Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

(image source: the amherst student)

There's really no one in the world that could possibly say they haven't heard of the dynamic duo that is Ben Haggerty, commonly known as Macklemore, and Ryan Lewis, or better yet, heard their hit song Thrift Shop. If that doesn't ring a bell, then I'd say it's about time you crawled out of the rock you've been under over the last few months... Just sayin'.

Anyway, their album The Heist is super incredible, and Thrift Shop (surprisingly) is not the only great song on there. After listening to the rest of their album, it's probably my least favourite. Two of their songs that I have on repeat right now are Same Love and Can't Hold Us. They're both quite different, with Same Love tackling the topic of same-sex relationships, and Can't Hold Us being the ultimate party song.

I am a little bit of a crazed fan, as I am with most things I love/enjoy... With that, I guess it's not surprising that in the two weeks that I've had these two songs on my iTunes, they've gained 64 plays between them. I don't think I'm ever not listening to music, so don't judge me. Take my word for it, or don't (you're missing out), but their album and overall sound is incredibly fresh, authentic and worth every cent.

So, here they are:

Have you fallen in love with them yet? No? Just me then, I guess...

xo,

Sindiso Khumalo

If you followed ELLE's Rising Star Design Award 2012, you'd probably remember Sindiso Khumalo as one of the incredible finalists. The lookbook of her AW13/14 collection is gorgeous, and makes me so excited for the future of the South African fashion industry.

Khumalo's use of print and colour is bright and bold, and done ever so tastefully. The silhouettes are so clean and flattering, and I just love the below-the-knee skirts and dresses... It's a truly beautiful collection, and on that note, it's going on sale online here in August this year (Get keen!)

(image source: elle.co.za)

My favourite look is the second one... I mean, those contrasting prints are stunning! Also, how great are those shoes?

xo,

Tyler Knott Gregson

The other day while scrolling through my Twitter timeline, I found a tweet by Tyler Knott. It was a haiku poem that was so very lovely, and so, as any great stalker would do, I went through 14 pages of his tumblr where he shares all of his incredible poetry. (I've become sort of obsessed, I know.)

All his poetry is typewritten, and has the greatest vintage feel. I really enjoy his work, and as per usual, I'm just shocked at how poets come up with their words... Always perfectly orchestrated in way that I could never dream of assembling words in, and yet somehow, it seems so obvious? As if there were no other way by which you could have said it...

I don't know, man, I just really like poetry. So, without further ado, here is a poem by the aforementioned Tyler Knott which I thought was just incredibly worded. I like to hear what people have to say (I'm pretty fascinated by how a group of people can look at one thing, and each see it an entirely different way.) 

PS. It's my birthday! :D

xo,

Confessions of An Online Shopaholic

I've just recently discovered the beauty of online shopping. In lieu of waiting in queues and having to scour through tons of clothes to find what you're looking for, you can resort to simply laid out online stores. With everything sorted and categorized, it's so easy to see all the cute things up for offer and find exactly what you're looking for.

So, being as kind as I am, I've compiled a list of some pretty amazing and reasonably priced online stores that I've fallen in love with, ranging from vintage to very urban styled clothing. 

(You can thank me later!)

www.guardthevintage.com

www.designersmart.co.za

www.keepthrift.com

www.asos.com

www.mrp.co.za

www.ilovethelot.com

www.loveculture.com

www.missguided.com

www.prettylittlething.com

www.omgleggings.com

www.missselfridge.com

www.gojane.com

PS. I do/would shop at these particular stores, and none of them are on this list for any other reason besides my own opinion.

xo,

Lovely Links - 15.06.13

(image source: pinterest)

• I've been looking for a cute elephant necklace EVERYWHERE (a little weird, I know) and I just found the cutest one at this little Etsy shop. I'm in love...

• When I was first introduced to mixed media art, I really didn't like how gimmicky or kitsch it seemed... But these works by Sandra Chevrier have been created so tastefully that it's actually quite beautiful.

• Miley Cyrus has finally returned to the music scene, and I have to admit that I'm slightly obsessed with her new song We Can't Stop! Good tune, great vibe, check it out!

• In just over a week, it will be my birthday (Big Smile!) Seeing as I'm spending it in Cape Town, I think I might just do a little splurging at The Lot.

• I've just started re-reading my absolute favourite book, Looking for Alaska by John Green. I really didn't think I could love it any more than I already did, but it's proven me SO wrong. Do yourself a favour and read it, read it, read it!

