THE STYLISH STUFF: SEXY TECH ALERT

3rd May 2017

I have a confession to make: I’m as obsessed about aesthetically gorgeous tech in my home as I am about the decorative stuff that fills it and serves no other purpose. I’ve always been adverse to gigantic speakers in boldly hued plastics or indeed towering, metallic sound systems, they just jar with me. Hence my preoccupation with SMEG, Dualit and KitchenAid, kitchen gadgets that have a clear design aesthetic, great curves and do what they’re supposed to do. Today however, I’m exploring the world of sound, basically because my other love is music, and well let’s face it, if the gadgets look great but don’t service the sound, then it’s a big fat fail. With modernist, scandi and retro aesthetics being so popular and headphones part of any discerning music lovers accessory look, this is an indulgence of a post for fellow music lovers.

In the home… whether you tuck your speakers away or like them on show like this magnificent retro system, the truth is design plays as much a part in choice now as sound. Splurgetastic beauty R7 £2000, Ruark Audio

Ta da … an alternative finish close up.

A good looking portable option to break out your vinyl to – the sound quality isn’t quite on a parity with the above, but Crosley’s portable players have become a bestselling option. £59.99, Crosley Cruiser Turntable at John Lewis.

(Image Olivia Graham/Shelly Vella for Cosmopolitan)

What’s not to love about the myriad colour options from classic red or navy, to duck egg blue, lime…. the clashing possibilities are endless.

Neatly neutral and quietly understated. Old-school looking speakers that blend perfectly into a Farrow & Ball hued environment. Their size totally belies the punch of the sound quality – described as matching that of live music. The Stylish Stuff loves the soft grey tone and the very British fabric on the grill covering. The MR1 & MK2 speakers are £329 from Ruark Audio.

Touch-me tactile grill coverings from the Ruark Audio MR1 and MK2 speakers.

Infinitely strokeable, portable and available in four cool colours, the green being our favourite. Mid priced, this is a speaker that delivers on sound quality and of course, good looks. Cambridge Audio Yo Yo S Portable Bluetooth speaker £149.95, available from John Lewis.

One for the modernists, the slick and sculptural Sonos Sub Wireless Subwoofer is the new go to for the ‘muso minus a turntable’, £699 from Currys.

Outward bound – let’s face it good music is for sharing, so being able to take it wherever you go: hotel room, beach, rooftop, work, play or party is an absolute must. New to the portable speaker squad is the B&O Play P2,this gorgeous little gadget literally fits into the palm of your hand and delivers a bone shaking sound quality that makes you wonder where it gets its guts from. Light and ‘sleek enough to fit into your pocket, powerful enough to fill a room with sound’. Yes, I’m sold. The P2 £149, B&O Play.

Looks great with denim…just saying.

And now for something seriously special – the Astell & Kern KANN – purported to be the world’s most powerful portable music player. This beautifully designed piece of aluminium-clad, amplified heaven comes with a hefty price tag of £899, BUT it’s your entire sound system in one neat package. An aficionado’s gadget for sure. Go to www.astellnkern.com for more details.

Slip into neutral – The Stylish Stuff favourites for music on the move: from left, Vifa Helsinki portable bluetooth speaker £299, B&O Play Beoplay A1 portable bluetooth speaker (this one resides at The Stylish Stuff HQ) £199 and the Libratone ZIPP bluetooth, wi-fi portable speaker with internet radio and speakerphone £249, all available from John Lewis.

For your ears only – as key to any look nowadays as your bag and your shoes. Good looking headphones with great sound need only apply:

(Images Pinterest / Cosmopolitan UK)

First up, hats off to B&O Play for their H4 and H5 offerings. So achingly stylish you’ll be working out your wardrobe options around them, plus they boast the added bonus of being wifi and cordless meaning no more snagged wires in your handbag etc etc. Great for sporting types who like to keep it simple when out running, they also feature clever magnetic buds which clip safely together around your neck. They also power down when not in use. Gorgeous colour palette, beautifully styled. The Stylish Stuff loves. Shown here the H5 ear bud headphones £199, www.beoplay.com.

For the true fashionista these are your go to, quite simply the most beautifully designed headphones. Forget all the celebrity collaborations, these babies offer Bang & Olufsen’s signature sound quality alongside catwalk worthy looks. The H4 headphones £249, www.beoplay.com

Oh and talking of collaborations, meet the i am+ BUTTONS headphones designed by Vogue meister Andre Leon Tally. LOVED by the likes of Naomi Campbell and Kendall Jenner, sure to be found in fashionable ears. £169, from Amazon.

Primary options for fashionable, sporting types – from left: Bose SoundSport sweat and weather-resistant wireless ear buds from £139.99; Jaybird Freedom sweat and weather-resistant bluetooth wireless earbuds £139.99 and Bose SoundSport sweat and weather-resistant in ear headphones £89.95, all from John Lewis.