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After the success of 2011’s Native Speaker and 2013’s Flourish//Perish, Braids (Raphaelle Standell, Austin Tufts, and Taylor Smith) retreated to the mountains to record album number three. Encircled by nothing but nature, they settled in the mountains of Arizona, Vermont and upstate New York and explored their connections as a band, stripping themselves of day to day realities.

Deep In The Iris emerged as what they consider their strongest record to date and with its notable use of acoustic instruments and electronic characteristics, is their most accessible. Sure to win them plenty of new fans and keep the old admirers’ affections, maintaining their signature experimental feel. In their downtime on tour, they created us a 10 ten playlist along with haikus, further emphasising their fondness for staying away from the mainstream.

Morgan Greenwood – “Fur Unison”

warm me like the sun
embers glow beneath our hearts
breathing you like air

Mari Kvien Brunvoll – “Everywhere You Go”

the soul walks with us
forms as we let in being
we create ourselves

Sun Kil Moon – “Carry me, Ohio”

with hands I touch dirt
light brown forms beneath my nails
plant by the window

Spirited Away – “Always With Me”

toes in the tall grass
hair tossled by the warm wind
back tickled sky blue

Tops – “Driverless Passenger”

trees pass beside me
the urge to feel alive now
be here completely

Anna Domino – “Land Of My Dreams”

gates of memory
open to those who hold sweet
sway of a soft breeze

Joanna Newson – “Sprout and The Bean”

hands the scent of rose
collected in a bossom
warmed with a soft breath

Chrysta Bell – “I Die”

wound up in these sheets
the sun stares at our shoulders
we are together

Doldrums – “Closer 2 U”

you stand on my block
through the window I did stare
brown shoulder length hair

Sufjan Stevens – “Seven Swans”

the pond is still now
glare of fire reflected
dance orange feather

‘Deep In The Iris’ is out now via Arbutus Records.

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The hotel concierge. In today’s world of smartphones, Uber, air miles and Google, the concept seems a little outdated. Sure, if someone wants to take our bags for us, we’re not gonna baulk – but as our luck would have it, W Hotels have come up with a very modern kind of alternative. The Insider Experience, offered free to guests by the hotel group, is executed by each property’s resident experts: socialites who continuously source up-to-the-minute information on restaurants, innovative art exhibitions and nightlife from fashion designers, society folk and in-the-know locals. To put this service to the test in W Bangkok and W retreat Koh Samui, Sharmadean Reid, founder of London’s pioneering nail art brand WAH Nails, flew across the ocean to Thailand’s back packer havens.

Reid’s Insider Experience kicked off with a visit to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn where she found herself praying for luck, health and happiness. This was followed by lunch at The Never Ending Summer – a notoriously hard-to-locate restaurant that’s worth a visit for its tranquil ambience alone. On the journey there, W Bangkok’s Insider, Mio, admitted it had originally taken her five attempts to find it. “Our lunch spot was so exclusive, we couldn’t believe it,” Reid tells Wonderland. “It was a complex of buildings designed by Thai architect Duangrib Bunnang, that included his office, a furniture store, café and the restaurant. The design was my idea of heaven, concrete and black punctuated with greenery and pink flowers. The table next to us was packed with Bangkok’s ladies who lunch, hair coiffed to the hilt, all carrying an array of old school luxury designer handbags. Also munching down on the restaurant’s version of traditional Thai cuisine were artists, cool kids and rich families. Crucially, there wasn’t a tourist in sight.”

Next stop was the swanky-pants 20 Nail Studio, situated in the newly opened Central Embassy Mall, which was built on land formally owned by the British Embassy. The WAH Girls got their nails customised by the legendary Ms. Phurin Meewatha. Locally known as “Khun Annie”, she painted a sailor moon in such intricate detail even the WAH girls were fan-girling hard.

The following day, at the hotels’ #WAHPAINTSW event, a gaggle of Bangkok’s elite were treated to the one-off “EAST MEETS W-EST” Bangkok design that WAH had made for the Insider Experience. A fizzed-up afterparty followed in the Extreme WOW Suite, the brand’s take on the presidential penthouse on the hotel’s top floor. “It was the coolest apartment ever, with white marble, its own bar and DJ booth and a giant bath that could fit at least five people,” Reid remembers. “W Bangkok had made the place look so fun and every single girl who came through the door was just so cool and stylish. They have a distinct look of simple chic, mixed with ultra Asian glam.”

A short internal flight later and Reid found herself in lush, sunkissed Koh Samui. “If Bangkok was Bright Lights, Big City, Koh Samui was definitely Notes From a Small Island,” the entrepreneur jests. “Landing in the cutest airport ever – with palm tree-covered mountains around us – felt very James Bond. The incredible welcome cocktail helped to ease the weariness from the flight, too. Called Ocean View, the purple drink turned pink when you added a shot of lemon juice to it. I was in pinky-purple, WAH heaven!”

