// Still a knitter

Posted on | May 31, 2011 | 2 Comments

My needles are still clicking — there are maybe three sweaters on active production line — and at least one cardigan at idea level.

I have a thing for mohair yarns, it’s part of the eighties vibe I like, part just that lovely texture. The black and white one is dress length, loose, with giant funnel neck, big enough to wear as a hood. This would be ready in a snap… …but I have lost the sleeve I was knitting… ..yeah, that’s right…

From the shade shifting gray I was about to make a plain sweater with ballet neck — but I tried out this simple texture stitch and loved the result. Well, it will probably still be a simple ballet neck sweater. Ebony needles = ultimate knitting snobbishness…

Posted on | May 31, 2011 | 2 Comments

// Nail stamping — how to

Posted on | May 29, 2011 | No Comments

So I thought that nail art stuff is not for me… …but a while ago I got myself a set of Konad nail stamping tools and since that I have worn patterned nails now and then. Honestly I’m quite drawn to kawaii little details like that, slightly tacky — yes — but my style is not actually about being cool, cooler, the coolest…

Personally I prefer patterns that cover the whole nail and many of my favorites are patterns with graphic quality, not necessarily huge amount of detail. Tip patterns can look pretty fabulous on long nails — and naturally you can build whole nail designs from single small images, but that is just too much effort for me! Two colors has been enough for me so far — but you can build up the designs gradually, from however many colors you fancy.

There are many image plate manufacturers — a great deal for whole nail designs is Bundle Monster plate set #2. For whole nail designs don’t bother with #1 — the designs are so small that they barely cover baby fingers — but you sure might be interested in smaller images and nail tip designs in this set. The plates are pretty similar to Konads — but very sharp edged. A great thing is that the patterns are carved deeper so these transfer stronger patterns than Konad — be sure to use tissue paper when wiping these, cotton leaves fiber to the sharp edged motifs. Magno nails has Konad-sized round plates as well but their XL plates look pretty special, the whole nail geometric and organic (wow that snakeskin…) patterns have specifically caught my attention. Their ornamental designs are mirrored for both hands, nice! But I have no experience of these.

So, here are few tricks and tips how to make neat and clean prints to your nails. Read more

Posted on | May 29, 2011 | No Comments

// In the black jean rut

Posted on | May 28, 2011 | 6 Comments

The truth about my everyday work wear has been bit sad and monotonous lately. This spring has not been particularly warm and I have lived in my black or washed black Cheap Monday jeans. For work I like to add a shirt or t-shirt — and a jacket for some structure. This is all old stuff, ASOS shirt — which I have apparently snagged from the back. It is semi transparent, but not this much — I added the contrast to the images to get out more detail from this lovely Gestuz jacket — and for the mood… Hmm, the necklace I bought quite recently, it is from Lindex. I was about to go for the gold one, but the industrial charm of the shiny silver just looked so much better in person.

Oh, if someone wonders my sudden eagerness of wearing my hair open… …well I guess there are couple of reasons. First of all it starts to be in length that looks quite balanced on me. Second — I bought a GHD straightening iron a while ago — and it kind of lives to the hype. It is an extremely well made tool, warms in seconds, glides on hair and is hot enough to smooth the hair with one or two swipes. It takes under 10 minutes to straighten my baby fine hair — a huge improvement to the previous 20 – 25 minutes… …I certainly can do that couple of times in a week in spite of my low maintenance tendencies…

Posted on | May 28, 2011 | 6 Comments

// Photoblog

Posted on | May 28, 2011 | No Comments

I recently started a little photoblog in Tumblr. I think it serves the purpose for quickie posts.

Posted on | May 28, 2011 | No Comments

// Fascinated

Posted on | May 27, 2011 | No Comments

The burlesque wave is still going on pretty strong in this country, it can be easily seen in the blogs as well. That certain retro pin-up style is very popular. It is not for me — but I have to say that I like that some crafts have been revived, even in this small country — probably much because of this seemingly quite lasting trend.

Recently I went to press event with several interesting presenters, one of them professional hat maker Annina Nyberg-Saxberg. Her line is very classic, worthy of royal wedding — if you are in need of that level of formality.

Personally I really slack on wearing hats. I have three — plus some beanies — and I don’t really use them often. At summertime I like to use scarves as turbans, but that’s pretty much it. However… …a simple, sculptural fascinator might be fun to play with. It would add a bit of easy-to-carry volume to head and balance nicely some outfits. Hmm…

Posted on | May 27, 2011 | No Comments

// Cheap and chic

Posted on | May 27, 2011 | No Comments

Nice round frames from Weekday & H&M.

