// In the black jean rut

Posted on | May 28, 2011 | 6 Comments

The truth about my everyday work wear has been bit sad and monotonous lately. This spring has not been particularly warm and I have lived in my black or washed black Cheap Monday jeans. For work I like to add a shirt or t-shirt — and a jacket for some structure. This is all old stuff, ASOS shirt — which I have apparently snagged from the back. It is semi transparent, but not this much — I added the contrast to the images to get out more detail from this lovely Gestuz jacket — and for the mood… Hmm, the necklace I bought quite recently, it is from Lindex. I was about to go for the gold one, but the industrial charm of the shiny silver just looked so much better in person.

Oh, if someone wonders my sudden eagerness of wearing my hair open… …well I guess there are couple of reasons. First of all it starts to be in length that looks quite balanced on me. Second — I bought a GHD straightening iron a while ago — and it kind of lives to the hype. It is an extremely well made tool, warms in seconds, glides on hair and is hot enough to smooth the hair with one or two swipes. It takes under 10 minutes to straighten my baby fine hair — a huge improvement to the previous 20 – 25 minutes… …I certainly can do that couple of times in a week in spite of my low maintenance tendencies…

Posted on | May 28, 2011 | 6 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

// Work vest

Posted on | July 6, 2010 | 2 Comments

One work outfit from earlier this spring. I did not get that excited about the H&M Fashion Against AIDS collection after all — just got this embroidered vest from mens collection. I like it but it probably needs some slight alterations to fit bit better. Or then I might be too lazy for that. Wearing it over AA tank, with Carin Wester chinos and old brass cuff.

Posted on | July 6, 2010 | 2 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

// Pillow case

Posted on | May 29, 2010 | 3 Comments

I don’t particularly like the culture of being busy all the time and personally I try to schedule my life in a way that I don’t have reason to complain about being too busy to do a thing. In my schedule I definitely need space for spontaneous stuff… …or just for being. But naturally there are times when despite all the efforts things just pile up… …last week it was the work and I just squeezed in couple of shorty-short photo sessions about my work gear, so here’s the second one.

The outfit itself is not particularly flashy — but I do love (almost) every single piece of it. The T-shirt with neat pillowcase shoulders is from Vietto — a great, great piece I got in exchange for my photographs of some neat Vietto jewelry. I was very drawn to certain hand chains of the collection — but because the recent jewelry rejection mode that still seems to have some effect to my daily looks I went for this safe solution. And no regrets, I’m definitely going to wear this organic cotton, artisanal made shirt a lot. I warmly recommend for all Helsinki visitors to drop in the design shop Goodis, where Vietto is sold among other interesting artisanal labels. Actually I was about to make a post about the shop, but forgot my camera home when visiting there — so it will be the next time!

The skirt is the 2or+ linen one seen here before, and this one I love too. It goes all wrinkly during the day, but for me it does not matter, that is the nature of this fabric. I have two old skinny double belts on my waist, both probably from H&M. And the brogues are from Vagabond. They are the weak link — I do love brogues but these lack a character. I bought them in haste about year ago, I really had to have a pair. Now I just wish that I had waited for something bit more special. Like these Irregular Choice ones.

Posted on | May 29, 2010 | 3 Comments

// Anna Ruohonen A/W 2010

Posted on | May 22, 2010 | 5 Comments

Today I had an opportunity to attend to Anna Ruohonen A/W 2010 fashion show — and I gladly did! The show took place in an amazing old magazine building on Katajanokka — and despite of the last minute preparations (the ash related things seem still to be an issue and that did not actually help Paris based designer on this home country endeavor) the show was a success.

Anna’s designs are quite grown up profile — but like her choice of amateur models of different ages — and even sizes showed they can be adapted to many wardrobes. Her design approach is quite minimal, there are subtle architectonic influences mixed to classic silhouettes, I definitely can see a professional woman wearing her creations at any situation. She also uses knits for more relaxed looks, and mixes textures for understated effect.

Radiant designer herself.

My absolute favorites in this show were all the tactile mohair coats, definitely reminiscent from 80’s — and shown even on male model. Would love to have one to accompany my leatherwear and slouchy tops. I also liked many of her minimal and well cut coats — but unfortunately my image material of those was so bad that I’m not giving any examples of them — not that these mohair coat pictures were much better…

Some other favorites including a wool dress with strikingly simple and beautiful silk panelling, “luxe loungewear” looks combining shiny silk satin, ribbed knitwear, drawstring waist and gathered leg pants.

Anna Ruohonen concept store in Helsinki is located at Uudenmaankatu 4 – 6.

Posted on | May 22, 2010 | 5 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

// My chartreuse legs

Posted on | October 26, 2009 | 10 Comments

In the middle of the dark and gray autumn…

chartreuse1 chartreuse2

…do you ever get the urge to fight back and wear something pale and bright?

I wore today old blush Stella McCartney for H&M knit (this is pretty worn, but I kind of like that), old Marc by Marc Jacobs silk skirt, chartreuse tights from Lindex (a great find for three euros, I’m all about funky colored tights), old Topshop wood wedges in cream lacquered leather.

Wedges work well for rain. Trust me.

Posted on | October 26, 2009 | 10 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.

millefeuille2 buttons

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

Posted on | September 11, 2009 | 8 Comments

// Wool flannel — guess the color

Posted on | August 30, 2009 | 4 Comments

Grey flannel

Ok, sometimes there is a need for some sort of semi-formal outfits in my life. And of course I can post them as well.

I’ve been thinking ages how to incorporate these All Saints pants to my regular rotation. I love them, the material (soft wool mix), the cut (slip-on model without the fly, the waist is attached with one button and that creates the nice pleat on front), the color. But the problem is that I really don’t like fitting tops in everyday use, they accentuate my big bust. And with loose top I don’t like the silhouette at all. Cinching the waist does not work for me, either.

But why not roll them, combine to heels and relaxed jumper. Bare calves might be just enough to keep things interesting. Jumper is from American Apparel and studded heels from Mango. All old stuff. The shoes look innocent, but are actually total pain to walk in. So this outfit is for steady still office days.

Posted on | August 30, 2009 | 4 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.