Hot Tip: Peace

Birmingham boys Peace are causing quite a stir in the blogosphere with their debut EP Delicious. Expect an album later this year and listen to this

Who's doing mint pleats and patent nudes on the bus?!

I don't know but the 200 hasn't seen a hot trend in ages. Bravo #stalker

50 Shades

I'm a sucker for grey

Venue Alert: The Soda Factory

Making up for my proverbial dropping of the Alt-J ball I'm hitting you with this one ahead of time (cheer cheer). The Soda Factory is opening in Surry Hills on the 23rd of February - a cocktail bar serving up old school drinks and gourmet hotdogs (in line with the current Americana trend).

The drinks menu contains a Vodka Raspberry Float (yum) and a Kosher hot dog called 'The Barbara Streisand' which in itself is fabulous enough to warrant a visit. DJ Spinna (NYC) will be heading up the launch party and Grandmaster Flash making an appearance on Friday 22nd March. One to watch! Venue review forthcoming.

Things You Need to Know About: Alt-J

If your first knowledge of tomorrow's Alt-J performance at the Metro was the full page ad in your lightly pissed-on copy of Drum Magazine this morning you're about as on the pulse as me. And seeing as tickets were sold out BEFORE the 9:00am release time (sign up with Frontier Touring to pre-order in future) this will not be a review of the gig, rather a list of things you should know and casually drop about the band whenever possible.

1. Alt-J are hot right now. 
2. They are from the UK
3. When you hit Alt-J on a Mac you get a triangle symbol - that's how the band got their name
4. Their debut album is called 'An Awesome Wave' - it's their only album at this point (May 2012)
5. The guitarist is called Gwil
6. 3/4 of the 4 piece band were fine arts students at Leeds University
7. Joe Newman's (guitar/vox) voice is captivating, the songs are clever in both lyrics and composition.

An Awesome Wave will dump you into deep waters of emotion - well worth a listen. 'Matilda' is a stand out track. If you missed them at Laneway and don't have a ticket for tomorrow's Metro show you're out of luck for the time being - more time to study lyrics for their next visit.

Buying Ugly Things Because They're Trendy

This Kenzo jumper is no shite the ugliest thing I've ever seen in the most unflattering colour. Why do I still feel like I need to own it... I don't know what's going on with the above but my opinion is get a new stylist

Have you bought something grotesque because it was cool?

How to Fake Tan

I'm writing this because people are still getting it wrong.

• Purchase some disposable gloves - I usually buy a box of 100 at *your local supermarket*. 
• Tan AT NIGHT - before bed. Your tan will be even and darker than if you tan before getting dressed/working all day etc.
• Select your fake tan carefully. St Tropez is always your best bet but it is expensive. IMO the next best tan you can get is Le Tan Deep Bronze Gradual Tan.

Now here's the gimmick:

The secret to fake tan is to rub it in as though you're trying to get it to absorb int the body (which you are). You will know when this has happened as your hands will change from running over your skin easily and quickly (as though running on liquid) to slower, tackier movement (as the tan absorbs). You need to  do this until every part of your skin has the same feel to it. You will have a perfect tan.

Tanning is best done in sections - don't start on another section until you've achieved the above with your current. I tan like this:

1. Legs from toes to mid thigh (and when i say toes I mean whole food, properly, down the sides and back... streaky feet are a dead giveaway)
2. Top thigh and butt
3. Under boobs to top of thigh and mid back
4. Top of back (practise yoga - it helps!)
5. Chest and neck
6. Arms, shoulders and underarms (to wrists)

Then you go clean your teeth/eat midnight snack/whatever else you do involving your hands and face before bed. BE CAREFUL when brushing your teeth not to let water drip down your arms!

• Before bed, use your gloves to apply tan to your face, then use the backs of your hands to apply tan on each other (including the space between the fingers and thumb)\
• Sleep
• Wake up tropical