Seasons. Reflection from 2020.

 

Hello blog. Are You still here? It has been a while since we last met. But there is a reason. You know the pandemic Covid19? That is the root problem of the lack of posts around here last year. My moves have been very limited. Daily walk from home to studio and once a week to the grocery store. One would be very lucky to see any relevant street style on these short moments. I simply have not seen anything worth a drawing. No street style around.

But I have drawn other stuff. Like taking part in a nature history drawing course and taking part of Inktober on Instagram last October. Those were fun, but they are not street style. Therefore I have not much to bring to this table. And to be true my head rolls more and more around patterns, my true love. My handle in IG is @sanna_pyykko, if you’d like to look through the other drawing stuff.

The image of this post is one of the inktober posts. It tells a story of the fashion in the 80’s. The afro hairdo was very fashionable that time and it looked like this in Finland. One of the kind electric shock style. I had a cousin that was six years older than me. I admired her haido that looked exactly like this. But, to Finnish slippery hair quality it really needed a strong permanent to get this coiffure.

This year is the tenth since I started this blog in 2011. If the world stays as it is now, the anniversary will not be very bold. Let's see how it goes.

As the New Year begins, I wish You All Good. Stay healthy and remember to be your own star.

On the Street. Strolling Own Path, Kamppi, Helsinki.

Oh, I love these people. People who doesn’t give a shit what is in fashion or considered stylish at the moment. The patterned flared jeans, 80’s style leather jacket, pink rolled and knitted scarf on the neck. Tall skinny guy eyes alert to watch what is happening around.

At the moment there was an art happening going on in Kamppi shopping center. Katja Tukiainen is the artist that uses a lot of pink color. She was mastering a community art happening going on at that moment. Any passerby could take part in the big scale painting. The colour available was all shades of pink, light pink, pink pink, reddish pink, almost red.

I wonder if the guy illustrated here was going to take part in the painting session. I was already on the way forward.

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Here is the link if you are interested  to know more about Katja Tukiainen Art.
Includes a lot of undisciplined Girl Power.

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.

On the Street. Armament Against Winter, Laru, Helsinki.

Living in the Nordic levels, like Finland, requires special attitude against cold winter weather. The first days of coldness – I mean lower that minus ten degrees Celsius – feels pure violence against humanity. The only way to survive pleasantly is to dress up in wool garments and long johns under pants, no matter how much you happen to hate them. Many of us Finns have lifelong love-hate relationship with long johns.

On first days of coldness life feels like being Moomin packed in all layers of wool, but as winter continues it starts to be more like status quo between surviving and wintertime. Personally I’m relying on merino wool and silk/merino wool blend, which I truly, of should I say warmly, recommend to stay warm. And voilá, this way life is sweet with possibility to enjoy winter sports like skiing and skating or have a nice stroll in the beautiful white snowy landscape.

How about our main character illustrated above, does he have long johns or not? At least he appeared to be quite chilled with only nose and glasses peeking above layers of long scarf around his neck. From a distance the sight felt like a giant rectangle on two thin sticks approaching scurry towards me.

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Once before I have told a story about a person who never uses long johns no matter what. Here is a direct link to that particular long johns story.

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. Yellow Pullover Girl, Kaapelitehdas Helsinki.

This yellow pullover girl is perfect symbol for this particular season. Goodbye Summer, welcome Autumn. I saw her near Cable Factory (Kaapelitehdas), which will be the venue for big design sales happening this weekend. Therefore all design oriented people, Design Market is your place to go.

Besides, the participant list is on the website is a good one if you are interested in contemporary Finnish Design. I for sure will visit Design Market. Let’s see if I happen to see some interesting characters to draw afterwards.

On the Street. Comfortable Travel Outfit, Esplanadi, Helsinki.

I’m back in hometown Helsinki again after refreshing month in the woods. I visited the center and realised that Helsinki is full of tourists. There is certain hallmarks of which a tourist stands out from city habitants. Sun hat, map in hand, eager look in eyes ready to spot something peculiar.

While travelling it’s wise to pack tricot clothes in order to avoid ironing or end up looking like wrinkled along the journey. This lady had realised this idea profoundly. Layering black tricot all the way and in addition interesting fluttering shape.

On the Street. Graphic Style, Kaapelifactory, Helsinki.

Minimalist black and white outfit to which is added graphic patterns on like shawl, tote bag and skirt. Calm and eye pleasing sight. And still a hint of yellow peeking under the black coat. Refreshing like spring itself. And a matching grey tone comes from asphalt of the streets.

On the Street. Bow Tie With Moustache, Mannerheimintie, Helsinki.

This bright yellow sweater caught my attention on the street, while I traveled tram past the Parliament House. Oh boy, the man had moustache and bow tie as well! Splendid! This is just the vision I longed for in my previous post about Charley Chaplin's bow tie. Modern version of the combination of bow tie with moustache.

