Lovely Links | 23.06.14

(image source: lara jade via  the great discontent)

• New York Magazine's cover story by Benjamin Wallace about Terry Richardson's controversial career path has been all the buzz over the past few days.

• I've been dying over Ed Sheeran's highly anticipated second album, 'x' (pronounced "multiply") which drops in stores worldwide today - Thinking Out Loud, Afire Love and Nina are a few of my favourites tracks so far. You can stream it here or buy it on iTunes. 

• There's been a surge of feminism on social networks in recent times (eg. #YesAllWomen), so I was very intrigued by Charles Aaron's refreshingly honest article on the topic from a male's perspective. What is a Boy? is a particularly great article because he doesn't use up a ton of pages to defend the male species, which is pretty rare.

• Lana Del Rey released the video of her latest single, Shades of Cool, from her new Ultraviolence album. Watch the video, stream the album or buy it on iTunes. Also, read this very open and quite controversial interview Lana did for FADER.

• Sunglass Hut SA is hosting a competition where you vote for your favourite #ShadesOfWinter blogger look and stand a chance to win 1 of 4 Sunglass Hut vouchers worth R1000. Get all the details here. (Vote for Talya from Shades of Gold, she's my fave!)

• During one of my many internet escapades, I came across this lovely online fashion magazine called Material Girl. It's not in English (boooooo), but it has the some really beautiful indie-style editorials (e.g. the one I've used as the cover of this post) well worth taking a look at.

I haven't done a link post in a while, (or any post for that matter) but I will not apologise because (I've been writing exams) it's my sixteenth birthday today and I can be a snotty little brat for a whole 24 hours without anyone saying a word. I'm sorry.

"What are you doing to celebrate?", you might ask - well, I'll be up studying at 3AM, writing not one, but TWO exams during the day, and studying some more until about midnight. Because my life has turned into Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, I could do with some TLC. Mail me a big, fat slice of red velvet or carrot cake so I know it's real (wink, wink).

Lovely Links | 22.03.14

(image source: tumblr)

• Topshop and Adidas have cleverly collaborated to create Topshop x Adidas Originals, a collection of 20 equally high-street, sporty and fabulous pieces. Currently on sale here.
• As always, my art research has resulted in me finding the most amazing artists/artworks. Billy Kidd had a photography exhibition called Transience, which is composed of photos of dying flowers and nude women. Check it out before simply dismissing it - it's been done so tastefully.
• My 5 year goal right now is to finish high school, move to and study in the England (preferably London). ID Magazine has an interview series of first year fashion students studying all over England, which fuels my imagination with what my life could possibly look like in a couple of years. (I literally die at the thought!) Read them here 1, 2, 3.
• Top 5 songs on my recently played playlist: 

               Fancy (feat. Charli XCX) - Iggy Azalea                             
               Dark Doo Wop - MS MR
               2 On (feat. Schoolboy Q) - Tinashe
               Pluto (Remember You) [feat. Beatenberg] - DJ Clock
               Down (feat. OmArr & T. Coles) - Jaden Smith

• If you follow me on twitter, you might notice that I often post poetry or quotes from poems. Most of which I've recently found on Instagram. My favourite insta-poet has to be Olivia (@ohpoems). She's unbelievably good. Like, I have no words to describe her, she's just out of this world.
• My namesake and blogger friend, Khensani Mohlatlole, has written an article for ItsFashionating.com on my favourite member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, Kendall Jenner, who is blowing up in the modeling world right now. Read that here.
• What most people tend to forget, for all of Miley's antics, is that the girl can sing! I've been loving her cover of Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey and Hey Ya by Outkast recently.
• My favourite type of design is brand identity design, and there's nothing I love more than watching my data disintegrate as I browse through identity after identity after identity. The identity I'm currently obsessing over was designed by Anagrama Brand Intelligence Group, for a boutique called Novelty, which you can take a look at here.

I haven't done a Lovely Links post all year, which is a shame because they're my favourite kind of posts. Grade 11 has already battered and bruised me enough to last a life time, and so I don't really have much time for the internet and blogging and a life outside of school. What a bore, right?

I'm in Mpumalanga right now for a little getaway with the fam, during very nearly the only time I've had free this year (mid-term break). I feel like sometimes we all just need to sit back, separate ourselves from our work and lives for at least 24 hours just to reset and refocus. I think this break will do me some much needed good (that is, if I can get past the anxiety of all the things I still need to do once I get back...) Happy Saturday, and to those of you who watch Suits on DSTV, happy Suits Is Back day!

xo,

Lovely Links | 21.09.13

(image source: IMAXtree)

• I am literally obsessed with these suede and rubber wedges (above) used in the gorgeous Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2014 runway show at New York Fashion Week. Colour-blocking, eat your heart out!

• The newest addition to my iTunes playlist is Lorde, a 16 year old Kiwi singer whose music is a sort of electronic take on Lana Del Rey. She's becoming pretty popular right now with her incredibly fresh, electro-pop music. You can listen to her first EP, The Love Club, here.

