These videos have been appearing on this channel on youtube. First 3 about two weeks ago and just 6 days ago one more. They are filled with haunting, dark imagery of a oily blonde female in the woods, accompanied by dreamy electronic with almost inaudible female vocals. Each video represents an animal, goat, owl, bee. There are many theories as to who is putting out these videos, from Christina Aquilera (who's camp according to pitchfork.com has denied it) over Lady Gaga to Trent Reznor. Whoever this is, whatever it turns out to be, its wonderful and I am excited for more strange dark dreams on video.

Here they are, in chronological order. Enjoy!

Prelude 699130082.451322-5.4.21.3.1.20.9.15.14.1.12


9.1.13.669321018

 
9.20.19.13.5.723378


13.1.14.4.18.1.7.15.18.1.1110  

Even for spring, I can't get over my horrible addiction for black clothing. Even though the catwalks dictate nude and douce for the upcoming season's continued infatuation with short and skintight, I choose to stick to my black guns and have gone hunting for great, affordable cotton and jersey basics to update my everyday-closet. Here are few of my finds.

Black Basics from ASOS.com
I have to be honest and confess that I am not a great fan of ASOS' own line. They are often of shoddy quality and lose fit and shape much too fast for my taste. Unfortunately, they are often the epitomy of You Get What You Pay For. However, sometimes they hit the nail so firmly on the head, that I am willing to suffer the less-than-great quality for affordable well-designed staples for my wardrobe. As is the case with these two finds, currently (cheaply) for sale at ASOS' site.

This Ruched Puffed Shoulder Dress is a dream come true for me.It lives up to my standards for a dress that can be worn on a regular day, with black or grey solid pantyhose (or leggings), with boots or flats, with a cardigan over, a blazer or with a scarf for cover up, as well as on a night out, high on heels or wedges.
Also, it features some of my favourites things in dresses right now.

Its mini. Its black. Its tight. Its visibly zippered in the back.
The sleeves are long AND puffed.Well done, ASOS.
You can find the dress at asos.com, where it retails for a mere 30GBP (thats 46USD), not including shipping of course.


This Jersey Skater Dress, also from ASOS' own line, is great looking and a little more subtle for everyday use that the Puffed Shoulder dress. I just love how this dress looks, with its full skirt and swooping neckline. I wish they made it in more colours, so I get a whole arsenal of effortlessly elegant, but casual outfits based on this wonderful basic piece of clothing.

Retails at 24GBP (37.50USD) at asos.com. 


The Apparel from America

Obviously American Apparel is the Go To-Guy for everything cotton. I tends to be somewhat expensive however, especially if you shop online and have to include shipping to your expenses. Fortunately, shipping is free for all orders over 100 Euros and it doesn't take many items in your basket to reach that amount. Here are some of the cotton staples that I can't live without, courtesy of American Apparel.

This Unisex California Fleece Sweatshirt is SO fantastic I can't find words to describe to. It's so fantastic, that this is the second time I post about since I started this blog. It comes in four different colours; Almost Black, Mouse Brown, Galaxy and Flourescent Red and is a irreplaceable part of my everyday wardrobe. Throw it on with a pair of skinny jeans, big scarf and wedges and you are set for the day, looking great and feeling comfortable as ever. Check out the other colours and get it here for 47USD.

The Unisex Big Pocket Tank is great AND you can share it with your boyfriend. Like the fleece sweatshirt, its another great oversized Unisex design from AA. Its comes in a multitude of colours and patterns and is available at American Apparel's site for 22USD.

I LOVE the Unisex Circle Scarf! The version pictured comes in both a large variety of colours, both solid and stripes, but AA also makes both an acid wash version of the scarf, as well as a tiedye version, for those whose affections fall in that direction. Scarf it up from between 28-24USD at American Apparels site.


To round of this little post of wardrobe basics, I want to include this WONDERFUL 100% cotton crop top I found on needsupply.com, based out of Richmond, Virginia, who by the way has a great webshop for both men and women's fashion and also happen to have a very friendly and helpful customer service. They offer brands such Acne, Wood Wood, Tatty Devine, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Jeffrey Campbell and many many more.


Sells at needsupply.com for the minimal price of 22 USD. As a little bonus information, Need Supply Co. ships for free inside the US for all purchases over 100USD and internationally for purchases over 250USD.

