the new dull

It's intriguing that something with/containing colour can be dull. 'Dull' itself is a dull word, characterised to something lifeless, colourless and boring. Black and white, however, is anything but boring, the films of the 20th century were mainly characterised by the lack of colour and I believe it allows you to focus more on the quality of the acting and the film. People never make black and white films anymore, it is now considered 'indie' and possibly 'daring' in a world where any kind of colour is accessible. Back to dull. When I think of dull, images of dreary weather, grey buildings in Eastern Europe and pale skin spring to mind. I am currently reading 1984 by George Orwell and the world that is created in it is dull and unchanging. There is only one correct opinion, building interiors are plain, but there is a certain beauty to the colourless and cold world that Orwell creates. Although trapping, it is also dull in a way that lets the imagination run wild. It's extraordinary that something so dull creates such an aesthetically-pleasing image which is what intrigues me about this word. Dull can be both an insult and a compliment. 

All this pictures appear dull in some way to me, but not on a superficial level that they are boring. The colours in them are subdued/non-existent and the expressions of the people, the surroundings and colours are both, dull and empty. To me, this is what makes these images interesting and fresh. This is a reinvention of dull, which no longer means dull. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ~~~
 

I've been listening to Oscar (or Oscar Scheller) a lot recently. His music can be loosely described as 'bedroom DIY pop' which I took a while to understand but now it totally explains the tinny, fresh quality to it. I love how new and unedited it all is, music is all to often dominated by technology but the imperfections and casual, lazy vocals add a hazy vibe. His voice itself is like a chocolatey/britpop/baritone hybrid that, along with a jangle of guitars, culminates in something both enjoyable and interesting to listen to. The rest of his EP, 146b, is awesome and, although it sounds strictly confined to a hazy summer, I think it is something that can be enjoyed all year round.



 

Hope everybody has had a rad festive period and has an even radder new year.

 

 

(waves goodbye)

 

suzie



Sources:

 

Tumblr

http://galleryhip.com/anthony-michael-hall-breakfast-club-t-shirt.html

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/de-berlin-wall.htm

http://time.com/3386935/grit-grime-and-graffiti-christopher-morris-on-the-new-york-subway-1981/



then veins of red marbling the glassy water

I often think after finishing a book, that it's hard to realise the impact it has had on you. When words that are simply written on a page are able to create empathy within you, to enhance a feeling, a thought, it makes you question the effect of printed words. I am saying this in consideration to a book I finished recently; The Secret History. It was absolutely incredible. Usually I am able to put my finger on why i like a book so much but with this it was unfathomable and something I will never know. It feels like a work that goes beyond the human world and feelings and that reaches into another realm of Godly and ethereal actions and words. With each character, I felt I was able to both love them and hate them at different points and I was surprised at how rapidly my feelings could change or how emotionless I felt at some stages. I'm sad to say that half way through reading it I was looking it up on the internet when dumb old auto-complete ruined it for me which, of course, changed my attitude and, although I did not realise it then, spoilt the ending. Nonetheless I think this enabled me to guess the reasons for it, before I had arrived there, and to understand the final, somewhat noble/heroic action. I wish it were a film, a Wes Anderson colour scheme would not got amiss and I can see a young Topher Grace playing Richard (although Topher Grace is kinda old now), but sadly it seems that The Secret History is one of those books that will never be a film (the Catcher in the rye etc). Please, please, please, (if you haven't already) go and read The Secret History and bask in it's glory forevermore. All hail Donna Tartt.

Due to lack of tripod/willing family member I struggle to find an appropriate place to take outfit photos. With my old camera I used the windowsill but with my new (giant) camera I cannot risk it tumbling to it's death so until very recently I was on the hunt. I soon discovered that a corner in the
garden was accompanied by a well-placed table and very aesthetically-pleasing leaves - problem solved.

solved.

I am really loving turtle necks and tank tops at the moment. Throughout this year I have gathered an impressive collection of knitted tank tops from far and wide and I have decided that it is either time to open a jumper museum or actually wear them. This one is from a vintage shop in Bath paired with a Primark turtle neck, New Weekends skirt and ASOS Chelsea boots. I am also (shock horror) trying to break into the world of lipsticks and this is one I bought for my Velma costume on Halloween I have always thought of lipstick as too daring but after braving it once I think I am finally ready (plus it matches the leaves!).

