begonia skies

This is a serious and very personal topic for me. To put things into context, I identify as pansexual, and I am surrounded by people who identify as bisexual, lesbian, straight, and gay. If you ask me, of course I fully support the LGBT community. However, I'm not about to drone on regarding my stance on this new legislation. This post is just made to explain it. I respect that people are entitled to their own opinions, and I respect that people disagree with this ruling and wish to express it in their own way. All of that sits perfectly well with me. However, there are two kinds of opinions, informed and misinformed. Informed opinions are everywhere, and widely accepted, be it within or outside of the LGBT community. However, there are certain (horribly) misinformed opinions which have surfaced regarding the new legislation that prove how awfully misconstrued the new ruling has become, which I hope to address in this post.

Well, this was a finality, albeit a good one. My thoughts on Ta-Ku's new album. When I first heard it, I was bowled over, and I felt all the #feels he set out to convey, and the album really did conjure up bittersweet memories of cotton candy skies, piggyback rides and nights spent intoxicated. However, I'll admit that there came a point where I got confused. Now don't get me wrong, Ta-Ku is, without a doubt, one of my absolute favourite music producers out there, and I'd trade a double mcspicy for him any day, but some of the tracks in the album made it difficult to differentiate it from its predecessor, Songs To Break Up To (2013). 

Akin to it's two-year old twin, Songs To Make Up To revolves around a myriad of #feels and Ta-Ku's slick maneuvers, however, some tracks were vaguely predictable and barely conveyed lukewarm emotion, or should I say, #feels. My personal favourites were Long Time No See ft. Atu and Sunrise/Beautiful ft. Jordan Rakei. Drenched with pure and uncluttered sentiment, these tracks were the ones that were free from any sort of beat-layering pretence, and really shone a light on Ta-Ku's rhythmic genius. That being said, perhaps the highs and lows of the album serve to convey and carry a deeply poignant sense of longing for a love once lost, and perhaps translates as an accurate aural manifestation of the beauty in having everything you've lost come back to you. 

Released: June 12, 2015, ℗ 2015 Fool's Gold Records, Available on iTunes, $7.99.

A long hiatus (and two different hair colors) later, I'm back with some pretty good news. I've since gotten a new camera and to test it out, I filmed a short get-ready-with-me/everyday go-to makeup and hair sort of thing. On the day I decided to film it, a (very) conspicuous zit decided to pop up on my chin but I went ahead and filmed it anyway. I've really been diggin' the whole flesh-toned color palette recently, so I've decided to incorporate that into my everyday makeup and some of my outfits. I think vibrant colors register as slightly more unforgiving on my very confused skin tone for some reason, (speaking from experience) so I tend to stick with neutrals and muted colors. I'm really excited about my new camera, and I'm looking forward to updating this space with more videos/visuals and my thoughts on various new releases like I used to! X

Been real busy with school lately, and I know I haven't gotten down to filling up this space at all but I found this gem of a track recently which I absolutely fell in lust with when I first heard it. Presenting my latest earworm, Stroll by StéLouse. Taking the future bass game by storm is StéLouse, the latest product of the acclaimed Die High Records. Pronounced "Stay-loose", electronic music producer Ross Ryan has been making waves in the future bass genre, churning out two quality EPs and landing overwhelming support from fellow bass-boosters Bassnectar and Adventure Club, just to name a few. I mean yeah, we could all be belting vocals to Taylor Swift's Blank Space, but why not whistle along with StéLouse instead?

[embed]https://soundcloud.com/stelouse/stelouse-stroll-forthcoming[/embed]

Ah, the ever anticipated Alexander Wang x H&M capsule collection. After trawling a ton of teasers, sneak peaks, and ad campaign previews in what felt like an endless wait, the collection finally made its way to our red dot on the 6th of November. Was I glad? Boy, was I over the fucking moon. Since the announcement of the collaboration in April, I'd been dying to see how Wang was going to incorporate his trademark dark aesthetic into a vibrant fast-fashion label like H&M. Following their slew of collaborations with industry big names like Margiela and Lagerfeld, this one was surely one to watch. With a running sportswear influence throughout the whole collection, Wang ingeniously includes a mix of functional details and sporty chic. Without compromising his signature "urban uniform" essentials, the collection features a wide range of daily essentials from hoodies, sweatshirts and knits, to jacquard beanies and scuba bags. The crème de la crème of all H&M collections, to me at least, was finally here, and my self-confessed inner Carrie Bradshaw couldn't resist it for a second, so I pulled out all the stops and headed to H&M, ready to spend over 24 hours of my fast-fading youth queuing for it. I was semi-prepared for battle, and I forgot a ton of stuff when I rushed out of my house, but I managed to survive anyway. On that note, I'm about to tell you guys some Dos and Don'ts for dealing with the launch of a collection/store, a sample sale, or basically anything that kinda resembles a stakeout.