Posted on | May 27, 2011 | No Comments

// We are almost there

Posted on | May 24, 2011 | 2 Comments

Isn’t this a weird thing to do, for a grown up woman? Pulling out some random clothes from the closet, snapping some pictures and pretending that there is something to write about… …oh well, here we go again…

I can’t say anything else about this outfit except that I’m extremely happy that we happened to have a very sunny and summery day today. I was totally fine with this sheer Monki dress layered underneath my DIY maxi sweater — oh there is a nude slip guarding my modesty in case you wonder. And I added Zana Bayne necklace harness in between the layers — it goes so well with the palette and gives a nice textural contrast to super soft and flowy layers. Is this kind of girlification of leather accessories even allowed?

I’m definitely a summer girl…

Posted on | May 24, 2011 | 2 Comments

// Sweet Gestuz

Posted on | May 23, 2011 | No Comments

One Scandinavian (Danish to be exact) brand that has slowly risen to my awareness is Gestuz. I was on a verge on purchasing a beautiful bird print silk jumpsuit from ASOS outlet during the Miu Miu swallow print craze (but did not) and I actually have one simple but gorgeous quality suede jacket from them - I had actually forgotten it’s existence… …I have to thank my wardrobe clearance for couple of very special finds from my actual belongings… *cough*

For some reason this is the first time I actually visit Gestuz website — and I’m amazed! They use great materials — silk, beautifully draping jersey — they cut a mean jacket — and do little wonders with leather. The ASOS selection gives a bit one-sided view on their prints, but I think that they do pretty well on this area, too. The price range is on the upper end of high street pricing — but it looks like the quality is right on spot as well.

The collections they have online are full of very, very useful looking clothes — and not just those beloved basics, but genuinely interesting looking pieces that I could see myself treasuring years to come. Maybe they have bit of that allsainty “tough chick” thing going on occasionally — and it can feel bit pretentious even in this more subtle scale — but I can forgive that easily, there’s so much great stuff there to covet!

Oh that slouchy jacket calls my name! I also love the slightly dirty looking almost floral print on the lovely maxi dress (below), the cutout leather dress with striped construction, the stippled looking pattern in slouchy silks, textured brown leather in short skirts and shorts, beautiful draped basics… All images from spring and high summer 2011 collections.

Posted on | May 23, 2011 | No Comments

// My Africa

Posted on | May 21, 2011 | No Comments

Another Dead Birds & Lionheart –related post in a row — but I just got a password to their image gallery — and I think that it is good to know that their SS2011 clothes are now available at Argos Young Designers 2011 retail event at Stockmann.

The collection is mainly about dresses — sculptural and easy-to-wear shapes, gorgeous fabrics. There are slightly abstracted zebra prints in blue and khaki in lightweight silk, white cotton, super lightweight knit cotton lace (the second dress, this was gorgeous in person, I saw it at Argos), bold African mask print in hot terracotta and black and easier to wear beige and white (third dress, available at Argos as well) and some blocked metallics. A completely modern take on tribal themes — and gorgeous little white dresses for summer parties, or even for contemporary bridal looks. I have to say though, that I’m not huge fan of these lookbook images — but I can easily forgive that, the designs itself are awesome — and at least they show the clothes clearly.

EDIT — duh, I just noticed that the whole collection is at Indiedays Lookbook. How didn’t I notice that before?

Posted on | May 21, 2011 | No Comments

// Woven patterns

Posted on | May 20, 2011 | 5 Comments

Fashion Stock Sales 2011 was full stocked this year again — the highlight for me definitely was to get a nice overview of Dead Birds & Lionheart designs. Their studio is at Tampere — and before this event I’ve seen only few pieces from them at Liike. I have to agree with Sugar Kane that Maria Jokela and Anni Niemi definitely belong in the must-follow category of Finnish designers… …and they don’t really do the Scandinavian minimalism thing. What to expect from DB&L — well, exquisite fabrics from handpainted silks to incredible woven patterns, dresses with clever cuts, playful volume, colors…

I just could not pass this awesome cotton dress with delicate woven and frayed pattern — in the sample rack with muchos cheapness happening. Basically it is a shift dress, but the back piece is broken in two — and the ends of it can be tied around the torso. The stiff and heavy tie makes me think of obi belts — no wonder I instantly thought of pairing it with my vintage haori for relaxed garden party look (in Finland it is always a good idea to have something with you to cover your arms). And those clumpy Carin Wester shoes — they go with anything.

I also made an effort to make those through-the-mirror shots slightly more appealing… …maybe I got bit too far, haha!

Posted on | May 20, 2011 | 5 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.