Tune Tape Tuesdays #40

Tune Tape Tuesdays returns in 2014 with some cracking tracks to get you through those January blues. What with Christmas, New Year and the wet weather that forces you to pay for the bus to work, I'm betting most of you are feeling pretty skint. Well you're in luck, because most of the following tracks are available for free download (or all of them, if you know a trick or two). As I'm tired, overworked and underpaid, I'm going to make my part here as short and sweet as possible so you can skip on to the important part - aka the music.

Top Picks this Week are as follows:

1. Gold - James Vincent McMorrow. JVM is back and better than ever. Following his initial new release, Cavalier, Gold sees him return to what he does best - a beautiful track with chilling vocals and a riff from the horn section that will have you spinning in the pouring rain like a scene from a particularly clichéd romantic comedy. Don't fight it.

2. Real - Years & Years. This new band have hit it out of the park with their second single, Real. One for those of you whose dinner parties frequently turn into all of you dancing around the living room, this track will transform your evening from sophisticated to spirited in one swift step. 

3. I Got U - Duke Dumont feat. Jax Jones. Now normally I stay fairly clear of any track that features text abbreviation in its title as they more often than not turn out to be a cringe-worthy House-Pop track blaring out of a sticky-floored club at 2 in the morning. But the steel drums and summer-vibe make this track are just about cool enough to make up for it. I predict a future Soundtrack to Summer favourite.




LBeLB is back, baby - C U Next Tuesday (literally).

Love,
Belle x

Wish List Mondays #43 - Think Pink

There exists a kind of 'friend' present on everybody's Facebook; you met them once or twice at a party about 8 years ago, probably had quite a good night, and then never saw them again - apart from on your News Feed. Simply put, they are 'Somebodies That You Used To Know'. Over recent years, I've been pretty diligent about having regular clear-outs of these anomalies, but there are two boys I've never quite been able to trash. Their names are Luke and Jamie. I met them on a ski trip when I was 16. They were 15, and complete shits. But as I'm writing this, they're halfway across the Atlantic in a souped-up rowing boat, the two youngest men ever to attempt such a feat. And they're doing it in the name of Breast Cancer Care. 

Now I have to admit, I've never been one to pay much attention to friends' and acquaintances' virtual charity muggings - demanding you to sponsor their morning walk for No-One-Gives-a-Shit Aid. But these two guys, who I never really knew, are an absolute inspiration. Not only have they raised over £160,000 for Breast Cancer Care, they've also given a new face to what has previously been a relatively mature, female-centric charity. At this point, they've been at sea nearly 7 weeks, updating their Facebook Page with honest and moving posts on their gruelling endeavour. If you can, please donate whatever you can afford to their Just Giving page. You can find out a bit more about the boys and their journey through their Website.

As a small act of appreciation for the way two teenage brats morphed into inspirational young men, I'm dedicating the first Wish List of 2014 to pink, the official colour of Breast Cancer Care. 

1. 'Sophie' Pink & White Stripe Dress by Jones and Jones, Topshop, £60. Buy it here.

2. Vesper Bead-Embellished Woven Silk Top by Tory Burch, Net-a-Porter, £340. Buy it here.

3. Light Pink Cropped Jumper, River Island, £30. Buy it here.

4. Double Jewel Earrings, ASOS, £10. Buy them here.

5. Pink Wool Boyfriend Coat, Miss Selfridge, £79. Buy it here.

6. Cotton-Blend Piqué Skinny Pants by Moschino Cheap and Chic, Net-a-Porter, £255. Buy them here.

7. Classic Southampton Ladies Watch, Daniel Wellington, £129. Buy it here.

8. Check Boucle Pelmet Skirt, Topshop, £40. Buy it here.

9. Knitted Crystal Stud Jumper, Topshop, £46. Buy it here.

10. 'On Top' Light Pink Courts, Office, £65. Buy them here.

11. Miss Dior Bag in Rose Poudre Lambskin, Dior, £POA. Buy it

through here.

12. Neon Pink Low Chuck Taylors by Converse, Kurt Geiger, £35 (was £50). Buy them here.

13. Lilo Oversize Square Sunglasses, Topshop, £16. Buy them here.

Love,

Belle x