Fur Coat Alert

My first fur jacket was white and made of a raw lamb fur and I still remember its animal smell, from 27 years ago. It helped survive still back then very cold and snowy Russian winters. Winters were getting warmer and time passing by and fur getting the label of "shameful" thing to wear.

Not anymore, as one can see. I do own 2 shearling coats, but that is not what I am inspired by now. My faux fur vintage style leopard one by Topshop was a purchase I never thought would be sensible. But i have worn it surprsingly often.

Picture taken by Louisa.

Now I am on a mission to buy another "useless" faux fur coat and this time I would like something more hairy. :) maybe with 70s vibe in it.

Here are my options:

1. Oasis beige faux fur, it's got a belt as well.

2. This grey by Asos, could be styled in so many ways, love the colour as well:

3. Or this very bohemian cream furry one, which is, to be honest, my favourite:

4. Striped cream one:

Which one should I pick? I would love to wear one of these with skinny jeans and wedge ankle boots. Need to make decision really quickly. So waiting for your comments!

Fashion Xmas Sales @ Kiseleff House

Today is raining again. Fashion Xmas Sales in Kiseleff house, now our favourite destination, were the highlight of the grey day.

Lumi, Kooky Gems, Mirkka Metsola, IvanaHelsinki  were all present there in a hall with quite generous discounts.

Check out Mirkka Metosola's website, I really like her clothes. You can also shop online here:

http://www.mirkkametsola.com/

A new brand I discovered was Jasmin Rantanen Paris. Delicate clothes in colourful burnt velvet with sheer tulle details are very feminine and I felt I could even meet my 1920s challenge in that dress (a/w, powder pink velvet dress).

Check her website here (A/W collection):

http://www.jasminsantanen.com/


We also discovered that cafe of the 2nd floor has a hidden backroom with a direct view of Helsinki Cathedral. Isn't it magnificent?

We did not get anything on sales but it really cheered us up for the day. Almost wishing it would snow at last...

"Little Paris" @ Helsinki and Surviving from a Flu

Winter is still late in Helsinki this year and strange undefinable season is here with frequent minor rains and tricky air temperature when you do not know whether to wear a down coat with a fur hat or a ballerina pumps and a jacket. Perhaps, because of all the reasons above i got flu and my mood is really down - which is when i really need an inspiration from outside, a kick, a vision of something beautiful.

 On my obligatory morning walk with Leo i have visited Korkeavuorenkatu, an area which is called by many people a "little Paris". Well, it does look like Paris. A lot of Jugend style buildings and no ugly modern mistakes in between. Lots of small boutiques and little cafes to satisfy any demanding taste.

Take a look at Korkeavuorenkatu and do not think it is Helsinki. It works, doesn't it?

To my ultimate surprise not far from this corner I found a gigantic antique store, or actually a GARAGE full of treasures - furnitures, dishes, paintings. The space is something like 500 m2. And amazing things are coming there all the time, I saw a truck being unloaded with beautiful white cupboards in rustic style.


Here some treasures of the shop:

Want to create an atmosphere of Parisian street cafe at home? here you go:

An I do not know why I really loved this painting. It is happy but mysterious at the same time.

There are many more nice shops in the street of Korkeavuorenkatu:

The Little Sister of Muotikuu on Fabianinkatu - The White Elephant:

Christmas and particularly Christmas lights and decorations are the motivators for many people to survive through November and December. And I got hooked on the obsession with traditional Christmas stars. Here you see the result. I also love those new lanterns shaped like houses, there are many versions in the shops.

Don't these houses remind you of the beauties of Copenhagen's Nyhavn? Yes, that is my dream destination for a pre-Christmas fairy tale: the land of all-white interiors, delicious scandinavian dishes and trendy clothing brands...

Nyhavn, Copenhagen:

And I do want to see the magic Xmas land of Copenhagen's Tivoli:

Mission: 1920s

Even though I am on maternity leave, I am still welcome to the corporate Xmas party. This year it will be held in Astoria Hall which was built in 1920s and that is actually The Theme of the party. The epoche of young Chanel, low waists, pearls, T-bar shoes, first jazz, curled short hair and bright lipstick. Mission: I need to find the outfit by 2.12.2011. And i think I have got it already, from my own wardrobe, indeed.

There would be an easy solution. A swedish high street store Kappahl has got a "Vintage Stories" collection with very affordable things. There 1920s glamour would be delivered straight to ones wardrobe for a few dozens of euros without any headache.

Sequined dress with scallop hem? - Check!

Low wasted long sleeved blouse in powder pink? - Check!

Plus art deco costume jewelry, feather accessories etc. - for under 10 Eur. But that's not interesting, is it? It is the same as eating a burger instead of sushi, I think.

OK, low waist is definately not my thing, waist is one of the assets of my hourglass figure and I do not want to look like a balloon, not at all, considering that I have looked like that most of the year 2011 anyway. I do not want to go black, though one can never go wrong with that. But did you not know that LWD (Little White Dress) is the new staple of A/W 2011? And i am lucky enough to own at least 3 LWDs, which were impulse buys for my April wedding this year until I found my perfect one at Muotikuu shop.

