ARTICLE- KENDRICK LAMAR- OUR VINYL

I wrote an article for Our Vinyl on Kendrick Lamar's new album

READ IT HERE!!!!!!

HALLOWEEN PLAYLIST

SHAKIRA- SHE WOLF

GROUPER- CASSIOPEIA

GRIMES- NIGHTMUSIC FT. MAJICAL CLOUDZ

CAT POWER- WEREWOLF

BALAM ACAB- FRAGILE HOPE

TYLER, THE CREATOR- SHE

NICO- LE PETIT CHEVALIER

COCOROSIE- LEMONADE

EVY JANE- SAYSO

Hair Stencils

Dip dye is definitely a thing of the past, and has been for some time now. Maintaining an element of individuality is seemingly more difficult now, as trends can be mimicked without a second thought. 

It started out as a way of expressing yourself through fashion, but it was snatched by the masses in an attempt to appear more 'alt' and for a while tumblr was pretty much swamped with bottle blondes with coloured tips. The new sub-trend is one that won’t be copied easily. Hair stencils take time and perseverance to get right, not to mention money! I can't see a DIY hair stencil being too successful and have concluded that it's probably best to get it professionally done... I also feel that stencils may work better on shaved hair. Although it does look pretty cool on lengthy hair, it’s got to be pretty impractical simply because of the way hair falls!

 

Has anyone tried hair stencilling DIY or Professionally?
Do you think dip dye lost its touch of individuality?

Laura xx

LFW // DAY 5

Favourite runway show of Day 2

Ashish Spring / Summer 2013

I have to say, I was looking forward to seeing what Ashish had to offer us for SS/13. For next year, he's given us 90s (YES!). Although it's been concidered a hangover decade in fashion for a while, the 90s have been creeping back into fashion since about autumn last year. The catwalk displayed sequins, denim and CUTE scrunchies and the overall vibe seemingly relaxed - models were in soft off-shoulder dresses and slouchy sports pants. Ashish has once again created a collection consisting of glamourous yet chilled garments, all easily wearable in day to day life.

Laura xx

LFW // DAY 4

Favourite runway show of Day 2

Fred Butler Spring / Summer 2013

Butler plays with 'wearable sculpture' for his SS/13 show. The gold clad models showed off an obvious honey bee inspired collection, with hexagons taken from bee-hives forming the basis of his garments. Daisies were seen on the golden platformed heels, as were delicately constructed bees on the models nails. The collection was topped off (haha) with a honey bee wing influenced head dress, putting the finishing touch to the gorgeous golded girl look.

Laura xx

LFW // DAY 3

Favourite runway show of Day 3

Topshop Unique Spring/Summer 2013

Unique brought out a very sophisicated and demure collection for next spring/summer. The colour pallet included black, white, yellow and a few softer pastels for their blazer clad collection. Although presenting a somewhat mature collection, it did of course have that youthful Topshop edge -for starters, the models walked out to Vanessa by Grimes - but designwise, cut out pannels and transparent sections featured in the mini dresses. The Unique show can be streamed on the TOPSHOP website, along with other shows from LFW.

 

 @Laura_Blush

Blush+

 

 XX

LFW // DAY 2

Favourite runway show of Day 2

Holly Fulton Spring / Summer 2013 
Pastles. Not exactly a groundbreaking move for Spring/Summer, but it's working! Holly Fulton's collection featured her trademark digital printed patterns yet with a softer touch for S/S'13. The candyshop colourscheme and constant use of digitally printed roses brought to mind 50s suburbia, with sophisticated pencil skirts and rouged lips. This however was brought into modern day with transparent PVC bags and jackets, as well as seductive cut out dresses.

@Laura_Blush

Laura xx

LFW // DAY ONE

Favourite runway show of Day One

Caroline Charles Spring / Summer 2013
Caroline Charles' fusion of garish colours and floaty fabrics create a very tropical feminine look. Having worked with Mary Quant prior to setting up her own buisness, colour and pattern rife in the 1960s (and shape in the garments at the end of the show) are evident, yet these are modernised with the choice of sheer drapey fabrics. Charles self describes the collection as a "Riot of colour" with Latin American influences.

 

All images from the London Fashion Week website.

Laura xo

@Laura_Blush

Vogue's Fashion Night Out

For the past 4 years in early September, Vogue's Fashion Night Out (FNO) has been a key event on every Designer, Model and Fashionista's diary. FNO offers free events and discounts in participating highstreet and designer stores, celebrating fashion in general- often with a free mohito on the side!

