// Beachy peach

Posted on | July 9, 2010 | 3 Comments

Uh, my self-discipline is about zero — of course I dropped in to Zara sales last week — and naturally could not leave from there without buying something. But considering the current weather (blazingly hot, we are going to break the temperature records next week for sure) this something could not be much better.

100% silk piano shawl dress feels like I had nothing on — but is completely presentable on the summer streets, a perfect combination of cover and free movement of fabric. On daytime I prefer minimal accessories: old Pilgrim sunnies, old Ash perspex (!) prism flats (forgot that I indeed have something perspex), fabric bag, neon coral nail polish. Sorry about the hair, my dorky expression and lack of make up… …I’m pretty much making myself up with sunglasses these days. For evening I can add some layered jewels, the brass net necklace and pendant are from Pilgrim, one with somewhat heraldic motif is vintage.

I’m pretty sure that this dress will be great paired with jeans when the temperatures drop. The whole idea of the it is so simple that I’m beating myself not inventing it by myself. I probably will keep my eyes open for nice patterned silks for another DIY one… …the fringe is just simple net crochet with tassels attached.

I do like summer — like the sun, the heat, everything. But I doubt that I would have this blog if the weather would constantly be like this. Dressing up for dog days is not particularly interesting.

Posted on | July 9, 2010 | 3 Comments

// Something blue, something borrowed

Posted on | June 29, 2010 | 8 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 | 8 Comments

// Perfectly worn in

Posted on | June 24, 2010 | No Comments

Poets blouse from UnderCapricorn.

Tan leather clutch from PansysPlace.

Frye mules from Early Mornings.

Posted on | June 24, 2010 | No Comments

// Sport, Pocahontas style

Posted on | June 11, 2010 | 10 Comments

I really, really dig skirts. The freedom of movement they provide — and the ventilation on summertime! For me it is not even a girl thing, I think that I would fight my right to wear one even if I were a guy.

Anyway… …I’m not riding on trends today, either… …I just happen to have found few quite awesome second hand leather pieces lately — this butter soft Pocahontas skirt being one.

The skirt was originally long a-lined one but I hitched it up from sides and attached with few stitches for this slight bustle skirt shape. Combined it to old H&M silk anorak, AA gray marl tank top and a pair of all white Converse — which in spite of my all effort to keep them bright and clean start to look pretty worn out… …all for this slightly sporty look. At makeup department there is still not much effort, sorry…

Posted on | June 11, 2010 | 10 Comments

// Flat shoe solutions

Posted on | May 10, 2010 | 6 Comments

The leg feels much better but I’m still taking it carefully, so my flats are in heavy rotation. Actually the weather is miserably cold — and today I seriously considered wearing the winter jacket when going out. And the bare ankles… …well, let’s just say that there are not too many people in addition to yours truly sporting them in this weather.

The haori jacket has been an enormous hit in my wardrobe. I love to wear it with regular denim outfits, over tunics, T:s, tanks and light layers — it definitely makes things bit more interesting. This time I have my old Lee jeans (the ones that saved my skin when I fell), amazing cotton guipure lace T I snatched from Gina Tricot (amazing being from GT, haha!) over a random tank and printed ponyskin flats from Pretty Ballerinas. Actually ballerinas are a staple on my wardrobe, I have another pair from PB in antique silver — and very low cut taupe pair from French Sole. My beloved black Repetto’s I walked to shreds last summer.

And I have an actual haircut with slanted fringe and some layers… …bit windswept but the cut still makes a difference.

Posted on | May 10, 2010 | 6 Comments

// Body conscious

Posted on | May 9, 2010 | 2 Comments

Yes, I have lost some weight, but I’m still not too confident with body conscious silhouettes for quite obvious reasons — and I doubt that whatever range my weight settles, doing bodyconscious dressing will probably not be my thing. But I could not resist on toying with this bargain corset I got from eBay last autumn — it is a superb detailed garment and so far it has been here in one drawing only. I doubt that I will never fully showcase it as a part of an outfit, but I like the idea of exposing it partially, this time like a low slung extra wide corset “belt”.