1# Don't be a bitch
Yes, these things are crazy. Maybe not Black Friday-crazy, but still crazy. When you're in line for something, there are bound to be quarrels over who got there first, but hey, if you're in the queue, you're guaranteed a purchase, so chill, alright? Leave the frenzy till the moment you actually get into the store.

2# Do be prepared
Bring. Food. And. Water. And. A. Tent. A tent? Yes, I promise you you'd rather look ridiculous camping in a concrete jungle, than go to sleep hungry, thirsty and cold on bare cement.

3# Don't play tag
Go early, queue, and stay in the queue. Don't tag your friends to queue on behalf of you, it's the most controversial thing since Bush vs. Gore.

4# Do make friends
No harm getting chummy with your neighbours, they're the only people you'll be seeing for more than a day. Who knows, they might become your new fashion-stakeout buddies.

5# Do go berserk and buy everything you can afford (or maybe more).
Self-explanatory.

Okay, I admit, when I first laid ears on this album, I wasn't a fan. I thought it was misaligned, insipid, unconvincing and horribly far off from their predecessor, An Awesome Wave (2012) which blew our minds and eardrums back when it was first released, in other words, I thought it was a plain boring sophomore slump, and doing a review of it was the last thing on my mind. However after repeated listens and constant daydreams about Joe Newman's ever-magnificent scruff, I felt a pang of guilt, and questioned all my previous judgements about the album. I closed my eyes, threw away every single preconceived notion I had about the album, and delved deep into Alt-J's newest sensibility. Revelation came when it hit me that what Alt-J was doing with This Is All Yours (2014), was not a bad follow up of their previous album, but an elaborate musical scheme that encompasses at once a humble attitude and impeccable musicality. Transitioning from the layered vocal harmonies in the Intro, to folky instrumental fillers and catchy tracks which cover various genres such as indie pop, alternative rock and electronica, the diversity of percussion techniques and Newman's ethereal vocal nuances are distilled to form nothing but pure musical genius. Although there were songs that felt like an extremely contrived attempt at filling up disc space, such as Left Hand Free, and Arrival In Nara, there were also tracks like Every Other Freckle and Warm Foothills, that channeled deep sexual imagery in them, simultaneously engaging and indulging the listener. Alt-J's new album is a conundrum in itself, playing it safe yet transgressing every single expectation we had of them, leaving us breathless yet wanting more. Mad props to these guys.

Released: September 22, 2014, ℗ 2014 Infectious Music Ltd, Available on iTunes, $7.99.

Launching their debut eyewear collection, featuring both sun and optical options, New Zealand-based apparel label I Love Ugly have garnered quite the attention with their latest releases. These bite-sized babies contain natural cotton fibres in their frames, housing impact-resistant lenses which offer 100% UV protection against the unforgiving sun. Beyond their latest eyewear collection, ILU has also dropped their newest line of apparel. From sleek bomber jackets and basketball jerseys with custom embroidered mesh construction, to dapper loafers and slouchy tees, the label's attention to detail and penchant for variety presents itself in every piece. Yes, they've been receiving a ton of mixed reviews about their constant oscillation between "ugly" and minimal designs, but you know what, ugly is subjective as beauty is, so who gives? I love ugly.

Available at http://www.iloveugly.net/ and all I Love Ugly flagship stores.

We know we can always count on Phillip Lim, designer and founder of label 3.1 Phillip Lim, to churn out clean lines and dapper silhouettes, and his Spring/Summer '15 runway not only proves us (very) right, but also showcases his versatility in this steadily changing climate we call "fashion", while still keeping close to the very principles which make up the label. A visual interpretation of Leonard Cohen's ever-so-impressionable quote, "“Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”, his womenswear line explored not only the vulnerability of the female anatomy, but also the sensual intimacy of the bedroom space. An ingenious attempt at simultaneously exposing and hiding the body, the clever rips, tears and semi-sheer organza pants, paired almost seamlessly with the belted bra tops and undulating hemmed skirts, fully presented the revealing nature of both a lady's body and boudoir. His menswear collection, on the other hand is a skilfully curated coalescence of locker-room chic and boardroom class. Devoid of any superfluous couture pretence, Lim seamlessly pairs sporty details such as referee pinstripes and utility buckles, with dapper elements such as oversized suits and collared shirts. The amount of thought he puts into each piece only serves to overwhelm, and it's safe to say that at the heart of his design is nothing but a pure and genuine need to communicate, which is pretty darn rare nowadays.

