// Goal kick

Posted on | October 29, 2010 | 4 Comments

I’m a cardigan girl. But I need them disproportionally large — or shrunken and small — textures and patterns don’t hurt. Could not help myself when I saw this cotton cardigan in H&M earlier in this autumn. Got to check if I have some nice prints to combine to this. I also love it as a part of simple everyday black and white outfits.

It has not been a huge clothes investment autumn for me — the browns and camels have invaded the shops and boutiques — not to mention the faux shearling *shudders*, not exited. Guess I can wait until it is time for blacks and grays again, haha!

Leather pants are from Selected and clumpy suede wedges from Vagabond. I really like the awkward shape and detailless look of them.

Posted on | October 29, 2010 | 4 Comments

// Chalky palette

Posted on | May 3, 2010 | 3 Comments

I’m inflicted by the spring light and digging out all my chalky, pale clothes from the closet. This is pretty much a boring jeans + T –outfit, but I’m loving the palette so much that I end up photographing it anyway.

I’m wearing my old Filippa K trench (which is actually in need of washing), Cheap Monday jeans, Chloé long sleeved T over sheer H&M tank, fringe scarf with silver beads from Lindex and my old all white Converse. I have the weirdest relationship to these… …I love all their whiteness so much that they get really a minimal amount of wear, always on dry and sunny days — I really did not guess that when I purchased them few years ago. I definitely need a pair of colored Converse to be mistreated to the glorious state of sneaker decay.

Personally I have never understood the concept of jeggings — and I blame Cheap Monday for that. Their slim jeans are made from extremely stretchy fabrics and although they have all jeans details they feel like a pair of leggings when they are on. I mostly favor denim with zero or very low elasthan content — but these comfort skinnies definitely have their place on my rotation. I also adore this very eighties style wash — unconventional but more grown up than some other heavily chlorine inflicted ones… …and they go so well with the chalky palette I’m feeling right now.

Posted on | May 3, 2010 | 3 Comments

// A variation of a theme

Posted on | May 1, 2010 | No Comments

Haha, this is going to be boring! I promise that the next post will not be about these old jeans…

Acne jeans with old Topshop wooden wedges & random socks (which I ruched before going out), Zara horse print tank under H&M cotton lace biker I bought on winter but haven’t still used too much (blaming the weather — not complaining, though).

Lace biker… …they are doing it all there just to get me…

Posted on | May 1, 2010 | No Comments

// Just in time

Posted on | December 30, 2009 | 7 Comments

Dear London readers (if there are any), how do you survive the magnificent high street — and shopping possibilities overall — of London?

My strict shopping plan was not totally waterproof — although our two nights visit did not give that much opportunities. I decided to steer clear from all too expensive things, nothing is as disappointing as reckless out-of-budget purchase that turns out to be a bad mistake. But I’m not a big fan of reckless in-budget acquisitions that turn out to be mistakes either… So I had a VERY short list of things that I could actually have use right now — and I limited my high street visits to few of my favorites. But still I had really hard time to hold my horses… …and yeah, I also slipped from my high street bargain plan.

I was after a charcoal or black longish knit jacket/shrug/cardigan with not too conventional construction, and I thought that All Saints would be a sure try for a score. Unfortunately many of this winter’s jackets were bit or bit more lacy — not necessarily a bad thing, but that was not in my mind at this time. Still I decided just to walk through Selfridges designer floor (ok and maybe try on some shoes, just try; good thing was that the ink blue and white Marni platform ankle boots just did not fit to my feet). And could not resist to have a look through Martin Margiela rail — this was after all his last season in charge of design. Duh, there just happened to be this quite simple, but in Finnish climate eternally useful lightweight wool knit. Yes, I know, it is not a cardigan. But it is Margiela — and due to slight imperfection on the back it was in the sale on fraction of it’s price. And I know that although it is not a bespoke piece, it will be very, very useful item in my everyday wardrobe.

The shape of the knit is a giant parallelogram with almost identical openings in top and bottom — and delightfully awkwardly placed long sleeves. The knit can be arranged on slightly different ways, although it is not an actual multiuse garment. The hem can be pulled straight and the piece acts almost like a dress — at least with opaque leggings or with some sort of underlayer, this way the neck opening is really deep — and the front bottom rises quite high — but the back view is full covered from the neck to almost to knees — and hand movement is lightly restricted. But the bottom can also be hitched upwards to hips or even to waist, the body part forms nice baggy drapes, hand movement is totally free and the neck opening can be arranged beautifully. I’m also pretty sure that the upper part can be used like a hood, just haven’t tried it yet.

Oasis leggings and Rützou wedges keep company to the new knit. Although I’m slightly hesitant on using leggings as trousers, the beautiful alienesque detail on the hip of this pair has made me stepping out from the comfort zone once or twice this autumn. And yes, I know that I might be too big to that, but who cares — fat and fashion polices of this world: just cough the gingerbread crumbs out of your lungs, that helps instantly.

In the moment I purchased the sweater I understood something about the allure of high street.

I will probably never have enough money for designer pieces that literally take my breath away.

