Red Beret Poetry Style, Kamppi Metro Helsinki

 

 

Hi again! After looong break I saw something that was a must to draw. I saw this youngish fellow in metro of Helsinki. I was totally in my thoughts when something red made me focus the gaze. It was this man that had red beret combined with slightly darker red ruffle under his face. The rest was all black. Dark curly hair poked out from under the beret. Is this poetry in motion, or what?

On the Street. Summer in Boots, Hietalahti Helsinki

 

 

The Summer has been exceptionally hot in Helsinki this year. That kind of hot, that Finns have been looking for when traveling abroad during the summer holidays, while usually there is no guarantee of warm sunshine in Finland. But this time the hot sun has arrived in Finland (thanks to climate change, I guess). There has been a real need of summer clothes this year. The lighter the materials, the better.

Therefor, this young fellow caught my eye, when in these days the common footwear has been sandals. This guy doesn’t make compromises in his footwear. Boots it must be, whether it is summer or not. One can cut the stems off, but boots it must be. Style is not compromised.

Today is probably the last warm summer day in Helsinki. So, enjoy it to the fullest!

On the Street. Beret Man in a Hurry, Kamppi, Helsinki.

 

One more man wearing beret for the cold spring before these street style illustrations start to reflect summer. Sometimes I get these looks from people I stare firmly. If they are in a hurry, I have no change to tell that I like the outfit. If I have the chance, that case the suspicous mind turns to a smile immediately.

On the Street. Beretman, Lapinlahden Lähde, Helsinki

 

Still cold spring wibes. I saw this gentleman in Lapinlahden Lähde walking in his thoughts. I liked the color combo, blue with the grey in hair, moustaches and scarf. And the red to give a little accent. Some poetry vibe added with the beret. It is not too commonly seen headpiece in men's heads in Finland.

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. Man in Boots, Lauttasaari, Helsinki

Time to post this man in boots, carrying heavy plastic bags. Classic outfit toasted with moustaches from 80's.

Many may wonder, why doesn’t he have facemask in these days of coronavirus covid-19. In Finland the authorities have not made any rules that everybody should wear a mask. Therefor it is more rare than usual around here.

The Spring is coming warmer day to day. But it may be, that this gentleman keeps his boots and leather jacket on whatever the weather is. I wonder what is he carrying. Maybe the groceries to his old mama, who is quarantined to home for the sake of covid-19.

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. 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. 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. Coffee Cowboy of Hakaniemi, Helsinki.

This fellow has hanged as a ready made drawing on my desk already for a month or so. There has been so much everything going on with my business that this poor blog has had to wait for a while.

A visit to Hakaniemi gives many times a different thrill than walking in Esplanade of Helsinki. More diversity. Like this man. I thought this was Freak Brothers live going 9 am in the morning. But with a can of coffee. Gosh, I like people who are true to the styles of their youth.

On the Street. Young Hero, Fredrikinkatu, Helsinki.

Now what do you know! It is predicted that snow is landing to Helsinki this evening. Brrr. We must release this young hero to make his walk on the runway of Fredrikinkatu of Helsinki. Namely, that was the feeling, when he walked towards me on the street a grim expression on his face. Eyes nailed straight ahead.

I haven’t participated in Inktober movement this October because absolute lack of time. You know, the idea to send an ink drawing to Instagram on a daily basis in October.  As a little compensation this illustration is done with ink only. Suits well to the darkness of this character.

On the Street. A Hard Day's Night, Metro Helsinki.

One day I traveled home by Helsinki Metro about seven in the evening. There was a lot of crowd, so I stayed standing. This man stood opposite me.

As I know if it is not totally forbidden to drink in public in Helsinki. But anyway it isn’t commonly used or recommended to drink on a bus, tram or on a subway. This gentleman was aware of this and modestly started opening the can of bear in the shield of his jacket.

While doing this I had my time to stare his style. Apparently the day had been long and it deserved some counterweight to reset the situation. Or maybe the construction site had been completed and it is time to celebrate a bit.

Celebration means grease to hair, fancy red shirt, matching red sneakers and baseball jacket. Never mind that there is still the painter’s trousers full of paint stains. The big pockets full of stuff make an interesting impact to the style. Metamorphosis from a wall painter to party animal is still in progress.

When he had his can opened I needed to turn my eyes to other direction. The gaze he gave me was that much challenging.

On the Street. Black Beret all Year Long, Barcelona.

It is the last day of summer season. Tomorrow is officially first day of autumn in Finland. It is time to present the last Barcelona street style memory of summer sketchbook.

This older gentleman is kind of previous edition of the guy illustrated below. Same building blocks of style, white shirt and sort of black trousers. Only the time has worn out the deep darkness and turned white shirt to greyish. Despite the hot sun in Spain, the sleeves stay long, not rolled and woolen beret stays in the head. I believe the beret has been an essential accessory through his lifetime. Maybe already as schoolboy it has belonged to the school uniform.

This brings to mind an old phrase. "Why change anything what has once been good." In style issues this is quite true. In other words we talk about style classics. In some other issues some change might still be a good idea. Like, we didn’t have mobile phones in the 70s, why should we have it now? Well… Maybe it is good to think again when some issue is thrown in front of you. At least just a second. 

On the Street. The New Essentials, Barcelona.

On my summer holiday the destination was Spain and Barcelona district. I was curious to see how does the street view differ from Helsinki’s. The result was that there is so hot that the most common combo is T-shirt and shorts. Like pigeons they all look the same.

Still one detail in men’s style was a trend of short trousers. Ten centimetres too short compared to the classical measure. I saw even a grey striped suit with short trousers. And socks, I mean no socks. It is up to watchers eye if the guy looks a little like clown or super cool in these short pants.

Of course the sound of style depends also of the person who wears it. In this case I have drawn a chap that turned my head with his style. So simple, white shirt, black pants and yet interesting.

The place was a outlet mall near Barcelona, La Roca Outlet Village. He seemed to rush to have a break from his duty of the salesman of men’s clothing. In hurry to tobacco and in hurry to track social media. The modern life.

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.

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