// Vintage find

Posted on | March 31, 2010 | 6 Comments

I’ve done some great second hand finds this winter — and the nomination for the most beautiful one goes easily to this mint green, sparely flowered kimono. Or to be more exact, this is actually a haori jacket, used as top layer over a kimono. It is made of pretty awesome handpainted heavyweight silk and it has traditional half lining with a matching fabric. I will provide some detail shots later with first actual outfit post — but that will probably take a while, this one is not for rainy weather we are currently experiencing here.

And no, I’m not going to wear it like this… …I’m planning to layer it over my dark jean jacket (that one still needs a wash or two, I need to be certain that there will be no color transfer) or a second hand oversized denim shirt; to relatively casual outfits to tone it down. I like the idea, the simple shape and the quality fabric so much that I’m definitely going to get another one, with very different fabric. The men’s versions are often more simple with no painted or embroidered details, and that’s what I’m after — they usually have some subtle small scale woven pattern with colors like blue, gray and maroon, often combined to white or ecru — very easy to combine to prints and solids.

Naturally this was not my idea — I think that it was actually Susie Bubble who opened my eyes for these. Before that I remember seeing Catherine Baba wearing a kimono beautifully… …but that was not enough to cause any action here, though.

The bracelet is silver petal necklace from Efva Attling worn doubled, the suede belt is familiar from some previous outfit post — and oh yes, it is from Vero Moda, I found a faded print inside. A vintage slip underneath.

You can find several sellers from Etsy — this one is from SeskasPlace — I warmly recommend her shop! But there is more, check for example KimonoMomo and Togei.

And guess what. These are not expensive at all.

Posted on | March 31, 2010 | 6 Comments

// For summer

Posted on | March 31, 2010 | 2 Comments

I noticed that I’ve had Polyvore account for two years — but I haven’t used it almost at all. This blog is not going to be a Polyvore collage vault… …but I like the idea of using it as a shopping guide. My memory is very visual and especially when I’m hunting second hand pieces it really helps to remember what I’m actually after. So, for next summer I’m looking for printed dresses/tunics and embellished tops/vests/jackets from charity shops. A pair of ivory framed sunglasses would be fab (new or vintage), I could use a pair of chandelier earrings — and I would not mind those Carin Wester wedges land to my quarters (but that is entirely different story). A pair of faded blue jeans are here just because they remind me to use my own pair… …I just love faded denim in summertime…

Posted on | March 31, 2010 | 2 Comments

// The old trench coat

Posted on | March 29, 2010 | 6 Comments

On Sunday we went to see Tom Ford’s Single Man. What a pleasant surprise, it was a deep and emotional movie with impeccably beautiful cinematography. And it was the first actual outing for the spring coat this year — bit cold still but I survived!

I have quite a bunch of formal wear from my previous life — and truthfully I like most of that stuff. I just have to mix the things up more or less to make those work for me now. I never wear skirts as short as this tiny tulle example without longer layer on top. The childishness of it really draws it together with serious garments for contrast — thus I took out my old trench coat from the wardrobe. Polka dots in slightly oversized navy blouse, Docs & opaque tights fill up this mishmash of outfit, distantly inspired by certain Japanese designers. I was particularly delighted about how the shirt cuffs show up from the coat sleeves — yeah, this kind of little things make me sometimes very happy…

The skirt is a sale find from H&M — and I like the idea but the execution leaves something to hope for. I dislike the shiny satin waistband and how the lining shows through from the upper part. Shirt is one of my beloved second hand finds, trench from Filippa K.

I look somewhat uptight in the pics, but this time I did not have too much options to select from. I took just few pics before leaving to the cinema. The slightly larger image format still scares the hell out of me, but this way I have neater production path for pictures (which you can actually see as slightly sharper images), plus enough room for two column image galleries in the content area. Funny how those plus 75 pixels make me again painfully aware of putting my face on display to interwebs. What can a blogger say… …oh well — maybe? If it does not kill you…

Posted on | March 29, 2010 | 6 Comments

// Appropriately pretty Parikka

Posted on | March 29, 2010 | No Comments

Although Minna Parikka’s burlesque inspired style is not 100% for me she seems to design every season one shoe that really appeals me. This spring it is Birdcage — I love it in black. Unfortunately the image does not show the lovely front detail of this shoe well at all. I really like how she designs laced shoes so that they actually have to be laced — there is no zipper making things easier…

Unfortunately the only colored option is bright red — which is difficult color for me — emerald green or vibrant purple would have been awesome!

