// In the black jean rut

Posted on | May 28, 2011 | 6 Comments

The truth about my everyday work wear has been bit sad and monotonous lately. This spring has not been particularly warm and I have lived in my black or washed black Cheap Monday jeans. For work I like to add a shirt or t-shirt — and a jacket for some structure. This is all old stuff, ASOS shirt — which I have apparently snagged from the back. It is semi transparent, but not this much — I added the contrast to the images to get out more detail from this lovely Gestuz jacket — and for the mood… Hmm, the necklace I bought quite recently, it is from Lindex. I was about to go for the gold one, but the industrial charm of the shiny silver just looked so much better in person.

Oh, if someone wonders my sudden eagerness of wearing my hair open… …well I guess there are couple of reasons. First of all it starts to be in length that looks quite balanced on me. Second — I bought a GHD straightening iron a while ago — and it kind of lives to the hype. It is an extremely well made tool, warms in seconds, glides on hair and is hot enough to smooth the hair with one or two swipes. It takes under 10 minutes to straighten my baby fine hair — a huge improvement to the previous 20 – 25 minutes… …I certainly can do that couple of times in a week in spite of my low maintenance tendencies…

Posted on | May 28, 2011 | 6 Comments

// Demure lengths

Posted on | May 17, 2011 | No Comments

A nude pleaty thing found it’s way to my wardrobe. I cut the lining out — I’m rather wearing it with separate slip or half slip (you can sort of see it in the pictures) when the top layers don’t provide the coverage I’m comfortable with. Nothing too ballerina-esque with this for my body type, here I’m wearing it with Weekday shirt, H&M shrunken cardigan and Carin Wester clumpy shoes. The skirt is from Lindex — and I was there just to pick a few pair of undies…

I’m kind of loving this demure length, it is so easy to wear and it agrees nicely with my proportions.

Posted on | May 17, 2011 | No Comments

// Details with minimal details

Posted on | March 27, 2011 | No Comments

Oh my, the sleek jewelry of Lindex Affordable Luxury collection is calling my name, loud! At shops on 4th May.

Posted on | March 27, 2011 | No Comments

// White pleat, black stripe

Posted on | September 8, 2010 | 5 Comments

Although there were rack fulls of this fifteen € sweater in H&M about month ago and probably about everyone in Scandinavia will eventually have one — I had to get it. I’ve had exactly similarly cut sweater (boxy, dropped sleeve, waterfall neck, draping) maybe in the beginning of nineties — and I wore it to bits. Plus I love the combination of blushy color and black stripes. Now if I could only get similar in tight woven lightweight cashmere…

This high street galore is just something I wore to lunch on my neighborhood cafe. From under the giant sweater you can see a glimpse of Lindex pleated skirt. Tights are probably from H&M (I love the texture with micro fishnet) and the boots a bargainous find from Warsaw. I threw over an old second hand Helmut Lang parka to elevate the much high streetness a bit… …I guess that I have never photographed that one here but it just did not cross my mind.

Posted on | September 8, 2010 | 5 Comments

// The black fringe

Posted on | June 5, 2010 | 3 Comments

My DIY:s tend to be simple and not particularly creative. They often evolve around a specific need — like the sheer chiffon skirt / dress I needed for layering purposes — or piece of particular material — or DIY knockoff so simple that it can be created in few hours max.

This time the trigger was an amazing fringe trim I found my neighborhood buttons and trims shop. I have been going there for a while just to see and stroke this amazing stuff, but the price was so steep that I did not want to buy it just in case I would get inspiration one day. The speciality comes purely from the length of the fringes, there is enough centimeters to heal the worst Rapunzel envy complex ever — except that this acetate substitute is raven black.

So I made a simple plan for a plain chiffon dress with fringe layer front and back. Nothing too original, but quite effective. I can layer it over a simple slip and it works as a little black dress — or wear it over a pair of pants or leggings as a tunic. The dress has actually very simple oversized tank shape with identical front and back — I thought that it would be good for the delicate trimming to be able to switch the sides, but goes also displaced when worn quite easily. I don’t care about that, I’m not going to wear this in formal events anyway.

So it was french seams for shoulders and sides, turning the neck and arm holes plus the hem. In this overexposed image you can see a bit of the detail of the fringe:

I’m definitely not a master seamstress but I did try to tackle the challenges of delicate material by hand sewing the turns. It was not 100% success, but after mutilating the fabric with my steam iron the turns look relatively neat. I think that I can live with them. The fringes move so beautifully over the silk chiffon that I’m starting to feel guilty about my lack of dancing skills. The gigantic chandelier earrings are from Lindex and shoes are old Topshop wood wedges.

At my summer holiday I could kick my lazy arse and put little more effort to some project — maybe create something bit more than just useful.

Posted on | June 5, 2010 | 3 Comments

// To keep or to return

Posted on | May 25, 2010 | 15 Comments

The question is: should I keep or return this Lindex Affordable Luxury top?

