// Sweet obsolescence

Posted on | February 9, 2012 | 2 Comments

I finally got my old (+ 12 years) wrist watch repaired. Originally this sport watch had a pleasant rubber wrist band — but it did not really last in use, so it was replaced with a steel band from the same manufacturer. I have to say that I love it — however obsolete thing a wrist watch is in these days — especially considering gadget freak like yours truly.

I’m not wearing anything special these days. Just trying to keep warm underneath multiple layers of wool and second hand fur. Today I was brave enough to pull on a thick pair of tights under bright orange neoprene skirt I got with mere pennies from ASOS final sale. Both this fluffy wool second hand coat and H&M angora sweater have proved themselves in the freezing temperatures. Good thing I’m not prone to itching, coarse wools just encourage the blood circulation on my skin and make me feel extra warm…

Posted on | February 9, 2012 | 2 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

// 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

// 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

// The X

Posted on | April 6, 2011 | No Comments

When I saw this X shirt in Minna’s stash I knew it should be rightfully mine. My infatuation to neon colors seems not to fade. The outfit is nothing special — a girl wearing jeans and t — but I like what the handpainted neon X and the short shirt length do to that uniform. Cheap Monday jeans, ASOS cardigan, Vietto shirt, Selected leather jacket and Pinko scarf. I tried to capture the lovely texture of the scarf in the first picture, but it was bit too late (=dark) when I shot these.

Hmm, I think my smile is all normal IRL — but in pictures I end up looking like a witch who eats babies as breakfast. Especially with my hair open…

You can also observe one phenomenon in my latest outfit pics. I have been taking them quite often. So — I do get stuck with certain pieces in everyday wear. Right now they are these black Cheap Monday jeans — they are bit thicker denim and thus perfect for winter and they fit perfectly — their vice is that they are a terrible cat hair magnet, ASOS cardigan, Rützou wedges which actually go out for the city strolls only, it is still quite icy at periphery — but they are replaced by my Vagabond wedges when I need better grip to the surface — and those give pretty much similar visual effect… I need to get out of the rut — but that needs warmer weather!

Posted on | April 6, 2011 | No Comments

// Converse girl

Posted on | April 4, 2011 | 10 Comments

Note to myself — Converse works really well in snow and ice. But the insulation leaves something to hope for.

Yes, I’m again all but age appropriate (38 today, time flies, I can tell) — but who cares about old ladies anyway! Pretty skirt and pair of tattered converse is kind of cliche, I like to add an oversized cardi and ugly tights to the mix. Dress is by Cheap Monday (I really stocked in the sales. I’m so very embarrassed, I need to keep out of there that time. Basically I want all the stuff that is left there and sold at the end of sales by ten euros or under. Oh, this is true for both Weekday AND Monki), grey dress underneath Diesel Black & Gold, tights from H&M, cardi from ASOS (and I’m kind of in love with it currently — the slouchy pockets and silk chiffon back are perfect).

Posted on | April 4, 2011 | 10 Comments

// 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

// On man-made fibers

Posted on | May 28, 2010 | 3 Comments

From my previous Lindex post one could get an impression of me as a terrible fiber snob — which is actually true. But I’m not all against man made fibers, they have their place… …in my leggings and tights, certain underwear and sportswear. I have also accepted one vintage polyester lace dress which is as comfortable as a shower curtain — and I bet that among my dressy dresses there are some other man-made miracles.

But to be totally honest — I have found a variety of polyester I actually like.

Modern, lightweight polyester jersey can look a lot like cotton, but it is slightly more drapey, lighter and does not crease at all. The jersey structure makes the fabric breathing, forget the shower curtain effect. The only negative is that it can be slightly static. My first encounter to this fabric was American Apparel see-thru garments, but actually I have two H&M tanks and this Asos asymmetric top with significantly better quality. Oh, the AA-ones are lovely, too — but they are so thin that they are extremely delicate and they also pill quite a lot.

I photographed the top with just my DIY body chain over it just to illustrate that there is no sign of the fact that I had a waist belt over it on previous day. But for the actual outfit I added linen Zara shirt jacket — the chains are too boob-enhancing without this cover-up-op. Selected Femme leather pants & Carin Wester wedges… …a simple work outfit.

(And I have not decided yet…)

Posted on | May 28, 2010 | 3 Comments

// Bad habits

Posted on | January 3, 2010 | No Comments

Haha, I should totally stop browsing online sales, NOW. But plz, friends, give a good home for this Gestuz silk jumpsuit. It is totally worth that £69.00 that they are asking for it at Asos outlet.

Posted on | January 3, 2010 | No Comments

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 =).

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