For Fun. Visiting Pet Expo.

Two weeks ago I visited Pet Expo with my family. From street style point of view there was little to be expected. You know, pet people are a bit of their own tribe. I have summarized one sample of typical pet-person style features above. A goth-like tasted with grunge, pink or turquoise hairdo, animal-tattoos, neon color high-lights. Characteristics vary according a pet. For example cat- and guinea pig -persons are usually bit more feminine and conventional.

Previous I have worked as a costume designer. The point there is to find the typical features of a character role. I can't help it that I still classify people by appearances. Clothes carry a strong message to tell other people who we are.

In general having pets is a important way  to express oneself. Stand out from the ordinary. There was a department where the rat was running agility. They took time for each rat-participant. The lady, whose rat was in turn to do the agility, told me that she had altogether 26 rats at home. 10 boys and 16 girls. And she let them run freely in her home from time to time. Not so typical for a middle aged woman, we might say. And what is the effect when you tell about your hobby in a coffee table...

This young man walked in the middle of the heavily crowded expo dressed in green one piece jumpsuit. He looked miserable. We can just guess the reason. (Maybe dressing up green jumpsuit would have been reason enough.) His face was strong contrast to his joyful outfit with giant white baseball cap.

And as we are in pet expo I simply must present all the animals that live at our house. Because of allergy no hairy species are possible. So we have 200-liter aquarium with some 60 fishes and a bunch of Red sherry shrimps. It is so relaxing to stare an aquarium full of life.

Then we have a 80-liter paludarium with three Newts and one African Dwarf Frog accompanied with Red Sherry Shrimps as well. In this sketch you can see a series of croquis of the Newts.

This lovely Leopard Gecko has lived with us few months now. In advance I would not have believed how enchanting a gecko can be. These are sketches of the fellow in different positions. We don't have a name for it so far, as the gender is not clear yet. But if it is a girl it will be Luna and if it is a boy it will be Vili.

On the Street. Feeling Jazz in Grey Suit, Ruoholahti, Helsinki.

I met this guy in a entrepreneurs event. Somehow his style differed from the ordinary in my view. I mean if you have a suit, it may be dull and ordinary. But if the cut is right, there is some idea in details and fabric has some nice structure, a suit is a whole different thing.

Of course I had to tell him that his style is perfect. He told me that the feeling he's trying to catch springs from jazz. By mentioning jazz-music, the picture was completed.

On the Street. Red Shoes Makes the Difference, Postikatu, Helsinki.

Total black outfits are common in Helsinki. Anyway you can stand out from the crowd with lovely silhouette and by adding bright red spot to your look. I find this silhouette irresistible. I love the coats that are tied with belt made of same fabric as the coat. And the bright red ankle boots is the item that turns heads here.

On the Street. Hand Patterned Stockings, Lauttasaari, Helsinki.

I was walking back home from work one day. I noticed that something interesting is coming up. As we passed each other I realized it was the graphic hand pattern in her stockings that could be seen hundreds of meters away. Very effective and somehow cheerful sight too.

Helsinki Spring Brings Charlie Chaplin

Helsinki Spring brings with it the possibility to dive into the world  of Charlie Chaplin's. Helsinki City Artmuseum in Tennispalatsi has a nice exhibition of Chaplin going on. But that's not the only thing. Finland's National Audiovisual Archive, Cinema Orion performs various Charlie Chaplin films in this Spring.

The series start next Sunday with special show. There will be live band, Cleaning Women playing their music with the films. (Behind the Screen, 1916, One A.M., 1916, The Bank, 1915)

I have already tickets in my pocket for my family. You can try to get the tickets from here.  Let's see what kind of style ideas will come this time. Last year I picked up this big bow from Charlie. Because as much as the funny tricks I enjoy watching the style of past times.

For Fun. Three-Year Birthday Cake.

I just realized that I started this blog – Flash For Zonzon – three years ago. Boy how time flies! So I decided to bake a cake for you and me to celebrate this Sunday. Mmmmm, how good is virtual cake.