For keeping it:

I love the asymmetric cut (the back is even better with beautiful fabric cascades — but my photos were crap, so no picture)
It has inbuilt support, so this would be my one and only top with no separate bra needed
I love the print
The fabric weight is perfect for the cut

Against keeping it:

It is polyester. This is not all bad… …when traveling few polyester garments are practical (they don’t crease so easily).
The straps are faux leather. This is bad. I hate plastic that pretends to be something else than plastic. Occasional perspex heel or PVC panel is ok… …but I HATE FAUX LEATHER. I should probably change the straps.
The price is bad considering the materials. 60 €.

Without all that love the decision would be easy.

What do you think?

Posted on | May 25, 2010 | 15 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

// Ewa does it again

Posted on | March 28, 2010 | No Comments

Anna-Maria gave me a hint that Ewa Larsson is continuing the collaboration with Lindex. The previous one in the autumn had some great designs, but unfortunately the materials were not my liking in the garments I was after.

The actual promotion pictures of the new collection are not officially out yet, so to come over my this nights insomnia I browsed some blogs to find some picture material. The images above are from Elin Josefine — and they show some interesting strappy structures, pleating, and very delicate blue water-color splatter print that makes me think bird egg shells… …very promising. There will be some accessories, too. There are even some more pics in her blog, go and see!

Gizmolina had few promotion pictures in her blog (in addition to her own material from PR event; click, click!) — good thing I did not bump to those first — Carmen Cass photoshopped to flawless plastic figure in unimaginative glamour shots does not really tickle my interest…

Posted on | March 28, 2010 | No Comments

// The double denim

Posted on | March 26, 2010 | 12 Comments

So, one phenomena that amuses me a lot is those definite no no’s of all sorts of style quides. You don’t have to be very aware of trends or fashion to be aware of those… …Carrie says no to scrunchies… …Trinny & Susannah say this and that… …Oprah says… …oh, you got it… And then BAM — the style disaster turns to a trend — and the most unexpected people are BREAKING THE STYLE RULES *wheezzz, the air goes in*. And suddenly everybody is doing it. Like yours truly.

But truth to be told I have never been thinking that one can’t wear for example double denim. I think that I get the reasoning behind the style rulebooks in this case — double denim can be extremely boring or it can be quite redneck’y. But both of these aspects could probably be worked to extremes to create something interesting (I would love to work the ultimate boringness of denim if my own appearance were bit edgier). Or it could be possible just to think why it could be boring or what exactly are the hillybilly elements of double denim looks — and try to avoid those instead of avoiding the whole concept.

So this is not the answer for double denim looks, no! It is just my workaround that does not involve denim cutouts… …the elements are different shades of denim, unusual shapes combined to classics and few simple accessories.

I built the look around a lovely denim jumpsuit I found from Lindex. Lindex is little bit like Scandinavian Primark — affordable, totally safe bet to go shopping with your working class mom (if you happen to have one); she will love it and she can afford a bunch of momsy basics — but there are often gems in there (they even had some collaborations) — and those are probably not as worn-to-death-by-all-(Swedish)-style-bloggers than all the H&M highlights… Ok, the jumpsuit has totally unapologetic harem cut. I combined it to vintage men’s denim shirt. I love all sorts of processed denim, but nothing beats the feel of it when it has actually worn in use. The cuff and the pockets are bit torn — but they just add the flair of this piece. Over the shirt I’m wearing the old Filippa-K blazer, booties are from Vagabond, the sequined silk scarf Day Birger & Mikkelsen and the sunnies Pilgrim. When I bought these few years ago they were like HUGE, now when I look at them they look very considerately sized…

Oh the jumpsuit only… …this one I’m going to wear to pieces…

Posted on | March 26, 2010 | 12 Comments

// Self-deception, the good kind

Posted on | March 16, 2010 | 8 Comments

No, it is not time for shorts and even these very walking friendly platforms are still bit risky considering my bad balance and the amount of ice still left (I still made it to grocery shopping for lunch — just not telling that the market is actually across the street…). But the sun is shining like ALL THE TIME and I’m feeling so positive because of that! So excuse my fashion blog cliche pile — at least I tried to offset it a bit with mixing things up. Note: this is not irony… …it’s just like couple of my few flowery garments sneaking out from the wardrobe to enhance my positive mood…

The tunic is several years old Lindex find from some sale rack — and it has surprisingly nice details for a cheapie cheap cloth: very lightweight soft hand cotton, nice unfinished trimmings on hem and neckline, fabric covered buttons. And the length is fun… …like almost a dress… The boots are from Vagabond, tights and jean shorts from H&M (yay — I can use the tights I broke under the OTK:s), coat is ancient Filippa-K and the vest Zara — but acquired as second hand. I still love the front lace detailing of these Vagabond boots. Still don’t like the heel. They are quite loose — but I sort of like that. Would love to add an OTK boot pair with perfect heel and well fitting leg to my wardrobe. From my point of view (badly scarred right knee) those should be actually considered as necessary basics — and definitely purchased as long as they are all over…

The dreaded SCRUNCHIE has made it to this blog, permanently!

Posted on | March 16, 2010 | 8 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.