// We are almost there

Posted on | May 24, 2011 | 2 Comments

Isn’t this a weird thing to do, for a grown up woman? Pulling out some random clothes from the closet, snapping some pictures and pretending that there is something to write about… …oh well, here we go again…

I can’t say anything else about this outfit except that I’m extremely happy that we happened to have a very sunny and summery day today. I was totally fine with this sheer Monki dress layered underneath my DIY maxi sweater — oh there is a nude slip guarding my modesty in case you wonder. And I added Zana Bayne necklace harness in between the layers — it goes so well with the palette and gives a nice textural contrast to super soft and flowy layers. Is this kind of girlification of leather accessories even allowed?

I’m definitely a summer girl…

Posted on | May 24, 2011 | 2 Comments

// A suit — sort of

Posted on | March 26, 2011 | 1 Comment

It can still be quite wintery here — but thick tights start to be a pretty safe choice. That means that my last autumn Monki find, an affordable pair of very work appropriate length leather shorts will get some play time. The subtle texture play of feathery H&M jacket, crisp cotton shirt (probably from H&M, too), softly shiny leather and matte tights were the starting point for this outfit, with my safe bet palette with black, white and grey. Horn necklace from Etsy, Savage Salvage.

Posted on | March 26, 2011 | 1 Comment

// Dipped & dyed

Posted on | March 13, 2011 | 7 Comments

I should not really do a single hair post — my hair tends to be totally unimpressive. Like a damp (yes I still do excercise 5 to 6 times a week) ponytail or hastily done updo… …I hardly use any hair chemicals because I hate the feeling of them (except some shampoo and light conditioner) — and even my special occassion har tends to be very simple & natural. So consider this an outfit post — which have been scarce these days…

Plus I can’t really say that I’m one of the early adopters doing this, but I just dyed my hair partially… …teal.

Nah, not really! Few weeks ago I decided to dye a set of clip-on extensions. Originally I thought I would like to use them just to get some extra length and body to my now bra strap length, baby fine hair. But they just stood in my dressing table cabinet, waiting to be dyed to my mouse brown color — and the more I thought about the idea, the less I liked it.

Until I got the idea of ombre dyeing them. Originally they were bright, cool blond, with very subtle darker highlights. First I used some regular dark blonde dye for the top part, combing the color downwards vertically, section by section when time passed to get a smooth color slide to the blond color. I washed them and applied the bright turquioise direct color to the ends and tried to fade it upwards with water. It worked pretty well — although I would have liked more pastel colored result, the direct color I used was really intense. But they are pretty useful this way too. I like that they make a dramatic difference to my normal hair — and I don’t feel like a total impostor, trying to play the hair-goddess-of-the-night… …the look is honestly artificial! My lightly layered hair mixes to the extensions pretty well — although dip dyeing their ends blond they would mix even better *thinking*.

Wearing a Monki t-shirt with chiffon hem, Cheap Monday regular black jeans (Weekday & Monki sales really got me after Christmas :S) and my old, trustworthy Rützou booties. With this hair I don’t feel that I need tons of accessories… …if any…

Posted on | March 13, 2011 | 7 Comments

// Speaking of grey

Posted on | August 27, 2010 | 2 Comments

Longer lengths, greys… …that it is for me now. Cropped boxy sweater with awesome texture makes the simple jersey dress just interesting enough — and I love the length of the dress. My trustworthy museum bag has dethroned all my other bags this summer and the handles start to be perfectly frayed. I’m all about sloppiness and comfort these days. And flats work so well with delayed onset muscle soreness, haha!

Textured sweatshirt All Saints, Monki dress, old and dear taupe ballerinas from French Sole. The bag I actually got from my Parisian friend — and it constantly reminds me how much I want to travel to there again…

Posted on | August 27, 2010 | 2 Comments

// Uncolored…

Posted on | August 25, 2010 | 3 Comments

I photographed this outfit in low light, thus the grainy images. I have worn lots of grey, lately. All grey outfits, tonal greys, greys combined to greiges… …yeah, kind of boring but also somehow weirdly fitting for a woman with road dust colored hair and wolf eyes.

This inexpensive little second hand mesh thing has found its way to surprisingly many of my outfits. This time I’m wearing it the wrap piece front under my all time favorite H&M cardigan. American Apparel tank is doing shoddy job underneath protecting my modesty — but fortunately I’m not too shy to show a glimpse of the neon purple Monki bra now and then — especially when the outfit is not revealing by any other means. Jeans are Cheap Monday — and Topshop shoes I bought nearly unused from a girl who could not walk in them. Good for me, these are excellent addition to my everyday shoes! The heel height is actually very moderate (maybe 9 cm) — but definitely too much for totally inexperienced user.

