// Youth vs. Future

Posted on | May 23, 2010 | 2 Comments

I had a fashion filled Saturday — I started it by visiting in design shop Goodis (back to that later) — walked to Odd Day design market in Diana park — and in the evening to Anna Ruohonen fashion show.

At the design market I finally got myself one Youth vs. Future feather necklace — I might be the last one doing so in the whole Finnish fashion blog scene, haha (BTW, see Sugar-Kane rocking hers and Jenni a black one)! They are selling these online, but I sort of wanted to see them in real life to be able to decide the color. And now I did. The delicate feathers have been toughened against the hardships of life with a coat of acrylic paint and combined to chains with various finishes. My feathers are silver, on oxidized silver chain.

Could not resist to combine the feathers to something heavy… …thus the silver bauble necklace. My wardrobe has been clearly lacking one ridiculously oversized T-shirt, because I’m living in this Weekday one. Skirt is from Topshop and silver leather sandals an old department store find. I have actually been wearing my fringe down quite a lot, but today I wanted it off from my face because I spent several hours outside. That explains also my minimal make up… …some bronzing powder and brow pen. For going to the fashion show I just showered, did my hair, applied a light make-up, changed the shoes and added a sheer tank top under the T for more dressed look. And yes — we are experiencing an unexpected heat wave here… …mmm…

My upper back posture problems are quite visible on the side image… …I think I have to blame my lady lumps. Unfortunately I have experienced only minimal cup size shrinkage with my weight loss, but I’m still hopeful, I think I’m still shrinking. Could also target some training to specific back areas, I guess that the muscles that draw the scapula down and middle could be stronger — that would pull my shoulders back a bit. And some foam bar / tennis ball rolling for the thoracic spine area, perhaps?

Posted on | May 23, 2010 | 2 Comments

// Anna Ruohonen A/W 2010

Posted on | May 22, 2010 | 5 Comments

Today I had an opportunity to attend to Anna Ruohonen A/W 2010 fashion show — and I gladly did! The show took place in an amazing old magazine building on Katajanokka — and despite of the last minute preparations (the ash related things seem still to be an issue and that did not actually help Paris based designer on this home country endeavor) the show was a success.

Anna’s designs are quite grown up profile — but like her choice of amateur models of different ages — and even sizes showed they can be adapted to many wardrobes. Her design approach is quite minimal, there are subtle architectonic influences mixed to classic silhouettes, I definitely can see a professional woman wearing her creations at any situation. She also uses knits for more relaxed looks, and mixes textures for understated effect.

Radiant designer herself.

My absolute favorites in this show were all the tactile mohair coats, definitely reminiscent from 80’s — and shown even on male model. Would love to have one to accompany my leatherwear and slouchy tops. I also liked many of her minimal and well cut coats — but unfortunately my image material of those was so bad that I’m not giving any examples of them — not that these mohair coat pictures were much better…

Some other favorites including a wool dress with strikingly simple and beautiful silk panelling, “luxe loungewear” looks combining shiny silk satin, ribbed knitwear, drawstring waist and gathered leg pants.

Anna Ruohonen concept store in Helsinki is located at Uudenmaankatu 4 – 6.

Posted on | May 22, 2010 | 5 Comments

// Showing it out

Posted on | April 28, 2010 | 7 Comments

I had a very welcome opportunity to see Kaksi-Två’s first fashion show at Kaapelitehdas today. I have been a fan of their great legwear and awesome leather accessories for a while, so I was very eager to see how far they had pushed their designs for a whole show and collection.

There indeed were some very familiar elements, leggings with marble & zebra prints and couple of new prints. The leathers had expanded from great soft bags to vests and accessories plus one striking cape / poncho that was paired to marbled catsuit. I also loved the combination of black sheer layers with printed lycra — and there were also couple of quite wearable jumpsuits on the show. I’m not actually a hooded sweater girl, but textured vests made simple sweater outfits definitely interesting. A brilliant idea was to co-operate with Saara Kivimäki for the show — her whimsical shoe creations fitted perfectly to Kaksi-Två’s clean lined, easygoing and playful designs. One thing though… …I did not quite get the sauna theme behind the show — the whole vibe of the collection was more urban street than countryside lounging.

I’m quite ready to add some Kaksi-Två leather and maybe one pair of awesome Saara Kivimäki boots to my wardrobe… …and now it is possible. They will be available from Monday at Helsinki 10 and Beamhill.

Sorry, the images are not too good… …I forgot to ask if I may use the flash so I did not. Unfortunately the lighting was very steep and kind of ended before the runway, so some models end up posing in dark spot…

Squishy leather by Kaksi-Två and Saara Kivimäki. Those ruffled boots were stunning.

How delicious is this?

My favorite styling from the show were these textured mesh pants over leggings looks. I think I could use some of that mesh, especially the dropped crotch pair just calls my name… The makeup was actually pretty rad, but unfortunately the upper image of these is the only one that gives some sort of idea of it.

Great texture here!

Happy designer duo Marjo Kuusinen and Piia Keto presenting their first show.

Posted on | April 28, 2010 | 7 Comments

// Today I wish

Posted on | April 19, 2010 | 7 Comments

Today I wish that my fairy goodmother would drop this Saara Lepokorpi dress to my doorstep while I’m working. Giant pumpkins and white horses optional.

