On the Street, Beanie Time, Lauttasaari Helsinki.

 

The weather is getting colder around here in Helsinki. Time to grap favourite beanie to head and warmer jacket. This girl walked in front of me in her cosy slightly oversized white jeans and pilot jacket. I'm happy that nowadays there is alternatives to slim jeans in shops.

On the Street. Walking the Dog, Lauttasaari, Helsinki

 

 

A bit of a delay in posting street style first time this year. But, after winter all snow has gone and there is more light. Maybe that is why I noticed this couple human / best dog friend walking past my window. Spring is right here. A bit cold, but anyway.

On the Street. Moustache Man, Kamppi Helsinki.

It’s not quite Spring yet. One can still feel happy to wear a decent protective woolen jacket. In this case gray like… moustaches. Moustaches has made a comeback.  I hope that same time Movember-movement hasn’t experienced inflation. While every other guy is having moustaches anyway. Then there is nothing special in growing moustaches for a month.

A few trend notes from Helsinki this winter, that are featured in this guy’s style too.
1. Fisherman’s beanie has been super popular lately.
2. I haven’t seen as many Dr. Martens boots since 90’s, as I have seen this winter.
3. Big round eyeglasses.

Few years back there were moustache prints everywhere. Remember? Now the flamingos and rainbows has taken the place as trendy images.

On the Street. Beanieboy in Metro, Helsinki.

I traveled in a metro and opposite to me stood this guy leaning to a handrail. There was something, maybe the simplicity of his style, that triggered this drawing. Maybe the personal touch in his style was the wide bootcut jeans, while many men goes in slim jeans. The unusual little thing.

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. 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. The Beanie Style of 2018, Metro Helsinki.

This time it’s time for trend review. Snow day, every day. Hard to believe it but it’s true. It seems that in Helsinki we are living never ending Winter time. Someone has cancelled Spring. That’s fine, I still have time to post this image. This is the trending beanie style of this winter.  Pale pink, pale peach, ivory white or graphite gray fluffy mohair beanie has been the most common headpiece this winter. It has made a breakthrough as a winter accessory number one among young women.

Let’s see if this harsh winter will continue and how far? There is some hope on the air. I see it in the form of Bougainville on the windowsill. It is starting to bloom.

On the Street. Like a Graphic Designer, Hotel Clarion, Helsinki.

Few weeks ago I attended a graphic design day Vuoden Huiput Festival in Hotel Clarion, Helsinki. Vuoden Huiput is the competition of the best graphic design of the year in Finland. You may believe that when a bunch of creative people gather together, there is definitely some common feature that points out in the sense of style.

Few years ago the it-thing among graphic designers was massive black square glasses. But now the eyewear seems to be more brownish and roundish. Instead the biggest common trend among young male graphic designers in Helsinki right now is the tiny black beanie.

The beanie sits tight in the head both indoors and outdoors. I counted six guys wearing black beanies. The rest of this illustrated gentleman above is a combination of the target group "black beanie guys". Beards, plaid shirts, black pants, shy posture. Maybe the warm beanie gives a feeling of shelter in the wild world of our times.

On the Street. Pink Chunky Beanie, Lauttasaari, Helsinki.

I saw this lady coming through snowy landscape. I truly loved the atypical color combination in her outfit. The pink chunky beanie crowned her style.

On the Street. Relying on Wool in Winter, Kamppi, Helsinki.

That’s right. In wool I rely on. Whether it is lamb wool or alpaca wool it is the best friend in winter season. What a joy it is to have this kind of long coat made of proper wool fabric. Loose enough that it leaves space to warm up the air between the body and the coat. I especially like this color combo: dark mustard, jade green, lightweight pink and small dose of blue.

A welcome variation to numerous black outfits we see on Helsinki streets.

Seasons. November Weather Girl Portrait.

Meet Miss November Weather Girl. If you ask me, November is the most challenging month in Finland. In southern Finland there is only 6 hours daylight and the higher to north you go the less light there is. In Lapland the sun doesn’t rise at all.

In addition there is rain in all forms, water, slush and snow. And the darkness. Did I mention the darkness? This mixture is affecting in people’s minds and in some cases even affecting winter blues. But then arrives a random bright day or a few hours of sunshine removing wrinkles between the eyes. Oh, life is good.

One strategy to meet November is simply decide to love it. About this point of view there is a previous post in Flash For Zonzon:
Seasons. November Blue Love Poem.

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In Finland each month has its own character and weather type. Four main seasons, but even each month has something of their own.

If you want to see the whole series click the tag ”seasons” below.

On the Street. Long Shirt with Bomber Jacket, Helsinki.

Yesterday I saw this guy walking in front of Ateneum Art Museum. I like the idea of a bomber jacket combined with a long shirt. Small details like rolled pant legs and rolled beanie seal the style. Though, still all black. Wait a sec, soon the increasing amount of light affect people and they start longing for something else. Like grey, perhaps?

Seasons. March Weather Girl Portrait.

