// Ivana Helsinki S/S 10
Posted on | October 15, 2009 | 4 Comments
Paola Suhonen is one of the few established Finnish young designers. Her own label Ivana Helsinki started on 1998 and it has constantly growing fan base. Personally I was not a huge fan of Paola’s early caravanar aesthetic with strong seventies vibe — but this young woman has a good eye for print and an item or two from her collections has always grabbed my attention. Fortunately she has expanded her source of inspiration and I loved deeply her summer collection Dead Butterflies couple of years ago.
Next summer comes actually quite close. I’m not totally wild about the horse print, but circus theme and polka dots from large ones to gigantic blobs sure would be welcome to my wardrobe. Let’s start from those insanely refreshing leggings and one of the polka dot dresses. And yes, please, you may add that gorgeous perspex jewel top/harness on top of those, thank you!
BTW, that white pom-pom cape has so obvious DIY potential that it literally makes my hands itch.
Images from Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Posted on | October 15, 2009 | 4 Comments
// What a brilliant DIY inspiration
Posted on | October 10, 2009 | No Comments
Just stared these for several minutes in always inspirational Jak & Jil (image from there). For some reason I have not registered them in Miu Miu catwalk images. They kind of remind me Cocorosa’s fabulous tight projects, but in my wardrobe these (or over the knees) would probably be more useful option.
It is always nice to have some bling on the outfit!
Posted on | October 10, 2009 | No Comments
// Time traveller?
Posted on | August 31, 2009 | 8 Comments
This blog has already revealed me one thing. Dressing up is costume play for me, at some level.
One day I just thoughtlessly pulled on my harem pants (I love this quite extreme silhouette, got them from Only sale last winter) and started to think what to combine them this time. I threw out the rules to stay with fitted tops with harem pants, picked a flesh toned silk tank, my own super-oversized silk mohair knit (free knitting pattern here), a broken studded belt and distressed leather boots with rubber embellishments. The result looks hard to time exactly, did I come from the past or the future? And weirdly androgynous, which is an achievement with my ultra feminine build and all that fleshtone.
Posted on | August 31, 2009 | 8 Comments
// Just leather strings…
Posted on | August 29, 2009 | 4 Comments
This leather string necklace from Mono has serious DIY potential. Extremely simple structure that manages to make a great impact. The length of the neckpiece even gives an interesting possibility to wear the strings around the shoulders. I feel that I’m totally ripping this off one day.
Be sure to check their site, the clothes are interesting!
Posted on | August 29, 2009 | 4 Comments
// Strange little girl
Posted on | August 28, 2009 | 2 Comments
That strange little girl moved in just a while ago. She’s just a bit camera shy and likes to hide behind the scarf.
Necklace from Tilly Bloom, H&M scarf, old All Saints knit dress in lovely silk/cotton jersey, under that American Apparel t-shirt dress, which I sliced (but did not dice), Vagabond sandals & old Topshop bag.
I’m the Scary Miss Mary of all t-shirts.
Posted on | August 28, 2009 | 2 Comments
// More body jewelry
Posted on | August 12, 2009 | 2 Comments
Here’s another non-bust-dividing harness thingy: Maeve from Girl Tuesday Jewelry — if you are not into that H&M option.
This kind of pieces are very easy to DIY, too. You need just some chain, jump rings, a clasp and pair of pliers. Dressmaker’s mannequin makes designing and measuring the actual chain lengths easier, but you can use your friend instead (prepare to make two!) or construct the piece first by tying some non stretching yarn to your own assemblage around your body, cut it away and use that as a reference.
Posted on | August 12, 2009 | 2 Comments
// The simplest DIY idea ever
Posted on | July 28, 2009 | 2 Comments
How great this little remake is? Just a pair of pantyhose with hole in a crotch (ouch, I might get some interesting search engine traffic for that) and shortened legs — or should I say sleeves? Punched and unraveled to desired state of destruction. A perfect piece for layering. Plus can you imagine all the possibilities with fishnets, colored tights, embellished tights…
Via Looklet, a great interwebs app found via Susie Bubble — see what you can do with it. I haven’t been this amused by my computer since my first encounter to SimCity. The best part — you can vin a pair of YSL cage shoes just by playing with it!
