// All things shiny…

Posted on | March 30, 2011 | 2 Comments

I found this little mesh shirt with most awesome assortment of blush and pale gold sequins from local charity shop for couple of euros.

Sometimes my brain just does not wrap around the possible reasons why anyone would like to part some of the items I find as second hand. But on the other hand — I’m glad they do.

And… …I was really about to do something exciting with this but end up just wearing it with ancient Acne husband jeans and Carin Wester wedges… …just to record that amazing amount of girly bling…

Posted on | March 30, 2011 | 2 Comments

// Draped by the dress

Posted on | March 24, 2011 | 1 Comment

The quiet, rough edged beauty of this Acne dress really speaks to me. I forgive the use of polyester here, the material has really nice hand feel, the light wrinkle handling makes it very lively looking and it does not crease easily. Not much effort here in styling it, but it kind of speaks for itself…

I’m wearing it here simply with Carin Wester wedges, DIY agate necklace layered with absolutely perfect long horn necklace from Savage Salvage. The wedges were my best sales purchase after Christmas. They are super comfortable and go pretty much with everything — cutting the sweet edge of pretty outfits at the same time.

Posted on | March 24, 2011 | 1 Comment

// The perfect draped dress is mine!

Posted on | March 23, 2011 | 1 Comment

When I was anticipating the Lanvin for H&M collection I was really waiting for draped dresses which can be easily worn up and down. Well, the collection was quite different… …a fanciful party frocks galore.

I just wonder if it is the influence of collaboration between Elbaz and Acne — or just a co-incidence, but the draped silk and polyester dresses in Acne spring collection look very Lanvin-esque to me. So I was very happy to get one of them as an early birthday present today (guess which one)! Can’t wait to get on photographing it!

Posted on | March 23, 2011 | 1 Comment

// It’s oh so bright

Posted on | March 19, 2011 | 3 Comments

So, I haven’t been purchasing clothes this spring (well, I’ve had one slip at Monki and one in H&M) — but the accessories department has not been totally quiet. I have been stalking Cambridge Satchels for a while — their smallest 11″ satchel seemed to be exactly what I need. A smallish bag that leaves my hands free, good quality, reasonably priced, bright colors. The only problem was that I was unable to decide between the green and the purple.

A while ago they announced that they will launch fluorescent colors soon. Well that was it. I knew that the neon yellow was exactly what I had been waiting for — without even knowing it.

The size is perfect to accomodate the essentials. The leather is thick and lovely, the fluorescent color leaves nothing to hope for — it is so bright! I like the idea of combining it to netrals: greys, nudes, beiges — and to other brights.

I’m wearing it here with an Acne coat, COS cardigan, H&M tank, Cheap Monday jeans, JC wedges.

Posted on | March 19, 2011 | 3 Comments

// Finished

Posted on | February 1, 2011 | 3 Comments

My first DIY addition this year to my already bulging wardrobe got finished a while ago. A knit poncho might not be a trendiest garment right now, but this particular one with very simple structure, exposed single seam, beautiful stitch pattern and awesome quality yarn was one I could not pass. You can find the pattern from Joelle Hoverson’s Last Minute Knitted Gifts — and the yarn is absolutely amazing Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes. You can’t really see it in these pictures, but there is subtle variation in the yarn color, which makes the knitted surface very lively. And it feels so lovely… …alpaca has a very special, slippery soft hand feel…

I have been using it over my coats, like oversized scarf. Here it is as a part of simple outfit, with Cheap Monday jeans, Acne boxy rayon sweater and lovely Vietto recycled cotton scarf on top — co-incidentally these two knits are almost the same color.

Posted on | February 1, 2011 | 3 Comments

// Cropped it…

Posted on | October 9, 2010 | 7 Comments

Yep, I cropped the darn Acne dress. And cut the neck opening to better shape — actually like the dress lot more now when all the edges are raw. Now it is below the knee length and agreeing so much better with the rest of my wardrobe. I’m layering it with gigantic Weekday shirts (the beige mesh one, and nude square T), leggings (this pair H&M) and my own knits (the gray cape and see-thru mohair one). Comfy! But they predict snow next week… …guess I have to start to cover my legs…

Posted on | October 9, 2010 | 7 Comments

// Two things

Posted on | August 25, 2010 | 1 Comment

Two things I would like to add my autumn wardrobe. Geronimo cashmere scarf from Acne for hiding from the bad weather. Rodebjer floral dress for aggressive granny looks.

Posted on | August 25, 2010 | 1 Comment

// Autumn sorted out

Posted on | July 15, 2010 | 6 Comments

I think that I’m less inspired by the autumn fashion than usual. The fashion press is sort of exited about the retro vibes and wearable classics, but in a sense of inspiration they don’t do much for me. Celine was practically the same as summer collection with just a bit heavier materials, Marc Jacobs was — dare I say — boring, Prada managed to look somewhat fresh in spite of the heavy retro feel (but still — dare I say — uninspiring), and all that camel color in numerous shows really made me yawn. And I’m not particularly delighted about the black-red combination resurrected in many collections. Of course there were some highlights — Alexander McQueen last collection is breathtaking (but so inaccessible that I’m not sure if it inspires me) — maybe a bit more accessible use of feathers in many collections, remembering instantly Demeulemeester and even Marni, chalk stained “tough geek” collection of A.F. Vandevorst, accessible looking “preppy grunge” collection of Rag & Bone with some nice layering inspiration, Rick Owens was rather impressive, the return of velvet and shearling in many collections, some collections with neat ethnic vibes… …yes, there is more, but I’m still not too inspired. I know that this is totally unnecessary whining from a person with zero fashion credibility…

…an that makes me think that maybe it is just the summery weather we are experiencing here. Or I need the autumn Collections edition from Elle to propel my enthusiasm. Second thought — those two might mix pretty well!

