// 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

// Spring by Vagabond

Posted on | January 27, 2010 | No Comments

Finland is not actually a shoe collectors Mecca — but fortunately the Swedes are here to save us. Vagabond is a decent and modestly priced brand, and although it fails to make me completely enthusiastic they produce every season a shoe or two that I’m tempted to add to my collection. Plus they have some great basics, the MC boot from the winter season had a really good shape.

This spring my new pair would definitely be this. Or the same pair in black, I’m not all sure about the contrast of black sole and white upper without seeing the shoe IRL. But the description says that the material is textile. I will definitely go and see them in the shop, will certainly not buy plastic shoes… …ok, maybe I’m not buying any shoes…

Posted on | January 27, 2010 | No Comments

// My favorite pants

Posted on | October 1, 2009 | 5 Comments

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My favorite pair of pants comes from young talented Finnish designer, Maria Matintytär Maattola. The shape is exaggerated carrot with low slung pockets and some extra length in the leg. The seams twist to the front and the subtly shiny fabric sets automatically to sculptural folds around the legs. The shape can be further accentuated by wearing something tight at the hip area, like I did in here. The pockets can be even turned inside out, when they form some neat peplum-like folds around the hip.

I layered on some black stuff for subtle textural effects: Topshop mesh dress pulled slightly up to tunic length (acquired as second hand) and some cropped, oversized viscose T-shirt (in need of some ironing action), Vagabond wedges.

I really need more carrot shaped pants — thrift stores: here I come!

Posted on | October 1, 2009 | 5 Comments

// In black and white again

Posted on | September 26, 2009 | 5 Comments

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Yesterday was my second consecutive day in ripped nylon tights, ripped knee socks and brogues. My original idea was something about very dishevelled black suit — and then I end up leaving the pants home. Complexgeometries t-shirt dress and old Filippa-K wool blazer, DIY merino mitts.

Posted on | September 26, 2009 | 5 Comments

// Rock me, Michelangelo

Posted on | September 24, 2009 | 9 Comments

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Back to the wardrobe plan! For a long time now I have been wanting to add something special to my wardrobe from AttilaDesign. I’ve had so many favorites from Tiinas designs, but the light cotton convertible Sybil dress won me over completely. The print of the dress is from Sistine Chapel Michelangelo painting — and it totally reminds me about places I still haven’t been visiting, but I should.

The material is super soft and light cotton, great for summer but works fine for layering and thus for all other seasons. The hem can be gathered symmetrically or asymmetrically — or left longer and straight so the piece works as a dress, mini dress and a tunic over the pants. The waist can be tied in two different ways. The details and the finishing of this piece are excellent and faded pastel colors make it extremely easy to combine. The print is on both back and front. It’s quirky and fun — and extremely beautiful at the same time. I’m more than happy with it!

Here I’m wearing the dress with old H&M (?) striped shirt, ripped nylons and nylon socks, Vagabond broques. For going out I threw on a black coat from Victor & Rolf for H&M.

BTW, a weak inspiration for the outfit is this film — do you recognize it?

La cité des enfants perdus

Posted on | September 24, 2009 | 9 Comments

// Lingerie & menswear

Posted on | September 22, 2009 | 6 Comments

Another pattern: when I start using a neglectect garment I soon discover lots of ways to incorporate it to my outfits.

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These All Saints pants have been here before, in quite different company. Today I combined them to upcycled lingerie dress from CreoleCollection (I highly recommend this Etsy shop, the owner does amazing things with vintage lingerie pieces and some garment dye) layered over thrifted nylon slip (Fida) and Vagabond brogues. Later I threw on a thin merino cardigan and white scarf to go out — but it was too dark to photograph that. I’ll get lots of practical blogging problems later on the winter, there will not be too much light in this apartment.

I like the contrast of my lower and top half on this, quite nice yin / yang between feminine & masculine. The shape of the slip dress is fitted enough to avoid totally shapeless silhouette, but somehow manages to deal with my chest at the same time.

Posted on | September 22, 2009 | 6 Comments

// Those long ones

Posted on | September 11, 2009 | 8 Comments

I have been looking for a good but affordable pair of over-the-knee boots with not too obvious notions to nuffy sex shop ones for a while. With my limited budget that has been a bit of challenge. The Topshop suede pair was long in my autumn wardrobe plan, but then I saw these Vagabonds at their webshop. Neat! They satisfy my craving for front leg detail perfectly, the heel and cautious platform combination is 100% walkable, the leather-fabric combination nods more to Ann Demeulemeester than Reeperbahn and the price was not too bad. And Vagabonds tend to be good quality — not luxurious but they wear well. Negatives — the stupid logo embossed to the back of the heel. Not too noticeable, fortunately.

