Chrysta Bell 'Real Love'

What with all the Lana Del Rey hype that has been all over the internet in recent times, I found myself looking for other female solo artists that have a classical blues vibe to them, and as a result i've fallen slightly in love with the haunting Chrysta Bell, whom I found via David Lynch, and twitter. Enjoy this surreal mix of electronic soundscapes and dark vocals reminiscent of a modern Billie Holiday.

Film: Silent Things

Silent Things is a wonderful short film from 2011 by indie film makers White Lantern Films. I discovered it just this evening after searching for past performances by Andrew Scott, who recently captivated me with his mesmerising turn as Moriarty in BBC's huge Sherlock series. This 12-minute piece is an extraordinarily simple yet moving take on the complexity of relationships; the film is driven by the performances of Andrew Scott and Antonia Campbell-Hughes as two friends living with Aspergers Syndrome, and whose lives are momentarily unbalanced by the appearance of Georgia Groomes as a student travelling to France. A greatly underrated film, and well worth 12 minutes of your time: Watch it here on youtube

Menswear Fall 2012 - The Highlights.

Alexander McQueen

Dolce & Gabbana

Etro

Emporio Armani

Jil Sander

Jonathan Saunders

Moschino

Prada

Valentino

Versace

Vivienne Westwood

All images from style

Style Icons: Hey, Mr Tambourine Man

It is no secret that I have, over the years, developed an unwavering obsession love for Bob Dylan. He is a creative chameleon, having constantly expanded his identity over the decades , to the extent where nobody really knows the real man. Well, there's the basics, born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24th 1941, he turned 70 last year and is still writing music and touring all over the place. I also see him as something as a style icon. He arrived in New York with seemingly perfect timing in 1961, ingratiating himself with the famous and fashionable "Beat" community of Greenwich Village, known in the 60's as the bohemian heart of the USA.

The style that arose from this communicative, iconic haven of artists, poets and musicians, is a constantly refreshing and seemingly classic look. Part casual androgyny, part Parisian chic, and it is a style that keeps popping up again every year. Anyway, here are some of my favourite Dylan images. This is partly to try and inspire myself, next time I go clothes shopping, as I have been sticking that boring combination of black mini skirt and variations of a jumper. Time to try something new (or old, as the case may be).

This post wouldn't be complete if I neglected to mention one of my favourite films, I'm Not There, the 2007 biopic of the legendary musician, which won Cate Blanchett a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Dylan in his most infamous drug-fuelled era in the mid-60's. A definite must-see for anyone with an interest in Dylan.

Castaway on the Moon

While it's true my blog isn't completely finished -I'm making do with some preset background art until I get a usb cable for my camera/my own laptop back, I want to start making posts anyway. I think i've at least settled on a url and a title, although I do tend to change my mind a lot.

Anyway, I have a lot of new years resolutions, and one of them is to watch more films, especially foreign, indie, art-house films. Last year whenever I saw a film suggestion I noted it down somewhere, intending to but failing to watch. As a result I have tons of lists lying around of films to watch, books to read, and so on. I'm trying to get through these lists, and started with a film recommended to me on tumblr - the 2009 Korean film, Castaway on the Moon.

Castaway on the Moon is a film from director Hae-Jun Lee, and tells the story of a failed business man who tries to commit suicide, but ends up on a deserted island on the city river. Although fairly close to city bridges and high-rises, he chooses to stay on the island, living a simple life away from the society that has failed him.

He soon finds he is not completely alone - watching him through her telescopic camera, from the bedroom she hasn't left in 8 years, is a shy reclusive girl who has also chosen to reject society. What follows is a sweet, surreal love story, of two misfits somehow finding each other and a society they can believe in.

It is as bizarre and charming as you would expect from Korea, a country which is quickly becoming extremely popular amongst film fans. The film itself reminds me slightly of another Korean love story that starts with suicide - The Chan-Wook Park cult classic, I'm a Cyborg But That's OK.


I would just say to watch this film, it's perfect if you're feeling a little blue and need some sugar in your life.