Posted on | April 19, 2010 | 7 Comments

// Discovering Camilla Mikama

Posted on | April 17, 2010 | No Comments

One of the good finds from Helsinki Fashion Stock Sales was Camilla Mikama. She studied fashion design at Lahti University of Applied Sciences and in Barcelona Escola Superior de Disseny — and actually has had her own collection since 2008. Curiously I had not heard about her before, there indeed is lot to discover in this little country alone!

The images are from her autumn / winter collection 2010. I especially love her cutout dresses and tops in easy to wear shapes and the beautiful, sculptural ruched jackets. I had an opportunity to browse through her earlier pieces, and the materials are superior, lots of silk in deliciously different forms. Seeing her pieces in real life makes me really wonder how slowly the Finnish retailers take in the young designers collections.

Her pieces are at sale in Goodis (I will get back to that shop pretty soon, my little collaboration project is also connected to there via Vietto) and Lux-shop in Helsinki.

Posted on | April 17, 2010 | No Comments

// Helsinki Fashion Stock Sales

Posted on | April 16, 2010 | No Comments

Today 11 – 19
Tomorrow 10 – 18

At Vanha ylioppilastalo.

Go there! I had a fortunate one hour slot today — back to that later!

More info at Facebook.

Posted on | April 16, 2010 | No Comments

// Appropriately pretty Parikka

Posted on | March 29, 2010 | No Comments

Although Minna Parikka’s burlesque inspired style is not 100% for me she seems to design every season one shoe that really appeals me. This spring it is Birdcage — I love it in black. Unfortunately the image does not show the lovely front detail of this shoe well at all. I really like how she designs laced shoes so that they actually have to be laced — there is no zipper making things easier…

Unfortunately the only colored option is bright red — which is difficult color for me — emerald green or vibrant purple would have been awesome!

Posted on | March 29, 2010 | No Comments

// For the spotless mind

Posted on | March 22, 2010 | No Comments

I got just recently mail from Minna Hepburn. She is born in Joensuu, Finland — but now living and designing clothes in UK. However much we speak about ethical fashion there are only few designers around actually contributing to sustainable production from fabrics to manufacturing. But Minna happens to be one of these pioneers. She uses both environmentally friendly and vintage materials for her creations and the clothes are made in UK.

Her style is romantic with some Scandinavian straightforwardness woven into it. The materials are nothing less but luxurious from details to lining. The light dresses and tops are beautiful as they are and can definitely be worn as standalone pieces, but somehow they are not too scene stealing to be worn as part of multitude of different outfits and styles — the lightweight materials, delicious but relatively quiet textures and billowing shapes just call them to be layered and combined. Any (or all) of these beauties would definitely get a loving home from my wardrobe.

~~There is no image material from her winter collection~~, but check the videos here and here.

You can get these clothes from Anthropologie London, Harrods and Minna webstore. And there will be pop-up store coming up in Helsinki this spring…

Ok, Minna sent me some pics of the winter collection instantly! It is very dark romantic and all about dresses. Somehow it carries me to the atmosphere of the movie The Others…

Posted on | March 22, 2010 | No Comments

// Sad news from Marimekko (and one good one)

Posted on | March 14, 2010 | 15 Comments

Yesterday I went shopping with my dear old friend (I bought just some elastic band — so not much about the actual catches here)… …and we decided to pay a visit to Marimekko — I have been very excited about the Julia Lundsten collaboration and new Rinne Niinikoski designs.

For my disappointment I found out that those geometric dresses did not make it to the production. They had just few sample items with one size — and for some reason the contrasting color was not white but baby pink. I almost cried… …for me these Rinne Niinikoski designs were the first sign to actually put Marimekko back to my fashion radar. Although Samu Jussi Koski had done some good work on refreshing the brands clothing line they did not really hit my nerve. But these certainly did. They said that these clothes did not have the commercial potential. I’m saying that Marimekko is seriously lacking the courage to explore the new — the essence that actually got the brand started.

Not in production.

Not in production. From this there was not even a sample. The dress was disassembled to a separate skirt and jacket — and especially in the jacket the ordinary front buttoning just did not look right (concealed ones or even a zipper would have looked better with these geometric lines) — it looked like a very hasty attempt to get this to more “commercial” form or whatever. I still tried the jacket on and the shape was great for my body type.

Not even all Julia Lundsten models seen in fashion shows did make it to the production. Unfortunately they had discarded two high heel models — a beautiful origami front sandal seen in upper pics on the model and very useful looking wedge sandal. But fortunately they had this:

I was not crazy about it from the pictures, but in real life it looks so good! And the best news — it is extremely comfortable for that height.

Posted on | March 14, 2010 | 15 Comments

// The end — and then some!

Posted on | December 1, 2009 | 6 Comments

My fellow blogger, Steff seems to be much better aware what happens here in Finland!

Anyway, End opened a great little web shop with worldwide shipping, you can get for example beautiful Kaksi-Två leggings, their genious bags and MMM designs there, including these fab pants!

pants1

These both leggings are from Kaksi-Två — and available from End.

photoflowr4 necklush3

And Lumi Accessories has now a brand new web shop, they sell the McHann line there too. Worldwide shipping, of course — and it is free if you spend over 200 €.

Supa_woven_XL_black

This December is good indeed for Finnish fashion fans!

Posted on | December 1, 2009 | 6 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.