A TOUCH OF NEW LOOK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT

Well here's something you haven't heard me say before (ha-ha):
I have a new pair of shoes! Pretty ones!

I love the fact that they make my feet look rather tiny. Not that they are big to start with, but I still kind of like it if they happen to apepar tiny.

I also have a giant rose.


Pretty similar to the black beret-outfit I did some time ago, but by changing the skirt one gets a totally different feel. This is loosely inspired by the New Look. Perhaps what I would have worn if I'd have been me sixty years ago exactly. And lived in, well, Paris perhaps.

I somewhere read someone saying you can't dress 'vintagy' unless you wear actual vintage or in some cases well done repro, but I claim that's not true - it's in the over all style and the details that the look lies; not the actual products. For me at least. Here I'm just wearing plain high street. But of course I'm not trying to be accurate or re-create an exact look; I seldom do, I only dress inspired by what I like.



The blouse is H&M (still haven't removed the zipper...), Skirt Zara, shoes from Next and betl from vivien of Holloway. The giant rose in made by Frollein von Sofa and the little beret is, as most of you know, by Molla Mills.

CURLY

Yesterday I went out for a meeting and dinner with the other Bitties at the Tiki bar. And what better way to do it in than a hairdo called Tiki Lounge! Freely adapted from the Tiki Lounge-do as seen in the Vintage Hairstyling book that everyone seems to own. I styled my hair different in the front and I was also in a bit of a hurry so my version turned out a bit messier - but sometimes it's nice with a less sleek do!

It's kind of a take on the "eternal roll-do" of mine, as the hair is flat on the crown and laying around the head and face.

They do this on quite short hair in the book, but it will work on longer locks too. Do it by curling your hair downwards - the book says to use a curler; I used hot sticks as I am far too impatient to curl all of my hair with a curler... bur rag curls or such would most likely work as well! Then pin your hair flat around the crown. Lift up the curls over the pins and pin them in place. You could (or perhaps should) pin the curls rather well defined, but I just folded mine up in a big fluff and used lots and lots of pins to keep it in place.

In the book the hair in front is curled and the curls left rather loose on top of the head. I pinned mine more away from the face and made a small roll form the middle to the side.

I meant to stick a couple of flower combs in the back on the sides but forgot :)

PUOLI SEITSEMÄN - HALF PAST SIX

So, as you know I was part of a fashion themed week at TV1's half past six show PS, styling the hostess of the show as did three other bloggers. You can see and vote for my styling here, by pressing the green "Tykkään!" (=like) button.

As few of you have had a chance to see the show or furthermore, understand what's being said I'll give you a wick brief -
My idea for the outfit was a fun, chic and playing-with-clichés spring in the late fifties Paris themed outfit. I wanted to make a rather timeless look inspired by the theme, that would look good on the wearer, but as she is the host of a show I did not want it to be too flashy in order to outshine any guests.

My actual time to do this was rather limited due to work, I planned well ahead but had only on day to get it together, so most of what's seen here is mine.

The skirt is vintage, part of the walking suit I picked up a couple of years ago at my aunts..

The blouse is a basic striped long tee I got at H&M for this occasion. I sew a collar and cuffs for the blouse from a fabric almost similar to the one of the suit (you saw bits of it in progress some posts ago) - the story of the blouse never made the cut for TV though.

The mini beret is crocheted by Molla Mills and the bag is made out of recycle materials by Viivi Vein.

Although the actual planning sessions and our clips were shot earlier the show itself is sent live. I got a chance to visit the making of during the day of the filming:

My drawing of the hair, one I forgot to bring but explained in words instead.

Marja, the hostess, getting her hair and make up done. I think the hair and make up artist did a good job - many may be skillful but still not able to pull of a vintage inspired look, but in this case the reslut was just like I meant it to be. I rather wanted the look to be inspired by the late fifties and early sixties than copying it to avoid her feeling like being dressed up for a masquerade.

Shooting pics for the internet voting site. (As a n extra little joke I brought the sailor hat, you know, if perhaps she'd been in the mood to let loose and go for a party afterwards… it turned the whole outfit into a bit pinup.)

The results:
I had picked out seamed stockings, of course.

She had a Chanel no5 perfume and slim cigarettes in the bag (Paris! the fifties! The sixties! of course!) but the later ones did not make it into the show, surprise :D


The outfit in action.


The control room is calm, but when you listen to the director it sounds a bit hectic - every second counts.

You can see the show on Areena, but only form a Finnihs server. On Olotila however you can see at least the longer version of all actual stylings worldwide.


I think it's interesting and fun to see how the looks of a person changes according to how they are styled. You can view all stylings and vote for your favorite one here.

