On the Street. Granny in Leopard Coat, Lauttasaari, Helsinki.

I’m in love with the old grannies dressed up in leopard. Like this stunning fake fur leopard coat. This outfit makes an interesting clear form seen from distance.

This lady had all her accessories, hat, handbag and silk scarf tinted to off-white color tone. Each of these had some special texture or details. Soft furry surface in hat, golden details in handbag, violet and green flowery motifs in silk scarf. In this way the view nearby gives some extra interest.

By adding some details and texture, your outfit stays interesting whether it is seen from a distance or nearby.

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. Vuokko Wool Coat, Kamppi, Helsinki.

In Kamppi bus terminal I stepped out of the bus and saw something bright blue with bold print hurrying in front of me. Of course I made my steps go with her pace and we had this conversation:

”Oh what a wonderful beautiful coat you have!”
”Oh, thanks.”
”Where did you find it?”
”Err, I bought it from UFF secondhand store.”
”Okay, but WHO has made it? It looks so special.”
”Oh, you mean that. It is VUOKKO.”
”There we go, no wonder it looks so great. I suggest you next time tell straight away it is Vuokko-coat and tell secondly that UFF-thing.”
”Yes, you are right. It is great that someone’s trash is another woman’s treasure.”

To you who don’t know Vuokko, it is the label of Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi. She is the designer of the first Marimekko hits and later she created a label of her own. In one interview she said, among other things, that she believes in sustainable development. As a designer she works for continuity rather than trends. Vuokko is still working in the age of 86.

Vuokko has definitely succeeded in her ideas. Marimekko still uses her iconic designs, like Jokapoika -shirt (I have two) and Piccolo-pattern. Just to mention few evergreen items. And this bright blue wool coat was like new! I assume it is maybe originally from 80’s. Sustainable fashion it is, right.

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.

* * *

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. Friend of Totoro, Kamppi, Helsinki.

At the moment looking for fab street style is a bit challenging in Helsinki. Now that November has shown it’s true nature, the snow has disappeared and all we have left is wet dark days. Personally I don’t mind that. I love grey and minimalist tones of color.

One night I was seeking a bus to ride home from town. Far away I saw a big, somehow familiar silhouette waiting for a bus as well. Is it a friend of Totoro waiting for a cat bus?

On the Street. Waiting for a Date, Railway Station, Helsinki.

You know the feeling? When you are waiting for a date to arrive in your meeting point. When I saw this gentleman in Helsinki Railway Station I thought this was the case.  Standing aside from people in a hurry. Tidy and groomed. A bit nervous, looking around thinking, is it her? Or her? Code word is red scarf. She should recognize. This scene is like from Aki Kaurismäki’s film.

On the Street. November Black Swan, Railway Station, Helsinki.

Funny. In previous post I just mentioned the word winter and boom, there it comes rushing in second day of November. I admit, there is still a battle going on in my mind accepting the situation.

Let this wonderful black lady swan symbolize the change of season. November is dramatic month, dark, darker, darkest. There was a universe and planets print in her bag in the same colour scheme as her wild hair. Impressive.

Seasons. October Weather Girl Portrait.

May I introduce Miss October Weather Girl. October is time for big change in Finland. First the colours in nature start to lose green, revealing bright yellow, red and different shades of brown. Mornings are crisp and sky is more often grey than blue as October progresses.

At the end of October nearly all the tree leaves have fallen and remain naked tree trunks. It is fun to wade in the flood of fallen leaves. It is time to look for gloves, woolen scarf and cover head with something warm. The surrounding changes dramatically and the whole colour map changes muted. The mind settles down waiting for winter to arrive.

* * *

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. Paper Cut Fall Look, HAM Helsinki.

 This paper cut lady was caring of a group of schoolchildren in front of HAM, Helsinki Art Museum. They have a marvelous Yayoi Kusama exhibition going right now until 22.1.2017. A lot of dots to fall in love with.

I like the boxlike upper body combined with narrow long skirt. Everything wool felt material that suits for the fall perfectly. In her feet my favorites, black men’s style brogue shoes. You know, again one more example how Finnish women prefer the ability to walk over femininity high heels. And it looks good!

For Fun. InkTober in Instagram.

I noticed it is Inktober time. Ok, I love ink so I try to put some black spots to paper every day.

It is time for InkTober in Instagram. 31 days 31 drawings. The point is to draw something with ink every day in October. And post it in Instagram. There is a list of topics to be drawn but it is okay to draw whatever you like.

I like people and fashion so that is what it's gonna be in My case. Or that’s what I thought in the beginning, but from day 5 I started to follow the given prompt list. It is fun and challenging to find an angle to the given word.

Check The Official 2016 Inktober Prompt List >>

Here are the first nine days inky illustrations. The first one is up above.

Inktober day 2.
I spotted this photogenic guy today in Paul Smith IG. Made a quick sketch of him.

Inktober day 3.
This is something about Mark Jacobs FW2016 fashion collection. Well, this time this girl seems to be a boy. But who cares. Very inspiring collection it is.

Inktober day 4. 
Yesterday I visited an art supply store. The lady behind the cashier gave me an impulse to this character.

Inktober day 5, SAD.

Sad about the situation that women in Poland have. Polish lawmakers push on with near-total ban on abortion. Women should have right to self-determination including abortion.

Inktober day 6, HIDDEN.

Hidden in to the woods.

Inktober day 7, LOST.

Lost in a city of patterns.

Inktober day 8, ROCK.

Thinking about word rock the first image that comes in mind is Iggy Pop.

Inktober day 9, BROKEN
.
What a bad luck, broken heel!

Follow @sanna_pyykko in IG and join me in the journey.