COOL GIRLS USE IPHONES…

…tough luck for the rest of y’alls.

That’s what I’m finding out at the moment. I knew I was a social pariah by clinging on to my Blackberry Bold amongst a sea of iPhones and seductively sleek Android powered creations. Ok it wasn’t hip but it did what was required of it. My thoughts are normally firmly placed on my footwear not on my phone. Alas a tale of woe befell the poor Blackberry when it fell victim to not one but two pints of Guinness being unceremoniously spilt over it. R.I.P – cause of death – alcohol poisoning.

With the exception of my mobile, I’m an Apple devotee – MacBook Pro, iPad, iPods galore so I thought going for the iPhone 5 would just be overkill, there is devotion and then there is enslavement so I plumped for the Samsung Galaxy SIII. Coming from a Blackberry I can’t fault it, but I’m not here to give a phone review.

Ah no, my issue is when I came to look for a case and found reams of wonderful, fun and inspiring cases for the iPhone by a whole range of different designers for the iPhone compared to barely any for the SIII. Guess most fashionable girls don’t eat Ice Cream Sandwiches or Jelly Beans Dairy issue nix the former for me but yum yum yum to the latter.

But even though they aren’t any good to me, here is my pick of the best iPhone cases:

Moschino dress via shopbop.com - How adorable is this?

Lanvin case via net-a-porter.com - I love that the guy in glasses is like a mini Alber Elbaz!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Katie Bunny case via Shopbop.com - Just cute. I’m 23 I should get over it. I’m not.

Kate Spade Crossword Puzzle via Nordstrom.com -Life is puzzling, solve it on the back of your phone.

Weston Tree Mesh case - I would adore one of Weston’s digital print scarves but a phone case would be a much cheaper alternative.

And about the only fun one for the SIII I could find:

Ted Baker via proporta.com

SOMETIMES YOU DO GET WHAT YOU WANT…

After well over a year of fashion stalking and near misses, I finally got my hands on a pair of the ‘you either love them or hate them’ Isabel Marant Sneakers. Part of me would have loved to have nabbed a more jazzy colour, the red or royal blue, but as my winter wardrobe is 50 shades of grey (please don’t take that to mean that I in any way like the book, it’s appalling stuff) and now my mood is too (prophetic, huh?) I plumped for the ashen shade, rejecting getting caught up in post Olympic fever (they had the flashy gold in my size too.)

I put them on for the first time today, I was in need of a spring in my step, even if it was artificial. Bouncing along the seafront in the sunshine on my way home I could almost feel positive. I told someone on Saturday night that shoes are absolutely my favourite things. It was a somewhat tipsy, flippant comment; but even if some of them pinch and blister, they are always there, I always bought them in a moment of love.

Anywhere here are some photo’s of my BBs:

Now to find a new fashion target… The material realm. Achievable.

MIXEDUP M O N D A Y 2

“I wrote the book on it, don’t test me…”

Actually do, because it’s one test that I could pass with flying colours.

I don’t want to turn this blog into an out pouring of my feelings, it was never intended to be that. I have neglected it almost since it’s inception. Now things aren’t at there most positive, I am going to return to documenting my passions and I hope that I will continue to do so even when things look up and I become distracted again as I am realistic enough to know will happen…

This song is a bit of a cop-out remix wise, but it is one I adore, can relate to and if I have ever been entitled to do a bit of rule bending, now is the time…

HELSINKI – RADIO ROCK CRUISE

This being my 8th visit to Helsinki in less than 3 years, and the weather being dreadfully grim the majority of the time (could it really be May?!) the photos took a back seat. When I’m next up there at the end of June for the Tuska Festival, hopefully surrounded by a more pleasing climate, I’ll try and head over to the cathedrals and Suomenlinna and get some interesting shots.

The main reason for my visit on this occasion was the Radio Rock Cruise, which took place on the Tallink ship, Baltic Princess between Helsinki + Tallinn. We had done the rather more grandiose 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise from Miami to Grand Cayman (+ back again) earlier in the year, but this was a different kettle of fish in many ways…

I had heard tales of Finns on their booze cruises to Tallinn but it was another thing seeing it in action. Arriving to the port terminal and seeing people dragging along palettes of alcohol, my friend supposed that it was to stock a small shop. She changed her mind upon entering the boat, where people immediately queued for the duty free. Honestly it wasn’t hard to see why, when in a bar in Helsinki you can easily pay €6 for a cider and in there you could buy a box of 24 for €15! But if you can’t beat em, join em. So we got in the queue, stocked up on more alcoholic beverages than strictly necessary and retreated to the cabin to partake of them, gossip + get ready before Sonata Arctica played.

The show itself was excellent, we bounced, we sang along – I hadn’t seen them play since Romania last August and it was great to hear some new material even if it is a little disconcerting at first when you are so used to hearing a certain setlist for so many songs to be gone.

