salute

i love this hair
via i love fake.

christmas eve

pause. in midtown holiday traffic.

oh noel

Here's a very (very, very) recent Christmas love song by Crocodiles and Dum Dum Girls- enjoy!



Crocodiles & Dum Dum Girls: Merry Christmas, Baby (Please Don't Die) [mp3]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I'm on my way to NYC and may have some downtime for posting and writing, but if not- treasure those around you at this time of year, especially this year, as I know it's been hard for many.

Love to all-

Dovè

farewell

my black balloon
via signe.

inviting white.

anna inghart via souvenirs.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros - "40 Day Dream"
EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS | MySpace Music Videos

I've never thought to listen to this band, but after seeing the video and the way they look like they're having a blast, I'm going to check them out.. stat.

Video discovery thanks to rare medium well

Elza Jo

Elza Jo, photographer and graphic designer from the Netherlands, combines photo and digital collage to create energetic, layered pieces. These are some of her girlier works; others experiment with faux gore, or examine her relationship with her cat. Dazed has an interview with her here.

Harlem- Friendly Ghost

In anticipation of their upcoming (April '10) sophomore album, Hippies, Austin's Harlem have web-released this jammy surf tune. They've pulled together a bit since their first album but still have that carefree sunny sound (more driven than Girls, less noise than Wavves) I loved from the start.

[EDIT: blogger removed the song. what a bummer.]

refinement

antiqued sewing machines and weathered hands carry a unique variety of resolved dignity.

via the selby.

versace

new blouse up in the shop, plus a few others!

ETSY

warpaint

this song is perfect right now:

warpaint: elephants [mp3]

whiteout

my brain,

scattered with specks of thought,

which combined may just make something useful

or meaningful;

i don't know how to connect the dots.

End of Year Lists

I can't decide whether I want to round up a list of my top songs/artists/albums from the year, let alone from the entire decade. It seems to be the thing to do right about now, but the sheer proliferation of rundowns and tallies overwhelm me more than anything. It seems like a competition between websites: the big guns must be duly addressed but obscure artists and albums have to be included as if to prove the writer's varied taste and knowledge. How boring. I might just write another "December on Repeat" and let it go at that. Any thoughts?

stories

arvida, a favorite blogger of mine from stockholm, has started a collaborative video story blog. she invites her commenters to submit character and plot ideas for her chapter-like installments. the talent and creativity behind this project is wonderful. enjoy her first two offerings above, and check out stories made by us soon for the third!

shine

up on the ETSY
shot by the talented alyssa robb

somber

such a great song.
the video makes me think of the lost weekend- sadness and resignation.

ankhur

ankur gupta, hindu surrealist storyteller via new delhi.
collection inspired by children, dreams, and interpretations.
the clothes are lush and rich: embroidered, embellished and detailed.
(images via dazed digital)

erin/katie

i can only think of family.

via knightcat

contrast

layered ruffle vs sleek wool
flowy hair vs sharp bun
textured sky vs clean blue

(pc modelinia, paul pj cheng)

MOWGLI

this b-side debut single from welsh songstress marina, of marina and the diamonds, is so bouncy- though the song was released in early 2009, she came up with this video later in the year, backing up her quirky approach to radio-friendly pop. enjoy.

want sun

too cold and grey already

so i listen to music that reminds me of summer:

the drums: let's go surfing [mp3]

shop

oh j you look so lovely, where did you get that outfit?

maybe here?

(updates on the etsy, each one better than the last)

photo credit alyssa robb.

brr

yes i am this cold.

purple

remember this? now just over two years ago.

i can hardly believe it.

big girls need big salads

thai curry tofu salad! yum.

theremin

this is so nuts. i just found out about this instrument a few days ago and have been thinking of buying one on ebay! just check out this how-to video for a taste of the possibilities.
(bonus: this dude. what a character)

galaxies

(by signe)

feel like i'm living in a dreamland

this song fits quite well.

tunes

get experimental

i've been reading about this girl for ages now, because she's been playing with dirty projectors, but never checked out her sound.

i like it.

it's clatter noise, out of control at times, but her voice pulls the whole thing together, and the driving ukulele adds a grounding element.

this one girl band has a lot to offer.

tune-yards: news. download here.

ok, another.

tune-yards: sunlight. download here.

chute

beautiful moments in connecticut

courtesy of ben bryant and alyssa robb

this woman may be crazy

but i love her.

for fans of

los campesinos!

and other shouty dance noise...

check out Totally Nebular.

download green tops here.

myspace here.

thanks to tavi

kids in couture are taking over! the first shot in rodarte is breathtaking.

photos by ryan mcginley for purple magazine.

