// Vintage floral

Posted on | April 24, 2011 | 1 Comment

I haven’t been sweeping the charity shops more than usual — good for me — but I have to say that embarrassingly high percentage of my life goes on by by browsing Etsy… Which is sort of good, because sometimes I bump into small treasures like this skirt — and on the other hand there is stuff in my faves for quite many posts to come…

The skirt is hand painted, from seventies and lovely, bouncy silk taffeta. I’m in awe about it’s gorgeousness! It’s in nearly perfect condition with only a small stain in the yoke — I tested water and cleanser to the seam and the colors seem to hold, although it is marked as dry clean only. Silk fabrics can be gently washed — but colors don’t always hold well and silk taffeta is prone to “water stains” — water and sometimes uneven drying leaves marks to it (dyed fabrics though are worse with this than white ones). I might end up hand washing it — and ironing when damp. It would also benefit from adding a zip on the side. It is a pull-on model and although the fit is perfect when the skirt is on the yoke is so small that I can barely pull my hip through it.

Could not resist trying it on with simple white t-shirt (uh, erm, I am affected by some mighty looks of this spring — but I have always liked low key tops with festive / flashy bottoms) — mine is considerably oversized Cheap Monday one. And the Topshop wedges.

Posted on | April 24, 2011 | 1 Comment

// Ballet flat perfection

Posted on | April 22, 2011 | 2 Comments

Nude flats with knitted neon yarn by Tracey Neuls. Found via Style Bubble.

Posted on | April 22, 2011 | 2 Comments

// DIY clutch

Posted on | April 21, 2011 | 3 Comments

So I converted an old leather jacket to this large clutch bag. I loved the heavy leather and striped construction — but unfortunately I did not get along well with the shape and size of the jacket. It cost me one euro — and the original thought was to reuse the fabric if the jacket was left unused.

I thought that this would be a simple little project — just cut the piece from the middle back of the jacket, sew on the metallic zipper and sides — add a long leather stripe to the zipper for easy pulling action… Well, the back piece was weirdly asymmetrical and it took four attempts before I got the pleats right — they give the clutch subtly softer shape and balance the asymmetry.

There’s also a confession to made. My clothes shopping ban has worked relatively well, I have purchased only few second hand things, couple of accessories and maybe couple of t-shirts so far this year. But when the bright jewel tones of this summer arrived I could not resist, I fell not just for this one jewel toned skirt from Zara… …something else bright and new in my wardrobe as well, back to that later. On the other hand I did not get the jeans I was after this spring, so be it.

Excuse my chicken legs… …I do use short skirts and shorts when temperatures rise, but now it is definitely too early. This time I was after my chartreuse tights for this photoshoot, but just could not find them. Shoes are from Topshop and stripy shirt from Weekday.

Posted on | April 21, 2011 | 3 Comments

// High slit

Posted on | April 19, 2011 | No Comments

Oh — what a gorgeous dress from Babooshka Boutique!

Posted on | April 19, 2011 | No Comments

// Madras check

Posted on | April 19, 2011 | No Comments

Behind I Owe You is fashion designer Kavita Parmar. I got mail from her few days ago, and now there are fragments of information floating around the web about her endeavor. The sustainability aspect is pretty well thought with her designs — one can actually track an individually coded garment to fabric creation phase. Traditional madras patterns are woven by artisans in India, only small amounts at a time (cotton is locally grown there), denim comes from Japan; the garments are sewn in Europe — and consumer can track the whole production chain. And… …the bright and cheerful looking basics are not just sustainably produced, but individual as well. I’m quite drawn to the bright pastels and pattern mixing — it takes the traditional madras check beyond preppy. It’s bit too early to say anything definitive from these few pictures, but she definitely got my interest! Follow IOU in Facebook — or check the video at the IOU project site.

Here’s what she tells about the project:

Here at The IOU Project we´ve been working on something for the past two years that we wanted to show to a select group of people in fashion and other disciplines who we feel have a voice and an interesting point of view.

