// Cecilia Hummel

Posted on | November 23, 2009 | No Comments

One young designer whose creations I would really love to see in real life — and in production as soon as possible — is Cecilia Hummel, Beckmans Designskola graduate. Her graduating collection Coloured Void with all black architectural shapes looks like something that could be adapted to production with ease. My favorites are the black jumpsuit and evening dress with rectangular cutouts (next to last one).

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Her Gallerian project looks even more coherent little capsule collection with oceanic colors and clean lines adorned with geometric neckbands.

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I also love these dresses with clever bustier cut combined to loose, free, actually quite casual shapes. These are very much something I would love to wear on everyday basis…

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Posted on | November 23, 2009 | No Comments

// Sparklin’

Posted on | November 22, 2009 | No Comments

Sparklehorse.

With PJ Harvey.

With Tom Waits. Video by Quay Brothers.

Enjoy.

Posted on | November 22, 2009 | No Comments

// Poof!

Posted on | November 21, 2009 | 9 Comments

tutu

I have some fascinations for strangest of items. One of them is tutu. I have two… …well the other is full length nude tulle skirt with lining, not sure if I can really count it, the other is silver gray, more true to its origins.

From Etsy I have found several tutu shops, but I think that two of them are above others, Princess Doodle Beans makes beautiful and very affordable tied tutus (the image above and my gray one is from there), another one I’ve had my eyes on is Tiara’s Tutus.

I’ve used the full length one as evening gown with super tight, almost corset like dark jean jacket. I also have plans to make a super minimalistic leather corset to pair with it. The gray one is still waiting its debut, but I have plans…

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Sorry, just could not help adding some Sex and the City tutu goodness here. I’m not sure about the origins of the first image, it has been in my inspiration folder for ages. The seafoam colored one is from Bunny With a Toolbelt. I think I could use one mid length one in seafoam color in addition to those I own…

Do you have any use for a cloud of delicious tulle?

Posted on | November 21, 2009 | 9 Comments

// Toads and shoes and…

Posted on | November 20, 2009 | 12 Comments

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They’re like toad (or two of them) that tried to turn prince (royal twins, maybe) — but did not quite make it. I’m not admitting kissing them, though…

These winklepickers are my pick from the Jimmy Choo for H&M collection… …and I really don’t know what else to say about them except I love them — despite them being the least wanted shoe from the collection at least here in Finland. They are the finest under 100 € pair of footwear I ever seen. With their sewn on leather soles, snakeskin pattern printed leather, studs and rhinestones they could well pass for shoe twice or thrice that price. They are quite over the top, but in a good way. I see them slipping to my outfits with ease.

I know that many people consider these H&M collaborations quite lame, but to be honest I don’t care. The selections in this country are so limited that there is no use to be too snobbish (like I could afford to be snobbish anyway).

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Sorry, I got bit wild with my new camera . I had an idea, even, behind this picture craze… …I tried to illustrate that although I do like pile stuff especially around my upper body, I try to do it so that the movement makes the layers to live.

The outfit consists of basics seen here before: Annette Görtz jacket, Complexgeometries top and H&M sequin leggings. To be honest I don’t really like the leggings. They are slightly large and the inner seams are bulging — plus the sequins feel scratchy against the skin even through the fabric. But I wanted to continue the bling theme above the ankle, so I let them do the job.

Posted on | November 20, 2009 | 12 Comments

// A new take on destroying shirts

Posted on | November 20, 2009 | 2 Comments

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Image from The Trashicist.

This is so clever — and gives a plethora of wearing options. Cut the edges of the shirt, but leave the cut out straps partially attached. Use the straps to gather the garment when wearing. Elizabeth uses a tuxedo shirt for this — but I bet that oversized jersey garments would work beautifully for this, the stretchiness would probably give even more styling options.

And be sure to check out Elizabeths blog, The Trashicist. It’s fab!

Posted on | November 20, 2009 | 2 Comments

// Bye bye

Posted on | November 18, 2009 | 4 Comments

new

Canon EOS 300d, welcome EOS 500d! Improvement in image quality will happen in near future — although our window will be covered for few weeks for repairs and that will block out the last light from our apartment.

Wearing very usual everyday stuff: Rützou wedges, Vero Moda waxed pant, oversized Gina Tricot cotton top over J.Lindeberg T (does not show actually in this pic), second hand fur and pile of leather cuffs. Nothing interesting — but I had to get my paws on the new camera — the lighting conditions were challenging, mildly put… …this place is dark as a hell hole at this time of year.