Since the others blog in Finnish for a Finnish audience, and since it in the end will be blog readers that stand for the voting, I thought my chances were pretty slim. But, turns out you can vote world vide, which means also my readers can vote !

Vote by clicking the 'Tykkään!' button on the right side beneath the picture. You can keep on voting until the evening of Thursday March 24th. Find my styling here.
So, send me off to Paris will'ya!


The photos of the final styling and of us were shot by Pertti Raama.

BECAUSE BOYS LOVE COLOURS TOO

Some time ago I was asked to try out and style socks from We Love Colors. We Love Colors offers a lot products for women, men and children in more than 50 colour choices on everything. They have mostly leg wear, but also products like dance wear and gloves. The colours go from earth near shades to neon bright.

I used to wear a lot of colored leg wear before and mix and match, even though I nowadays am more moderate with my tights and stockings; choosing mostly brown, grey and black or darker colours like burgundy and aubergine. For burlesque shows however I love to wear coloured fishnets for example, but more on that another time.

What I really enjoyed among the We Love Colors products was the fact that they offered socks for men in all the same colours as they offer women. I have often been searching for plain colored socks for Eddi but with the exception of some blue and red ones it's hard to find other than dark socks for men! So Eddi got to try out a coulpe of sports socks:

(Eddi says he is not giving the finger to the world on purpose.)

I think socks are a great way to spice up any outfit for a guy, add a little fun and colour to it by matching a shirt, accessory or a fine pair of shoes with the socks, or perhaps by letting the socks be a small contrasting detail to the rest. This applies to women's outfits too of course, but writing this I mostly had mens' clothing in mind, as it tends to be darker and less colorful compared to what women wear. (Ok, I know some trends lately have been very colorful for boys and men alike, but I'm thinking classic styles here, not techno hipsters or the early nineties.)



The sport socks are a quite good lenght that goes properly over the ancle and up on the calf. The colors are very bright! Colours differ from one computer screen to another, so check the name properly on the colour you want to order, neon really is neon bright :)

FIVE IN ONE FANCY

I have a new knitted turban to keep my little head warm this winter.
(Or well, my head is actually pretty huge but little just sounds better said like that.)
With the pins that go along one can turn it into five totally different headpieces!

Made by the wonderful Frollein, who else :)

THE ANATOMY OF DRESSING WHEN IT'S REALLY REALLY COLD

It has happened. Real winter. It's really cold here. Minus a lot. Like it should be this time of year.
Only it hasn't been like that for years. But so far so good, we still haven't reached the part when it actually hurts to breathe. (But after a few hours work outside by the sea it hurts by now already I tell you, but I've done worse during past years. Not complaining though. Now that we're getting a white christmas and all).

I'm watching teenage girls and selfaware chicks freeze their behinds off in short jackets and skinny jeans. The sadistic asshole part of me secretly laughs at their vanity (or stupidity, however you want it) and makes me feel so relieved that I don't give a damn anymore in that sense - my first priority is to stay warm. (I saw a girl last weekend, visiting a Christmas outdoor fare, wearing satin peeptoes in the snowstorm. Not even I would go that far even though I may push it with wearing open heels as long as possible). I go for what Underbara Clara calls "The Finnish Winter War Chic". Something that she of course says with a pinch of salt and a whole lot of humor, referring to how Finland pre- WWII resisted the Soviet army with the help of an extremely hard and cold winter. And well with a whole lot o f military strategy too. (Those who know their history might find that slightly ironic since those who have tried to invade Russia or The Soviet failed, conquered by the cold. But this time it was the other way around. Sort of.)

But OK enough on war strategy now, the thing I'm after here is the dressing warm to survive the cold, making it nice with layers of knitted socks and sweaters, scarfs and thick jackets. And keeping warm is of course a strategy of it's own.

So here whe go:
The Anatomy of Dressing Warm When Really Really Cold Outside (& still trying to look good).

Fig.1The thing with layering, not the layering thrifty fashionistas do when they pair dresses tops and cadris, but the one that will keep you from freezing, is to have a lot of them - the layers- keeping tight but not being stuffed or unable to move. That will make you colder actually. You might want to add another pair of socks or leg warmers, and perhaps a long sleeved blouse under that cardi too, depends. (Oh damn it takes so long to get dressed in the morning!)


Fig.2But we're quite not done yet:

Fig.3They say the cold will last for two months still. If that's the case this is what I'll look like everyday for two months then. Versatility, yey!
...Unless I get myself a new winter jacket... (hehe).

DRESS IT UP, DRESS IT DOWN

I started something of a project this fall as I noticed that I own many summer dresses, party dresses, fancy dresses...All in all: I own a lot of dresses. But I also realized I actually have quite few day dresses for colder seasons; the project being to rationalize my wardrobe. (well slightly at least, you can't be too rational when it comes to dresses).