I am a fashion designer, and together with my company, we set ourselves up with what we thought was an almost impossible challenge: to design and produce a line of totally unique clothing that would be cool and casual, but no matter how many people bought an item no two would ever be the same.…

We´re about to launch in the first days of May, and we really feel good about what we have done, so here´s a friendly sneak peek. We think it´s special, and I hope you find it interesting as well. If anything I can tell you, it´s totally unique!

Posted on | April 19, 2011 | No Comments

// Zana did it

Posted on | April 16, 2011 | 5 Comments

Although my shopping ban has been for new clothes, not for accessories I haven’t been buying many of those either this year. However I was pretty sure that I will order something from Zana Bayne as soon as she got her own webstore open — and I did.

Harnesses… …well, I’m probably as edgy as the lamest sister in all girls books, but I think that Zana’s accessories can actually be interwoven to many kind of styles. I like how the spring look book was styled with sharp, structured items. Personally I have been using this lightweight harness necklace to spice up my regular t:s and jeans outfits — preferably underneath a jacket. It also works really well over oversized tops and dresses, giving a softly shapely silhouette. And with crisp white shirt — as seen in the look book.

Here I’m wearing it with my regular muted down non-colors, old Asos sequin jacket is kind of ratty, but I sort of like it just because of that. The T is ancient J.Lindeberg one (do they still make women’s clothes?), it has slightly too large neck opening but great fit — and the shabby look of it with the visible black thread on the seams just goes better with age. Cheap Monday skinnies and Carin Wester wedges. I love these shoes. Oh how I wish that her equally beautiful black wedges were as comfy to wear as these…

Posted on | April 16, 2011 | 5 Comments

// All my friends…

Posted on | April 15, 2011 | No Comments

// Party at fem.

Posted on | April 15, 2011 | 2 Comments

Just when I said that this is not a lifestyle blog I’m blogging about party I attended… …well, this one is related to subject, though! I was invited to visit fem. collective spring party — and I gladly did. The designers behind the collective are Mirkka Metsola — known from the first Finnish Project Runway (Muodin huipulle) and Kaisa Riivari whose banana printed spring basics look very timely right now. Paula Kasurinen — woman behind lovely Poola Kataryna — and my friend Minna Kaartinen (Vietto) joined to the group later.

I went early to be able to shoot some details — unfortunately I had some bad luck when uploading the pictures and lost over half of them. Well, what to do — the boutique is just around the corner, maybe I’ll visit there another time for decent details…

It did not take too long until the small space was filled with happy party people…

Paula’s lovely hairdo is definitely noteworthy!

Posted on | April 15, 2011 | 2 Comments

// Old lady dress

Posted on | April 13, 2011 | 5 Comments

One second hand piece I have wanted to find for ages is a nice “old lady dress” — a dress with demure length, buttons on front, modest little collar, lightly fitted, with sleeves. The problem with these is that often they are made of nasty fabrics — smelly nylon, very itchy polyester… However yesterday I went to my neighborhood Fida and my eyes instantly fixed to the mint green-black pattern I saw on the dresses rack. The closer inspection revealed it to be a perfect old lady dress, beautifully homemade by very skilled seamstress — and in addition to all that it looked like totally unworn. The fabric has very silky feel on it and beautiful weave, it must be either high quality polyester — or silk. I have to make a burn test. Either way it is a great find for 8 euros!

Obviously repeating patterns like this are not my absolute favorite, but somehow this particular one actually works, it has a surprisingly contemporary feel. The dress was meant to fit more closely, it actually has a zipper on side but goes over my head easily without opening it — still the fit is great with a belt, the shoulder line matches perfectly to mine. I prefer a heavy leather belt with this to cut the home dress feel, neon socks from We Love Colors and my beloved Carin Wester wedges update it nicely as well. Again… …I’m not after any obvious vintage look.

Posted on | April 13, 2011 | 5 Comments

// Stacked friendship

Posted on | April 12, 2011 | 1 Comment

Beautiful friendship bracelet stacks from Nautical Wheeler.

Or make your own. This article covers the basic techniques. And see videos here for knotted ones.

Posted on | April 12, 2011 | 1 Comment

keep looking »

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.