Recent Faves: Sensory Edition

Touch: Kinzzza Linen Top

Kinzzza Linen Top
Etsy Store / Instagram

The weather in London has been unseasonably warm as of late, with temperature records being broken thanks to continued climate change. I love linen in Summer, because it is such an easy and comfortable fabric to wear. I like the feel of the texture against my skin, because you do get more feedback than a smoother cotton, without it being overwhelming or uncomfortable. I am relatively sensitive to tactile issues, preferring to cut out labels from my clothes and the like if they rub against my skin, but for some reason linen has always felt nice to wear, even with coarser weaves.

I have been getting a lot of wear out of this linen top from Ukraine-based linen studio Kinzzza, which I bought last year. It might actually be the most colourful piece in my wardrobe thanks to the hand-sewn patches around the bottom of the body (some of which also appear across the back of the garment), and the fact that it is primarily faded black, rather than the solid black I usually tend to wear.

The garment was made to order, with the owner Natasha recommending adding some length to the sleeves and body due to my height, which worked out perfectly. This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Kinzzza, but I cannot recommend them enough - the whole process was smooth and I love the work they do. The studio is still is operation, having thankfully moved safely to Lviv, and still taking orders.

Sight: Craiyon Art

I am sure many of you will have already heard of Craiyon (formerly DALL-E mini) and DALL-E 2, the AI models which create images from text prompts. Think of Craiyon as the free “lite” version, versus the main model, which is currently operating on a wait list system. I have been having fun trying out different prompts and just seeing what it comes up with, and it is remarkable to think just how far and how quickly technology has progressed. The examples above are just because I thought they looked cute, but it can actually deal with way more complicated ideas and references. Who knows, I am sure there will be cool AI art prints on my walls soon enough.

Here is a video from Marques Brownlee discussing DALL-E 2 that I thought was a good watch:

Smell: Habit Rouge (EDT) by Guerlain

Habit Rouge was first introduced in 1965 by Jean-Paul Guerlain as the masculine counterpart to the infamous Shalimar, and was supposedly the first oriental fragrance for men. It was reintroduced in 2003, and although it has been subject to multiple reformulations since (as with any perfume), I have to say that it still feels incredibly relevant and beautiful today. I would go with the Eau de Toilette, just because the composition is the most balanced from the line.

I have a weakness for perfume, meaning that I have more bottles than I probably should, so for me to wear a single perfume regularly is quite a feat. And yet this Summer I have been reaching for Habit Rouge more often than not, because it just feels right for the sunshine. Habit Rouge is a bright and cheerful blend of fresh citrus, indulgent rose, spiced sandalwood, and a smooth and powdery leather, all set against a warm background of vanilla and amber. The Shalimar DNA is clear and present, but where Shalimar is smokey and has that beautifully warm and sweet musky vanilla drydown, Habit Rouge manages to stay bright and fresh, belying the complexity and decadent richness of its formulation.

For me the opening is a beautiful but brief orange blossom that quickly gives way to a fresh and sparkling lemon. You can smell the cinnamon and sandalwood set against the citrus, and then you get an unfolding of carnation and jasmine, but the main floral to my nose is rose. The citrus dials down to that of a lemon and orange peel, and you soon get to experience a beautiful drydown composed of warm amber, dry vanilla and that remarkably smooth leather. If you find the citrus in Shalimar a touch too medicinal, or the perfume too raunchy in general, I think you will enjoy Habit Rouge far more.

I happen to love Shalimar (buy the Eau de Parfum - the Eau de Toilette feels limp by comparison), so I tend to wear it quite often in Winter. But Habit Rouge allows me to wear that classic Guerlain DNA in a far more summery package. I notice I do that with quite a few perfumes actually - for example, I will wear L’Air du Desert Marocain by Tauer Perfumes in Winter, but switch to Au Coeur du Désert in the Summer because it is basically a brighter and lighter version of the same DNA. As much as flankers to original perfumes can be interesting and worth exploring, I always love when houses have complimentary fragrances that have their own distinct identity.

Taste: Frozen Pineapple Chunks

You already know what frozen pineapple looks like, so here is an image of a famous pineapple instead.

I have been rather partial to frozen pineapple chunks this Summer, taking some out after dinner most evenings to have as a tasty dessert (fruit is nature’s candy after all). The bromelain in pineapples helps with digestion, and cold fruit is just inherently refreshing. To be honest I could have listed any number of frozen fruits here, just because I have been using them in varying proportions and combinations for my breakfast.

I have difficulty eating very much in the mornings, so I have taken to making a breakfast smoothie instead. I first dry blend some porridge oats because I find it makes for a nicer texture than rough cut oats that you end up chewing. I then chuck in a scoop of protein powder, one ripe banana, some yoghurt, some peanut butter, a sprinkling of cinnamon, spirulina, and then whatever mix of frozen fruits that takes my fancy that morning. I think frozen blueberries and frozen mango seem to be used most often - the frozen mango in particular gives the smoothie a nice texture. I prefer to use oat milk for the liquid component, and just eyeball however much to get the consistency I want.

Sound: You Can’t Kill Me (2022) by 070 Shake

Dark, brooding and beautiful.

You Can’t Kill Me Now, the second album from singer-songwriter 070 Shake, was released in June and I have had it in heavy rotation since. Think a fusion of alternative R&B, rap and booming synths. The production on this album is on a far grander scale than Shake’s 2020 debut Modus Vivendi, and it is full of pleasant twists and turns in Shake’s sound, with many songs pivoting through modes midway in a manner that draws you in and keeps you hooked.

I love any singer-songwriter that is introspective, and here we have anguished heartache and self-reflection aplenty. I know some people were disappointed at the level of songwriting, feeling like the lyrics on some songs were undercooked compared to the grand instrumentals, but I thought it worked well for the vibe of the album. By far one of my favourite albums of the year thus far - if you are pressed for time, check out Skin and Bones or History for a taste.

xxxx