Lost in the supermarket

Not in a million years would have I thought of scoring this kind of knit shirt at a supermarket! Have I gone old or what because no one under 40 ever shops for clothes at the super markets, or do they? Ok, the place where I got my knit was not actually a super market super market but it's not really a fancy department store either. Something in between perhaps? None the less, I'm in love with this knitted lacey shirt! Nostalgia has totally won me over; I used to have a very similar knitted red sweater back in the 90's. Maybe I should stop watching My So Called Life because it seems to be corrupting my fashion sense...or not.

Knit shirt: Line Collection
T-shirt: H&M

Laitinen - The next big thing from Finland

The Finnish designer duo Laitinen have managed to keep a pretty low profile but from time to time the name pops up on fashion magazines such as Vogue and Elle. For most people they are still quite unknown, even though their collection was presented at the Milan fashion week last year and they been awarded at the Hyeres Festival in 2006. These siblings (sister and brother Anna and Tuomas Laitinen) have the kind of aestethics that appeal to my minimalist and androgyne taste: odd cuts, dark colors, timeless designs, and an unisex look - something more designers should definitely pursue towards in the future.

Whereas most young Finnish designers make quite playful and funny clothing, Laitinen's desings are more mature and high fashion. It's a pity they are anti-commercial; they lack an official website and their clothes are not advertised or sold anywhere online, only in selected boutiques. The quality should be outstanding, as the production still happens in Finland.

I can't wait what will become of Laitinen since they have all the needed elements to make it big one day. I guess we just have to wait and see. In the meanwhile we can admire these beautiful images of their designs from the past collections.

The images, more about Laitinen and the full collections can be found from here.

The carrot pants

"Life in the 90's is paranoid..." Tonight I'm attending a 90's night at the Club Vintage and thought of dressing accordingly but with a modern twist, of course. Last time I went all out with the 90's theme, some people thought I was serious - where is you sense of humor, folks? This time I am actually semi-serious because these stone washed carrot pants I scored for one Euro, are indeed really cool and will totally be a part of my relaxed look in the summer. They hide my feminine curves so perfectly, in a similar way that the so called "boyfriend jeans" do the trick. Oh so 90's, yet so...today!

Jeans: Second hand
Blazer: MTWTFSS
Tank top: Vailent
Sandals: Bronx
Backpack: Second hand
Ring: Marc by Marc Jacobs via eBay

A little piece of my heart

For my Finnish readers here is a fun mini interview I did with the Ellit of Plaza.fi. It also features five other very fashionable ladies. Enjoy!

Picture from Plaza.fi

Kryptonite

"You should wear more color", is something I get quite often in the comment box. I know, I know but it's really hard to come out of my black and grey comfort zone. The weather has a lot to do with it too; wearing color during winter time feels like someone put a person in color in a black and white picture and it just doesn't look quite right. Since today we had somewhat of spring like weather, it finally felt like some color deserved to come out of my closet. I know beige is not so daring but hey, baby steps my friends, baby steps.

Blazer: Second hand
T-shirt: MTWTFSS
Jeans: PiP
Shoes: Urban Originals via eBay
Ring: Marc by Marc Jacobs via eBay

This outfit features a few new things I have aquired recently. Starting from the jeans, I got them a couple of weeks ago from the folks at Panic in Paradise. Not feeling their pocket designs so much but I just love the Balmainish finishing on these jeans. Their prices are actually quite moderate and they also ship internationally (just email them). Moving up to the stripey blazer which is a second hand purchase from a few weeks back. I think I saw something very similar in Sweden by Carin Wester, so this was truly a great find for spring. The metal piece Marc by Marc Jacobs ring was a must have after I saw it on Lady Lunacy's blog; luckily they still had some on eBay. It kind of reminds me of the kryptonite rods that make Super Man weak, so perhaps I should call it my kryptonite ring from now on. In any case, it's another big ring add to my growing collection.

