The Book of Skulls

Skulls are one of the most overused symbols of around today. Once seen as sacred religious and spiritual symbols,  they stumbled into pop culture's mainstream and have long since been an icon for anarchy.

From Dia De Los Muertos sugar skulls,The Misfits and The Grateful Dead's logos and the skull emblems adorning the catwalks of Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen to Damien Hirst's infamous "For The Love of God" diamond-laden masterpiece, the contemporary visual culture landscape would be a far less interesting place were it not for the humble skull.

The Book of Skulls by Faye Dowling celebrates the Skull in all it's glory, featuring an array of skull-inspired pieces in the fields of fashion, music, street art and graphic design. Including work by Shepard Fairey, James Joyce, Alastair Mackie, KAWS and Mike Giant, this little book is chock full of all kinds of weird and wonderful works of Skull art.  

The Book of Skulls by Faye Dowling is published by Laurence King and available here.

All images are courtesy of Laurence King Publishing.

 

Felder Felder SS13

Leopard-print, lace and leather; That's what Felder Felder girls are made of. Although for SS13, the twins added bold hues of blue, violet and tangerine to their roster, alongside the swathes of chiffon. All in all, it was a welcome detour from their usual hard-hitting edgy rock 'n' roll aesthetic. 

That's not to say, however, that the collection didn't have that strong Felder feel about it. Floaty, almost ethereal chiffon skirts and dresses, sheer button-up blouses and one-pieces with floral appliques, along with an interesting graphic print, reminiscent of the changing tides of the sea pretty much sum up the Felder Felder look for next season. 

Oh and of course, there was that trusty leather jacket x skirt combo thrown in for good measure, because we all know nobody does offbeat and edgy womenswear quite like the Felder Felder girls.

 images via style.com

F*CK! I'm In My Twenties

Those of you that are in a similar age bracket to us girls at Tantrum HQ will have undoubtedly woken up at least once in your life and thought "F*ck! I'm in my Twenties" (and if you haven't yet, believe us, one day you will!)

So what does this mean? What exactly do the wondrous years of your Twenties entail? And how do you get through that decade without totally screwing up your life? If you feel like you're at a dead end with a crappy job, a non-existent love life and friends that won't return your calls, fear not. This quirky new book by Emma Koenig provides sweet salvation in knowing that you're not alone in thinking that your Twenties suck.

Tongue-in-cheek and written with that perfect balance of feisty/quirky that only a girl can muster, this book is an honest and witty insight to the inner-workings of a twenty-somethings mind. Complete with handwritten scrawls and kitsch doodles about, well, LIFE, pretty much, this book is a godsend for those who need a little pick-me-up to get them through the best/worst/most awkward decade of their life. Welcome to your Twenties.

"F*CK! I'M IN MY TWENTIES" by Emma Koenig is published by Chronicle books and available here.

 

Agyness Deyn x Dr Martens

Ever since we heard that our favourite northern lass was collaborating with the most iconic British footwear brand, our hearts were all a flutter here at Tantrum, and the Agyness Deyn for Dr Martens collection did NOT disappoint. Think creeper-style shoes in black and cherry red, muted plaid, '90s daisy prints and a grungey colour palette and you've pretty much got it nailed. 

Alongside the patent 1940 boots, chunky platform buckled goth boots and the velvet creepers, our fave piece from the whole collection was the heart-shaped satchel, available in 4 colours. We're torn between the oxblood and pale lilac, and with a strap that transforms the satchel into a rucksack, this is one A/W staple that will last seasons, and years to come.

Agyness Deyn for Dr Martens A/W '12 is available now, instore and online. Shop the whole collection here

Maria Francesca Pepe for Urban Outfitters

One of our favourite jewellery gals, Maria Francesca Pepe has "always preferred buying a ring rather than a dress'" which is a good thing really considering her art lies in creating bold, classic, avant-garde jewellery. MFP came to realise her calling as a jewellery designer upon graduating from CSM, London. Her designs are always one of our favourites to see at LFW, however now we can get our Pepe fix on a regular basis- Yes you can all have a little celebratory wiggle because If you haven't heard already, MFP has infused her rather perfect mix of femininity and edginess into an 8-piece collection for Urban Outfitters. We hope you are all as excited as we are! If the time it took to leave Tantrum HQ to the nearest store was an Olympic sport, Britain would be in for another gold.

 

This jewellery line is like no other; each piece is hand selected and the care and craftsmanship is to an impeccable standard, making sure that each design suits the Urban Outfitters' customer - definitely worth the investment! With an avid following from long time ambassadors, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Pixie Lott, among many others, it's one not to miss.

Crosses, crystals and turquoise adorn chunky twisted ropes for statement necklaces and bracelets, while hexagonal studs and geometric shapes toughen up rings, earrings and bangles.The result is a collection that is elegant but never predictable.

 

Exclusively at Urban Outfitters stores throughout UK and US www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk 
words by Jemma Lamble