thanks

wants:

soy nog, or cabin cider, by the fireplace

a feather in my hair:

(feather circus)

navajo/plaid buttoned all the way up, or this guy's diy blanket coat:

Tay from Stylelikeu.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.

but this isn't about what i want! this is about contentment and appreciation.

i'm thankful for my wonderful friends, especially those around me that have supported and encouraged me so much the last few months. the acceptance, love, and inspiration i receive from all of you is amazing.

i'm thankful for the members of my family, though far away, that keep me in their thoughts and are always willing to listen.

i'm thankful for constant reminders of beauty in this world, despite the negatives, and for new opportunities and projects that keep me mentally and creatively afloat.

i'm thankful for passion, for faith, for determination... humanity is surprisingly resilient.

i know this blog is supremely self indulgent and i doubt many read it, but i enjoy this collection of images and sounds, so thank you to my readers: i would do this only for myself but i appreciate the idea of an audience. please feel free to comment/respond in any way!

a happy thanksgiving to all. eat a tofurkey!

comfort

as i can barely get out of bed due to a toothache and the resulting headache, this combination of a feminine sweatshirt and sweatpants looks like the most amazing idea. she pairs it with a leather jacket and ankle boots, which plays up the chic possibilities and ensures that it doesn't look lazy. so lovely, no?

(to see more check out citizen couture)

the veil

dance party,

disco,

let it go...

fan death- veronica's veil [MP3]

xxxx

if you like the xx...

try out some xxxx

courtesy of YOU SAY PARTY! WE SAY DIE!

they've been around for years but are just now reaching my ears.

i love this song already.

you say party! we say die!- xxxx (within my heart) [MP3]

sleepyhead

i quite like it when ellie carries the melody- overall improvement though? not sure.

starsmith remix of passion pit's sleepyhead ft. ellie goulding. [MP3]

MADISON

LATEST SHOE OBSESSION
I SERIOUSLY WEAR THESE EVERY DAY.

obscurity

(pc lynn and horst, vogue nippon, bec parsons, bee hives)

ok, fine

i'll make an effort:

new find baby monster remixes pop electro songstress ellie goulding.

download here.

rah rah

i'm turning into such a lazy blogger. i can't even be bothered to capitalize.

music i like:

fenech-soler

baby monster

acid washed

monarchy

warning: they're all electro-ey dancey tunes. slightly obsessed.

foreground

memoryhouse covering grizzly bear's foreground. i really do love this song.

download here.

on repeat: november edition

familjen- det snurrar i min skalle [mp3]

old favorite rediscovered: twangy dirty beats and reverby xylophone.

kate bush- wuthering heights [mp3]

pre-shoegazey vocals slay me. watch video here.

solange- stillness is the move (dirty projectors cover) [mp3]

this girl's got the pipes to take on amber's r&b scats.

tigercity- fake gold [mp3]
newest little psych electro pop tune.

lady gaga- bad romance [mp3]
boring song structure and major autotune but it's JUST SO CATCHY.

beach house- norway [mp3]
more layered melancholia recalls their mountainous trip through oslo.

sigur ros- gobbledigook [mp3]
swirling tribal beats and rhythmic acoustic guitar carry this song through to its crescendo.

high places- i was born
lovely reverberating vocals with mysterious orchestral bassoon.

edit: imeem has taken all songs away from me so i'm putting them up for download.

i was born is strangely hard to track down, so i'm sharing the video instead. enjoy!

i like to ride my...

Hey Philly bike kids:
In case you've somehow missed the news, the city council is cracking down on unsafe riding habits, i.e. riding the wrong way on one way streets, riding on the sidewalk, riding without brakes, and wearing headphones. Check out the situation here and here.

WHAT? SO LUDICROUS.

Of all ways to increase revenue for the city, fining bicyclists $300 for wearing headphones while riding hardly seems fair.

It's going to be interesting to see how this no brake issue affects our loyal fixie fanatics...

Go to bikePHL for updates- they said yesterday that today police are going to be patrolling specifically for bike violations and will actually be writing fines. Good luck out there and ride safe.

DAUL

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL SOUL HAS LEFT THIS EARTH.

babyface

yes please.
pc i love fake.

optical illusion

See that tilting rack behind me?

It's not really falling over, I promise, but it is weighted down with the masses of clothes I've hunted down for the Etsy vintage shop. I've been working like crazy to get ready for a major photoshoot this week, so be prepared for many updates to come, complete with much better quality photos of both styled looks and detail shots. No more blur! I'm so psyched.

Check out the shop here to see what I have up already.

layka light rays

so autumn- so wonderful
via layka's flickr-
tons of great photos.