// Dress code cruise

Posted on | August 8, 2011 | 2 Comments

What… …I have no idea… …what about shoes with non-slippery sole, leather skirt, sloppy knit and a generous bag to hold the camera and nylon parka…

Second hand leather skirt, Cheap Monday knit, Doc Martens in mint green, DIY friendship bracelets and MM6 bag.

Posted on | August 8, 2011 | 2 Comments

// Casual stripes

Posted on | May 11, 2011 | 2 Comments

Sorry about the downtime and other technical problems. I’ve had some bad luck lately — first the problems with the name service, and now the server just broke down… …good timing, though, I’ve had not too much time for this blog in past couple of weeks.

Duh, I wish that this Zara cotton silk shirt is not a straight-off-replica of something Jil Sander — cuz I did buy it. I have had really hard time keeping myself off from shopping all the jewel tones… …so rare in actual production and shop shelves, at least here in North (I have a theory that the adventurousness of buyers has inverse correlation to latitude).

But I did not do that color blocking thingy — just wanted to wear this first with my usual casual stuff, laid back, all loose, unflattering, comfy, lovely. Stripping the “nowness” off from these cheap high street stripes… …which goes well with my old All Saints grandpa-meets-harem (I’m not thinking what you are thinking…) pants, pair of Chucks and Margiela MM6 coated fabric bag. The vintage neck cuff probably does not make any sense to anyone except me… …but there it is.

Posted on | May 11, 2011 | 2 Comments

// Margiela reworks

Posted on | January 6, 2010 | 5 Comments

I have love/hate relationship to Yoox — but it is not their fault. When I have money I don’t find anything interesting from there — and when I don’t have money there’s huge amount of stuff to desire.

Well, with my income I can only dream about Maison Martin Margiela recycled creations, but could not resist about posting these. Mainly for two reasons. If you have that money, this is the last chance, kind of. And if you don’t these are such a glorious inspiration for some DIY projects. This time I included full size images, just click and see the details.

Stole made from various floral fabrics from different eras, either in their original state or colored by hand and stitched together. The white and red versions maintain the original shades of fake flowers, while the dark version has been dyed.

A velvet ribbon becomes a top. The ribbon is folded and applied on a mannequin to envelop the body in order to make a top.

Jacket made from the uppers of women’s white sandals that have been joined together. Every piece has been modelled by hand on a mannequin, with the buckles used as a closure.

Three oil-painted canvases have been removed from their frames and arranged to create a sleeveless dress. Every painting has been washed, softened and treated in order to fix the oil and chalk. The canvases have then been lined in silk taffeta and simply draped around the body. The shape and volume of the dress have been obtained by refolding the canvases rather than re-coloring them.

Hand embroidered sequinned tops from the ’80’s were transformed into coats and skirts. These handmade tops from the ’80’s were assembled directly on tailors’s mannequins to form coats and skirts, with their original lining turned inside out. Made and lined entirely by hand, their original lining was later removed to reveal the other side of their sequinned outside. Bleaching or overdying makes it possible for every garment to be offered in light and dark tones.

Jacket created with strands of beads that have been perfectly assembled to achieve an ideal weight. The original necklace clasps now serve to fasten the jacket.

The jacket is made of fourteen sections from the backs of leather jackets and trench coats. Different types of leather are overlapped, creating shades of colors that go from white to black.

All images and item descriptions from Yoox.

Posted on | January 6, 2010 | 5 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

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.