// Double cuff

Posted on | May 6, 2011 | 1 Comment

Oh — that silver cuff with simple fabric band — I love it! Image via Fashion Gone Rogue.

Posted on | May 6, 2011 | 1 Comment

// Vintage lace vibe emerging

Posted on | December 18, 2009 | 4 Comments

Lately I have been thinking about incorporating some vintage lace to some of my DIY projects. Considering the handwork involved the prices for antique lace pieces can be shamefully bargainous. My favorites from antique laces are different variations of needlepoint lace — that technique allows amazing freeform designs — and different variations of tape lace where simple (machine made or in the early versions handwoven) tape forms patterns that are connected with needlepoint techniques. The tape brings some dimensionality and structure for the lace, I really like the look. Both techniques allow very ornate designs, but the result is not necessarily particularly dainty. These lace types are also relatively durable. Antique lace can be easily dyed (they are usually made from cotton or silk, sometimes linen), but I would advise avoiding cutting it if you are not familiar with the lace type (and even then…). Purchase a piece that fits, or can be folded/ruffled to fit.

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Two needlepoint examples, first from mmmoonchild, second from Deepwater.

tapelace
Beautiful tape lace collar in excellent condition from mmmoonchild.

One thing I just can’t forgive myself is that I let this awesome tape lace bolero slip away from me. Although it is quite simple in lacework terms (not too much those time consuming connection stitches in between the tapes) the fact that the whole lace design is constructed to the actual patterns makes it truly stunning. If I don’t remember wrong the seller asked some ridiculous 70 dollars for it… …and look at its gorgeousness! How magnificent black layer would that be? What can we learn here: if you see a gorgeous vintage piece online in right size, buy it and cry for the credit later. It will pass and your credit will heal. This sorrow won’t.
tapelace2

And because there is no denying of my handcraft geekery, I’m embedding here an awesome little video from Kenmare Lace & Design Centre, charmingly enthusiastic Nora Finnegan tells something about the history of Kenmare lace and shows the basic needlepoint technique. There is a whole series of these, about needlepoint on netting, bobbin lace, tape lace… …if you are interested just follow the link to YouTube and watch them all.

Edit.
dior

Edit. speaking of bargains, if you are vintage size four, meaning in this case that 32 inches is enough to go around your bust, go on and grab this amazing Dior jacket from Stock in Trade. The seller asks *sic* 22 dollars. I’m considering a new career as an eBay blood sucker.

Posted on | December 18, 2009 | 4 Comments

// Just black layers

Posted on | August 9, 2009 | 2 Comments

Sorry for the artsy take on image processing, but I had to seriously overexpose the images to get even some detail out of the black layers — so I decided to get completely rid of the terrible colors and leave just the essential. And this is not a real outfit post anyway, so the details don’t matter.

Susie introduced just recently Barbara i Gonjini in Style Bubble — previously unknown star for me, althoug I try to follow the interesting Danish fashion scene as well as I can. I found her designs very fascinating, super wearable, edgy, dark but somehow playful. The mention of Rick Owens and Comme des Carcons is totally appropriate in the context. I got tons of knitwear ideas from her AW 09 collection. Plus I would like to kiss and hug her for the large, gorgeous lookbook images in her site!

The jersey layers from the SS 10 collection were the inspiration for these images. I have an old Diesel tank with very reminiscent upside down –structure. I just don’t understand how I haven’t been thinking about combining it to another black tank as a skirt. I guess I have seen tanks as skirt before (Westwood?)… …but the monochromatic layering of jersey pieces really struck me.

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I like the combination of different jerseys here. The “skirt tank” could be larger, though. AA long sleeved T underneath, H&M tank as a skirt, held up with wide stretchy belt, Diesel tank on top. Too skimpy for my liking to go as it is, but some extra layering will certainly solve the problem.

Oh, I added some outfit pics to an older post, just did not feel posting again about the same items.

Posted on | August 9, 2009 | 2 Comments

// Whimsical prints

Posted on | August 5, 2009 | 5 Comments

Christopher Kane’s gorilla print t’s and Maison Martin Margiela’s horse print t’s have been all over so much, that I have become really hungry for t-shirts with whimsical prints.
t-kane t-margiela

Images from Polyvore.

Both print styles remind me a lot of certain kind of new-age t-shirt prints. You know the type, detailed, realistic prints of animals and creatures on regular, unshaped T:s. I guess that this is actually the whole point of these designs.

But if this kind of prints can be made as high fashion I guess that the originals can be mixed to regular wardrobe with interesting results, as well. You lose the irony factor, yes. But there is only minor group of people who can recognize the Kane or Margiela, so the irony factor is for very limited amount of us, anyway. The aestethic juxtapositions can be appreciated by anyone even slightly interested in personal style.

So I browsed a little and found this US brand The Mountain with extensive print selection. Don’t be fooled by the overall new-age-tackiness, there are some real gems in there with just-the-right tackiness factor — how in earth can I put this with my limited language skills, they’re all kind of “bad taste”, but some of the prints share the strange aestethic appeal of designer versions or are just so plain ridiculous that I would love to have them. You can’t get Margiela or Kane cut from there — the shirts are boxy, but at least the material is organic cotton with quite nice subtle tie dye effect. I guess that it would be nice idea to combine one of these prints, extra large size and some simple scissor work to turn the huge boxy t to raw edged racerback t-shirt dress.

t-gorilla t-horse

t-dragon t-horse1 t-horse2 t-summoning t-unicorn Oh, that all twinkling in this!

t-skulls I guess that brand named Skullbone is somehow related. You can guess the print themes from the name.

Retailers from Europe and US are easy to find by googling with brand names. Their own web shop is under construction. Images collected from various retailers and The Mountain website.

Posted on | August 5, 2009 | 5 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.