(waves goodbye)

Suzie

chaos is what killed the dinosaurs, darling

A couple of weeks ago i watched Heathers, because everyone cool raves about it, and of course because Winona Ryder is in it, which is a good reason alone to watch it. At the start i wasn't sure if i liked it, it seemed like a much more murderous and ,well, mean version of Mean Girls. It made high school appear like a soulless pit of bitching and back-stabbing, which it kind of is to be fair, but on a grand scale. I could not believe the events that were taking place and how every character seemed to be oblivious, clueless, and apparently soulless.  I think as the film progressed, though, i realised what it all signified and that the end result really just beat all my ideas of how it could have ended.  I began to see that some of the characters were psychotic after all and that the film is, all in all, a teen rebel fantasy, the kind of thing scribbled in the back of a notebook or planned in moments of boredom. We would never want those things to happen but we like imagining it. Winona Ryder's acting, style and radness must be mentioned too. Most of the time she is furiously writing a journal, whilst wearing a monocle and playing (strip) croquet in her parent's garden. She is undeniably that person who will talk to anyone and everyone, not caring about damn social rules. I also love every thing about her clothes. It could not be more 80s if it tried; shoulder pads, scrunchies, MASSIVE hair, but this just adds to her character and everyone elses. At the end, i realised that Heathers aren't just a meaner version of Mean Girls, they are the original Mean Girls.

And, of course, Christian Slater's hotness cannot go without mentioning.

I also watched Run Lola Run recently, originally because, in my ignorance, i assumed it was French so i thought it could count as revision. After borrowing it from the library i soon realised it is actually German but thought it was still worth the watch (not mentioning i know >1% German). I am glad i did. At the start of the fim, i felt similar to how i felt watching Heathers, i wasn't sure if i was going to like it and there also seemed to be too much running going on ( i thought the title was an exaggeration but no, it really isn't). Before i go any further the basic gist is this; a girl called Lola gets a call from her boyfriend who needs dosh for some tough guys within the next 20 minutes or he will die/spontaneously combust (not really but this would add an unexpected twist, no?). What i didn't realise at first was that the Lola's actions are split into three episodes, until she gets it right, where one minute adjustment changes the whole course of what will happen in the next 20 minutes. The first scenario ended rather abruptly and i thought that was the end. Sitting there, feeling more than a little disheartened i was pleasantly surprised to see the second scenario begin. This is where things began to get exciting, Lola got it wrong the second time too so the third scenario began. What struck me is how something so small can change so much, how one decision, a few seconds, one look in the wrong direction, can really change a person's life. The soundtrack is like stepping into a smokey 90s euro rave of techno and sweaty neon, which fits pretty well with the amount of running. I also like how empty Berlin is, it's weirdly uninhabitated which i don't really understand and i cannot fathom where all the people are, nonetheless for some reason i like this as it allows a focus on the people that are there, as when Lola runs past them you see a snapshot of their destiny. There is not a lot of colour, despite Lola's hair which provides a juxtaposition and just makes her look pretty rad actually. But again, as with the lack of people, when you do see colour it allows you to focus us on it more than usual and let it actually be significant; the overruse of colour is an easy mistake that can ruin a work of art.

 

i very much enjoyed the random dream-like cartoons that are reminiscent of childhood shows. The surreal, colourful cartoons did not seem odd at all compared to the live action, also due to the use of colour.  

And of course i cannot go without mentioning Yellow Flicker Beat. I was already obssessed with it when the video came out this week and now it is borderline on a disorder. I cannot stress my deep and unwavering appreciation and faith in Lorde, sometimes i feel like she is the only artist out there who feels current, as if the present only matters. She clearly appreciates the past and the future but SHE IS 2014. she is now and that is all i see in this video.

(waves goodbye)

suzie

 Sources:

http://giphy.com/gifs/depressed-heathers-movie-aShtwJKEYAFfq

https://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b7963bcae

 http://www.listal.com/viewimage/3249647h

http://giphy.com/gifs/run-lola-6M3q8ZKAXF1cI

mustard custard

Lately life's been feeling more autumnal (that's code for the weather's crap). One reason i love autumn (other than the fact  it is my birthday) is the colours. It's that time of year where you can get away with wearing mustard yellow and brown because you basically blend with the trees. I love how in Autumn the colours become warmer even though the weather's getting colder and that the sun still shines despite the temperatures. Summer doesn't have specific colours and winter is cold colours but Autumn is a nice nostalgic mix of yellows and oranges.

The coat is from eBay, after months of frantic searching for a sheepskin i am so thrilled to finally own one and it is so lovely. The jumper is probably my favourite knit and is from Grey Dog Boutique. Apologies for the mystery stain on it, its one of those irritating ones that only makes itself visible from a distance. The skirt is one i made (feeling v smug right now) at a sewing workshop in the holidays and seeing as it was one of the first times i have attempted sewing (the others resulted in broken machines) i was ecstatic at the outcome.