Posted on | March 29, 2010 | No Comments

// The colors the dreams are made of

Posted on | March 28, 2010 | 10 Comments

So, I apologize this sudden flood of outfit posts… …my weeks have been so busy that I haven’t had time for processing images — but weekends are good for that.

Like probably almost anyone even marginally interested in fashion, I’m totally in awe of the creativity of Mulleavy sisters — ant the Rodarte sleepwalking theme really touched me. I guess that I’ve had the interest for sleepingwear used as a daywear for a long time, there are even some earlier examples in this blog. To be more exact, the sleepwear look is my workaround using underwear as outerwear, that approach strips away the sexiness of underwear — element I’m not too confident with, personally. Simple and clear, huh?

Since seeing the Rodarte show I have ordered and reordered my soft colored clothes to sleepwalking-themed outfits in my head… …all naturally very watered down versions from the Rodarte art… …still… …one of them being this one. I was actually about to add one second hand skirt to this, but it is still an ongoing project and currently in unwearable state. It would have added a bunch of tiny flowers to this — and probably made it more interesting to photograph, but perhaps bit less wearable in the so called real life. This version I can imagine wearing to some summer party, easily.

My hair is actually naturally curly, but rare are those days it agrees to act even semi-decently. The curls make soft hair like mine look so messy and dry… …but that kind of fits to this outfit.

The dress is old find from H&M and the color is nude, but the shiny silk satin picks blue light so easily that it often looks just pink in the pictures. Beaded silk jacket is vintage and the powder pink cardigan is again from H&M. The tie dye print mesh leggings are from Norwegian Wood — and I love them. Tan wedge sandals are from Ash — and the clumpy shape of these is totally necessary contrast to all that sweetness.

I also notice that I’m gradually slipping from my “I actually wore this” –principle… …dressing up and taking the photographs is just fun and it is very delightful to step out from the everyday-scheme occasionally. Hey, if I would continue strictly with that principle, you would never see any festive clothes in this blog…

And hey, if you want to give me a hand in Weardrobe contest, just click that little like icon! I sure could use that Zara gift card, haha! Thank you so much!

Posted on | March 28, 2010 | 10 Comments

// Ewa does it again

Posted on | March 28, 2010 | No Comments

Anna-Maria gave me a hint that Ewa Larsson is continuing the collaboration with Lindex. The previous one in the autumn had some great designs, but unfortunately the materials were not my liking in the garments I was after.

The actual promotion pictures of the new collection are not officially out yet, so to come over my this nights insomnia I browsed some blogs to find some picture material. The images above are from Elin Josefine — and they show some interesting strappy structures, pleating, and very delicate blue water-color splatter print that makes me think bird egg shells… …very promising. There will be some accessories, too. There are even some more pics in her blog, go and see!

Gizmolina had few promotion pictures in her blog (in addition to her own material from PR event; click, click!) — good thing I did not bump to those first — Carmen Cass photoshopped to flawless plastic figure in unimaginative glamour shots does not really tickle my interest…

Posted on | March 28, 2010 | No Comments

// The linen jacket in action

Posted on | March 27, 2010 | 3 Comments

Sometimes I like my upper and lower parts being from different worlds. I used the trick today to adjust the newly found second hand jacket to my spring wardrobe. The upper part is all soft, understated layers with structured jacket, minimal cashmere cardigan, white T and dainty jewelry. But the T extends to raw edged tunic that ties the shiny leggings and suede booties to the almost formal upper half. Or at least I hope so! This is my businesswoman-forgot-her-pants –look — and the cat could not care less…

Speaking about leggings I might I need new shiny ones. These look really baggy on me.

I’m wearing thrifted Escada linen jacket, COS cashmere cardigan, Gina Trickot tunic and leggings, COX boots (from Berlin). The tiny disc necklace is from Etsy, Classic Designs. Theresa has a nice selection of more subdued, everyday jewelry — I especially love her glass lockets, simple circle and disc necklaces, and hand forged earrings — and I’m not even huge fan of tiny jewelry.

