fake one. Her name is Nikki S Lee and she is a Korean artist. 

Look back and the picture again. Doesn't it just look like the girls are both good friends, posing outside their home after putting up the clothes on the washing line? Nikki S Lee is so talented at posing casually. I wish I could too, without my hands getting clammy and my face turning hot when a camera is pointed at me. 

I call her 'The Chameleon' because she is able to be immersed into any subculture group in New York, pushing the boundaries of identity. I wouldn't say she's an actress dressed up in costumes to fit the role of different identities, think of her more as a method actress, going through extraordinary transformations whilst become a member of her new community. She would not only know how to imitate the ethnic and social group characteristics and style; but finding out their true values in life. 

Lee poses in every one of her photographs for this project, as if they are self portraits of the various identities she can become. It's not about her showing off and beautifully posing in every picture; it is to show her audience of her investigations if identity can be self-defined or classified by society?

She has investigations in many ethnic and social groups; drag queens, punks, swing dancers, senior citizens, Latinos, hip-hop musicians and fans, skateboarders, lesbians, young urban professionals, exotic dancers, tourists and Korean schoolgirls.

'Girls' crushing

I'm thinking of her right now. There's more than one girl. I used to have many of them when I was younger, but now I think I've grown up a little bit more.

No, I'm not coming out of the closet here. I'm talking about that one girl/friend that you can't help but admire and you're so intrigued in her life that you end up wanting to look and be like her. You know, the girl that can walk into a party and say 'I didn't even get properly dressed for this' but she still looks flawless, probably a lot better than you and your pre-organised outfit that you assembled a week or two before.
This is what I think was running in Lena Dunham's (creator of tv show Girls) mind when she was creating the role for Jessa; a bohemian, free-spirit and extremely popular girl. In an interview I read, Lena had to persuade her real-life friend, Jemima Kirke (cousin of Alice Dellal and the Dellal clan) to play the part of Jessa. Jemima was hesitation at first, as painting is more her forte, but gave in. Lena knew that she'd would be perfect to play the part of Jessa, because it was in fact Jemima that gave her the inspiration for Jessa. Can you imagine asking your girl crush to play a effortlessly cool character that you created because of them? Awkward, or what?

If you don't understand what I'm talking about, then, WATCH GIRLS! It's the greatest female comedy since Sex and the City. I've even blogged about it before.

Getting back on track, the real question is, who's your girl crush? Not a celebrity, but a person that you actually know. The girl that you'd love to spend a whole day with her so you can copy the cool things she does and to experience what it's like to be a bit on the wild side. A bit like a girl like 'Carmen' by Lana Del Rey.
Although, my personal experience of this never turns out to be so lovely. After a while of being with your girl crush, it seems like too much for me. It feels as if I was never being truly myself because I was trying to hard to match her personality. I could only spend a day with her, or else I'd become a clone. I wonder if anyone else feels like this?

Relating it back to Girls, Hannah (Lena Dunham) always seems in awe of Jessa's situations and lightens up in her presence. She's that type of girl Hannah wants in her life, the adventurous and courageous girl who doesn't mind hopping into the same bath as her friend, despite the fact of nakedness.

I have to admit, I don't have a girl crush anymore. Generally these girls end up being my close friends or I lose contact with ( possibly because I can't match up with their hectic lifestyle). Do I want another girl crush? Maybe... I want someone who can just remind me that 'life isn't that hard' and to 'take a walk on the wild side' - too many Lana Del Rey quotes.

Then again, I hate that feeling of wanting to be someone you're not. I'm fine who I am (finally).

But I do want a friend like Jessa though.

ilovewildfox, iloveAnja

New obsession : Anja Konstantinova

Why? : Why not?

OK I'll answer better than just why not. 

1. She's super adorable, but also looks mean at the same time. (in a good way of course)

2. She's 5'4" !!!!??!?!?!  - same height as me so I'm pretty proud to say there's a successful petite model out there who's doing high end fashion; not just cheesy commercial fashion or portraits (so you can't see her proportion)

3. She Russian/Australian.

4. She's been in Vogue, and other magazines, but Vogue is all you need to know.

5. She has a lip tattoo that says 'MEOW' and a back of the neck tattoo that say 'CAT'

6. She has done a modelling editorial for Wildfox; one of the best editorials I have ever seen.  

7. She is my short hair inspiration. 

8. She rocks the bleached eyebrows so well.


I therefore announce, drum roll pleaseeee, Anja Konstantinova in Wildfox Swim!