• Tyra Banks has taken the challenge upon herself to transform into some of the most elite supermodels, including Iman, Cindy Crawford, Twiggy, Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne to name a few. The photographs (taken over the course of a YEAR) are just mind-blowing!

• I recently downloaded the most fantastical overlay design application which has had me hooked for a good couple of hours over the past few days. It's very versatile, professional-looking, and so much fun! Download the Studio Design app here.

• Typography a day keeps the creativity block away... Well, that's what comes to my mind, at least, when seeing the 365 Days of Type by Sabrina Smelko. Check it out and be inspired by typography, 365 days of the year, or what's left of it.

• I'm in love with this bright and colourful brand identity and package design for Trig jewellery by designer, Olivia King. She's created the Trig application, which is used by customers to design their own trigonometric jewellery (custom shapes, colours and materials), which is then packaged in the loveliest boxes and shipped off. I love love love it!

The internet is such a brilliant place filled with such brilliant things that sometimes I just wonder, what would we do without it?

Anyway, I wish you all a great weekend.

xo,

Lovely Links | 31.09.13

(image source: fancy)

• Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have both released (well, the songs were leaked, but anyway) new singles that I've listened to more than what could be regarded as a healthy amount! Take a listen to Gaga's Applause and Katy's Roar.

• Victor Hertz has recreated some popular logos in a very amusing, and insanely accurate series called If Corporate Logos Were Honest.

• I was recently introduced to a brilliant film maker by the name of Casey Neistat. The first video of his that I watched was this one, which was commissioned by Nike, with the aim of illustrating the words "Make It Count." Neistat has done the job so creatively, it just fills me with all sorts of inspiration.

• It's been said that people will do crazy things for love, and that's never been more true than in the case of Jessica Walsh and Timothy Goodman, and their 40 Days of Dating.

• Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town took place a few weeks ago, with more fashion and flair than ever before. Check out some highlights of the event here.

• I absolutely love short films. They're like little slices of video heaven. I came across this short film titled Beyond The City, and created for Stills' Fall Collection 2013 (Dutch fashion brand). It was shot and directed by Annemarieke van Drimmelen, and stars Dutch model, Kim Noorda.

• I've had a link to Taibo Bacar's collection opened in my Safari tabs for a straight week now. It's just so so stunning! Bacar is a Mozambican designer who has drawn inspiration from traditional capulana sarongs to create his gorgeous Autumn/Winter 2013 collection. Pssst... Can I have it?

• I think it's pretty evident when watching Justin Timberlake's brilliant VMA performance that he is back in the music scene with a vengeance! This past Sunday, he performed a medley of his greatest hits, as well as a surprise performance with 'N Sync! Watch it here.

(Gee, I hadn't realised how many videos this post consists of... Oh well, they're all great, and all worth watching!)

So, yet again, I've missed a Lovely Links fortnightly deadline. I think that from now on, instead of pressuring myself into searching every surface of the web to reach the deadline with truly mediocre links, I'll scrap the deadline entirely and wait for truly LOVELY links to find their way to me in due time. It only makes sense, right?

In other news, here in sunny South Africa, it's a wee-bit on the chilly side... As a result, I'll be spending my weekend re-reading The Outsiders (I'm obsessed) and watching the new season of Suits (Eeeeek!), while sipping on oceans of tea. Sounds like a plan!

xo,

Lovely Links | 03.08.13

(image source: Carly Zinga)

• What I'd expected to be tedious hours of art research proved to be a rather entertaining and speedy scavenger hunt for inspiration, which I found in this these sculptures by Emil Alzamora and these paintings/illustrations by Adara Sánchez.

• Among the many people I follow on Instagram, Carly Zinga is a fashion photographer who consistently makes my feed considerably more beautiful. Follow her Instagram page and view her blog. Her photos are simply stunning (Eg. the cover photo above!)

• In the spirit of blogger love, I'd like to send you over to check out What I Wore and eat.sleep.wear! To be entirely honest, I highly doubt I would've discovered the wonderful world of blogging, let alone become a part of it, had I not come across these two lovely sites. Love, love, love!

• If there's one local contest (of sorts) that I faithfully follow, it's most definitely the ELLE Rising Star Design Award in association with Mr Price. Their mission is to find the best rising fashion designer in South Africa, and as far as this year's search goes, the judges have selected 8 insanely talented finalists. Check them out here!

• I stumbled upon this really retro Classic Horror Book Series by Nikola Klímová. The layout is minimal, which is right up my alley, and the illustrations are great! 

• While procrastinating with the help of the ever faithful Twitter, I found a short documentary series by The Sartorialist (Scott Schuman). He, being the creative genius that he is, came up with the idea to show us a side of behind-the-scenes Fashion Week we virtually never get to see; the Pit Photographers...     Take a look at Part I and II.