And were have I come in three years of blogging?
This blog isn't actually a highway measured in blog traffic. This is more like a winding little road in countryside. You never know exactly what will come after next curve. So it's certainly not boring. It's fun that I have had visitors from all over the world. It's fun that I have this channel to do what kind of illustrations I wish.

And what will come next?
I bet I'll keep on blogging.

I hope that the cake tasted good. I'm not actually famous of my baking skills. But it doesn't matter. I'll keep on baking anyway. Have a nice Sunday.

Seasons. Women's Day Special with Rick Owens SS2014.

When I first saw the photos of Rick Owens SS 2014 runway show, the photos beat me to the punch. And I couldn't stop grinning. I was so pleased to see these women's angry expressions, in their eyes and faces. The pictures predicted that there was something more to see and when I saw the choreography of the fashion show in YouTube, electricity run along my backbone.

Strong expression in choreography, shouting, energy, vicious faces. All this gave me a message that these women were so sick of whatever it was and they have had enough and they wouldn't take it anymore! It's time to move forward all sisters together. And in the wold today, this is so true. The feminist in me was so happy.

Runway shows and fashion magazines determines strongly the way we see beauty. Skinny models are the norm. So it was very refreshing to see Rick Owens' out-of-the-standard models. This was a radical move in the context of fashion show. Stretching the limits. Thank you Rick Owens!

It is true that women have a reason to be angry.

I don't know whether there is a single country in the world that could be considered totally equal for men and women. Even in countries such as Finland, which seems to be very equal, fact is that women earn less than men for the same work. A man's euro is woman's 78 cents. Constantly, although this has been the issue as long as I can remember.

But this is just a little sorrow compared to bad treatment that some of our little sisters get to experience.

Think about the young girls that are forced to marry with adult men and the tragedies where it leads. Think about female circumcision, which occurs in the name of tradition. So many unnecessary tears.

But I'm happy that there is also bright spots on the horizon.  Education is a way to better life. Despite this fact, going to school is not self evident to all girls. But then there is this Malala Movement, a global movement whose primary goal is to ensure that every girl in the world has access to the educational opportunities they deserve. This movement builds a better future for tomorrows women. Malala herself is one of them in just 16 years of age. If you want to read her story, you can visit The Malala Fund website.

In this Woman's Day I'm suggesting that women would start supporting strongly each other. Give Applause to a Woman Each and Every Day! Give positive feedback to your sisters, fellows and relatives, your boss, your teammates, or whoever you think is worth it. So girls  – and why not men as well – just remember to use your voice.

As an inspiration I'm linking the mentioned Rick Owens -show Spring 2014 Womenswear in Paris here. Enjoy your day!

Catwalk. Dreaming of Summer with Suno SS 2014.

 

 Now is the time that it is not totally desperate to start dreaming about summer. The sun has shown itself a few times quite promisingly and temperatures seem to stay above zero permanently. So I took the pastels and dreamed of summer with Suno 2014 spring/summer collection. Especially I find this silhouette with wide sleeves and flying hem so summery.

Seasons. Happy Valentine's Day. Hooray Friendship.

Valentine's day is a quite new acquaintance in Finland. First time it has landed on the market in the 80's. And because Finns are not considered as the most romantic people on the earth they launched the Valentine's Day as Friend's Day. At least I think it suits better to our mental landscape.

Or is it the idea of democracy that has directed the guidelines. Not everybody has a loved one, but most of us have some sort of friend to remember once in a year. Either way, Friend's Day is the second popular day in a year to send postcards. Christmas still draws the longer straw in this matter.

I cherish my friends. Though not too often face-to-face. But that's the point in it. With a friend ten years is nothing when you meet again. Besides people one can feel friendship with animals and in my case plants. Some of the plants at my home have lived with me already twenty years. In that time one gets attached really.

On the Street. Wavy Hemline Coat, Kamppi, Helsinki.

Wavy hemline on coats are not too common in these days. Indeed, what could be more beautiful than a wavy thick woolen fabric!

I saw this lady waiting for a bus in all-black outfit with well thought details. To me her style was so convincing, that I wouldn't have been surprised if she was actually waiting for her white horse to pick her up. The only thing I'm missing in this outfit is a long feather to her beret.