A little bit of Karl

Karl Lagerfeld has launched his first diffusion line exclusively on luxury fashion outlet Net-a-Porter. Karl by Karl Lagerfeld is a capsule collection of must-have pieces at cheaper than Chanel prices.

One of the more interesting aspects of this launch is the use of augmented reality to promote the collection. The brand created five augmented reality enhanced events in pop-up 'Window Shops' at secret locations in New York, London, Paris, Berlin and Sydney. After downloading the Net-a-Porter app, customers at these stores could activate the augmented reality experience, allowing product images from the store windows to be scanned and items to be bought and won.

The collection has already been hit hard by eager shoppers, with many items selling out almost immediately. So if you want to get your mitts on a little bit of Karl, you'd better head over to Net-a-Porter ASAP. I have my eye on some high-rise patterned skinny jeans, so may join you there.

Ps. The rebranding of the Net-a-Porter website with the Karl logo is a brilliant touch.

Media blackout

As part of protests against proposed anti-piracy legislation in the US, the English-language version of online encyclopedia Wikipedia is going offline. The community website Reddit has also gone offline, as well as several other smaller websites, and Google is staging a homepage protest.

Users trying to access Wikipedia will instead be greeted with the following message: "For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the larges encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open internet. For 24 hours, to raise interest, we are blacking out Wikipedia".

I think this is a brilliant way to bring this issue to the masses as users are more likely to take notice through disruption to their online activity than through a "boring" news item. How much impact it will have on the impending anti-piracy laws is another question, although at the moment support for the bill has fallen through.

On a personal note, I'm glad this blackout didn't occur whilst I was writing my uni dissertation. I don't know what I would've done without the use of Wikipedia to help define the complex terms.

Blue Monday (not the song)

For some years now, the third Monday of January has been labeled as Blue Monday by the media. The date for this 'most depressing day of the year' was devised by Cliff Arnell, using a mathematical formula involving six factors: weather, debt, time since Christmas, time since failing our New Year's resolutions, low motivational levels and the feeling of a need to take action.

Although the idea of feeling slightly down at this time of year may be true for some, this is not a true scientific discovery. Apparently, the term 'Blue Monday' was concocted back in 2005 by a PR firm in order to publicise a travel company. It is considered nothing more than a pseudoscience, and a publicity stunt is a sure way to remove any remaining credibility from such a theory.

Mr. Blonde

I really don't want to admit that I am currently glued to the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother... but I am! Although I have never been the reality TV show's biggest fan, for the last couple of years I have found myself sitting in front of my television eagerly awaiting each day's instalment.

However, I usually only watch the programme because of a specific "celebrity". I use the term loosely here, as it is hard to class many of the current participants as stars: Natasha Giggs is a prime example, and I had never even heard of Andrew Stone prior to the programme (and I'm still unsure who he is or what he does!).

Last year, it was Jedward that caught my attention. Granted, they are beyond annoying, with their constant okaying and hyperactive personalities. But they were highly amusing, and had me in hysterics on numerous occasions. I found the time when they were shampooing each other's hair the most surreal thing I have ever witnessed.

Alas, there is no more Jedward, but we have been offered someone even better. The only person in the entire house I would honestly say can be considered a bona fide celebrity: Michael Madsen. Mr. Blonde (for those who haven't seen the masterpiece that is Reservoir Dogs), is simply amazing.

I'm not sure what it is about him, but I find him genuinely captivating. His mannerisms are so endearing, and he has me in stitches with what he says about his fellow housemates. He also looks ridiculously cool in his cowboy hat. He won't win, but he should. My vote definitely goes to Mr. Blonde.

Pretty pastels

Without fail, a new fashion trend hits every season. According to the fashion brigade, the hottest look for S/S'12 is pastel colours. And the latest offerings from brands such as Topshop and ASOS seem to confirm that this trend has firmly hit the highstreet. It won't be long until the fashion conscious hipsters catch up and begin to stock up on lavendar skinny jeans and peach chiffon shirts.

I must admit, I much prefer the rich, dark tones of Autumn to these sickly, sugary tones. However, as they have featured prominently on the catwalks of Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton, who am I to argue against it? So I guess I'm going to go along with the masses and bag myself a frosted frock, à la Chanel.