FNO, with the exception of LFW, is THE time to show of your wardrobe with magazines, photographers and bloggers prowling the streets of London. However, one mistake I saw being made (and am guilty of myself) was seeing girls in high heels. If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be to leave them at home as the girls in flats get the best deals- they can run faster and don't feel like crying after the hours of trapsing round! 

This year I went to Oxford Street to see what they had to offer. It wasn't nearly as busy as I imagined (until I got to Pull + Bear... free drinks) with only a 10 minute wait for the Red Lip tutorial and makeover in Forever 21. Topshop was arguabley the most generous, not only offering makeovers with Topshop and Barry M, a free nail bar and a raffel. They also hosted a performance from Delilah - a British singer songwriter who's voice you may recognise from a collab with Chase & Status.

Did you go to FNO?

Laura xx

FRINGE//BANGS

I have my hair cut about once a year. I'm one of those people that gets used to having the same hair for years on end and becomes so comfortable with it that even thinking about a hair cut is scary! However, recently I've become SO bored with it. It's been long and in a middle parting since about 2009 so I think now is finally time for a change-

I've wanted a fringe for about a year now, and tomorrow, I'M GOING TO DO IT!!!!!!


My inspiration

Grimes

Anna Karina

Natalie Portman

WISH ME LUCK, LAURA XX

tumblr

twitter

Frank Ocean 'Comes Out' via Tumblr

"Thanks. To my first love. I'm grateful for you. Grateful that even though it wasn't what I hoped for and even though it was never enough, it was. Some things never are ... and we were. I won't forget you. I won't forget the summer. I'll remember who I was when I met you."

Frank Ocean, member of Odd Future told his fans of his sexuality on Tumblr this morning. Probably the first 'coming out' letter on tumblr, Frank talks about how aged 19, he fell in love with a man. His beautifully articulated letter proves he's not just a great lyricist- I just wish I could write as brilliantly as him.

There's been speculation about his sexuality for a while now, with lyrics such as 'I believe that marriage isn't between a man and woman, but between love and love'. So on settling the rumours, Frank released the 'thank you's' intended for the credits of his new album, stating 'i figured it'd be good to clarify..'

Twitter and Tumblr are currently swimming (good...haha) with admiration for Frank with #OddFuture as a trending topic.

 

Read his Tumblr post here

Laura xx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLUSH + ZERO

Jeeeeeze, Blush + Zero's now 1 year old!

I've been a bit lazy with updating posts, but I promise when summer comes there'll be loads.

Thank you so much to everyone who has taken time to read my blog, it means a lot.

Contrary to what I said last year, to mark the 1st bday I've decided to make a tumblr...

BLUSH+

                                         
                                              The Internet- Love Song-1

LAURA XX

Field Day- REVIEW

Saturday 2^nd June, East London’s Victoria Park was home to the one day event-Field Day Festival.  

I had heard bad reviews from previous years about poor sound quality and overcrowded tents. But the line up this year seemed too good to miss. Ignoring the masses opinion, I got a ticket anyway- AND IM SO GLAD I DID!!! 

Field day is an 18+ event, however they were relaxed with ID so if you’re thinking about it for next year, which you should be, don’t worry if you’re not quite the big one eight yet (I’m 17, and I know of a 15 year old who went).

I SAW-(click on a name for a youtube vid)

Grimes

Blood Orange

Julia Holter

R. Stevie Moore (who btw, added me on fb hehehe)

Mazzy Star

Friends

Summer Camp

Beirut

SBTRKT

I started and ended the day in dream like situations in tents with Julia Holter (an LA singer/songwriter/instrumentalist) and Mazzy Star (from da 90s). Both of which were just perfect. Julia Holter gave a whimsical performance, and the crowd pretty much stood there in awe- if you haven’t heard her, GET ON ITTTTT!!!

My highlight was definitely Grimes. She’s my girl crush so naturally in my eyes, can do no wrong. Clare Boucher was clad in Boy London with an oversized camouflage printed rain mac over the top (or maybe it was just oversized because she’s soooo tiny!) and what looked like platformed trainers. It didn;t take much for her to get a reaction; Grimes only had to make an odd noise into the mic in sound testing, or poor water on herself to get everyone to scream. My stepdad has interviewed her before and said that she admitted to being nervous about her upcoming gigs. No nerves were displayed in this performance. Somehow, this girl made jumping around the stage like an excited toddler look cool. If those were nerves, let’s keep her nervous!!

Field day was my first festival this summer, and if it’s anything to judge by, my summer’s gonna be gooood!!