Just lovely.



Thats all this time around!
Happy mondays all around.

Best and worst of 2009

I think 2009 was a pretty good year generally speaking and I read lots of books and listened to lots of music and noticed many things I liked, some of which are on this list. Heaps and bounds are not though, since they weren't ”made” this year, which skips categories like books (since apparently I do not under any circumstance read any books published in the current year) and also makes sure that there are loads of great unlistened albums that wont feature anywhere on my best of-list. Thats due to me being slow on the uptake, and has little to do with the possible greatness or littleness and also makes this list only slightly representative of this year releases. Which makes it maybe...a little.. irrelevant? Nonetheless! Here it is.

Worst fashion trends – two looks that I hope will fade into oblivion in the near future.
The harem pant – awful awful awful. Why anyone would want to walk around with a sack for pooping (is it full? Is it empty? The suspense!) between the legs is beyond me. Not even the skinniest, most attractive people on the planet can pull of this awful awful garment.

The return of acid wash. How very Tonya Harding of you, Fashion. Mind you, not all things deserve a revival.


















Best fashion trends.
Strong shoulders. Moremoremore! Heres for bigger, stronger, weirder shoulders in 2010. Love love love anything shoulder.

















In that same trend anything drapey, structural, sculptural and architectonic strikes a HUGE chord with me. However much I love simple fashion, this artistic, very technical trend is something I hope to see more of in 2010 and is a very warm welcomed revival in my book.


In the movies: 
Many films have been seen this year, again, not that many of them made this year. So here are two that actually came out this year and made big impressions with me.

District 9: Sci fi at its best. One of the movies this year that managed critical social commentary with a great sense of humour, perfect character design (with Wikus Van Der Merwe as the great cowardly antihero of the year) and sufficiently welldesigned actionscenes to make it delightful to watch, while comtemplating the utter vileness of the human race. Well played, Neill Blomkamp.

Moon: Sam Rockwell times two in another classic sci-fi tale, with Kevin Spacey as a genuinely friendly version of HAL. This movies is reminiscent of some of the greatest sci-fi litterature even written (in my book) by greats like Robert Sheckley and made me feel both happy and sad. A film that was not afraid to be quiet and strange and cynical and warm all together.

In music:
I have about ten 2009 albums that I still have yet to give more than a brief listen and surely, some of them are on other peoples' and places' lists for the year, but none on mine.
Best albums:

Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
This woman is amazing and Middle Cyclone is her masterpiece (so far). Apart from being a member of The New Pornographers,she has previously released two solo albums, The Tigers Have Spoken and Fox Confessor Brings The Flood (besides her work with Neko Case and The Boyfriends) and she has gone from some kind  of straight up country, which I hated, to something else that still draws heavily on a country influence, but has taken on a form that is Ms. Case's alone. She is an amazing songwriter and storyteller and this album is a haunting, humourous, confessional and powerful piece of work that grows with each listen and is worth spending a great amount of time getting acquainted with. I really believe it IS the devil she loves and that she might have made a devious deal with him to make such a flawless album. Heres just one of the many great tracks that feature on the album.


The XX – The XX
Just a great debut album. Really really great and deserving of as many mentions as I can give them.


Other honorable best album mentions:
St. Vincent -  Actor
Shaky Hands - Let it Die
Official Secrets Act - Understanding Electricity
M. Ward - Hold Time
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca



Best song:
Knotty Pine by Dirty Projectors & David Byrne. Newbies and a grand old man working it out to perfection on indiefamed compilation Dark Was The Night.

And heres a Musical newcomer that will make you poop your harempants with joy.
The Rumour Said Fire -  Wonderkids from Copenhagen Denmark impresses wildly with EP Death of Male body, especially, specifically and wonderfully opening track The Balcony, which just happens to ALSO be one of the best single songs to come out in 2009. Don't believe me. Have ye a listen here.


Great musical things to come in the new year:
Good Shoes, a somewhat underappreciated GEM of a band and an all time favourite british band of mine, JUST came out with their second album, No Hope No Future. They are currently tour in Europe and I urge everyone who gets a chance to check them out.
To round of this awfully belated new years post, is the first video from the album, Under Control.