liebster award

Sorry i have been fairly non-existent and a neglectful parent to this blog but next week is half-term so i shall return.

I was recently nominated for the liebster award by both Kaylee and Maggie! Thank you <3 <3!!

here are the rules:

-Thank the person who nominated you and link their blog

-Answer the questions given by the nominator

-Nominate 11 other bloggers who have less than 200 followers and link them

-Notify all the bloggers you nominate

-Create 11 new questions for your nominees to answer:

 

my answers:

-What does your last text say?

go forth and drive

 

-What's your dream pet? (Animal doesn't have to be domesticated)

newfoundland dog/bear/wolf/corgi hybrid. I had to put the corgi because;

1. the Queen owns them so they are radder than rad

2. it would bring the risk level down a bit

 

-What's the most played song on your ipod/iPhone?

Bang Bang Bang by Mark Ronson or Ridin by A$AP Rocky and Lana Del Rey

 

-How's your week been?

at the weekend i managed to take outfit pictures without anyone noticing which made me feel like a spy, i ate the mother of all cinnamon buns on sunday which nearly made me cry with happiness and today i braved the outside in sweatpants which was strangely liberating. pretty rad all in all.

 

-If you had a time machine, where would go?

Berlin, 9th November 1989.

 

-Describe one of your most embarrassing childhood memories

running down a slope on the last day of primary school, faceplanting into the grass, skirt blown up by convenient gust of wind, revealing my stripy underwear to fellow pupils, teachers and parents.

 

-Tell me about a food/meal that you 'd never get tired of and could eat everyday

cinnamon buns, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, pitta bread. i also have an unwavering passion for breakfast.

 

-Choose three of your FAVORITE celebrities (actors, musicians, etc.) Now choose, fuck, marry, and kill for each of them and why

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (fuck, although i totally respect him for Hit Record and other non-fuck related things)

Lorde (marry, i think lorde would be the most stylish, bad ass and calming spouse simultaneously?)

Leonardo Dicaprio (kill, he has died in most of his films anyway?)

 

-I just served you with the best yo mamma joke of all TIME. What's your response?

#leoloveforever

 

-What is/are your ultimate goal(s) for the future?

1. Become best friends with Lorde

2. Live in a loft flat in a city

3. Decorate that flat to the ultimate tumblr standard

4. smoke whilst writing revolutionary articles and listening to jazz (in my tumblr-standard, loft flat, of course)

 

-Describe your aesthetic/style

it changes pretty much every 40 seconds but once one of my friends dubbed my style as "that 70s show cross with French Riviera"

I nominate

Vogue Escapade

Nurinek

Perpetual Perplexities

CULT KID

intergalactic glitter monster

mood rings and mood swings

Elevator Brain

M E L K E B A R N

okay thanks maria

Mad Cats

My questions:

-how has your day been?

-if you were a superhero what power would you have? ('the power to have any power' is strictly PROHIBITED)

-what was the last song you listened to?

-which actress/actor would you choose to play you in a biopic of your life?

-where would you go on a road trip?

-favourite film based on colour scheme?

-what would be your ultimate breakfast?

-which fictional bunch of friends would you like to be a part of?

-if you could stop one world issue what would it be?

-which celebrities do you share your birthday with?

-where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Have fun fellow bloggers, i feel so privileged to be part of such a rad community.

 

xxx

this is england

 

 

 

This outfit is incredibly lazy so before I go any further, I apologise for this new year idleness. I cannot deny that I do feel cool wearing it though, and not self-conscious, for once. Rather than label it an 'idle' outfit I would prefer to say that it is a good blend of practicality and individuality. It keeps me mega warm (I admit that I am primarily wearing three jumpers) and comfortable (I am an ambassador for comfortable) but despite this I like to think I am also keepin it fresh ?

 

jeans - eBay

black turtleneck - m and s (it's a turtleneck, WHO CARES)

tank top - vintage (specifically uncle sam's in Bristol)

Cardigan - ask my mum

Chelsea boots - ASOS

A while ago topshop had a trend/lookbook thing called 'This is England' consisting of mainly oversized jackets, gingham/checked items and fab 80s-inspired garments all based in what I assumed was a lauderette (?). This outfit was reminiscent of it in a way; the tartan lining of the jeans (how exciting), the huge wooly tank top and cardigan, but unfortunately no launderette.

   

 

I don't really like the concept of new year, the future is a stranger, compared to the comforting nostalgia of the past and I feel like every year is one step closer to the unknown. sorry to be so ominous, I hope you had a happy new year anyway.

 

(waves goodbye)

suzie

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