Primavera

Sometimes the inspiration for the daily outfits can be found from the most bizzarre places. Friday night's party ensemble got its idea from the renaissance style, having my favorite painter Botticelli's beautiful masterpiece "Primavera" in my mind. The painting pictures women wearing empire line dresses, big necklaces, and wavy hair and Mercury with his gladiator sandals; exactly the same elements which you can find from my outfit. I should use paintings as an inspiration source more often.

Dress: H&M Trend
Pleather pants: H&M
Sandals: Bronx
Clutch: Vintage
Jewellery: Kalevala Koru

It so happens that Primavera means spring in Italian, and due today's sunshine burst, it finally seems like spring is REALLY here. Fingers crossed that it will continue like this from now on.

On the (w)edge

Anyone who reads my blog should know by now how obsessed I've been with Givenchy and Riccardo Tisci's creations. I've been on the look out for the perfect Givenchy like wedge sandals (Louboutin, Ann Dem, Opening Ceremony and Acne has similar too) for awhile now and when I noticed these Bronx ones from Elenita's blog a couple of days a ago, it was from that moment on I was sure that they shall be mine, no matter what. The creamy color just wasn't as wearable, so I started to browse online searching for a black leather version. All the web stores that carried them were all located in the U.S. (damn customs!) and my size was sold out from most of the places too. Clueless of what to do I turned to my friend Esa at Spirit Store emailing him about my desperate need of these shoes (he has been a great help before when I was on the hunt for a pair of platform booties, thanks Esa!!). Instantly he promised to look them up for me, and even contact the buyer if they couldn't find them from any of the stores. You can believe how excited I was when I received an email saying that he found the shoes from another store and a phone call today asking me to come pick them up. So here they are: my very own lace-up sandals. I'm so happy I could faint!

Sandals: Bronx

All we need now is for the snow to melt and spring to arrive, so I can take these babies out for a walk. In the meanwhile, they'll get their debut indoors.

Zero

I often get remarks on how I resemble Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and I guess we share some similar features, especially when my hair used to be black and cut more abstract. I think Karen is cute and her fashion sense is phenomenal, so I'm very flattered by all these comments. Funny story is that I actually met her in L.A. a couple of years ago when my friends and I partied with her and Johnny Knoxville at L.A.'s best indie club called Part Time Punks (I can recommend that club to anyone visiting the city). She was very nice, at least of what I remember.

Anyway, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are now coming up with a new album called "It's Blitz" and the first single "Zero" is already out. I seriously think that the hit song of the year has been born; I'm literally dancing here behind the screen right now. The only bad thing about this video is that it makes me miss California even more (it was shot in SF). For those of you who wonder why I tend to talk about Cali ever so often, it's because my boyfriend is from SoCal and I've spent a good amount of time over there over the past 7 years that we have been together. The big plan is to move out there one day. But enough yapping about moi, here is the video for you guys to enjoy.


Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero (Official Music Video) @ Yahoo! Video

P.S. The new album has leaked and if you liked this song, you'll love the whole album.

Walking on the spider webs

Oh man, last night was so much fun! Club Hang the DJ was packed with stylish indie people, a good Swedish band MFMB's performance knocked everyones socks off, and the DJ's played such tunes all night long that you couldn't even leave the dancefloor for one minute. I'm glad I was wearing my combat boots, otherwise my feet would have been dead from all the dancing we did.

Evening's outfit was inspired by 90's, think Beverly Hills 90201, My So Called Life or Reality Bites (got to watch those again btw!) style. I've been waiting to introduce this radest net sweater I found from my recent second hand shopping spree. I've been looking for something like this for ages and when my eyes targeted to this beauty, let me tell you, it was love at first sight.

Sweater: Second hand
Tank top: Selected Femme
Skirt: Monki
Combat boots: Kenkärepo
Hat: Uniformal Warehouse via eBay
Ring: Kalevala Koru
Backpack: Second hand
Stylish guests: Veera, Marko and my boyfriend (thanks guys!)