On the street. Blue Parkas Laced with Red, Helsinki.

Now that I am tuned in the color of blue, I have spotted nice looking men dressed in totally blue outlooks in the streets of Helsinki. Here are two examples of them. Both had blue parkas and some bright red accent combined with it. Parka is such a perfect coat to have in November with big warming pockets and a hood. It protects against wind, rain and snowstorm if it happens.

On the street. Free layering, Kamppi, Helsinki.

 

 This time the eye-catcher was the blue wide skirt. The form of the skirt definitely stood out from the queue. When it was paired with trousers of the same color the whole outfit got a very personal touch.

I had a change to ask about her marvelous skirt. She told me it was made by her friend according to her idea. The idea was to make a similar style skirt that she had used as a child. There was a layering of tulle fabric  under outer shell. It ensured a wide, beautiful shape skirt.

I specially admired the wide pockets that could easily eat up a sketchbook. 

Finnhits. Costo, Hats With Pompoms.

Hello everyone. With this post I may solve all your "what to put in your head when fall comes" -problems. I'm presenting in my series Finnhits Finnish clothing brands that I truly like. Costo is the one.

But let me first remind you of last seasons Burberry Prorsums summer 2012 straw hats with visors and pompom's swinging on the top. If you found those caps nice I may have good news for you. Costo is specifically famous of the pompoms that sit in the top of their hats.

COSTO

Costo is a creation of three Helsinki based designers. In the beginning Costo products were done by the designers themselves. They started to utilize industrial leftover materials to satisfy their need to create products in a more sustainable and ecological way.

MATERIALS

In this case it still means high quality in their materials. For example they are using  premium fabrics by the Italian textile manufacturer Crespi1797. Crespi is specialized in natural fabrics and is world leader in linens. They also use leather, wool, denim, cotton and jute in their designs.

HUPLA HAT

I just fell in to this Hupla-hat in the happening Helsinki Design Market. The discreet beige herringbone will definitely bring the light to me when fall comes. Maybe this model  attracted me most because it brings a story of Tintin on my mind, The Black Island. On the cover Tintin is wearing a little bit similar style hat with Scotish kilt and jumper. Though Tintin's hat is a beret. But anyway, the pompom is there. I can't help it. I'm a big fan of Tintin series. It seems that reading those stories as a kid has affected a lot to my visual thinking.

The green pom-pom was my profit of this post. They gave it to me free, while I mentioned I was going to blog about them.

KOMBAI UNIQUE

Because of the nature of leftover materials the series of hats are limited editions. In addition Costo makes even individually original hats. A special line of Kombai hats: each  Kombai Unique is totally, absolutely unique. This, if any guarantees the individuality for your style.

DETACHABLE BOBBLE

Bobbles in the hats are detachable and it takes no engineering skills to do the trick. There´s a usual button in a usual button-hole: fast but firm. You can get a different look to your hat by changing the bobble color. Or you can use the hat totally without a bobble for a change.

WOOL BEANIES

Costo makes also 100% merino wool beanies with bobble. What could be more jolly and comfortable in the harsh winter frost. Naturally on the top sits a pompom. I started to dig this kind of beanie style in 90's when there was the Monkees TV-show in the television. It was about the misadventures of a struggling rock band. Somehow the show appealed to me with it's childish 60's humor and style. Not to mention the good music. One of the characters (Michael Nesmith) always had a beanie with a pompom in his head. Ever since a beanie like that has gone under name Monkees Beanie to me and it has belonged to my style also.

See for yourself the original Monkees Beanie. The Monkees - You Just May Be the One



As a conclusion I agree to this phrase from their website: For Costo ecology, style and quality go hand in hand. But I'd like to add one thing. That is the delight that the pompoms bring with them. Anyone who has a hat with a bobble swinging in the top, doesn't feel too pompous or dangerous. And that is a good sign to me.

Final here is the direct way straight to Costo webshop. Are you ready to choose your style? Go!

On the street. Men in bright colors, Erottaja Helsinki.

Hooray I say. Has men in Helsinki finally found colors? Traditionally they dress up quite cautiously in terms of color. But this season seems to be different. The red pants seem to be a smashing hit really. Green pants has been seen also. I'm waiting for more.

Catwalk. Iceberg, fall/winter 2011.

On the street. Nordic Walking, Casino beach, Helsinki.

I spotted this most stylish Nordic Walker ever in the event Lauttasaari Day. This sport was invented in Finland. They say that walking with poles is excellent exercise that improves your upper-body fitness. All you need are the poles and a path, and off you go. 

On the street. Decorative heavy load, Kamppi, Helsinki.

This lady came across near bus station of Kamppi. She was quite exhausted with her heavy burden in the hot day. Nevertheless she looked fabulous in her colours, textures and bead jewellery. Her look reminded me of summer 2011 of Missoni knits mixed with Gaultier hairdo. Flavored with sensible gardening shoes. Maybe she was heading to her summer cottage?