@Laura_Blush

Laura xx

WU LYF- REVIEW

                         OVERDUE, BUT I SAW WU LYF IN MARCH 

Apparently ‘Wu Lyf’ is a type of Chinese food, Pagan ritual and a Spiritual rehab centre. After successfully explaining that Wu Lyf is in fact a band, I was then faced with the difficult task of describing what Wu Lyf sound like. 

Self described as ‘heavy pop’, Wu Lyf’s gig was not a disappointment; the rawness of the album, ‘Go Tell Fire to the Mountain’ was more than successfully captured in their live performance. Front man, Ellery James Roberts delivered the vocals with that rough and strangely captivating voice. Guitar riffs and the distinctive ‘BOOM BOOM BOOM tiki tiki tiki tiki’ of ‘Dirt’ were played to perfection. What was missing was audience interaction. Knowing that they were often portrayed as mysterious band, I wondered what they would be like with the audience. After playing three or four songs (pretty much perfectly, may I add) without a word to the crowd, I began to lose hope for the interaction that makes live music worth it. At that precise moment where I thought all hope was dashed, Ellery James Roberts croaked into the mic; his speaking voice equally as cool as his singing. The gig only got better from there. 

Wu Lyf turned out to be a friendly group of ‘bros’, giving a fist bump and high fives to the crowd. Their show seemed to be the gift that kept giving, when after being cheered back on stage, the band demonstrated their diversity, giving their own take on Kindness’ ‘Swinging Party’. All in the intimacy of the venue Heaven, Wu Lyf‘s “last UK gig ever... well, ‘till we come back” proved to be a good one. 

 

WU LYF- HEAVY POP

Laura xx

Photo taken by me

Is This Fashion?

“Ooh, that’s a cool pattern” *takes a closer look* “ERGHH IT’S A PENIS!!” 

You probably all saw the new penis leggings by Bas Koster, they’ve been clogging up the blogosphere and are currently have a waiting list due to the fast sell out!   

That was my initial reaction; personally, I just found it a bit odd. Why on earth would you want to walk around with THAT on your legs?! It has to be said, you’ve got to have balls (sorry!) to wear them. I meant if someone points out the fact “you’ve got a cock on your leg” you have to be gutsy enough to say “yes, and your point is?”

Now maybe it’s my AS study of Carol Anne Duffy and the Suffragettes, and feminism is rubbing off on me a bit, but surely we’re just giving into the ridiculous philosophy of ‘Penis Envy’?  Or maybe, the leggings are celebrating women!! Think about how intimidating it’d be for a guy to look down and see you have more penis than him! Either way, they’re going to probe questions.

Another feminist fashion move that I don’t understand is Vice Magazines latest lookbooks...

It’s called There Will Be Blood (you can look at it here, but a warning, you might find the pictures pretty grim.)

I’m not going to say anything about it, apart from “?!?!?!?!?!?”

What do you make of these new moves in fashion?

Laura xx
Photo from Bas Koster website

Layers

splashup: photoshop for people with no money comme moi!!!

Guess Who's Back????

Yeeee the pink's back!!!!!

Laura xx

Lana Del Rey

So the LDR hype's pretty much over. When 'Video Games' first came to the attention of the blogosphere people were falling for her; the song fast became an anthem for umm... 'hipsters' and the question on everyones lips was "jheeeze are those real???" (her lips guys, c'mon). LDR got attention for her looks and her voice. Blogs such as Hipster Runoff even dedicated themselves to her, everything was going swimmingly well then... SNL happened. I watched her live performance wondering if what I was hearing was real. Luckily I saw it behind a computer screen because honestly, I feel if I were in the audience I wouldn't be able to contain my nervous laughter. The LDR hype turned from "OMG SHE'S EVERYTHING I WANT TO BE!!!!!!" to "o..m..g....." 

Saying that, I went and bought her album anyway. She's a good studio artist, I can't deny that. She's also a very beautiful girl. Where do you stand on the LDR spectrum? Is she selling records through her image or her music, and do you think she'll stick around?

Laura xx

Catwalk to Cover

I visited the Fashion and Textiles Museum a few months ago to see the Catwalk to Cover exhibition. It showcased photos from the FROW, items from the catwalk (including those Prada Creepers that I wrote about for Who's Jack !!!!) and street style shots.

If you're in London I'd definately reccomend you check it out, but be quick as the exhibition ends on Feb 25th.

Laura xx

@Laura_Blush

iCat

@Laura_Blush