// I made it

Posted on | September 8, 2011 | 5 Comments

Yeah, I finally made it! Actually knitting this sweater was a snap — but those about five million yarn ends and particularly tedious finishing job with laceweight mohair almost demolished my working ethic.

The giant tube shape, bold stripes and the material are all nods to my first knits in the end of 80’s and beginning of 90’s (mohair, giant, unflattering). That yarn has a touch of luxury, it is baby soft kid-mohair — and a strand of pure silk runs through it, keeping the delicate thing together. It is so lightweight that in spite of that size the sweater can easily be layered under jackets and coats. It is long and can be worn as a dress (I doubt I will do that, though) — but the shape allows it to be gathered to the shoulders — and the hem rises up. The funnel neck is large enough to be worn as a hood. I’ve knit my safe haven for upcoming winter.

THE CURE — Lullaby by Caro69

Posted on | September 8, 2011 | 5 Comments

// Space odyssey 2011

Posted on | August 21, 2011 | 3 Comments

Last week I bumped into a thing that a flight attendant from Space Odyssey 2001 could wear on her free time. I’ve said that I’m not too into obvious retro styles, but somehow I can make an exception with stiff, clean lined and retrofuturistic sixties dresses like this. Especially when they fit rather well. Especially when the material happens to be texturally pleasing cotton / nylon brocade with very soft, cotton’y hand feel. Especially when the color is delightful pale lime yellow — a color considered difficult for Scandinavian complexion in general — but happens to work with my mousy hair, blue eyes and easily tanning skin.

Excuse me for leaving this short — I’m off to painting my nails matte black for some nice contrast…

Posted on | August 21, 2011 | 3 Comments

// How yellow

Posted on | August 14, 2011 | 1 Comment

Pairing the bright yellow Zara shirt to utilitarian blue / gray origami skirt. The accent color used like this reminds me safety garments — and the effect is slightly wrong — maybe that’s why it feels right to me. I like how there is some severity in the combination of these feminine, soft pieces.

Skirt is 2or+, my trustworthy Rützou wedges — AA tank top underneath the yellow blouse gives a hint of refreshing white. With bright red lip my face does not look all washed out…

Posted on | August 14, 2011 | 1 Comment

// 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

// Headpiece

Posted on | July 29, 2011 | 3 Comments

I really could use headpieces more often. I’m afraid that my current habits include the wool beanie for the coldest days of the year — and occasional scarf wrapped to head — mainly to cover up the shortcomings in my hair routine. All those accessories that make me very conscious about them are very difficult to me — with hats I have to be careful with every stronger-than-just-a-breeze winds, for some reason I find it extremely difficult to find ones that actually stay put on my head… Anyway, I do like the bohemian flair of semi-haphazard turban wraps, with palazzo pants or maxi skirts, silk tops and some oxidized metal accessories the look is somehow decadent and timeless — not to mention how carefree the wrap is, I can trust it to stay on place.

Don’t remember where I got this nude-mauve’y-ochre’y ombre scarf, but it is old — and quite nice with those soft colors, crocheted edges and dye job, the mauve silk top is ancient MissSelfridges (lingerie?) one and the heavy silver beads I got last summer from Seppälä.

Posted on | July 29, 2011 | 3 Comments

// With live preview

Posted on | July 27, 2011 | 1 Comment

I thought that live preview option on computer screen would make taking self-portraits easier… …but truth to be told I’m not convinced yet. Canon EOS Utility is buggy as hell and freezes in regular intervals. The live face detection mode is difficult to control, the software seems to lose the focus as easily as it gets it. And… …the remote does not work when in computer control mode. I have to examine this, there has to be a way around. Controlling the shoot with mouse and keyboard was not particularly fun.

Anyway, this is an attempt to shoot my summer dressing. We are experiencing such a great summer this year, high temperatures and sunny skies day after day. My already modest beauty routines are in complete state of forestation and I walk around in frizzy, curly hair (it frizzes and curls anyway in this hot and humid weather so why bother) and with minimal makeup.

Dressing is also simple, I’m wearing an old Diesel Black Gold jersey dress — it’s constructed from sheer knee length top layer with subtle wrinkle effect and shorter lining — and it looks surprisingly sharp for a jersey dress. I like to use clothes for sun protection (vs. iffy creams) and this lightweight Zara silk kimono is an excellent piece to throw over almost any summer ensemble. It works as a jacket and a blouse, it has button up front and a wide obi-style belt for further styling options. Considering I bought it in haste (do seagulls shit on people on purpose?) I’m liking it quite a bit! Horn necklace from Savage Salvage — and the body chain DIY.

Posted on | July 27, 2011 | 1 Comment

// The print that made me fall

Posted on | July 16, 2011 | 2 Comments

My second planned sales purchase was this pair of Topshop Unique pants. I kind of loved the whole Unique collection for this summer, but the steep prices kept my hairy little hands off from the pieces — and my credit card safe. However I was actively stalking especially these pants OR the blazer with similar print on the sale. Not both of them, I would definitely not use them as a suit!