Posted on | March 27, 2010 | 3 Comments

// The double denim

Posted on | March 26, 2010 | 12 Comments

So, one phenomena that amuses me a lot is those definite no no’s of all sorts of style quides. You don’t have to be very aware of trends or fashion to be aware of those… …Carrie says no to scrunchies… …Trinny & Susannah say this and that… …Oprah says… …oh, you got it… And then BAM — the style disaster turns to a trend — and the most unexpected people are BREAKING THE STYLE RULES *wheezzz, the air goes in*. And suddenly everybody is doing it. Like yours truly.

But truth to be told I have never been thinking that one can’t wear for example double denim. I think that I get the reasoning behind the style rulebooks in this case — double denim can be extremely boring or it can be quite redneck’y. But both of these aspects could probably be worked to extremes to create something interesting (I would love to work the ultimate boringness of denim if my own appearance were bit edgier). Or it could be possible just to think why it could be boring or what exactly are the hillybilly elements of double denim looks — and try to avoid those instead of avoiding the whole concept.

So this is not the answer for double denim looks, no! It is just my workaround that does not involve denim cutouts… …the elements are different shades of denim, unusual shapes combined to classics and few simple accessories.

I built the look around a lovely denim jumpsuit I found from Lindex. Lindex is little bit like Scandinavian Primark — affordable, totally safe bet to go shopping with your working class mom (if you happen to have one); she will love it and she can afford a bunch of momsy basics — but there are often gems in there (they even had some collaborations) — and those are probably not as worn-to-death-by-all-(Swedish)-style-bloggers than all the H&M highlights… Ok, the jumpsuit has totally unapologetic harem cut. I combined it to vintage men’s denim shirt. I love all sorts of processed denim, but nothing beats the feel of it when it has actually worn in use. The cuff and the pockets are bit torn — but they just add the flair of this piece. Over the shirt I’m wearing the old Filippa-K blazer, booties are from Vagabond, the sequined silk scarf Day Birger & Mikkelsen and the sunnies Pilgrim. When I bought these few years ago they were like HUGE, now when I look at them they look very considerately sized…

Oh the jumpsuit only… …this one I’m going to wear to pieces…

Posted on | March 26, 2010 | 12 Comments

// My authoritahh…

Posted on | March 25, 2010 | 4 Comments

There are things that I have loved ages — like Ray Ban aviator sunglasses. There were so many years I thought I can’t use them because of my high and round cheekbones. Mwahahahaaa! Guess what, when one ages one stops to care and wears what she wants anyway! I bought this awesome ombre pair two or three years ago and haven’t had any regrets. I love to wear them with feminine hair — but maybe even more with strict, pulled back hair and loose utilitarian clothes. This is perhaps as androgynous look as it is possible for me.

All stuff is old — or ancient. The bulky T is actually the lovely oversized T-shirt dress from Babooshka Boutique, newest item in this bunch and can’t recommend it more, the jersey is soft and heavyveight — and has not lost any of it’s blackness in repeated washes. Plus the shape is just… …awesome. The leather jacket is really old and from H&M (spank me, plz), booties are old Vagabonds and the jeans are from Diesel — they were originally faded blue but I dyed them black couple of years ago.

At the time I bought the jeans (several years ago) the tapered loose leg was practically nonexistent phenomena… …and it often happens to me that when some shape or cut disappears from street view I create desperate craving for it. That’s not because I want to be the early adapter or something — I just feel that it is not good to limit the options available for the sake of trends or something (you’ll bet I’m stashing harem pants… …they surely disappear any day now…). Whatever, I have loved this pair dearly, the cut is actually very flattering for my body type (can’t believe I said that), they are extremely comfortable and I love every single detail of these (the elaborate stitching, the twisting inner seams, some extra tool loops on the waist).

And hail for the unexpected fashion icon!

Posted on | March 25, 2010 | 4 Comments

// Nineties power jacket

Posted on | March 23, 2010 | 3 Comments

Another great find — this time from UFF Hämeentie: a perfect early nineties style jacket/blazer with strong shoulder line and beautiful linen fabric. Not sure if it deserves it’s own post, but I forgot to add the pic to the previous one. This is a great addition to my spring outfits!

Do I just imagine or has UFF has hitched up the prices? I think that this one was well worth the thirty euros they were asking for it… …but considering that most of the stuff in there is total crap the prices seemed bit outrageous…

Posted on | March 23, 2010 | 3 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.