Tokyo ry:n perinteiset joulumyyjäiset @ Lume

Today I visited a market with my talented friend Amanda (check out her blog here). It's a traditional event before Christmas where students of Aalto University - School of Art and Design Helsinki are selling their pieces of art: graphics, textiles, glass and ceramics, jewelry, paintings etc.

This is something I got: "Rapua rapua" -necklace by Pohatta Design. I really like the colour and the fact that the designer has found a way to make use of something that normally gets thrown away as waste.

If you're in Helsinki this weekend, I recommend you check this happening out. It's open until Sunday 28th between 9 am and 6 pm at Media Centre Lume (TaiK building), Hämeentie 135 C, Helsinki. You get there by trams 6 and 8 or buses 68, 71 and 74 for example.

Have a nice weekend!

-Maria

We complete each other

Zara lookbook October: D's Cape and my trousers. We split the trends ;)

-Maria

Hysteria

Oh yes, finally got me the Aqua Hysteria -dress that I've been dreaming of ever since last spring! I happened to be so lucky that I got the very last piece in my size from Aqua online store and yesterday I received it only after two days' waiting! It is just as stunning as I had imagined, though working out a bit more wouldn't hurt. Luckily it suits better for spring/summer parties so I'll have some time ;)

Proper images when I get my photographer back to the city, apologies for hurting your eyes and delicate minds with a mirror-pose.

-Maria

(dress by Aqua)

Adult ACNE

I finally got to start working and was able to buy these amazing Acne Pistol boots! I am in love and because I know this is forever, I found out the ways to keep me walking in these for at least a decade.

I found a nice shoemaker that convinced me to leave my brand new babies in his caring hands and boy was it worth it! I picked them up the very next day with new outsoles, and while I was trying them on, the young shoemaker was asking about my -obviously- high quality boots. A real shoelover I can tell! He gave me these tips to keep my investment in shape:

1) Always have insoles in your shoes, we perspire 1 dl a day with our feet only, so you DO want to have something between your foot and the shoe.

2) Always let your shoes dry after use: take out the insoles and leave the shoes dry on their sides. The shoes dry better lying on their side than standing. Do not leave your shoes on/near a radiator! It'll damage the leather the same way a hairdryer damages your hair.

3) One day use - two days rest. A natural material like leather needs to rest between use in order to keep its shape. A certain way to ruin your shoes is to wear them 24/7.

4) Polish your shoes regularly. It protects the leather from dirt, water and wear. A coloured (brown/black) polish or cream protects better than a clear one, they say. It also covers scratches and other small marks.

I've considered myself a person that takes care of her shoes but this definitely opened my eyes. I'm gonna have to learn to pay more attention to these things, especially the "rest"-part. I've been planning to wear these boots with EVERYTHING, but I guess I'm not gonna forget my other shoes after all. Or I just need two pairs more to make a three-day cycle... ;)

Let's love our shoes and let it show!

-Maria

(pic by Acne Studios)

I love Helsinki

Tähänastinen loma on tuntunut viime viikon metsäilystä huolimatta hieman kiireiseltä. Perjantaina junailin itseni poikaystävän ohella Helsinkiin anivarhain aamujunalla, minkä aiheuttamasta järkyttävän aikaisesta herätyksestä toipumiseen menikin sitten lähes koko viikonloppu. Lauantaina saimme itsemme kuitenkin liikkeelle, ja poikaystävän hikoillessa salilla minä suuntasin Helsinki-viikon yhteydessä Espalla järjestetyille design-markkinoille.

Lähdin katsastamaan tapahtumaa uuden kaulakorun toivossa, mutta ostettavaa ja hipellettävää löytyi paljon muutakin aina keramiikasta niiiiin suloisiin ekologisiin vauvanvaatteisiin. Mukaan markkinoilta lähti kuitenkin vain kauan haaveilemani Youth vs. Futuren Soaked-sulkakoru hopeisena, vaikka mintunvihreä versiokin houkutteli. Ihastuin myös Paula Kasurisen makramee-solmittuihin punosmekkoihin- ja toppeihin, mutta tiukan budjetin puitteissa jouduin tällä kertaa tyytymään Paulan suloiseen käyntikorttiin.

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Last Saturday I visited a design market that took place in the city center as a part of Helsinki week. I was looking for a new necklace and this "Soaked" feather pendant by Youth vs. Future was my choice. There was a lot of other cool stuff, too, and I liked especially these knot dresses and tops by Paula Kasurinen.

-Maria

(photos by me)

Ring ring...!

Dannijo ring at net-a-porter.com

Out of my league

Olen altistunut kengille. Tämä on vakavaa ensinnäkin siksi, etten ole ikinä kokenut itseäni millään tasolla kenkäihmiseksi, ja toisekseen siksi, että senttiä pitää tänä kesänä venyttää jo ruokaa varten, ja silti heikkona hetkenä olisin valmis pistämään koko tilin kerralla kenkiin, joita en edes osaa kuvitella yhdistäväni omistamiini vaatteisiin.

Oireet ilmenevät kaupungilla kävelyvauhdin hidastumisena, äkillisinä u-käännöksinä näyteikkunoiden kohdilla sekä kotisohvalla pakonomaisena nettikauppojen selailuna ja "add to bag"-painikkeen piirtymisenä verkkokalvoille. Se on siellä, sivun oikeassa alakulmassa. Joskus klikkaan painiketta muka vahingossa, ikään kuin voisin pakettia vastaanottaessani esittää, etten ole edes tiennyt moista tilanneeni. Tähän mennessä oireilu ei ole onnekseni vielä edennyt check out -vaiheeseen asti. Kengissä on tätä varten nimittäin yksi erinomainen jarru: sovittaminen.

Toisin on laukkujen kanssa. Viime päivinä kenkien rinnalle nettishoppailussa ovat nousseet kuukausien vuokran kattavat laukut. En haluaisi myöntää, että näissä houkuttelevinta on korkean hinnan luoma illuusio jostain paremmasta. Kyllä varmasti rakastuisin Wangin mini-Brendaan vaikka Hennesin hyllyllä...! Mutta kun...

Onnekseni hinnat tosiaan ovat siellä, mihin pelkkä opintolaina ei yllä, ja liiempiä kiusauksia on siksi helppo vastustaa. Ehkä olisikin parempi, jos niitä töitä ei tulisikaan...

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Lately I've become addicted to shoes and bags. That's weird because I've never been that much into shoes - nor bags - but now they seem to take over my mind all the time. Of course those I desire are always the most expensive ones that could easily cover four months' rent.

At the moment I'm lucky to be poor, otherwise I might end up actually spending all my money on fancy stuff that I wouldn't even know how to pair with my wardrobe. It seems better not to get a job afterall...

- Maria

From top: shoes Michael Kors, Camilla Skovgaard (photos: net-a-porter.com), bag Alexander Wang (photo: mytheresa.com)