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This arrangement is just for photoshoot but very wearable indeed. I combined the boots with my old Lee jeans (they are bit long and fill the ankle of the boot bit uncomfortably, otherwise I really like the look with the faded black denim), white long t, customized H&M shirt worn open and old Filippa-K wool jacket. Will definitely wear a version of this some day. And sorry about the blurry images, it was bit too dark to shoot.

The shirt is really old, but it lied almost untouched in my wardrobe. I liked the long narrow silhouette, soft thin cotton and pintucks, but somehow the whole thing was just not for me. Plus the cheap plastic buttons — a long row of those — annoyed the hell out of me. So one day I paid a visit to my local crafts shop and bought a set of mother of pearl buttons. I ripped the collar off and noticed that there was no fusible fabric in between the layers, just one extra layer of cotton. I really liked these three sheets of sheer fabric and the remains of the old stitching, so I decided just to baste the collar together with heavy cotton yarn. Ripping the cuff and bottom seams open was just logical continuum to that — and the result you see in the pictures.

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Can you tell the difference between the buttons — or am I just a button snob?

Posted on | September 11, 2009 | 8 Comments

// All black with shiny leggings

Posted on | August 26, 2009 | 7 Comments

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I have hard time picking style icons I really follow, but I’m embarrasingly influenced by movies. One persistent source for my inspiration is Mad Max trilogy (yeah, I said it loud, now I feel truly awkward :-O). In my interpretation it means disheveled layers, utilitarian elements mixed to tribal things, using whatever works for whatever, biker romantic, texture clashing, dirt. In my first outfit with woven latex look leggings I turned to my favorite source of inspiration and thought an imaginary (priest?!?) character that would fit to the imagery… …minus the dirt — this was for evening out, after all.

Wearing DIY woven leggings over cheap matte nylon leggings, 2or+ cotton tunic/dress with cascading asymmetric cut, H&M scarf (love the texture), old Vagabond booties, Sonia Rykiel studded bag, some old necklace with nice wooden cross, don’t really remember from where I got this. I apologise the infamous pigeon toe pose — I guess that it just happens when I try to set my thigs to most flattering angle =).

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So now you know…

Posted on | August 26, 2009 | 7 Comments

// Purchase planning

Posted on | July 29, 2009 | 2 Comments

I want to start to plan my clothes purchases. My income is not what it used to be, plus I really want to focus the quality over the quantity. To preserve the joy of impulse shopping I can reserve a small sum for second hand purchases and DIY materials, but everything else should be carefully planned.

For this autumn I probably need a pair of simple booties that go with as many outfits as possible — my current ones are quite worn. I don’t want to invest in these, the weather conditions in Finland are ruthless to shoes. Slush kills. Of course I have rubber boots for the worst days, but in this country you never know what’s next — weather-wise.

Image from Vagabond

I’m quite tuned to these platform booties from Vagabond. They are simple, but I can easily make some detachable chain / stud adornments to upgrade them to something more special when needed. Walkable and DIY inspiring = good.

Image from American Apparel

I have one of these American Apparel ruched bras — and I really need couple of more. These are excellent for women who can’t go without some sort of chest support. They resolve the bra strap problem in most cases while offering enough support for regular light activities (barely, but still). And they flatten the chest, yay!

That’s the “necessities” part. Then the options.

Image from Lumi Accessories

After all I’m not that into bags — and I think that my small collection serves the most purposes. For everyday needs I usually reach for my trusted Topshop bag. It’s black, roomy, does not weigh too much and collapses to a very small space when I don’t carry much in it. But to be honest it starts to be quite worn and might fall apart any day. So I’ve been eyeing some options and the strongest candidate might be this Lumi Accessories XL Supermarket bag. Same attributes to my current favorite, even more minimal appearance and good quality. I actually own the smaller one in teal, but it is not large enough to be my everyday holdall. And it is not black.

Finsk shoes from Asos.com

To be honest, I really don’t need any more pumps or sandals. But I don’t own a single pair of bold platforms — and I feel incomplete without them. This pair from Finsk is perfection, but I’m open to suggestions. At least other Finsk suggestions. Image from Asos — these are in sale there and my heart bleeds.

Before winter sales I have to sort out if I need any seasonal pieces to be updated so I can be better prepared!

Posted on | July 29, 2009 | 2 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.