First of all - get rid of things I never use (hence my other blog - a very slow project), second - collect a set of practical, pretty and versatile dresses, suitable for everyday wear; dresses that's easy to dress up as well as dress down. Basically you of course could dress any gown down but it is also a question of weather one want's to wear (as in wear out) that silk dress on a basic Tuesday or not.

Now I know for some ladies such a thing as a day dress does not exist as any dress will feel and appear fancy enough, if one is not used to wearing them, but for me (as well as most of you know I guess) that's not the case.

So far only half of my project has been successful as it seems to take a some time to reduce my wardrobe (it's moving forward though, I will put up some more things for auctioning soon), but I have managed (surprise surprise) to collect some dresses that will go for almost whenever, wherever; the cherry dress being one of them for example, the brown one another.

And here's a third!

Easily dressed up by wearing thinner stockings, matching the shoes, adding only a few but fancy accessories, making a nice do.


The outfit dressed down - thicker stockings, basic cardigan, less fancy accessories, less fancy hair.

(The dress is ModCloth and it's the smallest Large I've ever worn. Must have been designed by real tiny people.)

BLACKER / COVER UP

If you have a bad hair day, cover it.
If you have a bad makeup day, paint over it.
If you dont know what to wear, wear black, and wear a lot of it.

(If you happen to go to a circus-themed burlesque party the same night it makes it easier not to spare the eyeliner, drag a scarf out of the closet and go all gypsy fortune teller from a travelling circus sometimes long before you were born. If you're not, go for it anyway, think silent movie star in an exotic role. The one a of gipsy fortune teller in a circus perhaps.)



The scarf is from Tunisia, the hair flower from Rascal, the earrings a gift, the eyeliner thick and covers most of the eyelid.

A SLAVE TO THE DETAILS

Sometimes I stumble across things written about me on the internet. Most of them are really nice but some tend to think that it's a little bit too much with all the dresses, tattoos and hair done and so on. Lately some small birds told me about this thread on the internet where someone was listing vintage inspired style blogs she liked and I was among those mentioned. As most often most of the comments were positive even though many tended to "worry" about the effort being put into the looks of the girls in the blogs mentioned. Some on the other hand found the effort to be just too much or overdone.

I started thinking about the whole effort thing and find it a bit funny because first of all, dressing up and getting dolled up for me is one part routine that I don't even think about and the other part just fun, kind of like a hobby. And doesn't really all girls, and boys alike, who are keen on looking nice make the same effort but in different ways? Is there really such a huge difference if I pin curl my hair the night before than if I'd go to get a spray tan?

But on the other hand, I am the kid of girl who will schedule my day according to how my hair needs to be washed, dried and rolled if I have to, who will spend days on the internet to find the umbrella that's just right and pay a small fortune to have it home delivered (OK, that's already a bit over the top I admit but that's another story) and dress up in the whole shabadang with girdles, stockings and the prettiest dress for a Sunday walk, just for the joy of it. That's who I am and I like being that way! I like making efforts. Plus let's face it, no matter how glorious ones life is, it's not like one is invited to parties every day. But that doesn't still mean you couldn't dress up on a regular monday. I'm not saying life is one big celebration, because it's not, and that we should all hold hands now and sing Kumbaya in pretty dresses - I just think it's makes any hard or easy day a bit better if you look nice. Well, in some ways at least.

Anyway, last weekend I did go to a party however and then it's nice to roll that hair even a little bit more than normally and get glammed up. This time in my dress that Olivia Rouge made and in a mini beret from Molla Mills that I got from Paula to cheer me up last spring when I was sad.

And my vintage checked jacket. I can't believe I was thinking of selling this jacket away! It matches my shoes for heaven's sake! (And I'm not the only slave to the details out there, many others do notice it too :)

NEW THINGS OLD LOOK

Every now and then I like to dress up according to some theme or inspired by a certain decade, without taking it too seriously. Fun and easy you know. That's the whole point actually. To take what you like an make it yours.

So here I went somewhat around 1930. None of what I'm wearing is vintage, but mixed and matched semi old items from my wardrobe to create a vintage look.


Dress - Selfmade, Wrap-around knit - old
Bag - Global Acessories/Stockmann's, Headband - Ekawear
Shoes - customized ModCloth, Belt - made from a leftover piece of cloth
(The lace stockings are Norlyn's I think)

Here's my modernized verision of a late twenties look, from last year btw.)

MINT FUDGE AND COTTON CANDY

While waiting for the metro I saw a girl who had challenged the soggy snow by wearing lace socks in her oxford heels togeher with a pastel mintgreen wool jacket. It was candy and springtime all the way so Yey I say!