P.S. The blog has a new banner! After reading a great post from Park and Cube blog, it was time for a change. Any blogger who is interested in making the blog more attractive to the readers (and who isn't?), you should really read and learn what Shini has to say about the importance of layout. It turned my world and blog around.

Inspired by Ann Demeulemeester

Ann Demeulemeester is one of those designers with a signature look: not often you can see anything but black and white in her collections and the silhouette stays the same throughout the years. Consistency is what she has been able to create, leaving her audience with a feeling of familiarity and comfort. I, among many others, am a huge fan and always awaiting what new she can bring into the well balanced base of what seems to be "a horseback riding outfit with a twist".

Intrigued by her latest and last year's winter collection, the outfit of today got an Ann Demish touch to it. This grey vest has been getting a lot of wear lately, it's something I picked up from the local second hand store during it's discount days. Layered with the black H&M Trend blazer which I bought about three years ago from Sweden and never really wore until now, I've got the whole ensemble down with the white shirt, black pants and combat boots. Don't you just love it when you can find your favorite designer's look right from your own closet, without spending a penny!

Blazer: H&M Trend
Vest: Second hand
Button-up shirt: MTWTFSS
Jeans: Cheap Monday
Combat boots: Kenkärepo

The skyscraper boots

I recently got these crazy platform wedge boots from eBay but I'm thinking I should modify them a little bit. They are quite flattering to the legs in this length but I'm hesitating whether or not I should shorten the leg to make them look something more like these Vivienne Westwood boots or the Rick Owen wedge booties. I guess I'll just see how they work with different outfits and see if the shortening is necessary or not.

Boots: Shop4phree via eBay

To keep them long or short: that is the question.

Best of Paris

Spring is here but my eyes are already wandering on the wonderful fall/winter 09/10 designs of the Paris fashion week. I've been told I wear too much black but what's a girl to do when her favorite designers send all black down the runway once again? Some would say open your horizons but I simply can't stop admiring the work of these amazing designers. Who can resist Gareth Pugh's gothic warrior, the androgyny vibes of Ann Demeulemeester's designs, the 80's glam aestethics of Balmain or the beautiful cuts of Margin Margiela's collection? Rick Owens seems to be the only one stepping out the black comfort zone, perhaps frosty white is the new black of the season? I could deal with that...

Gareth Pugh

Ann Demeulemeester



Balmain



Maison Martin Margiela

Rick Owens



Images edited from Style.com

Currently my wishlist for fall has extended with a pair of platform boots, spiked and studded clothing, thick knits, a heavily shoulder padded blazer and frosty white leather. Givenchy's collection should be up tomorrow and I'm keeping my figers crossed it's as good and inspiring as last year's.

It's Friday I'm in love

This is the last part of the weekend titled blog entries for now, a trilogy of some sort. Actually the title has another meaning because I'm pretty sure they will play the Cure at this goth club tonight. Somehow I find myself going to one again, perhaps it's the good music or the fact that no matter what you wear there, no one is judging. The goths are quite easy on the dance floor too; no one pouring beer on my designer shoes and no one pushing or acting stupid. Quite a pleasant combination, I'd say.

I'm not going all out with the theme but my outfit does have it's gothic influences, the same ones we have seen on the runway lately. I bought the leather skirt in Stockholm even though I have two of them already occupying my closet. Somehow the older ones seem so casual after finding this one, though this zipper detailed skirt was a very random purchase due to it's heavily discounted price. This means that I'm probably getting rid of my older versions and they will either end up on Etsy or to an e-auction of some sort. I combined the leather skirt with an oddly cut Margiela tee that my boyfriend and I share, it follows the seams of the leather skirt perfectly.

T-shirt: Martin Margiela
Leather skirt: MTWTFSS
Boots: Fendi
Hat: Uniformal Warehouse vie eBay
Cuff: Leather Heaven
Ring: Kalevala Koru