Well, I was too slow for the blazer — but I got the pants. I had lots of doubts if the pants meet my expectations even with the sales price — but they do, more than do! I think they are gorgeous — heavyweight silk and the print is just dreamy. The cut is clever, too — slightly awkward cropped length, high waist with wide waistband and generously dropped crotch — the images in the Topshop site really did not give any idea about the details of the cut. The garment clings the legs beautifully when moving — a detail which is impossible to capture to still images. I like them even so much that I tried to hunt down the blazer as well (Michelle, thank you again, you are a doll!) — unfortunately with no luck!

With these pants it is definitely possible to create feminine, subtly flattering silhouettes — however I went for my favorite “loose on loose” look for these pics — not to mention it just feels right when the temperatures are high… The peachy nude giant shirt and the weird, tangly necklace thing are both from Weekday. I got the chain piece from Stockholm after Christmas, I believe it has not been here before. It is not actually a body chain, but a plain necklace with cascading chain loops, inflated to gigantic proportions. So it is definitely possible to wrap it around the body in multitude of ways. It is pain to keep it untangled… …solution is to let it just tangle and enjoy the haphazard results. That gorgeous Sou Brette necklace somehow encourages me layering it with other items — in spite of it being quite showy piece itself.

Posted on | July 16, 2011 | 2 Comments

// Found the angle

Posted on | July 13, 2011 | No Comments

I discovered a while ago that indeed there is enough room space to use my cheap 50 mm lens for outfit pics (it’s 80 mm in actual use because of the shallow mount of Canon entry level SLRs — the lens is for the regular one). The camera is on the living room side and I get bit of the wall to the right side — and the wardrobe to the left as you can see in the second image. But the lens allows me to photograph in the low light so I have been experimenting with it lately. Now I just need some active USB-cable to connect directly my workstation — so I can use it as a screen — that should help enormously with the focus…

The outfit is nothing special — I often (try to) dress up those denim cutoffs with shirts or lightweight knits for random summery strolls in the town. Westwood boots are actually great in the summertime, well ventilated and the taupe color goes with everything. The shirt is old thrifted one — there is this mysterious Finnish silk brand called Järvi-Muoti (Lake Fashion… …uh, oh ) — I don’t know where the pieces are actually sold but I do come by a piece from them in the thrift shops every now and then — and very often end up buying them… Well, I suspect some of those iffy looking “silk shops” I have seen here and there, maybe I have to check out the one I remember — because regardless of the fashion status of this brand they do make some really nice basic pieces… …all in pure silk. Oh, I do have the other of my two planned sales purchases on my neck: the beautiful Sou Brette necklace. I’m so in love with it — and it definitely deserves some better images in the very near future…

Posted on | July 13, 2011 | No Comments

// The simplest of sundresses

Posted on | July 12, 2011 | 2 Comments

This ages old Filippa K dress has saved so many dog days — despite and because of the material. It is polyester jersey, practically wrinkle proof so I can throw it to any bag and take it out from there without any visible damage. The a-lined shape is such that I truly feel ventilated — nevermind this one being a close sibling to those black garbage bags — material-wise… Two invisible life-savers underneath: American Apparel ruched cotton jersey top (um, have I said “comfy” yet?) and very decent, almost short-like granny pants by Sonia Rykiel for H&M — the latter is necessary because of the almost opaque nature of the dress… Even with these little flaws this dress never fails to make me feel dressed up — even when the temperatures fight against all attempts to truly dress up.

The simple shape guides me to simple accessories, my old silver flip-flops, Weekday cuff. Naturally I have to break the pattern a bit… …the hand-tooled leather bag is one of my many steals from Etsy vintage department…

Posted on | July 12, 2011 | 2 Comments

// White T season

Posted on | July 5, 2011 | 6 Comments

The wardrobe basics — well, they can be even better when they are slightly special. I know that I’m getting back to them again and again, just to clean up the clutter in my mind, remembering how simple dressing up can be.

However this white heavyweight Pour shirt is not exactly a basic tee — but something in-between a minimalistic jersey dress and tunic. The shape and length makes it perfectly versatile and the tail hem just encourages to layer it up with other garments.

It has been so warm and nice lately — thus the lightweight outfits. I love the tunic tucked in to these thrifted and cut acid wash jeans. I left the tight legged jeans purposefully longer — wanted leave more fabric to show off this pretty awesome bright blue / bold bleach wash. Boots are by Ash — and the arm chain by gTIE — honestly it needs some sleeve for hiding the attachment arm band… …works from front with this shirt, but not from the backside — could not resist for the photographing purposes, though…

Another garment begging the company of this tunic: the sheer tail skirt from Weekday. I turned it 90 degrees to get this pleasant hem play — additional perk: my operated knee nicely hidden. Wearing with old supermarket leather sandals, Lindex neck cuff and some very pink lipstick by YSL.

Posted on | July 5, 2011 | 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.