Tune Tape Tuesdays #7

As my last two posts have been Christmas-themed, you might be mistaken for supposing that this Tune Tape would supply you with some jingles to deck the halls to. Sorry folks, but I don't do Christmas Music. There's enough being blasted from the speakers of every department store/Christmas Market in the land - you don't need any more from me. However, because I'm a people pleaser, I'm giving you my favourite Christmas album: Music from the OC Mix 3. Just click here (you're welcome). 

Ok, back to business. This week you lucky folks are getting a Tune Tape of seventeen kick-ass songs! They're arranged so you can work up from chilled to head-banging in one musical swoop. First up this week is Josh Heinrich's cover of Adele's Set Fire to the Rain. You might recall a few Tune Tapes back (hello) was a compilation of my favourite covers - well this one has got to be added. It gives the song an entirely new lease of life, and makes you better appreciate the original plus the work that Josh has put in to make it speak for itself. Yellow Red Sparks's Monsters With Misdemeanours is also worth a mention for its multi-dimentional and layered sounds, as well as the great chorus lyric "I'm just sick of the monsters that we chase every day". If this is what Indie music has evolved into, then I'm very glad. Another cover comes in the way of Cyril Hahn's Touch My Body, the Mariah Carey song that you might recall c.2005. Thankfully, the song sounds nothing like the cheese-stuffed original, and is actually pretty damn sexy. Chromatics's new single Cherry features this week - a mature departure from their first major single (Kill for Love). It's deeper, darker and generally more well-rounded and enjoyable, even though the lyrics are far from uplifting. I first got introduced to Clean Bandit back in January with their tune Mozart's House. Their new song, A&E, is along the same format - mixing classical samples with rap and electric beats. Sounds strange, and it is, but it works; you'll never have such a fun time with classical music. Funky House comes curtesy of the two Bit Funk remixes, which I have been found guilty sauntering down the street to. These songs turn any sidewalk into a catwalk, so make sure to work it baby. Liquid Drum&Bass is covered by remixes of Blu Mar Ten vs Erykah Badu's You Got Me, and Reflekt's Trance anthem Need to Feel Loved, both of which will chill you the fuck out while you battle the army of Christmas shoppers. With Dubstep becoming so commercial, it's getting harder to find stuff that's new and original, but I'm pretty sure I found some gems with Urban Contact's Aurora and Elliot Berger's Hanging On. Rather than being Skrillex-esque filth, they're more classy and restrained, and are as much a pleasure to listen to through your headphones as on huge speakers. Finally, we have Diplo & Grandtheft's Trap remix of Florence & The Machine and Calvin Harris's Sweet Nothing. Diplo manages to turn everything he touches to audible gold, and this track is no different. Never thought I'd be trap-stepping to Flo, but life is full of surprises. 

Time for me to shut up and for you to listen - enjoy!



Let me know what you're listening to this week!

Love,
Belle x

Wish List Mondays #7 - Christmas 2012

It's roughly three weeks til Christmas, so I thought now would be a good time to put up my Christmas Wish List - just in case there are any Secret Santas out there feeling a little generous... This year I've gone quite monochrome in my wishes; think Holly Golightly if she lived in London 2012. Joint Number One on my list are Mulberry's Bayswater in Black & Nickel, and a new camera - after much umming and ahing I've plumped for the Samsung NX100 (to take much more professional photos for LBELB, of course). It's also 1 month until my birthday, just if anyone's wondering/forgotten (Mum)...

1. Black & White Bone Zig Zag Photo Frame, Urban Outfitters, £20. I frame everything. Give it here.

2. 'Black Pearl' Eye Palette by Bobbi Brown, Selfridges, £42. Smokey Eye Heaven. Give it here.

3. Black Crystal Collar Dress, Topshop, £42. Because black is slimming, and Christmas is not. Give it here.

4. Black Suede High Heels with Printed Platform, Office, £75. To wear with No.3. Give it here.

5. Black & Nickel Bayswater Bag, Mulberry, £895. A classic big enough to carry all my shit. Give it here.

6. Samsung NX100 Interchangeable Lens Camera, Amazon, £240. Because I'm a happy snapper. Give it here.

7. Vanilla Birthday Cake All-in-one Shampoo, ShowerGel & Bubble Bath, Philosophy, £14. I like to get baked the legal way. Give it here.

8. Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka, Waitrose Direct, £14. Mix with coke. Give it here.

9. Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum, Waitrose Direct, £18. Mix with lemonade. Give it here.

10. Moët & Chandon Pink Champagne, Waitrose Direct, £40. Filthy Feminine Fizz. Give it here.

11. Jasmin Candle, Diptyque, £38. Smells like Sydney. Give it here.

12. Mini Cooper Hatch, new from £11,870. Well a girl can dream. Give it here.

What are you hoping for this Christmas?

Love,

Belle x

Xmas Gift Guide

Woo it's December! Which means there are only 24 shopping days left until Christmas. Feeling a little daunted? Never fear, Belle is here. To give you some help/inspiration, I've put together some Xmas Gift Guides - Mum, Dad, Boyfriend... it's all here, with handy links for you to order online. So with no more ado, here is my 2012 Xmas Gift Guide. Happy Holidays, y'all!

Mum

1. Mirrored Photo Frame, Laura Ashley, £21. Photo of yours truly optional, here.

2. 'Courtney' Satin Clutch, Anya Hindmarch, £395. Channel Versailles chic here.