Oh, I found there another great piece that I really covet. Unfortunately this is not as simple to DIY, possible though.
A beautiful laced suede vest by Lick My Label. Now I feel that my wardrobe is not complete without it…
All images via Looklet.
Posted on | July 28, 2009 | 2 Comments
// Easy adornment
Posted on | July 19, 2009 | No Comments
I love Ann Sofie Back in general — how in earth did I let this fine neck adornment pass my eyes while scanning her S/S09 collection:
Great DIY potential. I’m tempted to add some thin chain to the arrangement — or try similar construction made out from chain entirely…
Posted on | July 19, 2009 | No Comments
// Few DIY ideas from fall 2009 RTW shows
Posted on | July 16, 2009 | No Comments
I don’t care too much about trends or “it” items of the season, but I do browse high fashion show images quite often. I guess that it serves at least three purposes. I want to see what kind of pieces are dominating the catwalks, that predicts what kind of pieces I can wait for to see in the shops in the corresponding season. For example this autumn large, boxy shaped or belted coats with big lapels were all over — it would be so nice to have a coat that can be fitted over chunkiest layers of clothes.
I want also steal ideas for combining garments, colors and prints. From this aspect the catwalks are endless source of inspirations. Some times I just have to see the things put together to understand the possibilities.
But it might be that most interesting aspect for me is that what could I do by myself…
When I copycat some runway items I don’t aim to exact copies. For example Acne had the most interesting looking — and most impractical plastic leggings in the show. I really like how the folds of the fabric and the transparency create interesting “patterns” around the leg. After staring that transparent gorgeousness enough I decided to make a pair of tulle leggings. I cut them out with at least 50 cm too long leg for some ruching effect and they turned out nice. Definitely different than the starting point but still nice. I will show them here some day, but I need to gather the courage for posting my own images…
I picked few items from fall 2009 RTW shows with particular interest from DIY perspective.
Chunky knits were seen here and there, a seasoned knitter would whip up an oversized mohair sweater like this one from Dries Van Noten in no time. I especially like the shape of this sweater, bell sleeves and light A-line with chunky mohair, yum. It kind of reminds me about the mohair sweaters I knitted in late eighties, with the dropped shoulders and all. Damn, you can almost count the stitches and see the decreases from the image.
This Ann Demeulemeester cardigan would be slightly more advanced challenge. But as far as I can see from the image, the shape is quite simple. A-lined, bell sleeved cardigan and all the flair comes from attached braids and scarf collar that can be twisted around the neck loosely. And the heavy gauge makes it actually quite quick knit, in spite of the generous dimensions.
Speaking about Ann, what do you think about this simple but effective corset creation? All you need to remake this is a piece of sturdy, shiny leather, some buckles and some leather tools. I’m kind of seeing it hanging in my wardrobe… For more ideas how to use it see the whole collection in Style.com.
Marni is one of my regulars to watch, I really adore Consuelo Castiglioni’s mad skills on combining… …well… …everything to everything. Her chunky jewelry is quite DIY-triggering. I can’t really say about this fall’s collar pieces if they really belong to jewelry or some other accessory category, but they certainly can be remade with reasonable effort. A collar like this would be an instant pickup for a simple top or dress.
I really, really hope that some day one of Aber Elbaz’s creations magically ends up to my wardrobe. I know that I don’t have too many occasions to wear upscale cocktail dresses, but that does not stop me coveting one. While I’m waiting the miracle to happen I can use my time productively and try to remake this fabulous skirt. This piece could be used in so many occasions — including fancy cocktail parties but not excluding the most of my everyday life…
It will take some time, sure. But the basic idea of layered fitted skirt, slit upper layer with raw edges and simple stud, bead and rhinestone embellishments is definitely doable. Or why not make just the top layer — the option to slip it over almost any fitted garment would open endless possibilities…
Oh how I wish I could remake a piece of Lanvin’s chunky jewelry, too.
Posted on | July 16, 2009 | No Comments
// Sneak peek
Posted on | July 9, 2009 | No Comments
Here’s a detail shot from a small DIY project I’m planning to publish soon.
Posted on | July 9, 2009 | 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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