• Joy Cho has started the most fabulous series called The Art of Being A Goal-Getter. It's super insightful for all of us big-dreamers who possess the stressful trait of ambition!

I'm hoping and wishing you've all had an absolutely fabulous week, and that you enjoy your Youth Day tomorrow (or better yet, the long weekend!)

xo,

The Great Gatsby

I recently watched The Great Gatsby and absolutely loved it, mostly because Carey Mulligan was in it (I adore her), but also due to the amazing soundtrack featuring Lana Del Rey and Florence + The Machine. The costume design was also quite a spectacle for all the 20's fashion lovers in the house!

Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Rey

Over The Love - Florence + The Machine

xo,

A Person, A Paper, A Promise by Dr Earl Reum

I found this brilliant poem while reading The Perks of Being A Wallflower a few years ago, and I've kept and loved and raved about it ever since.

Once on a yellow piece of paper with green lines he wrote a poem
And he called it "Chops"
because that was the name of his dog
And that's what it was all about
And his teacher gave him an A and a gold star
And his mother hung it on the kitchen door
and read it to his aunts.
That was the year Father Tracy
took all the kids to the zoo
And he let them sing on the bus
And his little sister was born
with tiny toenails and no hair
And his mother and father kissed a lot
And the girl around the corner sent him
a vaentine signed with a row of X's
and he had to ask his father what the X's meant
And his father always tucked him in bed at night
And was always there to do it.

Once on a piece of white paper with blue lines
he wrote a poem
And he called it "Autumn"
because that was the name of the season
And that's what it was all about
And his teacher gave him an A
and asked him to write more clearly
And his mother never hung it on the kitchen door
because of its new paint
And the kids told him that
Father Tracy smoked cigars
And left butts on the pews
And sometimes they would burn holes
That was the year his sister got glasses
with thick lenses and black frames
And the girl around the corner laughed
when he asked her to go see Santa Claus
And the kids told him why
his mother and father kissed a lot
And his father never tucked him in bed at night
And his father got mad
when he cried for him to do it.

Once on a paper torn from his notebook
he wrote a poem
And he called it "Innocence: A Question"
because that was the question about his girl
And that's what it was all about
And his professor gave him an A
and a strange steady look
And his mother never hung it on the kitchen door
because he never showed her
That was the year that Father Tracy died
And he forgot how the end
of the Apostle's Creed went
And he caught his sister
making out on the back porch
And his mother and father never kissed
or even talked
And the girl around the corner
wore too much makeup
That made him cough when he kissed her
but he kissed her anyway
because that was the thing to do

And at three a.m. he tucked himself into bed
his father snoring soundly
That's why on the back of a brown paper bag
he tried another poem
And he called it "Absolutely Nothing"
Because that's what it
was really all about
And he gave himself an A
and a slash on each damned wrist
And he hung it on the bathroom door
because this time he didn't
think he could reach the kitchen. 

- Dr Earl Reum

xo,

Kenzo

Trend Alert: Mirrored Shades

A trend that's all over the world of street style right now is mirrored sunglasses! Coming in a number of bright hues, it's a very chic and almost sporty way to add a little je ne sais quoi to your outfit. At first I found it to be a little tacky, but who would've thought that it could look so good?

(source: whowhatwear)

xo,

Lovely Links - 01.06.13

(image source: pinterest)

• The sheer skill and creativity that some people have never ceases to amaze me, and Soo Sunny Park’s Unwoven Light installation is no exception. Here is a documentary short by Angela and Mark Walley of Walley Films. The film describes the installation period, and Park’s process and inspiration behind her truly stunning artwork.

• Whether it's the visual content (photography and commercials) or the concept, I'm kinda-sorta loving the #mygirls campaign by Adidas, as well as Dove's Real Beauty Sketches campaign.

• I have a folder filled with yummy recipes that comes to my aid whenever the cravings set in! Some of my favorite recipes were found on a the most incredible food blog, (run by a teenager, mind you) called The Teenage Taste!

• I have yet to meet a woman who doesn't love shoes, but it's not surprising when there are shoes like this in the world! Those gorgeous heels were created by Youngwon Kim, a recent Masters Graduate of the London College of Fashion.

• It's a little hard to believe that such young people can blessed with so much talent! Do yourself a favor and check out these incredible photos by fourteen year old photographer, Zev. 

• After reading this article on the AfrikaBurn Music Festival, my bucket list just got a little bit longer!

xo,