I built this outfit thinking about going out to relatively casual places… …so I’m wearing Cheap Monday pale blue jeans, sheer H&M vest over the corset which is worn in such a way that I can sit comfortably, and I turned the garters underneath to tone down its underwearishness. I really like how the elastics have yellowed from pure white to ivory, it makes combining this piece much more interesting. The lace biker is from H&M, too — and those suede booties are from my Berlin trip. I could not find the white American Apparel ruched top which would have extended the line of the corset under the sheer top layer, so that’s the explanation for black. And this was a test drive anyway…

I doubt that I will never go out like this — but if I change the top part to something very loose and short enough to let the corset peek from underneath… …yes, that might be the solution…

Posted on | May 9, 2010 | 2 Comments

// Sugar, no spice

Posted on | April 25, 2010 | No Comments

Shades of toffee tame down the antique gold leather shorts for casual movie night. Not that they necessarily need taming… …but I like to incorporate fancy garments like those to everyday rotation — and although it is not that evident coming from a mouth (or pen or keyboard or whatever…) of style blogger, I’m not really an attention seeker.

Second hand leather shorts and crochet coat (the lining really needs to be changed and sewn better on, I knew it already but I’m such a lazy ass), old H&M silk shirt, COX booties and opaque gray tights. Not much happening in the accessory territory these days, I could really work on that…

And I have decided to emphasize even more the vintage / second hand department of my wardrobe.

BTW, next week I will hopefully have something to post from Finnish indie fashion scene… …I’m very excited to go and see my first ever fashion show IRL — and I’m definitely taking my camera with me. But back to that next week!

Posted on | April 25, 2010 | No Comments

// Back and front

Posted on | April 16, 2010 | 6 Comments

As a design detail — or should I say undesign detail — I tend to loathe the undesigned back –phenomenon… …yes a suit vest can have a plain lining fabric back and printed T does not necessarily need anything to back… …I mean how — often in cheap and middle priced garments — the embellishments and details are all clustered to front with no attention to back view of the garment at all.

But still this outfit is a full-body realization of that — the back is very calm and conventional, the front is shred, printed and lightly layered. Wearing DIY shredded jeans (I’m still in awe of the leg elongating effect of these), second hand Escada jacket, Cheap Monday vest over American Apparel see-thru vest, Rützou wedges. Snaggle tooth inherited.

Posted on | April 16, 2010 | 6 Comments

// Everyday floral

Posted on | April 10, 2010 | 6 Comments

Oh, nothing special this time, but I like to keep these everyday wear posts going on — and not all of my everyday stuff is layered nor particularly creative. On Thursday I wore this nice cotton vintage dress to work, with H&M silk slip (I really like unlined dresses and separate slips), opaque tights and Vagabond OTK boots. I have an old metal bead choker wrapped twice to my wrist. But that’s about it. Super simple.

I would love to wear just the mongolian lamb vest on top of the dress when going out (and roll the sleeves down)… …but unfortunately it is not that warm yet.

Posted on | April 10, 2010 | 6 Comments

// Vintage find

Posted on | March 31, 2010 | 6 Comments

I’ve done some great second hand finds this winter — and the nomination for the most beautiful one goes easily to this mint green, sparely flowered kimono. Or to be more exact, this is actually a haori jacket, used as top layer over a kimono. It is made of pretty awesome handpainted heavyweight silk and it has traditional half lining with a matching fabric. I will provide some detail shots later with first actual outfit post — but that will probably take a while, this one is not for rainy weather we are currently experiencing here.

And no, I’m not going to wear it like this… …I’m planning to layer it over my dark jean jacket (that one still needs a wash or two, I need to be certain that there will be no color transfer) or a second hand oversized denim shirt; to relatively casual outfits to tone it down. I like the idea, the simple shape and the quality fabric so much that I’m definitely going to get another one, with very different fabric. The men’s versions are often more simple with no painted or embroidered details, and that’s what I’m after — they usually have some subtle small scale woven pattern with colors like blue, gray and maroon, often combined to white or ecru — very easy to combine to prints and solids.

Naturally this was not my idea — I think that it was actually Susie Bubble who opened my eyes for these. Before that I remember seeing Catherine Baba wearing a kimono beautifully… …but that was not enough to cause any action here, though.

The bracelet is silver petal necklace from Efva Attling worn doubled, the suede belt is familiar from some previous outfit post — and oh yes, it is from Vero Moda, I found a faded print inside. A vintage slip underneath.

You can find several sellers from Etsy — this one is from SeskasPlace — I warmly recommend her shop! But there is more, check for example KimonoMomo and Togei.

And guess what. These are not expensive at all.

Posted on | March 31, 2010 | 6 Comments

keep looking »

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.