 The Koh Samui Insider Experience started with a trip to a nearby safari park – complete with an elephant ride, course – followed by a preview of a museum dedicated to South Asian art. “W Retreat Koh Samui’s Insider, Kitty, hooked us up. The museum and gardens were serene and beautiful,” enthused Reid. After hitting up a mix of the island’s coolest, hippy-luxe shops, the party headed back to the hotel for some much-needed cocktail relief and modern Japanese food at the hotel’s swanky restaurant, Namu.

 With the Gulf of Thailand in everyone’s gaze, the WAH girls were back in mani-action at the #WAHPAINTSW Koh Samui event at the hotel’s swanky private villa, The Seascape Escape. “It was a kind of mini spa day, fitting of the mega-chilled surroundings. There were massages, healthy snacks and, of course, #NAILS. We were surrounded by colour and the view was stunning” Reid enthuses. “We met some girls excited to try our EAST MEETS W-EST designs, which are inspired by the most insane Thai silks. Then we headed to relax on the beach in front of an outdoor screening of American Beauty. Bliss.” First dibs when you’re next in town, Sharm.

Three nights at W Bangkok, and seven nights at W Retreat Koh Samui from £2,279 pp with Destinology (www.destinology.co.uk, 01204 821 230) Price includes accommodation in a Wonderful Room (W Bangkok) and a Jungle Oasis Room (W Retreat Koh Samui) on B&B basis and return flights with British Airways from London Heathrow.

Words: Becky Davies.

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To celebrate the close of London Fashion Week, Shoreditch’s Ace Hotel played host to The Miss Hoi Polloi Pageant, a re-enactment of scenes from the 1968 documentary ‘The Queen.’ Judged by the likes of Christopher Kane, Roksanda Ilincic, Ed Marler, Erdem Moralioglu, Henry Holland, Princess Julia, Judy Blame, Jonathan Saunders, Stephen Jones, Brix Smith-Start, Reba Maybury, and Daisy Lowe, the guest list was just as impressive with the likes of Hamish Bowles, Caroline Sieber, Fred Butler, Bobby Abley and Gary Card all in attendance. Munching on grilled cheese and braised beef sandwiches followed by milk ice cream sundaes, along with a generous helping of Hoi Polloi’s revitalising Fashion Week cocktail, Fantabulosa, those in attendance experienced an unforgettable night.

Directed by Jonny Woo who played Flawless Sabrina, Miss Woo’s wardrobe was by Giles and Wonderland’s Fashion Director, Matthew Josephs styled the pageant. The make up was created by Daniel Sallstrom and the M.A.C Pro Team, whilst WAH Nails were in charge of talons and Xavier Roide soundtracked the event. The winner was Miss Philadelphia aka James Davison, who has just guest edited ‘Clobber,’ Hoi Polloi’s new monthly newspaper.

Phography: Rebecca Thomas.

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We’re talking less Downton Abbey and more Downtown girls. A book with good nails and good advice. Ideal. She’s nailed it!

We met up with Sharmedean and asked her a few questions about the book.

WONDERLAND: Hi Sharmadean! So, tell us a bit about your new book?

Sharmadean Reid: The book is the follow up to our first nail book. It has way more info in it to help girls find their dream careers or paths in life. WAH is much more than a nail salon, its an attitude and state of mine. I’m trying to spread that message.

What were the inspirations behind the book?

The first book was for the girl in the suburbs, this one is for when she’s moved to the big city. Inspired by me moving to london and trying to carve my niche.

Who are your top 5 Downtown girls of all time? 

Its about a girl who can go in both uptown AND downtown: Neneh Cherry, Sharon Stone in Casino, Madonna in Who’s That Girl, Jennifer Lopez and Kate Moss.

Where is your downtown hangout?

WAH nails office in Haggerston. Vibes, nails, rum!

If you had to pick a song to best describe the book what would it be?

Jennifer Lopez when she was collaborating with the Murder Inc. Crew.

mWAH!

Downtown Girls is available now

 http://wah-nails.com/

Words: Danielle Emerson  

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Shopping these days is tough; after hours of trawling through high street racks or clicking through page after page of online fashion retailers, you step out in your new attire only to discover that someone else is wearing your exact same outfit. But never fear, if you’re after something totally original then check out the pop-up concept shop YrStore.

The brainchild of interactive digital agency Luma, Yr is the world’s first live all-over print specialist. The printing innovators have teamed up with the creators of badass nail art WAH Nails and pattern professionals Patternity to set up a six week installation at Boxpark in Shoreditch, a one off fashion event that allows you to produce a unique design to wear in minutes.

First you choose your item of clothing, a t-shirt, bandana or vest, then either upload your own design or choose from an extensive set of backgrounds and patterns on interactive touch-pods, which allow you to add text, imagery and filters, zoom in and out, and change the saturation and hue of your creation. Once you’re done you send it over to the guys at the printing desk and before your eyes your design is digitally printed onto your garment, ready for you to wear.

So to avoid any future who-wore-it-better fashion offs get down to YrStore, and get involved in the digital printing revolution to create a completely original piece of clothing.

Check out the Boxpark Yr pop-up featuring WAH Nails and Patternity prints through the end of August.

Words: Kayleigh Rawlings (follow Kayleigh on Twitter @kayleighar)

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