So, I decided to go white. All white. Including tights. And shoes. I have gotten 2 options:

OPTION # 1:

Cream dress with chiffon applique flowers and powder pink cardie with pearl trims, white tights:

Accessories: Bronze leather sandals, sequined bag, semiprecious stone necklace with metal tassel (! Tassels were BIG in 20s).

OPTION #2:
Or this cottom lace dress with multirow semiprecious stone necklace in pastel tones and " retro dancing" shoes. The shoes are a bargain from the local store from 4 or 5 years ago and looks like they have been waiting for this very day as I have not yet found a single place to wear them to. So they are NEW and I have just digged them from a cellar.

So, which option do you like more, my friends?

Do not worry, I will not forget to accessorize with the most important: the Red Lipstick (by Clarins, the perfect shade for me) and Her Majesty's perfume: #19, Poudre. It does smell like powder, like old times, like the real fur which sophisticated lady wears for a special occasion. I remember that powdery smell from my childhood, when my aunt, a singer, who lived then in Moscow showed me her wardrobe of treasures. I remember those textures: suede boots, fur coats - everything smelling like this powdery scent. I decided then: when I grow old enough I will buy myself delicate high-heeled suede boots and a fur coat. And I have done it. This Chanel's scent i have got as a tester mini bottle which is even more handy when you have a small evening bag. And I love it.

I know white is NOT the colour #1 for post pregnancy times, but I love it and most importantly I will follow the golden wisdom of Iris Apfel, which I read from British Elle this month: "Fashion faux pas is when you look in the mirror and see a stranger staring back". Isn't it most important - to wear YOUR clothes, non?

Checked and Learnt: There is Life After 30...

On an unusually warm November day (the 12th) i have turned 30. And it felt like nothing, frankly, except I really tried to make myself understand that I am not a child anymore.

I got a feeling of being mature simply because I have two small kids, but I tell you a secret, 30 feels like nothing. Unless you have kids. :)

On The Day i had my favourite spa treatment at CenCei Asian Spa - Balinesian massage and went for a premier of ballet Don Quijote at the Finnish National Opera House. Sat next to Jorma Uotinen, the local dance star, in the 1st balcony. Ballet was very impressive, really spectacular and left an optimistic spirit. Not the dramatic one that I usually get when I see ballet, especially Tchaikovsky, when i usually, well, simply cry...

Another important milestone is getting a Flirt. Yes, Lancel's Flirt in Brown Mocha. It is perfect, it always has been, ever since 2006 when it was invented by Lancel Fashion house. In April this year we travelled to Paris with my husband for a honey moon and one day we were hiding from a rain in Lancel's flagship store (it was a destiny, you see). He learnt to appreciate the sophisticated classiness of Lancel bags. And he kept it in mind for my 30th birthday, which i truly appreciate. So here she is, the Flirt. And yes, nowadays I wear clothes to match her. Just because she is perfect.

 I am still trying to process my new age. I go through things i have done and it is maybe the first time i look back for a review. I have gotten many things. And I have been in many places. I have experienced a lot. And I have them:

  I also have great friends who made me a great company for a jazz evening at Ursula seaside restaurant (16.11.2011):

And at Cafe Jugend for a brunch (20.11.2011):

So I can say by the age of 30

MA VIE EST TRES BELLE

Cafe Ursula & Luxurous Dreams

Days are not enough for us to explore all the interesting corners of Helsinki and now it starts getting dark already at 5 p.m. We use every moment of sunshine to be out and it starts bringing results (not sure about Leo, but I lost 2 kg last week, yes, yes! and more to come - I very much hope. Now it is only 7 kg to go until i am perfect, well, ALMOST perfect).


We had warm meeting with Hetti and her sweet princess Essi on the Eteläranta (shoreline leading to Helsinki city center).

Cafe Ursula must be already familiar to the reader of this blog. It is a beautiful place, can't you see?

Also from indoors with the round indoor terrace with direct views to sea:

Hetti and Essi were a great company and Leo was happy to model a little in front of the camera:

Maybe Leo should go on a diet as well, but he is surprisingly non-aware of these issues. A typical male, you know...


Pay attention to my shirt if you can even see it really in the picture. It is a simple navy blue cable knit. Yes, inspired by my stylish reading a la francaise. According to Ines de la Fressange navy knit is one of the most stylish things any Parisian should own - it is versatile, it is classy and it is comfortable! I agree, I start preferring navy to black.

On the way home we walked a new route - Korkeavuorenkatu with its little boutiques. we just passed through really, but the route deserves a separate city trip (coming soon).

And once again we came to the window of Della Marga to adore those Chanel shoes. They are perfection. With that chain detail they represent the most luxurous of dreams.

Yes, and speaking of shoes, I am participating in the shoe competition of Nina's boutique, where you need to publish the photo of your favourite shoes and audience votes them. Winner gets a generous shopping budget at Nina's. These are the competition participants - my peach Ted Bakers:

Waiting for the competition results on 16.12. Keep fingers crossed for me!!