And let's all just take a moment to appreciate these new ASOS chelsea boots i received as a late birthday present.  I swear the Jesus of boots hand-carved these as there is no faulting them (yet). They are comfortable, make me a tiny bit taller and are rad in every way possible.

I have been listening to mo for a while and i bought her album the other day. For some reason her music makes me feel really happy (even the sad songs) and this song sounds quite festive to me.

I remember the first time i heard this song (below) i was surprised because at the time i wasn't aware that there was music that had that kind of quality to it. I recieved this song for free along with a whole album of other obscure french songs which really opened my eyes to how much music was out there. Before, i think i knew that music i would love/enjoy was out there but i was at a loss of where to find it and i couldn't really ask anyone because it was difficult kind of question to ask, plus who would've cared?! I used to assume that a genre of music belonged to that decade and no one really made that particular type of music anymore. In this case it was psychedelic rock, it just conjures up druggie-60s images and it doesn't seem compatible in the modern world and yet it is. I hope this makes sense, it's really hard trying to spell out what seems so easy to understand in my head. I also love the ethereal tone to the song and video, i love the idea of going to a fairground at night with all the beautiful colours and lights.

(waves goodbye)
Suzie

sixteen

Last week I turned 16, which at first seemed daunting but by the second day I had adjusted and realised that life wasn't all that different. Generally my mood can be summarised by "Still Sane" as most Lorde songs summarise a teenage mood, which is why that album always sounds so great.
I received a new camera for my birthday which was great except I am still figuring out how to work it/achieve non-crap image quality/become a mildly better photographer so I have not had the chance to take any (good photos yet.

Yesterday I managed to buy this month's Nylon magazine which I was extremely proud of because i usually miss out on 'iconic' issues or whatever because when it comes to organising myself i am crap. Anyway, if you didn't already know (you probably did bc its RAD) the theme is IT girls and Tavi Gevinson is the cover girl. I think i've always had a huge amount of respect for Tavi but i don't think i've really appreciated how intelligent she is until now. Like i always knew she was really astute and smart but i never saw her as one of those 'old beyond their years' teens. In this way, she really reminds me of Lorde who also comes across as some kind of super-cool-hybrid-intelligent-teen. I've been watching interviews and reading her old blog posts and she just has such a great understanding of society and, well, EVERYTHING.

e.g. "Everyone is so worried about seeming hipster but I dunno, I think caring about what kind of clothes other people wear or what kind of music they like is the most hipster. I would much rather be taking pictures and writing and be way in over my head and none of it even be that good than not do anything. Otherwise, I would probably be one of those people who puts all their self-perception in what their tastes say about them since they don't have anything they themselves make or do because they're afraid they won't be good at it because they believe you can't be creative just for yourself and that someone will say they are bad at it. Which just makes you think about what your tastes say about you all the more, which is that stupid mentality of people who are annoyed by hipsters. I just wanna like what I like! Where in this world is there any passion anymore! Any commitment! Once I didn't leave the couch for 25 hours except to go to Ihop. That took commitment."

That probably took you a year to read and that was before you read it the second time, but i think that is a classic example of "taviness" and her acceptance of the world. I often feel like that but, unlike Tavi, i can't put it into words easily or fathom what i am really feeling/thinking. Sometimes i find it really hard to form my opinions on matters, and when i think i know how i feel, someone else comes along and sways me and i don't know what to think anymore.
This (below) was a TED Talk Tavi did when she was 15. I know that she did one more recently but because she's younger in this one i feel that i can relate more to it.

 

[seamless change of subject]
I also received FKA Twigs' album LP1 for my birthday. It's a little like listening to the future, i feel really connected with music but i cannot pinpoint what it sounds like. It's the kinda music where i feel i have to move when i'm listening to it. All of her songs and videos are really clever as well as aesthetically-pleasing and she also always wears great jewellery AND has amazing Egyptian-esque hair. yes, she's perfect.

In a way Twigs reminds me of Kelela who i've also been listening to a lot lately. In both artists i find the rhythms really infectious (just realised how cringey this sounds, i am sorry there is no other way to describe it). It's not necessarily the lyrics/meanings of their songs i feel connected too, maybe just the sounds i hear. 

 

Have a good week and stay cool.

(waves goodbye)
suzie
 

sources:

http://www.thestylerookie.com/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00:00:00-06:00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00:00:00-06:00&max-results=50

blue is the warmest colour

At the moment i'm trying to go through a reinvention. I feel like I should be channelling one "aesthetic" and so revibing my room seems like the place to start. It's kinda just a combo of weird nic nacs and nostalgia-infused items and I need to move on from it because it feels like I am stuck in the headspace of a 13 year old right now. Suggestions would be grateful so suggest away...

