Urban Outfitters - Blog

06/17/13 02:20PM

Album Review: Alt-J

Alt-J's debut album was released just shy of a year ago, but that doesn't mean it's old news. The record, An Awesome Wave, is quite true to its name with its calming, glimmering sounds that flood your ears upon first listen. Plus, it's got some pretty shiny album artwork that will surely draw you right in! —Maddie

Packaging:
The album's cover art is my favorite part of the whole thing! Totally into the oil spill swirl situation. An Awesome Wave also has a nice double gate-fold packaging, with all of the song lyrics printed on the inside. The LP sleeve also has a pretty cool layered photo of the band, plus tracklisting on the opposite side.

Best song:
From end to end, this album is pretty good in my opinion, and Alt-J has a sound I don't think I've ever heard before. Throughout the record, An Awesome Wave carries a smooth and mellow tone. My favorite track that I thought best captured this feel is actually the last song on the album, "Taro." I really liked the interesting percussion on this song, and how the song gains layers as you listen.

What it's good for:
This album is a good one for poppin' into the turntable with your windows wide open while you daydream. An Awesome Wave has some super calming tendencies, so get ready to feel as zen as possible when you listen!

Shop Alt-J's An Awesome Wave

05/31/13 09:28AM

Resist by Beccy McCray

I'm obsessed with this project titled "Resist" by artist Beccy McCray. The art installation consists of a giant, bubblegum-pink cake situated in an inaccessible, gated space. So, you can only look at it from afar. Cruel! McCray used the cake to represent temptation and greed. I'm not going to lie and say I don't want a slice. —Hazel

05/17/13 10:21AM

Peace: "Lovesick"

Peace are made up of four guys from Birmingham, England, that a) know how to dress better than me, and b) know how to make some pretty excellent music. Their new video for the song "Lovesick," from debut album In Love, is a whirlwind true to the feelings of actually being lovesick. Watch Harry and Sam Koisser, Doug Castle, and Dom Boyce do donuts in the parking lot while serenading us with an incredibly catchy tune. These boys are my new favorite. —Maddie

05/07/13 12:28PM

Marina And The Diamonds x Charli XCX

Marina and Charli collaborated on the song "Just Desserts" together and, unsurprisingly, it is super fun. Marina and the Diamonds also released a snippet of their upcoming documentary Heartcore which is fun to watch because her fans are really cute. —Katie
(via ONTD)

04/23/13 10:12AM

Kay Davis Knits

Kay Davis, a textiles design major at Central Saint Martins, has some serious knitting skills in addition to her rad style. With a penchant for bright colors and subjects such as candy, crayons and cupcakes, we're excited to see more of Kay Davis' knitwear in the future! —Hazel

04/22/13 10:29AM

Hurry Up & Wait

Hey European friends, there's a really nice photo show opening up at the end of this week in Amsterdam that you definitely do not want to miss. The show, entitled Hurry Up & Wait, is a collection of photographs by New York City-based photographers Chad Moore and Pete Voelker, who both have never shown in Europe. Hurry Up & Wait is comprised of intimate photos documenting both photographers' everyday lives in NYC. This show provides a great glimpse into the fast paced lives we can all relate to, no matter what city you're in. Hurry Up & Wait will run from April 26 until May 10, at Oz Gallery in Amsterdam. The video teaser above will give you a perfect idea of what the show is about—now if only I could make it to the Netherlands by Friday! - Maddie

Photo by Chad Moore

Photo by Pete Voelker

04/22/13 09:22AM

Daft Punk feat. Pharrell: "Get Lucky"

You guys! Daft Punk news is finally here, and its something tangible! The always secretive French electronic duo just dropped "Get Lucky," which features rapper slash singer slash unfairly cool dude, Pharrell Williams. The nearly five minute track is basically a disco dream. The song comes from their new album, Random Access Memories, which also features a slew of other notable collaborations. Our favorite masked robotic French guys have done it again! I can't get the funky groove of this guy out of my head. "Get Lucky" is now available on iTunes. - Maddie

04/19/13 11:08AM

Style Icons: Little Mix

Little Mix is the best band ever. They're actually kind of ridiculous dressers most of the time, but that's what makes them amazing. YOLO! Their penchant for Lazy Oaf won me over, as well as Perrie's ever-changing hair colors. They are like Tumblr come to life and it is delightful. —Katie

Get the look:

Bitching & Junkfood Chiffon Cecilia Dress

Bitching & Junkfood Phucket Denim Cutoff Short

Lazy Oaf Pineapple Sleeve Tee

Lazy Oaf Heart It Long-Sleeve Cropped Tee

Kimchi Blue Tie-Back Cropped Tank Top

Corner Shop Lips & Glasses Cropped Tee

Tripp NYC High-Rise Antique Stripe Jean

UNIF Cat Denim Jacket

Lush Cutout Front Floral Shift Dress

DimePiece Ain't No Wifey Beanie

Sixtyseven Petra Flatform Mary Jane

Miista Sue Platform Wedge

Water Color Hydrating Hair Color Mask

My High Times by Spruce

04/19/13 09:59AM

Cookbooks

I'm no stranger to Mary Jane. In fact, she was one of my best friend in college—even though I had to pay a lot of money to hang out with her everyday. Even so, she was really fun, and we spent a lot of nights together, up late making weird faces into my Macbook Photo Booth. One thing we sucked at, however, was cooking. Instead of trying to make anything remotely edible, we'd eat wraps laced with ranch dressing, chips dipped in ketchup, and the occasional attempt at a marshmallow and Rice Crispies mix in the microwave.

Since graduating from college, and loosing touch with my good old friend Mary, I got a little bit better at cooking (or at least the guys I dated did). With my new-found abilities, I thought I'd give her a call to try out a few new recipes. With the help of this friendly little journal called My High Times, I can now say I know how to cook with Mary Jane—all you need is some TLC, 20+ hours and a meal involving lots of LOLs. Check out the book for a step-by-step guide to cooking with your BFF with recipes including Cannabutter and peanut butter cookies!

Now, my friends, it's time for you to try it out on your own and incorporate your new knowledge with all the cookbooks you can find that use butter. Make it, cook it, eat it and then scribble away in your journal to remember how amazing this weekend was (even if it was all a haze). Now that's some food for thought.

No cookbooks in sight or too in a daze to find one? See our selection below, and run to your closest Urban to make some treats in time for Saturday! —Ally

High Time Cannabis Cookbook by Elise McDonough

The first-ever cookbook from the kings of cannabis, High Times Magazine. Includes 50+ delicious recipes, complete with easy-to-follow instructions

Love: Fries By Love Food Editors

Delicious fry recipes, from hand-cut to triple-fried. Complete with topping tips & dip tricks!

Cox, Cookies, And Cake By Patrick Cox & Eric Lanlard

Bring the attitude of Cox Cookies and Cakes to your kitchen with 80 edgy recipes, from bejeweled cupcakes to classic Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies.

04/16/13 09:26AM

Palma Violets: "We Found Love"

A favorite set of mine from Coachella this past weekend came from Palma Violets, who are an insanely good band from England currently making quite the name for themselves. When I got home from the festival, I saw the band had just released a brand new video for "We Found Love," (no relation to a certain Rihanna and Calvin Harris collaboration you may recall, I promise) from their debut album, 180, which came out not too long ago. These lads are loud and rowdy, yet have some much calmer, chilled out moments, which "We Found Love" is one of. They've got a bit of a surfy sound in there as well, which I, of course, cannot complain about. —Maddie

04/15/13 09:19AM

Camp Daybed

Ah, the things that you can find on the internet. The latest incredible and totally necessary thing I came across is the Camp Daybed, created by London based product designer Stephanie Hornig. A sleeping bag with legs? Yes. So much yes. How great would this be in your apartment if you're short on space? Plus, when you're done sleeping in it, it can also be your couch. I think we all need one of these. View more of Stephanie Hornig's innovative product designs here. (via Frankie Magazine) —Maddie

04/05/13 01:25PM

Charli XCX's "What I Like" Video

If Tumblr girls got together to hang out in a hotel room, it would look just like English singer Charli XCX's latest video for her cute pop love-song "What I Like." Cheesy pizza, grey-hounds in sweaters, bubbles, Emoji and more are all present in this video in addition to some major fashion inspiration. School girl kilts with gigantic platforms and candy bracelet accessories? I'm all about it. - Hazel

04/03/13 10:13AM

Chvrches "Now Is Not The Time"

Chvrches, fronted by the smart and adorable Lauren Mayberry, just released a fun, roller-disco themed video for their song "Now Is Not The Time." If you're looking for a chance to see the band live, they're going to be touring all over the U.S. this summer, including a stop at Sasquatch, as well as right here in Philly. —Katie