I haven’t been thinking autumn too much yet. August is one of my favorite months, the nights start to be decently dark and noticeably cooler, days can still be warm, but there also are days for light layers like this. I have been buying quite a lot of clothes this summer, even the sales were favorable for me although I did not scour them systematically. I’m definitely not having regrets, all pieces are great and will definitely go in circulation. But now I really have to face the fact that my wardrobe has it’s limits… …I have to start to consider my purchases more carefully — and honestly I don’t have much needs for the winter. I would love to find a sculptural cape coat — and always could add a pair of new boots — but I can definitely do without. Should I stop high street shopping altogether? That would probably be good option to consider…

Posted on | August 25, 2010 | 3 Comments

// Sun dressing

Posted on | July 24, 2010 | 5 Comments

Uh, there is not much happening here, fashionwise. The summer has been exeptionally warm and I’m shuttling between home and the nearby parks in old sundresses, sloppy shoes and sunglasses. This old Zara dress is one of my favorites, the sturdy guipure lace upper fits perfectly and the straps have actually nothing to do with keeping the dress in place. The material is very lightweight cotton silk blend, heavenly in the hot weather.

And when it goes even more casual: cut offs with slouchy tank tops. I love the tie dye in this American Apparel one — and the cut is excellent. A bikini top or an exposable bra is essential underneath (at least with my sense of modesty) — and I like the addition of sheer bra peeking from the arm holes. My Bodas jabouley lace ones and this neon purple Monki mesh bra (a bargain from Monki Helsinki opening — but excellent fit, I’m certainly getting more of these!) have been in constant circulation.

I got one thing from the sales, though. This mohair dress is from Ivana Helsinki and I have been stalking it since I found the pictures of the collection from the Copenhagen fashion week. Well, actually this was not a sale purchase, but a sample piece that miraculously fitted relatively well. Couple of days ago I saw a girl sporting the same dress in different color — but personally I don’t have the nerve to use this kind of material in this weather. So I’m just saving it for the autumnal layers…

Posted on | July 24, 2010 | 5 Comments

// Something blue, something borrowed

Posted on | June 29, 2010 | 10 Comments

I had several outfit photos packed to my hard drive, now starting to purge…

There’s not much about this outfit, it’s just a pile of cheap stuff. The silhouette draws this to the girly-cutesy side, I let the patterns and colors fight back just a bit to keep it from going too sweet. Tank is quite old American Apparel see thru one (I love electric blue in small portions), cotton cardi is from H&M, skirt from Monki sale (excellent piece, the watercolory black and white plaids are such an unusual and eye teasing print), the belt is from flea market (why would somebody like to sell perfectly worn in cognac leather belt, just asking) and the shoes are old Topshop wood wedges. Cat looks a bit upset about my choice of pattern… …I had to assure her that no animals were harmed…

Posted on | June 29, 2010 | 10 Comments

// Double bubble

Posted on | June 10, 2010 | 2 Comments

I think that I will not raid the sales this summer. I have no specific needs and to be truthful my wardrobe is so full that I really have to slow down my purchases. Got to admit that I’m stalking just one investment piece… …but if it does not go on sale then it will be no deal for me. Still… …today I just accidentally slipped in to Monki — and got this super soft boxy little sweater and one very nice cotton printed skirt –50%.

This is one of my comfort outfits — not a least bit trendy, oversized stuff over oversized stuff that someone could call terribly unflattering, but for me it is very important to be able to hide under ample layers of cloth if I feel like that. I also like this kind of childish kawaii look, without too many frills. I know that it is all too young for me, but I don’t care, I don’t have to prove myself to anyone. I’m also starting to master the self photography on a level, that you hopefully get one very important dimension of this outfit, the tactility. All these materials have that specific feel I’m often after, subtly worn out look with volume and movement.

The skirt is really old and from Vero Moda, the dress (rather a tunic) over it from H&M and old as well. Shoes are from Topshop and the necklace from Etsy by Tilly Bloom.

Posted on | June 10, 2010 | 2 Comments

// Good news are bad news

Posted on | January 23, 2010 | 2 Comments

I have kept my promises to not to shop at high street so far. I haven’t even used the excuse of “needing some new basics” to go and dig the hosiery sale remnants a bit. But I know that this spring will be an enormous challenge, it’s no news in Finnish blogosphere that two great Swedish high street store chains open their first shops on Aleksanterinkatu: we will get our first Weekday and Monki here!

I try to actively put thought of that aside, but when my attention slips I just find myself browsing through their sites. How can those T:s be so perfectly cut with just right amount slouchiness? How can there be a neat little detail or twist here and there just to make a basic garment look just a tad more interesting?

All previous images are from Weekday — and I have developed a need for gray sweater with a zipper on back and some slouchy T:s. I could also use oversized shirt as a dress and an overlayer (but for this need I probably turn for second hand).

I really like Monki site, it is one of the least annoying Flash sites around, but unfortunately the downloading option rejected my Mac / Chrome combo. Back to the Monki stuff later, with another browser — and maybe even with my old PC… …but anyway, thanks for both sites for great, large, downloadable images — you really get what this interwebs thing is all about.

BTW I’m getting serious eighties flashbacks from that crincled material on the light gray sweater. I remember that it was so hot stuff… …I even sew a bat wing sweater out of almost similar fabric (ok, the color had slight bluish cast). How hot would that be now .

Posted on | January 23, 2010 | 2 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.