// Sun dressing

Posted on | July 24, 2010 | 5 Comments

Uh, there is not much happening here, fashionwise. The summer has been exeptionally warm and I’m shuttling between home and the nearby parks in old sundresses, sloppy shoes and sunglasses. This old Zara dress is one of my favorites, the sturdy guipure lace upper fits perfectly and the straps have actually nothing to do with keeping the dress in place. The material is very lightweight cotton silk blend, heavenly in the hot weather.

And when it goes even more casual: cut offs with slouchy tank tops. I love the tie dye in this American Apparel one — and the cut is excellent. A bikini top or an exposable bra is essential underneath (at least with my sense of modesty) — and I like the addition of sheer bra peeking from the arm holes. My Bodas jabouley lace ones and this neon purple Monki mesh bra (a bargain from Monki Helsinki opening — but excellent fit, I’m certainly getting more of these!) have been in constant circulation.

I got one thing from the sales, though. This mohair dress is from Ivana Helsinki and I have been stalking it since I found the pictures of the collection from the Copenhagen fashion week. Well, actually this was not a sale purchase, but a sample piece that miraculously fitted relatively well. Couple of days ago I saw a girl sporting the same dress in different color — but personally I don’t have the nerve to use this kind of material in this weather. So I’m just saving it for the autumnal layers…

Posted on | July 24, 2010 | 5 Comments

// Non-colors

Posted on | July 2, 2010 | 7 Comments

If I had to stick just to one style I would probably vaguely vary the Mad Max futuristic-utilitarian-comfortable-dirty-faded-dusty looks for the rest of my life. Probably not because it is my absolutely favorite way to dress up (it is not) — but because it is somehow in harmony with my looks — heavy build, scars, pale wolf eyes, road dust colored hair.

This looks actually quite costume like although the separate pieces are simple enough — I wore it still. A familiar All Saints jersey dress over Weekday mesh tunic, Pedro Garcia sandals (initially I was pulling the Westwood boots on, they would go so well, too) and Topshop wristlets. For some reason I have stored these sandals as special occassion shoes — and have worn them maybe once or twice before. Don’t know why, they are very nice to walk in and blend in to many outfits. The thin straps limits the use a bit — but they can definitely be worn for short visits downtown. I love the contrast between almost unnoticeable straps and chunky sole. Something new in this outfit… …when I saw these weird jersey wristlets in Topshop online boutique I just had to have them. And yes, one might think that I have hurt my wrists — but still they please my eye so very much that I don’t really care. I would like to add some legwear, but it is too warm for that.

Posted on | July 2, 2010 | 7 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

// Summer laziness

Posted on | July 26, 2009 | 1 Comment

Although I love summer it is really not my favorite season to dress up. Heat makes me lazy. I’m almost unable to fiddle with separates and end up throwing on a simple dress with super simple accessories. Here are some of my favorites; nothing fancy but tested against time:

dress drape

Cotton dress with silk details from All Saints. This is at least three years old. I really love the faded pink color, pockets in side seams, raw edges on neck and sleeve openings — and how the dress does not have a single straight seam. The skirt part arranges itself to sculptural drapes automatically. I like it most in wrinkled, scruffy state and I love to combine it to black leather in cooler days.

Skip the next if you hate to see toes =).

sandals

A pair of ultra minimal sandals from local department store. I guess that the brand name is Flutter or Fluffer — never heard it since. Anyway, I love the whole leather construction (sole too), the small and weird Swarowski detail on the sole, the fact that they have held together at least four years in spite of the delicate structure. They leave almost no tan lines and are surprisingly comfortable.

bag1 bag2

The greatest summer straw bag from Vero Moda, this has seen two or three summers, too. The little metal discs make the most beautiful faint sound when I walk — an instant boost to a summer feeling. The bag is large enough for couple of books, iPod, water bottle, knit and a blanket for sitting down in a random park, my basic equipment for lazy summer days in the city.

And no, I don’t care too much about coordinating the metallics.

****
Edit:
I feel pretty bad that I photographed one of my fav summer dresses just on the hangar. Here with Zara cardigan, DocMartens (obviously quite excited about them) and cycle shorts (cut from regular sheer tights). Not the best angle for my legs but you get the idea.
pinkdress1 pinkdress2

Posted on | July 26, 2009 | 1 Comment

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.