Secret Universe

If you're knocking around Berlin between now and the 25th September then pop the noggin into the Hamburger Bahnhof museum where an exhibition series entitled 'Secret Universe' is sure to blow you away. The whole raison d'être of the exhibition is to focus on artists who have so far remained largely neglected by the established art discourse. The term 'outsider ort' (Simpsons fans will know where I'm coming from) springs to mind here!

The first exhibition in this series is devoted to Horst Ademeit. This artist has devoted more than 20 years of his life to the photographic documentation of what he called "cold rays" and other invisible radiation that he thought harmed him and his environment. Polaroid upon polaroid documents Ademeit's daily rituals, mundane surroundings and everything and anything he lays his eyes on. What's most impressive is his diary entries so tiny, so neat, they have to be seen to be believed. Each border of his polaroid images are also covered in his minute handwriting; although written in German (my limits start and end with danke and gut morgan) the impact was nonetheless powerful. 

Living Up to the Buzz

Warpaint have been the hotly tipped band of 2011, and rightly so. The foursome from LA put on a rip-roaring gig last night in Tripod capturing the audience with their haunting vocals and catchy guitar riffs. For those who weren't lucky enough to see them in action here's a reminder I've why they're so great:

Lady Day: The Voice of a Legend

This 1955 audio recording of Billie Holiday provides an intimate earful into the world of one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. Showing the strains of years of drug abuse and heartbrake, Holiday's voice is clearly diminished but it's still nonetheless striking in its distinctiveness and tone.

In just four years after this was recorded, Holiday sadly passed away at the Metropolitan Hospital in New York (her hospital room under police guard after she was charged with drug possession).

Along with archival footage and photographs, this snippet captures beautifully the world of Lady Day.

Too Cool For School

Two of my favourite fashion icons: Alison Mosshart (from The Kills and The Deadweather fame) and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld (uber-muse and daughter of ex-French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld) at New York Fashion Week 2011. Both fashion-forerunners stick to certain style components which help make their look instantly recognisable.

For Miss Mosshart this includes: a leopard skin fur coat, a full, in-your-eyes fringe, well-worn gig boots (preferably in gold), shirts in all designs, vintage t-shirts, skinny black jeans, a Bo-Diddley inspired guitar and a cigarette.

To nail Miss Restoin-Roitfeld look, the essentials include: various LBDs, opaque tights, a black blazer, wet-look leggings, luminous skin (Miss Restoin-Roitfeld claims she doesn't wear foundation but swears by rigorous moisturising and YSL's Touche Eclat), free-flowing hair, black eye-liner and some serious heels.

Alison Mosshart and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld at New York Fashion Week.

Heroes of the Stage

Here's James Brown, Michael Jackson AND Prince together on stage back in 1983. Cool as milk!

Nuts About Argan Oil

Argan Oil is having a moment. From haircare to skincare it's the new super-ingredient everyone is talking about. Made from nuts from the argan tree, this oil is incredibly rich in Vitamin E and is said to have amazing restorative and healing properties. It's also a mega-multitasker which can be used to:

• Alleviate dry, flaky patches
• Reduce the appearance of pesky fine lines
• Treat split ends and rough cuticles 

Nivea have cottoned on to the super-ness that is Argan Oil and have included it in their new Pure & Natural range. Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Argan Skin Salve contains fair trade Argan Oil and will help tackle any minor skin imperfection. Also hopping on the Argan Oil bandwagon is haircare supremo Lee Stafford. His ArganOil NourisHing Miracle OiL promises to leave your hair healthy, shiny and in tip-top condition. 

I first became hooked on Argan Oil in the States. I bought Josie Maran's 100% Organic Argan Oil in beauty heaven Sephora and haven't looked back since. I use it on every dry patch, split end and rough cuticle I can find! I slather it on my face when it's feeling extra parched and always use it on my elbows to keep them soft. Unfortunately it's not available here but you can get it online pretty easily. There's a host of sites that sell Argan Oil but just make sure it's 100%, organic and, if possible, sustainable.

Sweet Home Alabama

You gotta love Alabama Whitman (played by Patricia Arquette) in the film True Romance, who else could pull off trailer-trash chic with such pizazz? The key to her look is kitsch accessories, bold colours, garish animal print, killer cowboy boots, Farrah Fawcett style flicks, and plenty of flesh-flashing. Don't forget the obligatory sunnies, red lippie and if you have a pink cadillac knocking around all the better!

Cow-print, neon turquoise and red nails actually working! Who'da thunk it?

Lady in red, red, red



Peasant chic with an 80's vibe...interesting