On the Street. Lady My, Lauttasaari Helsinki.

December has been the darkest month in a year in Helsinki. There is no snow at all and the shortest period of daylight, just six hours a day. And with cloudy sky it can be miserable.

Therefor, when I saw this lady walking towards me in her colorful coat and pink hair bun, at once I needed to tell her: ”Oh Mrs, your outfit is so marvellous!”. Unlike I assumed, she didn’t look happy at all. Instead she passed me rapidly mumbling to her male companion: ”…you are wrong, I’m no Mrs…”

Well, in this business one can go wrong. But then again, the muttering completed this person to Lady My, grown up version of Tove Jansson’s Little My. She is always somewhat angry or pissed at one thing or two.

This image may be a symbol of the ending decade. It has good reason to be a little angry. Eternal farewell, you know. There it walks to the left and gives space to new one. Happy New Year! Let the new decade bring good adventures for you.

On the Street. The Return of Chunky Beanie, Metro Helsinki

It’s beanie time again here in Finland. November coldness writes the rule. I saw this girl while waiting for metro. First thought was like, how in earth anyone combines brown rustic plaid jacket with turquoise light blue delicate checkered pleated skirt.

But when I had the two minutes (metro waiting time) to stare and consider the style again, I found a rule. This is kind of Jin and Yang -play. Encountering opposites.

Pale winter pastels; light blue skirt, pink chunky beanie and scarf plus mint-coloured backpack, against brown tones. And the materials delicate combined with the rustic. Not bad at all.

And note, the chunky beanie is here to stay, already third winter in a row. Just look at these blogposts:
Chunky beanie 2018
Chunky beanie 2017

On the Street. Real Life Manga, Metro Helsinki

Two friends dressed in long black wool coats. It starts to be that time of the year. The season of black outfits. Many people rely on black, when the cold season crawls out from the spot it has been hiding during sunny season. 

This sight turned my head and this pale girl was nailed to my mind. Some tone of manga characters, big clumsy boots and sheer white shirt with a scarf that is more like rope. The scarf turned many times round the neck. No makeup. This sight includes symbolism to November that starts in two days.

On the Street. October Like Grey Flannel, Helsinki

October, the month of Inktober. Let’s participate, at least this first day.

I saw this guy in Habitare fair last year. Just found this illustration under a pile of papers. Habitare is the yearly organized interior, design and furniture fair in Helsinki. Good place to see somebody to draw after.

In October we dive in to the grey, rain and puddles. This blonde fellow was dressed in the tones of black, grey wool flannel trousers, white shirt and black v-neck knit. Fits to the mood. Classic and cosy. To be in style, we can always trust in classics.

On the Street. Walking on Baana, Helsinki.

I met this gentleman in Baana Helsinki. Baana is a passage in Helsinki. It is build on an old unused rail passage. Now the passage serves as a road for pedestrians and cycliststs. There is also a place to play basketball and ping-pong, sitting and taking easy as well as nice green planting. The stone wall is home to a diverse array of nature plants. Baana offers easy relaxed access to city center from Ruoholahti direction.

The first impression was sound, shoe heels clack. Then I saw this self assure man in his black and white outfit. White hair and black narrow moustache. White shirt and pants with black coat and high heel cowboy boots. With a clack.

It was a very quick moment to make a note to mind. I drove bicycle, just few seconds. This image is the picture that is left from that moment.

Unfortunately a city never stops developing. Right now there is plans in Helsinki to cover the whole Baana and build buildings on top of it. Personally I am not a fangirl of this idea. It would ruin the harmony that is on the area right now. A city needs the places where people can breathe without the hectic presence of traffic. But if this place is covered and made underground, the impression will not be the same at all.

There is an address that opposes this unfortunate Urbaana-project. I have taken part of it. If you live in Helsinki area, you can do the same.
https://www.adressit.com/ei_urbaanaa_kampin-etu-toolon_alue_pelastettava

On the Street. Shades of Brown, Lauttasaari Helsinki

Bye bye Summer. You were very dry in terms of Street style. Frankly, I didn’t see anything special since last post. I spent time in Spain, in Helsinki, in Woods and Seashore but saw nothing special in terms of Street style. Many other inspiring things though. Marvellous plants and nature. But since this blog is not about nature nor plants and flowers, there has been a little silence around here. Let’s hope that autumn will change everything.

At least I saw this guy in local grocery store. Fancy thing was, that everything was toned in brown. Even the plant pattern in his shirt was drawn with brown. Different Shades of Brown from the suede chelsea boot toe to top curly ponytail. I wonder. Is Brown new Black this autumn?

On the Street. Pride Forever, Kamppi Metro, Helsinki.

I saw this man already a month ago in metro station of Kamppi. Every piece of clothing was old and in good use. The classic blazer of light beige corduroy and worn jeans with the detail of too short trouser legs. Hair messy like just woken up. As he turned to look the right direction to go for, I was curious to see what kind of bag he was carrying. Oh yes, the pride tote bag. Pride all days long.

