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 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. 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.

Seasons. Frozen January, Keskuskatu, Helsinki.

It seems to be a rule. January comes and so does true winter frost and Russian tourists. Headlines screamed: Siberia frost sweeps Finland. And it really has felt like it with frost measurements going down to 25 degrees below zero.

In this illustration is a lady that I saw in Keskuskatu doing some window shopping while waiting friends. To me it seemed that the winter itself has settled down to the pattern of the padded coat. Freezing temperatures makes the colors of air and clouds minimal and crisp. The color palette of the wintertime surroundings is pretty much like in this picture.

For the past few days we have had a beautiful snowfall as well. It feels like 3D animation movie while looking at the snowflakes dance behind the window. Hypnotic and chance to have a mindfulness moment when you stand by really looking at it.

On the Street. Happiness is Long Down Jacket, Hietsu, Helsinki.

 

Weekend winter finally came to Helsinki. Now is the time when going outdoors happiness really is a long down jacket.

This lovely violet down jacket has some oddity in the hood. The zipper goes all the way up. This feature gives this down jacket a slight sleeping bag effect. In some sense… Though it would be somewhat impractical to go around totally zipped.

On the Street. Blue Beanie with Pompom, Kamppi, Helsinki.

Even though it is already Mach, first month of the Spring in Finland, we have had some snowfalls in recent days. Personally I'd already like to turn my back for winter and turn my face to sunlight instead.

Well, I can still get some joy in middle of a snowstorm seeing so fine blue beanie with pompom as in the picture above. I have previously confessed my love for pompoms in the post of Costo. Check it up if you like to read more pompom-stories.

On the Street. Winter Bright Colors, Erottaja, Helsinki.

 

Last weeks have been quite dark around here in Helsinki. Sunlight is rarely seen. At that point it's very refreshing to see some bright colors walking towards on the street. Here are few characters from my sketchbook.

On the Street. Fur Sleeves, Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki.

 

During the first week of the new year there is always lot of Russian tourists in Helsinki. It affects the street scene immediately in the way that there is a lot of furs. Fur hood edge, fur hats, fur coats, fur vests. Normally fur is not so common around here. After 90s strict criticism against fur farming fur has almost disappeared from the street scene. For example a friend of mine has inherited a nice looking fur coat, but she don't want to wear it because of the bad conscience and feeling sorry for the animals. 

Anyway, this look was so elegant I had to paint it. With the Monocler Gamme Rouge -boots this fur sleeved coat would make quite a different sound.

On the Street. Poodle-look, Liisankatu, Helsinki.

 

Hello there! Let's begin the new year blogging with the basics. In this case it means Street style -post. Here we have a nice outfit from Helsinki that reminds a bit like poodle.  

On the street. Walking with the dog, Kamppi, Helsinki.

I think they suit very well to each other.
This was a month with dogs and their mates. Let's see what we get next month.

On the street. Dog-like Style, Lauttasaari, Helsinki.

Here we have another dog inspired style that I mentioned two posts ago. I mean the trend with dog owners, that they often look alike their pets. I was like wow, when met this trio. The form of hourglass and trumpet legs is repeated in these wonderful Afghan Greyhounds and their hostess not to mention the coloring. 

By the way, down jacket is the most sensible coat you can have in wintertime in these northern areas. It is like walking in the cozy sleeping bag, lightweight and warm. I have noticed that many women have belted their waist while wearing down jackets. Apparently though in order not to look like sleeping bag.

On the street. Dog friend, Lauttasaari, Helsinki.

Once in awhile I am meeting this couple in my home street. Be it summer or winter they are always in perfect harmony with their colors. I have noticed that it is quite general that dog owners somehow look alike their pets. I have already another example in my mind. I'll draw it other day. Stay tuned.

On the street. Minus 15 Degrees Celsius, Helsinki.

True winter wonderland is here. Last week with minus 15 degrees of Celsius made people guard against cold. Even the toughest ones had to put something to their heads to protect the precious brain. Here you can see some examples of the ways to keep warm.

On the street. Cruella de Vil meets Calamity Jane

With this lady seen in Helsinki, Lauttasaari, I want to say good bye to the wintertime.
It was cold, I have to admit.