Happy New 2012!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year. Here I am at my home having a glass of pink champagne on the sofa, wishing for happiness to all I love.

"From now on, our troubles will be miles away".

It is Christmas Day, a holiday which I appreciate mostly for aesthetic reasons, as I grew up in a culture of communistic society and there are no memories of Santa Claus visiting home, candlelight and spruce smell on a Christmas Eve. New Year has always been the Day for me, but during 10 years spent in Finland Christmas has started to mean peace and warmth to me as well.

I like Christmas music, it is always very atmospheric. My favourite is "Have a Happy Little Christmas" sang by Frank Sinatra. Melody, lyrics - they are perfectly touching and sweet.



This Xmas is special, because it is a very first Xmas for my little Leo.

He has gotten lovely gifts. So have I. Love my new diamond pendant by Sandberg. Twinkly star on my neck. It was also to memorize our engagement anniversary with my husband. 1 year ago we got engaged on top of the Tokyo tower, on the height of 250 meters watching views like these.

So much for Xmas, now New Year on its way and I have January Elle in my hands already now.
I love the comeback of florals in a digital form and combined with monochrome.

And the new Lady Dior with a touch of purple / burgundy, so ME, awwww...

So, need to start thinking spring already, at least the weather is not wintery at all.

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight..." 

la-la-la......

From Russia With Love

I have been on a mission to St-Petersburg Russia, last week. It has been a purely business trip but i managed to take a quick look at the changed city.

Heels are still high, people noisy and life active. I will be back soon.

I was walking 8 hours in a row on 6 cm heels and I felt deadly tired when I got on the train back to Helsinki. So very few images from the trip.

My breakfast at the Document Center where I received my new passport - cottage cheese cakes and pancake with apples. These cakes are delicious and also healthy. My all time favourite among Russian food classics.

The newest shopping center Galeria, almost 1000 shops: Next, New Look, Gap, Karen Millen, Women's Secret, Intimissimo etc. on 3 levels. I managed to walk only 2 with 2 cafe stops.

Prices are 50% higher than in London or Helsinki. In Russia you can notice what sells most: high heels, party outfits and underwear. Much more underwear shops than in Finland, almost like in France.

Would you wear these? They are indeed for walking on a wild side.

Moko Market & Cafe Day

Today was the worst possible Finnish weather day: wet snow, high wind. We were aiming to meet Hetti and her sweet 9 month old daughter Essi at Moko Market & Cafe concept store in Punavuori. The store is located in an old factory red brick building and it is a very big space where homeware store meets a nice stylish cafe. The store sells everything from shabby chic furniture to organic juices. Not a bad place to hide from the snowstorm.

On the way to Punavuori we took a quick walk on Esplanadi and to our great surprise discovered a new Furla store coming to Kämp Gallery and a Luxbag store selling Celine, Loewe and Marc Jacobs handbags. Check it out!

http://www.kampgalleria.fi/fi/liikkeet/muoti/lux_bag


And new Della Marga store does look great! big and tempting. I checked this Chanel outfit in the window. Doesn't it remind you of something? ;)

ZIGZAG FEVER

Haven't you ever been attracted by Missoni creations? That is really phenomenal that such a particular print as colourful zigzag managed to become so famous and versatile. I think, I could never pull off a dress with a zigzag, it does look too 70s for me and I am far too short for that, though i love the print. So, here come the accessories - they can satisfy any crazy craving without looking over the top.

Yes, SHOES.

I came across a very moderately priced label Blink shoes already some months ago on the online shoe store www.brandos.fi. The store is great due to its free delivery and free returns. And now they have got that -20% campaign. So, i have ordered both models of my zigzag shoes. If I really like them both, I will keep them both.

What do you think of them?


Here, for comparison the real Missonis, 10 times more expensive. :)

1920s come 1940s - challenge met

So here is the real thing, the outcome of my retro challenge. I look, in my own opinion, very terribly 1940s! but that is due to my bone structure and body shape as well. well, i did my best!

1920s - Encore!

Plans change, my plan for tomorrow's corporate Xmas party in cream color has someone started to seem too boring. I got inspired by young Chanel and the rebel simplicity of 1920s clothes which I saw reflected in the new Zara's collection brought into shops this week. Here are the results.

I am going to wear this black and white tunic with a deep V-neck and a long string of pearls with a longer pencil black skirt.

The volume of the tunic against the pencil skirt is going to nod to the 1920s silhoutte, the epoche of simple and comfortable clothes after the centuries of corset fashion.

The true spirit of the time will be created by my feather & polka dot tulle alice band, polka dot black sheer tights, black lace gloves and a powdery pink real pearl flower bracelet (from art exhibition in St-Petersburg, a gift by my mum for my 30th birthday).

I will try to take a photo of the outfit at the party. I tried on all the ingredients together and it did look successful in my opinion. Fingers crossed for the 1920s challenge!