View the whole collection on http://www.31philliplim.com/.

Since the announcement of his BBC Radio 1 residency every Thursday Night, James Blake has flooded the airwaves with his not only his sick-ass remixes, but also previews of his upcoming third studio album (not yet titled) with tracks featuring Jamie XX, along with singles such as 200 Press, Roman Patience, and 40455. His latest track Building It Still, is a messy conundrum of dub bass, distinct percussion and jazz-inspired piano. His ability to coherently present these awkward elements with a soundscape that's at the same time emotional and highly detached isn't all that surprising either. I guess the most redeeming thing about his latest album (or at least the tracks we've heard), would be that it isn't a huge stretch from his usual(looking at you, Overgrown (2013)), which I'm sure we all appreciate.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUDg3CAPPUs[/embed]

Dan Snaith, oh Dan Snaith. While we all know this beautiful being is capable of producing smooth deft beats which tell a story (if Odessa isn't the first song to come to your head, get help), I guess we all thought Swim (2010) was going to be one of his last albums with complicated layered compositions, only because it was so good. However, surprise surprise! From a career fraught with transitions, be it through name or sound, Snaith's trademark neo-psychedelic ambient tunes is one that plays on our cerebral fantasies like no other. This laptop electronica giant with a penchant for messing with our minds is back this time with a brand new sound, not one that's unfamiliar, but rather, unexpected. A peculiar album, with cheery melodies intertwined with darker undertones, presented in singles Can't Do Without You, Second Chance and of course, Our Love. From tailored buildups to slick breakbeats reminiscent of good ol' 80s new-wave synth pop (Animotion, anyone??), I can't help but wonder if this new album is Snaith's attempt to stray away from his past musical identities, or merely a celebration of his current one. Either way, I'm not complaining and I hope you guys aren't.

Released: Oct 07, 2014, ℗ 2014 Merge Records, Available on iTunes, $7.99.

Born and raised in Xiamen, China, designer Shangguan Zhe founded semi-eponymous label SANKUANZ in '08. This fairly new kid on the block has already blazed the trail of fusing opposing youth and subcultures in the whirlwind of modern fashion. A recipient of Esquire magazine's "Annual Best Fashion Designer" award, hardworking Zhe trawls every corner of China for hidden traditional gems such as textile processes and sartorial art, infusing them with new-age à la mode. His latest Spring/Summer '15 collection presented by GQ China was a highly anticipated one, especially since his successful Fall/Winter '13 Shanghai Fashion Week debut and Paris exhibition earlier this year. Heavily inspired by Russian prison tattoos from the '40s and the tailored tuxedo, Zhe ingeniously incorporates ethnic elements into each piece, such as mandarin characters and hand-drawn doodle motifs. Also, need I even mention the ginormous ceramic hands the models are holding? If those haven't already caught your eye, that is.

View the whole collection at http://www.sankuanz.com/.

It's weird that my first post on the site isn't a fashion post per se but I really loved this when it first came out and I wanted so badly to give it a mention. For those of you wondering what's the huge deal with just a perfume line, you guys have never been more wrong. Back in the summer of '05, Austrian fashion designer Helmut Lang, left his namesake house and the discontinuation of his line of fragrances followed suit. I'm pretty sure everyone was devastated (as I was) and no one thought they'd see its return. Fast-forward nearly a decade later, and this eponymous line of eau de parfum is making its comeback with an experimental social media campaign (#HLONMYSKIN please!) along with a dope-ass campaign video. The trinity has been lovingly resurrected by Maurice Roucel, the same French perfumer who created it back in '95, along with Françoise Caron. Fuel your olfactory pleasures with the ever-so-familiar(yet pretty darn distinctive) musky floral top notes along with soft nuances of bergamot, cedarwood and rosemary by getting your hands on all three of them. 

Helmut Lang Eau de Parfum ($185), Eau de Cologne ($185), and Cuiron ($165) fragrances, available at helmutlang.com