I am finding water v inspiring at the moment and generally cold colours too probably because of this weird "weather identity crisis" (no joke the weatherman actually said that), where basically it's warm? Yeah I know. I always try to steer myself away from the colour blue because I feel like it's too common but I end up veering back towards it because half of the clothes I own are blue. I have decided to accept that blue is just a colour I wear a lot and this is the way it is.

Maybe the reason I am drawn to cold colours is because I am drawn to sad things. The majority of my favourite films/books are flecked with melancholia and general loss (eg The Great Gatsby, Breakfast At Tiffany's, Fight Club etc). This is because I feel like there is so much more depth to sadness than to happiness. When you're happy you don't think about being happy, you live in the moment. When you're sad, however, there are so many more questions you ask yourself and so many more levels to the feeling. I think the depth of sadness is reflected in the colours it represents and when i watch/read/see sad things the colours create some kind of empathy within me.

  

 

 

 

 

I adore this photo. I already love Robert Doisneau but this has made me love him even more. Everything about it is perfect; the symmetry, the people, the simplicity.

I've never seen The Dreamers but the stills are so beautiful.

  Out of interest i looked up Vogue October 1998 as it is my birth month. I found a rad photoshoot from Vogue Italia which totally encaptures my mood and colour scheme at the moment.

Amateur Photography in London by Tim Walker, Vogue Italia October 1998    

  

   

  

'Check you have not got anything growing from the subjects face'

(waves goodbye)

Suzie

Sources:

Tumblr

Rookie 

imdb

pinterest

http://aplaceofwork.com/saracwynar/project/44#44-5

 https://www.flickr.com/photos/friendshipexplosion/

sacre bleu

The weather is doing it's usual "let's annoy every child in Britain and be sunny when they start school" act which has left me in a bit of a clothing rut. I have a growing collection of knitted tank tops which I am more than ready to wear however I will cook so what do I wear?? Dungarees have saved the day here so for the entirety of September I will just have to look like Mario and Luigi's younger sister (minus the cap and plus a Breton).

 

 

Dungarees - Rokit

Top - H & M

 

Excuse the confused expression, the sun was murdering my eyes at this point so I guess you're lucky they're even open.

I have rediscovered my love for everything French since watching that Jacquemus video (see my last post). The French are just an extremely cool bunch of people with an effortless and automatic style. Bretons are always gonna be cool, basically because they're French. They go with absolutely everything and just. look. cool. There's no explaining it, IT JUST IS. I bought this one ages ago on a whim but never wore it because I was like "meh it's too mainstream" but then I got over myself and realised that Bretons are timeless (and French).

 

~~~

 

I know I shouldn't be moaning but I really miss the typical Autumn weather. I love the multi-coloured leaves and fires (cliché but whatever) and somehow that the cold weather is an excuse for eating more? Golden Brown always reminds me of Autumn and brings back a certain nostalgia of early birthdays.

 

 

(waves goodbye)

Suzie

the pool... it's kind of our headquarters.

I  recently dicovered this French designer called Jacquemus and i already love his designs more than peanut butter. I guess it's based around simple shapes and colours. It's ultra femuline but with a sexy french twist (bc everything french is sexy). I also love how comfortable the models look, like they actually want to be wearing the clothes, most of the time models look pissed off and but these girls just look like a group of (v v v cool) friends. Also all the contact page says (apart from the contacts) is:

 

JE M’APPELLE SIMON , J’AIME LE BLEU ET LE BLANC, LES RAYURES, LE SOLEIL, LES FRUITS, MARSEILLE ET LES ANNEES 80

um can u get anymore more rad?

This collection is called La Piscine and i actually see why. The colours remind me of an old swimming pool, the worn tiles and those lane seperator thingys you get in the water. I can even smell the chlorine looking at it. The photographs also have a cold effect to them which enhances the colours and the whole water vibe. It's only just occurred to me how inspiring water can be, the way it catches sun rays and how everything underwater looks so ethereal. It's such a basic necessity but there are so many ways in which it can appear different. Am i making any sense??

  

  

only the coolest girl gang i've ever seen

 

 
JACQUEMUS / LA PISCINE from jacquemus on Vimeo.

I love how they drink orangina and eat apples and just hang out like regular bored young people. Also totally digging the flip phone, most high tech thing circa 2005. My favourite line is "I think healthy people and athletes are gross anyway".

I'm thinking of writing an early Christmas letter to Papa xmas and asking to be French. More like begging actually.


(waves goodbye)
Suzie

All photos from  http://jacquemus.com/