K-POP

K-Pop is not to be confused with the freakish sounds you hear in your head when you're in a K-hole. 

K-Pop is the super sweet, headache-inducing sound obsessed over by the youth of Korea.

Much the same as sugar, or Ketamine, K-Pop is very moreish and makes you feel sick in large quantities.

It's probably better for you though.

Too Cool For School

I bought some Hot Girl Lip Sticker from my favourite Korean make-up brand Too Cool For School, both in homage to the above video and because I couldn't resist the packaging.  

The blurred writing on the box is what mostly sold me the lipstick.  It could be a mantra for living:

Sometimes life can be boring, but you cannot!

You are not boring

You are too cool for school.

The packaging above is one of the more simplistic designs of the brand.  The most visually alluring products are decorated with illustrations by artist Anke Weckmann.

My make-up routine generally amounts to a smidgen of Touche Eclat and a swipe of mascara, but I'm tempted to go shopping and fill a basket full of these eye-catching products, just to have them sitting prettily in my apartment.  I suppose I could at least replace my blacker-than-black mascara for one in a softer brown from the collection. I've been complimented on my 'long eyelash-hairs' four times in the week so am starting to feel like I don't really need it as much as I thought!

(Images 2, 3 and 4: Trend Hunter)

Online

As if it's not enough that Topshop delivers here now, my top-notch internet browsing skills have led me to this Korean website, Style Nanda, which has 'good price' for fast-fashion.

The best thing about the website isn't the clothes, the prices, or the way that the models look like they're the faces of Asia's hippest style blog.  What I like is that they seem to be trying to brainwash me into buying their clothes with random English slogans that don't seem to make any sense.

I think it might be working.

This Is It

I tweeted about this video not so long ago and now a behind-the-scenes video has been made about the making of the video.  I love that kind of convoluted stuff.  Check them both out; they include arty warehouses, trippy music, humans wearing cardboard and lifesize mousetraps.

If that doesn't sell them to you then nothing will.

ÅLAND

My new favourite shop in Korea is a superior version of Urban Outfitters.  It has a vintage market on the top floor, where the wares are super cheap considering all the clothes are grouped by colour, style and decade.  I could only take a few snaps as photography is banned instore but I think you can kind of see from the pictures that the vibe of the place is very much that of a hip grandmother's attic.

Elin

I've mentioned Elin Kling before because she was the first blogger to ever collaborate on a large design project, for H&M.  It's only recently that I've became vaguely obsessed with her though, in that way that you do when someone has the hair colour, wardrobe and life of your dreams.

My shopping list for summer has just increased tenfold.  I need a sheer peasant blouse, a jaunty black hat, tortoiseshell cat eye glasses, multipurpose skinny jeans, a cut-out dress, a perfectly-fitted boyfriend blazer and much much more.

I also very much need to practice my posing, a la Elin.

(Images: Elin Kling)

Habits

Although most girls would give up food before giving up their Topshop addiction, I was kind of pleased that I'd be finally kicking the latter habit by moving out of Britain.  I find that the price of Topshop clothing has dramatically increased in the last few years, while the quality has decreased.  I don't think one item I bought in the months before I went away lasted more than a couple of weeks without quickly eroding, seemingly gaining scars in the form of bobbles, holes and skags in the battles of day-to-day wear.

No one does fast fashion quite like Topshop though.  I find myself browsing the site right now since I went to an electro festival on Friday night and bore witness to thousands of Korean girls imitating the Western festival uniform of floral dress, wellies and a straw hat.  It made me feel nostalgic for summer at home and for the ubiquitous sunshine season's look that Topshop does so well, year after year.

Surprisingly, many items seem more affordable than usual and, oh dear, I see they've started delivering to South Korea.  The catch?  You have to spend over an-easy-to-reach target of £75.
This outfit has found its way into my virtual shopping bag.

The perfect summer designs, just like the ones I bought last year.  And the year before that and the year before that....
I guess some habits die hard, for both high-street clothing giants and materialistic 22 year old girls.