I can have a T by Alexander Wang, some simple and very satisfying basics with a twist, like this knit. I love them, sure, but they are certainly not too expressive. If I have some good luck I might find few neat items as second hand or score a bag or pair of shoes from sale. But within my short London high street visit I saw several items that literally took my breath away. Ashish for Topshop boots were actually so sweet in real life that I had really hard time departing without them. Those mirrored Christopher Kane power mesh pieces were awesome (but the bodycon lace insert dresses were hideous). Emma Cook boots were super, I would have been very tempted if there were a pair of taupe ones left in my size. And add to that all the good pieces that are not designer collaborations, there were so many. All Saints is always kind of good to me. Although I feel that their skull and bone aesthetic is off somehow (and I’m afraid that they are not my thing anyway), I really dig many of their deconstructed cuts especially in knits and jerseys, some plaid designs, fun bustle inspired cuts and soft, soft lightweight leathers. COS is another really good/bad (check the desired option) place for me… …many pieces look quite basic, but then there is some neat little design twist, or the material is just so good. Topshop… …ok I love the shoe department, but Oxford Street flagship store is just too much for me, my senses distort in there.

However much I might love many of the single pieces the only thing that bugs me on the high street finds are that… …after all they are high street. I can afford (too many of) them — and so can many other people. And I’m not even going to the ethics of mass consumerism this time. And no, I’m not talking about indie fashion or rising designer stars either.

Well. I have a plan to change my fashion consuming habits dramatically. But about that later.

Posted on | December 30, 2009 | 7 Comments

// Basics, shreds

Posted on | November 1, 2009 | 4 Comments

jeans1 jeans2

I have to admit that on everyday basis I often go to the easy route: pick a pair of jeans and combine them with some basics. These DIY shredded ones have been in a heavy rotation after I made them — so it definitely wasn’t a mistake to destroy this second hand pair. If I have to tone them down I cover up the thighs with a dress and they give just some interesting texture for my legs. Here with an old taupe French Connection silk satin dress, H&M silk jersey cardigan (finally changed the ugly plastic buttons to horn ones), DIY silk kid-mohair scarf and old boots with rubber band detail. Nothing special, but texturally very pleasing combination.

jeans4 jeans3

I can’t really use these images in indivudual outfit post because it is totally impossible to get any detail of the top part. But I included them here to prove one curious point. Although I believed the opposite to happen, these jeans actually make my legs look really long. The two angles prove that it is just not a camera trick. And here we approach to one of my quite few dressing rules: never judge a piece on a hangar. If you are at least a bit curious — try it on. And if you are blind to your mirror image, just take a picture.

tricksy2 tricksy1

Cause I already discussed about some personal stuff today on my previous post, I thought that it might be a good time to introduce the blog cats. There might have been an occasional tail or paw incident in the outfit posts, but here are the tricksy little creatures at their own element, sleeping cuddly in a pile of blankets on our living room sofa. They actually don’t get along too well — but I have had some doubts that this is merely just a disguise to bluff us scant humans to fulfill some inexplicable law of universe (of course you knew already that some cats are from outer space, these two definitely fit to definition). One day I happened to come home rather unexpected time and found them two like that…

Posted on | November 1, 2009 | 4 Comments

// Complexgeometries long strap tank

Posted on | August 4, 2009 | No Comments

I knew that I can’t afford too many clothes this summer so I considered long and hard before getting this Complexgeometries long strap tank. Funny thing is that I almost hesitated purchasing it because I’ve seen it in at least two blogs (!!!) — and that was the time I did not even have my own. Like it wouldn’t be a rare jewel in these latitudes just because of that international blog exposure.

I end up to this piece for many reasons — one perhaps strongest was the genious convertibility. When I saw the simple rectangular piece with quite obvious neck hole, two generous armholes and one strange connecting strap it was not immediately evident, but just little bit tossing and turning and the piece started to take interesting shapes. Yep, any of those holes can be used as a neck hole. The generous amount of fabric allows all kind of wrapping options and the piece transforms easily from dress to top and back. The fabric could be just tiny bit heavier — this is slightly transparent to be a decent, modest dress as it’s own. But I don’t care about that too much, this is essential layering piece anyway.

Here I’m wearing it the strap part simply crossed around my neck — bit crumbled and wrinkled after the day in the park — with lightweight, dirty pink viscose wool cardigan from Zara, glass bead scarf and my beloved Ash perspex prism sandals. Boring summer dressing — but probably one of the last times this year, knowing this country.

complexgeometries complexgeometries2 complexgeometries3 complexgeometries6 prism-sandals

Posted on | August 4, 2009 | No Comments

// Pointed toes

Posted on | August 2, 2009 | 2 Comments

At some point when things have been somewhat absent a while they start to seem fresh again.

This just happened for me — and pointed toe shoes. Pointed toes are somewhat classic if you ask me, but they haven’t been around in mass market “trend selections” in a while. And suddenly I realized that I really miss the look.

pointedshoes1 pointed-scarf2 pointedshoes3 pointedshoes2

Nothing special, simple everyday outfit — just wanted to see my old suede boots with my old Lee jeans. T-shirt dress from Babooshka boutique, handbag Sonia Rykiel and random glass bead scarf on wrist. The heel “flap” is missing from the right shoe. Should fix it ASAP, I like them right now.

Posted on | August 2, 2009 | 2 Comments

// New entrance

Posted on | July 20, 2009 | 3 Comments

The tulle leggings are making a new entrance. This starts to look like me!

mohairandtulle

Wearing them with a pair of Doc Martens (a steal from eBay), silk slip and hot pink bra.

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Sweater is self made, too. Fine laceweight silk-kid mohair mix knitted with giant needles for cobweb-like outlook. Amazing thing here is the lightness of the knit, it weighs under 100 g (about 3 ounces). There is no way to disguise seams in knit like this so I decided to sew this up from the top.

mohair5 jattipaita1

Posted on | July 20, 2009 | 3 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 =).

More about me and this blog.