// 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

// Just can’t get the grip of it

Posted on | June 8, 2010 | 8 Comments

I feel slight regrets of buying this dress from Berlin last autumn. I sort of like it, but it does not agree well with my wardrobe. I also thought that it is all too stripy to become really popular… …duh, was I wrong! I have seen it around a lot — which should not be a problem for high street advocate like me — but this piece is so recognizable…

On everyday use I think that it looks best on it’s own, paired just with casual flats and slouchy bag — but my body is not ideal for that. All additional layers strip off the effectiveness of this dress — except when they are theatrical enough.

I just toyed around with that dimension, wearing a vintage haori over the dress, adorned with my DIY body chain worn as giant lariat — I even attached couple of pendants to the ends. The other thing around my neck is an old glass beaded scarf, which actually falls closer to the jewelry category than scarves.

On the latter two pics: Vero Moda cascade knit and Design House Stockholm scarf create a weird court dress feeling.

But I’m probably not theatrical enough for these…

Posted on | June 8, 2010 | 8 Comments

// DIY suede fringes

Posted on | April 5, 2010 | 10 Comments

So, one of my little easter holiday DIY:s was this suede fringe skirt. Originally it was really boring slightly A-lined skirt with length I don’t particularly like — but end up often buying because I have a large scar on my right knee. However this piece had been too long in my wardrobe, untouched. I decided either to do something for it (simple shortening was my first idea) or get rid of it. That Acne jacket changed my initial plans.

The DIY involved just some freehand rotary cutter use — and I shortened the lining so that the skirt is now actually a micro mini with long fringes. The only challenge was the slight A-lined shape, I had to adjust the width of the fringes just a tiny bit to get it right.

This can be worn in so many ways… …now I’m wearing it simply with bare legs, AA see-thru tank — which accidentally matches almost perfectly color wise to the thin knitted Vero Moda vest on top. The necklace is from H&M, shoes COX from Berlin and my old bone white Bayswater is pretty nice company for these (I usually don’t bother photographing bags, I use my ratty old Topshop bag or Luovi computer bag almost everyday — and I’m not that into bags anyway…).

Posted on | April 5, 2010 | 10 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

// Excuses, excuses

Posted on | March 3, 2010 | 6 Comments

I spilled some tomato soup to one of my favorite tunics a while ago — and it did not come off despite of my efforts on stain removal. That was maybe the lousiest excuse for going some t-shirt shopping… …especially when I abused even that and end up walking out from the shops with this dress, SR knit and even another piece… …dammit I’m weak.

The dress is Vero Moda new “high end” label Very, quite modestly priced for 50 euros. It is silk but the quality is not much to speak about, I had to go through all the seams and cut away the spilling fabric remnants. But the cut is really clever — you can’t actually see all the nice little folds on the side seams in these pics (what was I thinking when photographing this?) — and I do like this particular shade of yellow.

But I think that I was deceiving myself thinking this as an everyday wear to be used right away. Of course this kind of tunic is easy to layer with all sorts of everyday stuff — but the smoothly shining silk is so delicate, even a splash of water can leave a stain to it. Plus… …an additional discomfort factor with silk is the static which is really bad here at wintertime when the air is very dry inside the buildings. At summertime silk absorbs moisture from air, that improves the conductivity of the material and reduces static.

So I’m just dreaming of actually wearing it. With my leather pants from Selected, old sequin jacket (probably from Asos, although it does not have any labels) and wedge ankle boots from Rützou. Or with my DIY tulle leggings, Ash wedges and Pilgrim necklace. It looks a bit risky — but it is just the angle, trust me ;-D. And excuse my extremely tired face, I’m actually starving because of this pine mouth experience…

Posted on | March 3, 2010 | 6 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.