I’ll admit that I was so worn out and maybe a teeny bit hungover that in the morning I didn’t get off the ship in Tallinn, so that’s something I still need to get round to.

Looking forward to June already, I need to try and fit some more shopping in too. I am desperate to visit Helsinki10 as I have heard so much about it and maybe nip in a trip and buy another pair of Minna Parikka shoes…

WRAP ME UP IN YOUR CHARM

When it comes to jewellery, there is no doubt about it, I’m a bracelet girl. Of course I’m oft seduced by the other members of the bijoux family but it’s the arm wear which really has my heart. Heading out of Galeries Lafayette last week after a long day of hitting Les Grands Magasins I spied this saffron cotton wrist wrapper by Marie Depaire; with it’s delicate stars, baubles and dinky coin, it’s a different way of wearing a charm bracelet and a great layering piece for summer and autumn.

Now I’m off to eye up the doudou bracelet in the other colour ways, perhaps the saffron + white together would look tres jolie?

DANS PARIS: OUTSIDE THE INTERCONTINENTAL

Looking at these, the first thing I’ve got to say is that my hair is in tragic need of a brush and a cut. The former happened not long after and the latter will occur this afternoon.

I wore this outfit on my last day in Paris/to travel home. It was my first time trying out the skirt in the wilderness and it wasn’t a disappointment, it’s lightweight despite being lined and swings and swooshes delightfully, not to mention that I’m no small sucker for anything in burgundy. It has brace straps but it seems that my torso is just too short to keep them up but I don’t think that it matters. The Aussie labels are really on their A game, I’ll definitely be purchasing more from Cameo in the future.

Hat – New York Hat Co.
Blouse – Comme Des Garcons
Skirt – Cameo
Shoes – Salvatore Ferragamo
Coat – Alice by Temperley
Bag – Anya Hindmarch

METAL M O N D A Y 1

A little over a year ago I was wandering around somewhere beyond lost in a small town called Kemi, in Finnish Lapland – coincidentally, (or not,) the hometown of a band called Sonata Arctica. We were en route from their DVD shoot the previous day, to their next gig a town over in Tornio. How you can get lost in a place which is essentially 10 streets is a mystery I’m not sure will ever be figured out. Alas it’s that hideous old stereotype: women and maps!

“I Have A Right” is the first single from Sonata Arctica’s upcoming LP – “Stones Grow Her Name” their follow up to ’09s ‘Last Amazing Grays’ an album which I first listened to whilst half frozen to death waiting outside Hartwall Areena whilst waiting to see Nightwish. It didn’t dampen my enthusiasm.

SONATA ARCTICA – I HAVE A RIGHT

I’m seeing them live at the weekend. Can’t wait!

PARIS MOMENTS…

Since early childhood I have been lucky enough to visit Paris on so many occasions that I have to confess I’ve lost track of how numerous they have been – yet it has been a pitifully long absence since November ’09 – my last trip, so when the opportunity came up to spend a few days there this week, I did hopscotch in my Chloe boots with delight.

Strolling past La Madaleine, along Rue Royale/Faubourg Sainte-Honore/Rivoli… through Le Jardin des Tuileries… Immersing myself in the wonderland of Galeries Lafayettes’ deliciously huge shoe department (more on purchases soon) …eyeballing macarons by Pierre Hermé et Ladurée which seem poised ready to tempt at every corner …indulging in fresh sea food + baguette poulet crudités.

A little atmosphere from my visit…

I didn’t do anything radical which I hadn’t experienced in Paris before but sometimes revisiting old favourites can be the best thing of all.

Next stop Helsinki.

+++ Coming right up : my Parisian purchases from Maje/Repetto/The Kooples…

JUST A N O T E

A. This is not a music blog. I just like a tune every now and then.

B. It could be a style blog. Just don’t expect cohesion or my hair/make-up to look perfect/bordering on acceptable ~~all~~ any of the time.

C. The blog is named after a misheard lyric in New Young Pony Club’s “The Get Go”

MIXEDUP M O N D A Y 1

Little Boots - Every Night I Say A Prayer [Tensnake Remix]

I remember the first time I came across Victoria Hesketh; back when I would spend hours flipping through Last.fm radio stations, trawling for new discoveries, I stumbled over the Metronomy mix of her then group, DeadDisco’s – The Treatment. Hands might not have been quite the commercial success that the label had hoped for, like the other Top 10 struggler who launched her first assault around the same era, Marina + The Diamonds her pop offering is so much more interesting than the perennial hit list lingerers.

Ladyhawke - Sunday Drive [Gigamesh Mix]

Dreamy and wistful, the Scissor Sisters’ mix is also a gem.

Dragonette - Let It Go (Laidback Luke Remix)

Probably most famous for their collabs with Martin Solveig now, though they shouldn’t be. Bouncy and as a LL mix it does what it says on the tin.

E T H E R E A L T Y P E