It is Pride week in Helsinki. The Pride parade will be in next Saturday starting at Senaatintori 11:00. What does Helsinki Pride look like. You can follow the hashtag #helsinkipride in social media. Time to celebrate equality of all people.

On the Street. Silk Scarf Makes the Style, Ruoholahti, Helsinki

I saw this woman from bus window. She was waiting a bus and stood there like sunshine. During winter and cold springtime people haven’t used too much color in their outfits. Therefor it was a pleasant surprise to find this carefully thought combination. Apparently inspired by spring and sunshine.

Note the bright colored silk scarf on her neck. The use of silk scarves is the knowledge of older women. Knowledge how to add the final touch to the outfit. A splash of gentle amount of pattern in otherwise quite simple outfit makes the difference.

I have promised myself try to live not to buy any new clothes. Because frankly thought, I have already something for any occasion in closet. There is one exception to this rule.

If I find a beautiful silk scarf from second-hand store at bargain price (under 10 €) I have permission to make an investment. Because that’s what it is. Silk scarf feels luxurious, the pattern and color gives many possibilities to alter the mood of outfit and the gentle warmth to neckline is welcomed in winter. With accurate care silk scarf lasts a lifetime. Good investment, right?

On the Street. Musician’s Style, Teosto Prize Happening, Helsinki

I saw this hero in Teosto-prize happening. Teosto-prize goes every year to brave and innovative Finnish music. I found this fellow’s style interesting because of the mixture of clothing. The knickerbockers are rarely seen. The jacket is apparently from thrift store women´s department. The golden buttons and pattern of odd surging cells on black background.

This jacket could have been seen on a woman working in bank on 90´s, dressed with bow collar shirt and pearls. But now it represents a musician with the ideas under the golden rasta crown. By the way, it appeared during the happening that he is one half of the winning Color Dolor duo.

The news in finnish about TEOSTO-prize 2019 >>

You can listen to the winning Color Dolor music album Love in Spotify. >>

Bonus, my occasional companion in same table showed me a lovely detail of Finnish nature. I’ll share it with you now. Seili Osprey web camera, bird nest liveshow. >>
At that point the couple had one big egg. You can check, how they are doing now.

On the Street. Spring in Kallio, Helsinki.

There is it. Spring has eventually come to Helsinki. A while ago I drove through Kallio, Helsinki and thought that Kallio is not the same than it was. Working-class district. Too clean, no people in bad shape, no older men hanging in street corners.

But then Aleksis Kivenkatu (street) gave this image next to Populus karaoke bar. Bare ankles (trough whole year) and little mint colored beanie on top. A dude peeing in the doorway, one hand you know where and the other, really, scrolling phone. There must be an important thing going on. Or a serious addict. Kallio still has some character of its own.

By the way, on the location of Populous karaoke bar there has been restaurant business since 1937. It is possible to sing karaoke every day from 9:00 am. Go and try if you ever visit in Helsinki.

On the Street. Black Silhouette, Kamppi Metro Station, Helsinki

There is always a group of people who like to dress in all black. In these cases the outfit pops from the background if the silhouette is interesting. Like in this case: lots of volume in upper body and thin stick-like legs on bottom. Note the beanie. This mohair fluffy beanie style continues to be popular the second winter in a row in Helsinki.

Just look at this. >> Posted last winter.

On the Street. Lady With Golden Bag, Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki

Where is the sun? For many days this has been an essential question here in Helsinki Finland. Grey days are the norm at the beginning of the year. Therefor, when this lady walked toward me on one of these grey days, I thought she was carrying the blue sky that was caught in her jacket, and she carried the sun in her golden bag. Oh, the bag was glittering!

It’s up to her, when she decides to release the the two, sunshine and blue sky. I’m just waiting.

On the Street. Pattern Mix, Kellohalli, Helsinki.

I saw this guy already in October. He came to my mind now, when there is a lot of talk in media about our behavior in buying things, consuming in sustainable way and how fast-fashion effects negative way to climate change.

Fast-fashion was nominated to most useless thing in 2018 by Suomen luonto -magazine (Finland Nature -magazine). The fast circulation of low-cost (low-quality) and fast-fashion culture make clothing industry one of the most polluting industries. According to UN, its carbon footprint is higher than the total number of international flights and shipping. *

One resolution for the need of new clothing is flea market. If you want avoid buying from fast-fashion stores, flea markets are a viable alternative if money is scarce in use. Because if you find a second hand piece of clothing in good condition, you can rely it will resist the ravages of time in the future too.

Location: Kellohalli Flea Market
I went to sell stuff in Kellohalli flea market. This guy was leaning to wall, seemingly looking at phone, but ready to observe if anybody would notice him. I noticed him, yes, because everything in the colour scheme and checkered patterns were carefully thought and combined together from flea market finds. I had a chat with him and told he has a nice outfit. Willingly he told me, that he had sewn the jacket from two different jackets and showed his back and the back seam, where the two different fabrics meet. I was wow, what dedication! Ten points for you, young man.

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* Source: Yle https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10592186