// 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

// 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

// Found Fendi

Posted on | April 8, 2011 | No Comments

Our trip to Rome was not a shopping trip — but we did visit in few little boutiques and vintage shops — those are plentiful there. The absence — or very weak presence of all chain stores war pretty amazing from my Scandinavian perspective. We did not visit the outlet shopping areas in the suburbs of Rome — but actually it is possible to find small outlet boutiques comfortably within the city range.

Anyhow, my find from this trip is second hand — a beautiful wool and silk mix coat from Fendi second line, Fendi 365. The collar and cuffs are trimmed with softest of fur fringe — I can’t really say what it is, the hair is trimmed so that I can’t recognize it. The oversized, dolman-sleeved shape is perfect in all possible ways — I have plenty of clothes that are difficult to tuck underneath fitting overcoats. I was really inclined to invest to a piece of Anywho / Kobra overcoats with quite similar fit, but I was faithful to my promise to not buy new clothes this year. Well, now I’m happy I was — it would have been hard to justify this if I already had that one!

My fluorescent yellow satchel makes a perfect spot of color against the cool taupe color of this coat. See how retina burning fluorescent it is — although the fluorescence does not really show up on digital process, you can see how the bag lights up the nearby area with yellow glow! Otherwise there is not much happening with this outfit…

…and yes it’s still this cold…

Posted on | April 8, 2011 | No 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

// 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

// Black belt, white belt

Posted on | November 10, 2010 | 2 Comments

I haven’t been using belts much in the past fifteen years or so. But I guess that I could warm up my relationship to them a bit. I’m still not huge fan of cinching my waist (especially wide ones make me feel too boobalicious), but I guess that I might eventually start experimenting, cautiously under oversized layers or with belts that almost camouflage themselves to the outfit.

My oldest belt (well, not probably in age — but in my posession) is probably this old super skinny InWear one, with wide plain buckle. Extremely useful little piece. The newest addition is NorwegianWood elastic harness belt. I’m very fond of it’s utilitarian, medical / sporty feel and really like to layer it with similar tones — and under loose layers. I also love how the shape adds up to regular racerbacks.

Posted on | November 10, 2010 | 2 Comments

// Uncolored…

Posted on | August 25, 2010 | 3 Comments

I photographed this outfit in low light, thus the grainy images. I have worn lots of grey, lately. All grey outfits, tonal greys, greys combined to greiges… …yeah, kind of boring but also somehow weirdly fitting for a woman with road dust colored hair and wolf eyes.

This inexpensive little second hand mesh thing has found its way to surprisingly many of my outfits. This time I’m wearing it the wrap piece front under my all time favorite H&M cardigan. American Apparel tank is doing shoddy job underneath protecting my modesty — but fortunately I’m not too shy to show a glimpse of the neon purple Monki bra now and then — especially when the outfit is not revealing by any other means. Jeans are Cheap Monday — and Topshop shoes I bought nearly unused from a girl who could not walk in them. Good for me, these are excellent addition to my everyday shoes! The heel height is actually very moderate (maybe 9 cm) — but definitely too much for totally inexperienced user.

I haven’t been thinking autumn too much yet. August is one of my favorite months, the nights start to be decently dark and noticeably cooler, days can still be warm, but there also are days for light layers like this. I have been buying quite a lot of clothes this summer, even the sales were favorable for me although I did not scour them systematically. I’m definitely not having regrets, all pieces are great and will definitely go in circulation. But now I really have to face the fact that my wardrobe has it’s limits… …I have to start to consider my purchases more carefully — and honestly I don’t have much needs for the winter. I would love to find a sculptural cape coat — and always could add a pair of new boots — but I can definitely do without. Should I stop high street shopping altogether? That would probably be good option to consider…

Posted on | August 25, 2010 | 3 Comments

// Washed out again

Posted on | June 7, 2010 | 3 Comments

These Cheap Monday jeans have inspired me a lot this spring. I have built lots and lots of chalky, almost colorless outfits around them for everyday wear. I think that I had jeans with almost exactly similar wash in eighties, maybe that is the reason for my warm feelings towards these.

The top is from Gina Tricot — this is a lovely piece, the cotton is super soft and has a beautiful two color weave, which gives the fabric nice depth up close. I really like the peasant blouse shape at summertime — and it does not feel too romantic with this dove gray color and simple material. The chunky knit organic cotton scarf is from Vietto — another relatively new staple in my wardrobe. You can get these from Vietto Etsy shop or Goodis at Helsinki. Shoes are Sixtyseven heels from last summer. They are very nice to walk, but I have to confess that my accident has left some very persistent fear for wearing heels… …a flash of pain memory still strikes so often that I often have to change to flats before I leave home. Not a huge problem… …my leopard print ponyskin flats look good with these jeans!

FYI — I haven’t been partying hard lately. I got an infection to my right eye — but I’m trying to compensate the lack of eye makeup by giving some extra attention to my hair and adding some color to the lips… …that does not help to the persistent dark circles around my eyes, though!

Posted on | June 7, 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.