04/02/13 10:56AM

Glastonbury 2013

So, anyone want to pack up and fly to England with me this June? Legendary UK music festival Glastonbury just released their lineup for the 2013 festival, and in my opinion it's going to be the festival to end all other festivals. They got Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, Primal Scream, The Vaccines, The Horrors, Tame Impala, The Hives, Solange, Phoenix (just about everyone you'd want to see at a festival), plus The Rolling Stones. No big deal or anything, just The Stones (!!!!). Anyway, I need to start looking for flights and passes to the festival right now... —Maddie

04/02/13 10:54AM

Savages' "She Will"

Post-punk group Savages' latest single "She Will" is scary but in an, "I want to make this my terrifying girl power anthem" kind of way, you know? This goth quartet is releasing their debut album, Silence Yourself, May 7, which will no doubt be one bass-heavy and brooding LP. —Hazel

03/25/13 02:42PM

Swim Deep: "The Sea"

Swim Deep is one of my favorite bands to come out of what I believe has been the second wave of the British Invasion in the USA as of late. The four piece just released "The Sea," a seriously chill tune that leaves me wanting clear blue skies, even though this video filmed in a presumably odd, dark shopping mall. If you were lucky, you caught these dudes playing at SXSW; I wish I could've!

"The Sea" is now available as a 7" single and MP3. Their debut record is out this spring, and I'm pretty stoked. —Maddie

03/21/13 01:43PM

M.I.A. Matangi Mixtape

M.I.A. has recently dropped a mixtape entitled MATANGI, the same name as her album due out later this year. This release was for the French fashion brand KENZO. Good to hear some more new stuff from her. In case you missed the video for her new album's single "Bad Girls," peep it here. —Lorin

03/21/13 01:36PM

Nieves Zine Box

Über-cool zine and art book publisher Nieves (which is also famous for having one of the best logos/mascots ever, Knigli the Ghost) is releasing a limited edition box set of all their best zines published from 2012. Featuring a great selection of artists like Olaf Breuning, Jocko Weyland and more, this box seems like a very awesome collection. - Hazel

(via A Dandy in Aspic)

03/15/13 09:18AM

Style Icon: Prince Stash De Rola

Prince Stash De Rola is one of those dudes who could have only existed in the '60s, when everything weird was accepted and having a haircut like his was normal and even cool. There's not much out on Stash, aside from one ridiculously in-depth interview with him in the Ugly Things magazine, excerpts of which can be found here (or if you feel like killing your eyes, you can read the whole thing here).

Just in a coat Brian Jones gave him, NBD.

Stash was a seriously wacky dude. He grew up in what was essentially a castle? And hung out with The Rolling Stones all the time? And apparently (according to him) like, gave Paul Simon the courage to be a musician? IDK, MAN. Wacky stuff. If you have the time, he's definitely worth reading up on, especially in honor of Brian Jones' recent birthday (February 28).

BFFs gettin' busted for pot.

Aside from being besties with The Rolling Stones, he also had impeccable fashion sense. Like, he was rockin' a lot of fancy coats, and it was pretty incredible. Just look at this guy:

In the back; look at that SUIT

Overall, Prince Stash is one of the more awesome mystery dudes of the 20th century. He was friends with all the right people, and yet managed to keep himself relatively far from the limelight, something that totally couldn't happen these days, what with the internet and all. Thankfully we can forever peruse these pictures of him with his pageboy hair and paisley coats so we can feel inspired when our Doc Martens and leather jackets just aren't cutting it.—Katie

Get the look:

MINKPINK Cruella Faux Fur Coat
When your real fur from Brian Jones is at the cleaners, you can rock this one. No one will be able to tell the difference.

Tripp NYC High-Rise Antique Stripe Jean
Now you just need to find a matching blazer and you'll be good to go.

Silence & Noise Ex-Boyfriend Blazer
FOUND IT!

UNIF Psychic Poncho Cardigan
You don't even care that this is a lady's cardigan because all you can think about is how good it's gonna look with your striped trousers.

Ecote Multi-Buckle Pointed Toe Oxford
Sadly, these don't look exactly like those pilgrim shoes you really want, but they'll do for now.

Contego Block Sunglasses
The paparazzi just keep hounding you about the drug bust, ugh. Hide behind these sunglasses and keep it cool, man.

Speert Fold-Away Comb
Keep yr pageboy bangs lookin' fresh!

03/11/13 08:57AM

Kate Nash: "Girl Gang"

Kate Nash is the most badass girl ever, okay? I provide you with evidence of this in her new video for "Girl Gang," released via Rookie Mag, where she sends a boys screaming with her incredibly cool gal pals. The song is actually a cover of Fidlar's "Cocaine," and let me just say that the lyric change works perfectly. - Maddie