Still — I have sorted out what I would like to have for next autumn/winter — and that is not much.

Some shearling — preferably a luxurious aviator jacket from Acne — but I’ll bet that I have to settle to some vintage. Or maybe I could rework my mom’s old shearling coat.

Or this lovely hat from Gudrun og Gudrun. Would be immensely practical in Finnish weather. Actually everything shearling would.

A cape/poncho. Preferably with ethnic look. I surely don’t want to be one of those wearing the Chloe cape copy now available (or at least for the autumn season, check H&M) from every self respecting high street chain. I’m thinking some South American feel with not too ornate decorations, maybe something simple, rugged and handmade like this poncho from Ecuadorian Hands. Would look great over my regular jeans and boots — could even blow the dust off from my old brown Mulberry Phoebe bag.

Something velvet. For some reason I have been eyeing bags a lot, this Kyoko Wanai for Fairy Woodland piece from Yoox sale is pretty awesome — totally unnecessary, but so pretty, striking directly to my dark romantic nerve.

But maybe I’ll check Carin Wester and Dagmar for some plush wear. Sorry, I broke my nerve when trying to find some decent sized images — but there is some wearable velvet action happening within both of these collections.

An perhaps some feathers. There are lots of them in ASOS sale. DIY would also be a good option.

I definitely will bump to numerous desirable items when the season actually starts — but these I could probably justify… …sort of…

And no — these don’t match. But they would complement my current belongings in delightful ways…

Posted on | July 15, 2010 | 6 Comments

// Just can’t get the grip of it

Posted on | June 8, 2010 | 8 Comments

I feel slight regrets of buying this dress from Berlin last autumn. I sort of like it, but it does not agree well with my wardrobe. I also thought that it is all too stripy to become really popular… …duh, was I wrong! I have seen it around a lot — which should not be a problem for high street advocate like me — but this piece is so recognizable…

On everyday use I think that it looks best on it’s own, paired just with casual flats and slouchy bag — but my body is not ideal for that. All additional layers strip off the effectiveness of this dress — except when they are theatrical enough.

I just toyed around with that dimension, wearing a vintage haori over the dress, adorned with my DIY body chain worn as giant lariat — I even attached couple of pendants to the ends. The other thing around my neck is an old glass beaded scarf, which actually falls closer to the jewelry category than scarves.

On the latter two pics: Vero Moda cascade knit and Design House Stockholm scarf create a weird court dress feeling.

But I’m probably not theatrical enough for these…

Posted on | June 8, 2010 | 8 Comments

// Oldest & newest

Posted on | May 8, 2010 | 1 Comment

Stellagee had an interesting challenge in her blog a while ago… …she encouraged us bloggers to dig out the oldest wearable piece from the wardrobe. And by oldest she does not mean the actual age of the garment, but the one that has been longest in possession.

For me the task was not too easy (too many clothes, perhaps???) — and the results were not maybe too interesting, but somehow revealing anyway. When I browsed through my garments I came in to conclusion that my oldest garment — or actually garments are two Benetton polyester slip dresses, in black and dove grey. I can’t really recall the actual year of purchase, but it is certainly before I moved from my original hometown in 1992. I actually remember well buying these… …my best friend had a summer job in accounting office in Raahe and I went there to see her — naturally we did some shopping, too. My hometown was not exactly a teenage fashion paradise. Too bad I have sold the beutiful leather and cord belt I bought at the same time… …it would have been perfect this summer.

Why have these garments lasted time — well, this country has been absolutely impossible place for finding such a mundane garment as slip in the past. The options available were targeted to population 60 years and older. Things have changed a bit just in past years and of course the online options are there these days, too. But I haven’t discarded these — the simple cut is perfect for my body shape, the pale gray is not the most common but very useful shade in underwear and because of their opaqueness they work perfectly as a part of layered outfit, partially visible if I wish. The few years I was too big to fit into them I did not bother getting rid of them either, they don’t take that much room in my wardrobe.

Funny thing is that my newest garment is — if not family — at least a sibling to those. Because of my injured leg fitting shoes was out of question on my Stockholm trip ( I would have loved to try on the Acne nail heels with pom-pom adornments *sigh*). So I turned to dresses (more wallet friendly option, too) and my pick was this absolutely lovely Acne cotton & silk dress. Long live to it, too!

What is your oldest garment — and why?

PS. Added the wedge pictures to the previous post, they are still on sale (although I feel certain indecisiviness towards this issue )

Posted on | May 8, 2010 | 1 Comment

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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.