• Moving right along on the documentary train, I happened to encounter yet another short, fashion documentary that's worth a look (totally by chance, I swear!) It's appropriately titled 'Take My Picture', as it explores the phenomenon that street style photography and fashion blogging has become.

Alright, so this is my awful apology for the delay of a 'Lovely Links' post, which was scheduled for the 20th of July. Along with returning to school and being piled with work, I received an incredibly strong dosage of writer's block. 

*breathes in*

Now that I've listed those poor excuses, here is the actual reason for the delay: I hadn't found any links that I felt were worth sharing, and having grown up with a quality > quantity mindset, my heart wouldn't allow me to type out rubbish I found through Google. Sorry.

*breathes out*

Now that we're done with formalities, I hope you have a month of greatness ahead of you, and that you're currently enjoying a relaxing weekend on behalf of those of us who aren't!

xo,

Lovely Links - 06.07.13

• A while ago, I discovered the photographic treasure that is VSCO Journal. This is the blogging site of an iPhone app called VSCOcam, which consists of interviews of some brilliant photographers. Head to the blog and download the app!

• I love shoes, and I love brand identities, so it's practically inevitable for me not to love this brand identity for Loeffler Randall, a New York based footwear company. This stunning aesthetic was designed by the RoAndCo Studio.

• Market On Main at Arts On Main has become quite a well-known Jozi hotspot which I'm sure you've heard of before. If you haven't visited it as yet, make sure to pop in soon to grab some lunch, indulge in a snack, shop, explore, and mingle with the good old inner city urban folk.

Address: 264 Fox Street, City and Suburban Gauteng, Maboneng Precinct.                                       Running every Sunday, 10AM - 3PM.

• This week, I've been enjoying my holidays at home, and as a result of that, I've had plenty of time to pamper and spring clean my Pinterest boards. They look pretty fabulous, even if I say so myself.

• One of the presents I received for my birthday was an iPad mini (thanks dad!), and I recently downloaded an app that is so beautiful, so easy to use, so efficient, and so creative... And it's FREE! It's a drawing application called Paper, which gives you an easy way to sketch down ideas and such. Download it here.

• Good poetry is like food to my soul, and the poets of The Strivers Row have yet to disappoint me when it comes to good poetry. They're comprised of the most incredible poets, and among them is Alysia Harris, my favourite modern day poet. As a whole, they make my heart go asdfghjkhasdasfdla!

• Very high up on my list of favourite and most hilarious books is Neither Here Nor There (Travels In Europe) by Bill Bryson. The author tells you about his lonesome journey through Europe, while simultaneously bringing you to tears with laughter. Note: Don't read it in public. You'll honestly be laughing too hard, I swear!

• I absolutely love short documentaries, and the other day I came across one about Scott Schuman aka The Sartorialist aka the King of modern day street style photography. Even though the documentary is a few years old, it still gives you a quick peek into a world which a lot of us might be dreaming of. Watch it here.

This is probably my favourite set of links so far. Hmmm... Anyway, I hope you all keep warm this weekend, seeing as the weather forecast has predicted some grey skies and rainy days! 

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,

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,

Lovely Links - 15.05.13

I, like most teenagers, am addicted to the internet. In fact, I would guesstimate that I probably spend about 24 hours in a week on the internet alone. (Gee, I should probably look into that, because that is an awful lot of time!)

While spending the said amount of hours on the internet, I often come across some really lovely things... Great design, interesting articles, stunning videos, new blogs! I mean, the list goes on for days!

So, I'm starting a bi-weekly segment filled with some of the lovely little links I happen to encounter during my internet escapades. I have piles of bits and bobs that aren't enough to fill up entire posts just sitting on my laptop, and longing for nothing more than to be shared with you!

(source: dustjacketattic.blogspot.com)

• Karl Lagerfeld's short film, "Once Upon a Time" starring Kiera Knightley was finally debuted in Singapore, in celebration of a century since Coco Chanel's first boutique was opened!

• Being an avid lover of good photography and different means of creative expression, this article had my undivided attention for a good couple of minutes.

• If only we could all write poetry like this by Dorothy Parker... Unfortunately, we can't, but in the meantime, I suggest we simply enjoy it.

• Had you been reading Søren Jepsen's 'The Locals' street style blog over the last few weeks, you might know that he's ventured into new blogging territories! (This new blog is great for all the travelers, and those of us who can only dream...)

• You can choose to either buy some cute jewellery, or to do it yourself! I'm absolutely swooning over this these bracelets and this ring by Jenni Radosevich of I Spy DIY.

• I'm the kind of person who will spend hours on YouTube looking for and listening to fresh new artists to fall in love with... One of my favorite bands that I found on YouTube about 3 years ago is Boyce Avenue. Check out their gorgeous cover, featuring Fifth Harmony, of 'Mirrors' by Justin Timberlake.

xo,