Posted on | November 18, 2009 | 4 Comments

// Doloris Petunia

Posted on | November 17, 2009 | 4 Comments

Oh, Doloris Petunia, I have a confession to make. I love all your wild, crazy statement necklaces. Those giant glass stones arranged to netting revealing the skin underneath, random trinket explosions, ribbons to be tied behind the neck, sequin fringes… Would love to feel one floating around my neck while I’m dancing to the dawn. Well, I don’t dance that much but I love the idea…

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And wait, there is another one coming! I secretly dream about your fancy headpieces, too! Maybe I should take some advice from the royal court and start wearing these while cleaning up the bathroom… …changing the bedsheets… …emptying the cat litter box… …sneaking in the woods in hope of mushrooms (bit late for that but you get the idea).

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Posted on | November 17, 2009 | 4 Comments

// Can I have it?

Posted on | November 16, 2009 | 5 Comments

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Now when my personal favorite, Olga, from the Finnish Project Runway has been dropped out from the race, I’m asking this simple question. Can I have this awesome dress from the first episode?

Forget the sub-par photography, somehow lifeless model with bad posture and hideous shoes — just see the architectonic beauty of the dress itself.

Posted on | November 16, 2009 | 5 Comments

// Making the fabric

Posted on | November 15, 2009 | 15 Comments

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One aspect I absolutely adore in knitting is that I can actually make my own fabric, thread by thread, hole by hole. And that fabric can be sculpted to various shapes while knitting — and while sewing the pieces together.

In this tunic/dress the emphasis is fully on fabric — it is shaped only very lightly. I used beautiful industrial quality silk-cashmere yarn in quiet nudey beige shade for a garment that is made for layering. The yarn is relatively heavy (heavy DK weight, maybe even aran weight) but the construction of the dress is still very light because I used considerably larger needles than usual for yarn of this kind — and the holes of different lace patterns contribute to the lightness even more. The patterns align neatly in the sleeves and the body of the dress. It shows the layers underneath but is not too bulky to layer under other garments, either.

This first combination with the newly made dress is quite grown up and quiet, I wore my new leather pants with the zippers open on the legs, Rützou wedges, simple spaghetti strap top and old heavy brass necklace from H&M to underline the slightly barbaric feel of the loose fabric. The mix of leather, silk and cashmere is very luxurious and gives quite pleasant olfactory experience — silk has it’s recognizable nutty scent, too, for some reason it is more apparent in knits than most woven fabrics. But I have to say that I really miss those PVC panel pants here. The shiny plastic would be an awesome contrast for the rustic texture of this dress.

Mmm-hmm, I should bother to use my make up for the pics…

Posted on | November 15, 2009 | 15 Comments

// Everybody wants a piece of Jimmy

Posted on | November 14, 2009 | 6 Comments

I skipped the H&M IRL chaos today — but to be honest queued to web shop for a while. With no possibility to fit the clothes on I was mainly interested in accessories. Jimmy Choo is definitely not “the thing” for me and I’m not dreaming their actual stuff at all. But when H&M pricing meets decent quality and even slightly interesting design I’m always curious. Back to that later.

The thing I’m writing about here is quality and design. A regular H&M pair of shoes costs about 40 € — material is very probably polyurethane and the designer is nameless. Now we have here real leather shoes designed by Tamara Mellon, who gladly presents her face in the PR of the collaboration. Shoe prices start from 60 € flats ranging 80 – 100 € heels/flat boots to 180 € (for thigh high leather boots). These prices are still very accessible, even with smallish Finnish income you could still indulge yourself with pair or two within a year. Not saying that those Jimmy Choo designs are the most practical ones to invest your hard earned money, that’s not the point here.

But if that is the price of mass produced but thoughtfully designed and decently manufactured product why is not everything available for us consumers to buy well designed and decently manufactured? The fact that designer actually wants to be presented in context of her work is actually a really good general measure of at least acceptable quality.

I want the faceless designers to step forward and insist that the general quality should be such that they can proudly add their names to the products. I want the nameless designers in the industry to demand such a freedom in their design job that they don’t need just copy items from the high end brand catwalks. I want the unknown designers — and bit better known manufacturers — have that much responsibility in the production that they can proudly tell where and how the product is manufactured and how the materials are produced. That will probably add another ten to twenty euros to the price.

But hey, we can afford that.

Posted on | November 14, 2009 | 6 Comments

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About

Location: Helsinki, Finland

Contact: kamicha (a) gmail dot com

I'm especially interested in young designers creations, non-established labels and indie fashion. So if you have something interesting to show, feel free to contact!

You can find Finnish design from both specific and some outfit posts - but both are tagged.

You might be also interested in DIY posts, How-to posts, DIY ideas - or my adventures in Etsy =).

More about me and this blog.