Hi, let’s continue with the Weather Girl portrait series. Just in time to present Miss March before new month will begin tomorrow. March contains a promise of spring. Still cold in Finland, but the amount of light increases day to day. Willow Catkins embellish the woods and verges.

On the Street. Tones of Black Color, Kamppi, Helsinki.

 

 Rapidly thinking about color black, it feels like it’s always the same. The color that has absorbed all light itself. But then I see an outfit like this and notice that in color black there is plenty of variations like in any other color. Depending on which material, leather or wool or something else, the appearance of black color varies a lot. Thanks to the beanie with bobble, this look has some playful character.

On the Street. Beanie Girls, Forum, Helsinki.

Girls girls girls, at some point, say, under twenties girls may have this idea. The idea to dress similar way as friends do. If one invents some splendid style idea it is soon shared with best friends.

This felt to be the case with these girls hanging out in a cafe. All three dressed in look alike beanies and straight hair peeking on both sides of cheeks, otherwise tones of grey to black. And yes, this is the way to feel safe in confusing world. Be part of something, to be sure of themselves. Maybe later there will be time to make more individual choices.

On the Street. Mickey Mouse Beanie, Ruttopuisto, Helsinki.

6-10th January was time for Lux Helsinki Festival. It’s the happening where light artwork is arranged along the route in city center. For this year the happening is past and gone, but you can still make it through Lux Helsinki -website. Thousands of people wandered along the route in crisp frost weather, when I attended on last day. All age groups together enjoying of the light visions.

I saw this young lady In Ruttopuisto along the route. Bobble hat with two pom poms made her beanie look like Mickey Mouse headpiece. This piece would be nice knitting DIY-project. Alternatively you can pimp a random black beanie with two handmade black bobbles.

On the Street. Santa’s Helper in Blue, Kamppi, Helsinki.

A little time ago I stood in the queue and to spent time I looked around if something interesting happened to hit the horizon. And yes, this older gentleman stood after me in the queue. Majority of people in Helsinki rely dark tone clothes in winter. So this gentleman was like mermaid from Mediterranean Sea against the dark grey street scene.

So I sighed out loud: "Oh man, you have the colors in place. I truly admire your color choices!"
In which he replied with twinkle in the eye: "Oh, these are the only clothes that I have. I am such a Santa’s helper. The season is just underway. Blue is as good as red and besides, I have a somewhat reddish Christmas hat on my head… and a green pullover."

My suspicions have been realized. If you don’t remember check out the previous post. It seems that blue is the new red in Santa’s world. It’s just the case that some prefers indigo and other brighter tones of blue. Blue is the common denominator in both these cases. So what do you like about this my dear reader!

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I wish a relaxed Christmas time to you and your loved ones!

On the Street. Wandering in Darkness, Helsinki.

In Helsinki we wander in darkness. Concretely, I mean. Today sun rises 9am and the sun sets 3:18pm. At the moment our mornings are dark like in this illustration. People walk engrossed in their own thoughts looking on the ground, three meters distance. The darkness comes so close that it seals the feelings for many. All we are waiting is snow that would bring the light.

This older gentleman came across me one morning. So deep in his thoughts I almost could hear his brain gear wheel ticking. I thought that maybe he is actually Santa Claus helper, a tomte (tonttu in Finnish) that doesn’t care too much about red color. He prefers blue instead. As individualist this tomte does what he pleases. He has conjured a lighting lantern to look like white plastic bag not to arouse too much attention. It still glows a gentle light.

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If you want to know more about Scandinavian tomte tradition in Wikipedia just click your way to article.

On the Street. Street Credible HAI Rubber Boots, Vallila, Helsinki.

I spotted this lady in Vallila Emmaus Thrift Store. It was a refreshing change to see some colour, when the majority of the people in Helsinki dress in dark shades. In her feet she had the very street credible bright yellow Hai rubber boots.

It’s nice that in these days of globalization, when almost same products can be found in every big city around the world, there is still some islands of national style icons. Finland one such iconic piece of clothing is HAI rubber boots (HAI-saappaat) made by Nokian Footwear. Designed in 1967 by architect Esko Lahesmaa the model has stayed true to the original design ever since.

Lahesmaa was challenged to design a rubber boot that would be perfect for boating. As a sailor himself he knew the properties that a rubber boot should have in sailing circumstances. Quick-drying polyester lining, firm grip of the outsole (ideal for yachting), light-coloured rubber outsole leaves no traces to the deck of a boat. Low and wide stem makes it easy to move around the boat and – if knocked overboard – allow easily get rid of the boots.

The name of the boot came after a certain boat model called Hai, which Lahesmaa had sailed a lot of his youth. Hai means Shark in english.

If you want to try out Instagram photos for tag #haisaappaat you will notice the huge love that Finns feel about HAI rubber boots.

Now I’d like to know if you have some similar style icon in your country. Like HAI rubber boots are in Finland. Time after time super popular item and not necessarily very well known abroad. Share your ideas on comment box below.

Links and sources:
Nokian Footwear, since 1898, story
Hai rubber boots
Hai-saapas, Wikipedia
Hai (keelboat),Wikipedia