(ilovewildfox.com)

Gaga X Terry #2

Again, my two loved eccentric artists come together for Lady Gaga's latest tour, letting Terry Richardson snap exclusive and raw behind the scenes and backstage photographs.

Here's my so far favourites.

More madness than before 

(terrysdiary.com)

Dior Addict Advert

Best advert out now. Whenever there's an ad break I pray that it will come on. It's fun, cute, sexy, cheerful and cheeky - all at once. The director of this work is the quirky talented Jonas Akerland. It was such a surprise when I found out he directed it, as he is my favourite director! The caption underneath the video on the Youtube channel says Dior Addict is the art of seduction and being free; which Akerland and the sweet and charming Daphne Groeneveld capture perfectly.

Enjoy, the director's cut version. It's longer!!

(youtube, tumblr)

Wireless Festival: The Weeknd

Yesterday I went to one of the best day festivals you could ever go to.

Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, London set up tents for acts such as Professor Green, Example, Angel, Delilah, Wiz Khalifa, The Weeknd, Labrinth, Tulisa, Rita Ora, Nero, The Dream, D'banj, Nicki Minaj and, my future hubby, Drake.

Yep, all those acts for the price of basically one of those A-list artists. The weather wasn't brilliant, but as long as you have your weelies, rain-mac and your best singing in the rain voice, you're good to go.

I was super excited to see The Weeknd, as he doesn't do that many tours, this festival was a must. I've only been a favourite of his for only some time now. But I was instantly mesmerized by his cool and seduction voice. He. Is. Amazing. Live. He sounds just as good live, actually even better, then recordings. If you haven't already heard his masterpieces, see below.

Oh yeah, and Drake was incredible. Obviously. To be frank, the sound system wasn't that good, because it is in an open space and I was a bit far away from the stage, nevertheless myself and the crowd around me rapped, sang and danced in perfect unison.

The Weeknd : image taken on instagram

Off To The Races

These are my much loved photos taken by photographer Heinz Peter Knes of Lana Del Rey in Formula 1 jackets.

My friend and I have both agreed that we've never seen any other photos of Lana Del Rey that look as stunning and mesmerizing than these.  

I'm so in love with her.

Girls

A HBO new series of four twenty-something girls living in New York. Sounding familiar? Reminding you of Sex And The City? Complete opposite.


First aired on 15th April, 2012. Created by Lena Dunham, directed by Lena Dunham, Executive produced by Lena Dunham and also starring Lena Dunham. This girl is a TV genius.


The reason why it is becoming my favourite TV show is because it does not show the glossy image of young life, e.g; finding a job after parents stop giving you money, trying soo hard to break up with a tender womanly boyfriend and wondering if it is too early to settle down. The amount of laugh out loud cringing moments that happen are so much that I refrain myself from drinking anything or else it will go all over my laptop screen.


I love this so show much. For so many reasons. Dunham says "Gossip Girl was teens duking it out on the Upper East Side and Sex and the City was women who figured out work and friends and now want to nail family life. There was this whole in between space that hadn't really been addressed," 
It's a show that I don't constantly lust over the clothes or attractive characters, but instead I'm concentrating on the plot. I don't see any cliché moments or repeats of other shows, just realistic and original dilemmas in life. 


A definite must-watch. Just definite. 

- Lena Dunham, second right.

(google)

Beastie Boys : Outfit Day

" Beastie Boys know how to let the beat,

mmm...

DRRROOOP"

Beastie Boys. My boys. I started listening to their music about two years ago, and I was hooked on the first beat. Seriously.  The first song that I loved instantly was Intergalactic, it blew my minnnddd within the first few seconds. I laugh and love their witty, hilarious and complete silly raps and rhymes, "I'll stir fry you in my wok" and "I like my sugar with coffee and cream". 

They will always be the odd, immature and insane white boy rappers that changed the look on rap. They so cleverly fused hip-hop and rap and rock and punk. Complete opposites, yet sound incredible together. 

It's a shame that people my age don't really know about Beastie Boys and only think about Eminem whenever they think of white rappers. Though, Eminem said it was the Beastie Boys that heavily influenced him to start rapping. 

Therefore, this post goes out to MCA, a member of Beastie Boys who has died recently. You'll be truly missed, but never forgotten. Stay rocking in the afterlife. Rock in peace. 

(mine: instagram, tumblr)