festival collection

Proving that the best style inspiration comes from the streets (or in this case the field) H&M recently launched the Festival Collection - a co-ed collection inspired by the creative outfits frolicking around super hot summer music festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella. Think flowing bohemian blouses, tribal gladiator sandals, chunky beaded bracelets and plenty of light washed denim. Affordable essentials for any outdoor music lover. The Swedish uber brand is even going so far as to offer leopard print pop-up tents and paisley sleeping bags to accompany the on-trend festival apparel.

This summer collection marks H&M's third Fashion Against Aids campaign with 25% of the sales donated to HIV/AIDS awareness projects. Which means you don't have to feel too guilty about blowing a portion of your paycheck on these trendy but not-so-timeless pieces. Happy shopping!

the f word

It isn't a ground-breaking observation, but hot damn, Beyoncé is FIERCE.

I'm just trying to find the woman in me, yeah

********
Chocolate bars and wine corks, that's our home...
The definition of 'I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman'.

- My boyfriend, on the current state of our apartment

dancing on my own

Remember Robyn? I certainly do...i'm pretty sure Show me love was on heavy rotation on my disc-man for the better part of 1997. And just as sure as denim on denim and bicycle shorts are returning to your summer wardrobe this Swedish pop sensation is making a comeback. If the rest of her album is anything like this Royksopp collabo and this soon to be summer dancefloor/H&M fitting room fave then I'm pretty excited about it.

Coachella

If wearing peasant dresses with cowboy boots while drinking beer out of plastic cups isn't a good enough reason to wish you were at Coachella this weekend - there was also some seriously good music. Every year I read the lineup and wish that I could coerce someone into flying to California for a three day camping trip. I will make it there one year. Until then, I'll spend the day recreating the festival feeling in my backyard with a DIY Coachella playlist on itunes.

la roux - cover my eyes
vampire weekend - white sky
florence & the machine - rabbit heart (raise it Up)
imogen heap - clear the area
hot chip - over and over
she & him - why do you let me stay here
pheonix - fences
lcd soundsystem - daft punk is playing at my house
the xx - islands
mgmt - time to pretend

my baby just cares for me

Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me

Best love song.

charlotte

'It's dead sexy, reborn.'
Pitchfork on 'IRM'

I've been listening to Charlotte Gainsbourg's new, Beck-produced, album 'IRM' on repeat lately. And I like it. A lot. I also really do like Charlotte herself. I loved her in the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There. I love this spread from Flaunt Magazine, which describes her as "France's favourite daughter." And her style. Oh, her style. I love the whole simple/androgynous/classic style very much, and here are some things that Charlotte likes - swoooon:

(Vogue Paris scans from here)

someone told me

Quelqu'un m'a dit - Carla Bruni

xxx

You, you still have all the answers
and you, you still have them too
and we, we live half in the day time
and we, we live half at night

Watch things on VCRs, with me and talk about big love
I think we're superstars, you say you think we are the best thing

But you, you just know, you just do
-The xx, VCR

I just can't get enough.

try a little tenderness

A Friday night viewing of Pretty in Pink reminded me how much I love Duckie Dale, Otis Redding, and how badly I want that army green Korea jacket Molly sports throughout the film.

choir practice

This makes me endlessly happy (and so does this).

hello

St. Vincent - Just the same but brand new

Happy New Year!

watch the sunrise

I love Volcano Choir's "Island IS" (thanks Hype Machine!) and the video is really beautiful - a series of coloured squares are projected on a wall, corresponding to the song. The white represent Justin Vernon's (of Bon Iver's) voice, while the other colours reflect certain instruments. The best (and most subtle) part? The whole video is shot during sunrise, so as it gets lighter out you become more aware of the surroundings and the squares slowly disappear.

dial it in

I know you're probably obsessing about that other song but Dragonette's own telephone tune is pretty fun for a solo dance party and the video is super dreamy.

take care

I love this song. So much.

sunday girl

I know a girl from a lonely street
Cold as ice cream but still as sweet
Dry your eyes Sunday girl
Hey, I saw your guy with a different girl
Looks like he's in another world
Run and hide Sunday girl

Hurry up, hurry up and wait
I stay awake all week and still I wait
I got the blues, please come see
What your loving means to me

She can't catch up with the working crowd
The weekend mood and she's feeling proud
Live in dreams Sunday girl

Baby, I would like to go out tonight
If I go with you my folks'll get uptight
Stay at home Sunday girl

- Blondie, Sunday Girl

it's magic

I was feeling a bit gloomy when I woke up this morning - but this song (and pumpkin spice candles) always makes me feel better.

i love you la roux

If you like this...you'll like this too.

Is it the weekend yet? Because I really wanna dance. My girl crush on front girl (aka: Eleanor Jackson) of British electro-pop duo La Roux has been insane these past few months - I mean just look at that hair! Plus she kind of looks like the love child of Molly Ringwald and Rupert Grint, which makes me love her even more. Guess I have a thing for red heads.

florence + the machine

I haven't been listening to much in the way of music lately (I'm a bit obsessed with audio books), but I can't get enough of Florence + the Machine.

She sounds a bit like Kate Bush, she's got some fabulous red hair, and she covers one of my favourite Sex and The City anthems, You've Got the Love. I've been listening to it pretty much nonstop for the past month. Now she's gone and done it again with another one of my favourites, Beirut's Postcards from Italy.

Here are both:

Isn't she lovely?

it's the re-mix

It's here! The new Phoenix Remixes album is up and a-streaming - get ready to dance.