3. Freshwater Pearl Necklace, John Lewis, £85. Every discernable lady needs a string of pearls, here.

4. Light Blue Cashmere and Silk Stole, Hermès, £610. Feeling blue never looked so good, here.

5. Tiffany Gemea Watch, Tiffany & Co, £1690. Be fashionably on-time, here.

6. Black Leather iPad Case by Smythson, Net-a-Porter, £325. Case closed, case reopened, here.

7. Black Patent Pumps, Salvetore Ferragamo, €330. Invest in a classic here.

8. New York D-Frame Metal and Acetate Sunglasses by Prism, Net-a-Porter, £260. Eyes are the window to the soul, so frame them fashionably here.

9. Laser-cut Leather Wallet by Alaïa, Net-a-Porter, £515. Monochrome madness here.

10. Babyliss Big Hair Rotating Styler, Amazon, £35. Get that blow-dried look every day, here.

Dad

1. James Bond Complete Collection, Amazon, £50. Keep him occupied this Christmas here.
2. Font Michelle Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Waitrose Direct, £25. Because wine-not (geddit), here.
3. Box of 3 Stag Hankerchiefs, Not On The Highstreet, £17. No-one likes a Mr Sniffles, here.
4. Silk Twill Tie, Hermès, £135. All tied up, here.
5. Wool-Blend V-Neck Sweater by Slowear, Mr Porter, £225. Festive and fashionable, here.
6. Rugby Stripe Socks, Crew Clothing Co., £8. Christmas might by Holy, but socks shouldn't be...here.
7. Round Chain Link Cufflinks, Hackett, £85. Link up here.
8. Plaited Leather Belt, Mulberry, £175. To let out after Christmas dinner, here.
9. Mole-Cognac Washbag, Mulberry, £175. Practical and smart, here.
10. Wooden Wine Rack, John Lewis, £100. To hold all that Christmas booze, here.

Boyfriend/Brother

1. 1001 Albums To Hear Before You Die, Urban Outfitters, £20. 'Make Love and Listen To The Music', here.

2. iPad Mini, Apple Store, from £270. For gadget geeks, here.

3. Breaking Bad Seasons 1-4, Amazon, £37. Get him hooked here.

4. Leather Wallet, Polo Ralph Lauren, £75. Spoil him with style, here.

5. Tickets To Muse, Ticketmaster, from £50 each. Because if he doesn't like Muse, he's probably gay, here.

6. Odeon Gift Cards, Odeon Theatres, from £5. Grab the back row here.

7. Platinum Egoïste Cologne by Chanel, The Perfume Shop, from £45. Your nose will thank you, here.

8. I'm A Twat Mug, Urban Outfitters, £9. An Honest Mug, here.

9. Customised High Tops, Adidas, £100. Personalised love, here.

10. Soundlink Air Digital Music System by Bose, Amazon, £270. Let the Bass Cannon kick it, here.

11. Wireless Headphones by Stark, Apple Store, £350. Look! No Wires! Here.

Best Friend/Sister

1. Chain Detail Patent Leather Ankle Boots by McQ Alexander McQueen, Net-a-Porter, £370. These boots were made for walking, here.

2. Vogue Subscription, Vogue Magazine, £20 for 10 Issues (plus Free Gift). Sign her up to the Fashion Bible, here.

3. Eye Palette in Prism, Topshop, £16. The eye is the limit, here.

4. Made in Chelsea Box Set, Amazon, £19. For the Sloane Ranger, here.

5. Chloe by Chloe, The Perfume Shop, from £39. Heaven scent, here.

6. Grey Skull Friendship Bracelet, Links of London, £135. Because friendship never dies, here.

7. Cat Ear Headband, Topshop, £9. Cat got the cream, here.

8. iPod Nano 16GB, Apple Store, £129. Music makes the world go round, here.

9. 'Colours' by Forrest Lucero Framed Art Print, Urban Outfitters, £35. I think of you in colours that don't exist, here.

10. Oliban Holiday Candle, Diptyque, £45. Smells like home, here.

11. Kate: The Kate Moss Book, Urban Outfitters, £50. Girl crush galore, here.

Girlfriend

1. Wallet in 'Cameo', Prada, £285. Make her blush, here.

2. Pink Gold 'Love' Bracelet, Cartier, £4,050. Say it like you mean it, here.

3. Sex and the City Box Set, Amazon, £25. For those 'off days', here.

4. Lace and Ribbon Lingerie Set, Topshop, £26. As much for your benefit as hers, here.

5. A Trip To Paris, Eurostar, from £170 for Two People (Hotel Included). Ah, l'amour, here.

6. 'Sex Bomb' Bath Bomb, Lush Cosmetics, £3 each. Dive in, here.

7. The One by Dolce & Gabbana, The Perfume Shop, from £38. 'She's The One', here.

8. 'Au Palace' Crystal Heel Satin Sandals by Christian Louboutin, Net-a-Porter, £1,095. Love the Louey-B's, here.

9. Pink Champagne Truffles by Charbonel & Walker, John Lewis, £10. Give her a mouth orgasm here.

10. Pink Leather Jewellery Box, Smythson, £845. Pinktastic, here.

(Unnumbered (doh)). Roses Candle, Diptyque, £38. Because roses really smell like...roses. Here.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Belle x