COME TO FINLAND!

Posters and postcards from the Come To Finland book; a book about vintage travel posters for Finland. I love old travel posters, and well, old posters in general. It's also interesting to see branding for Finland from back in the days.

You can browse the book as a whole online - I found some posters I remember form my childhood that were on the walls of our summerhouse (they still are actually). You can buy the posters and cards separately too, but I'll go for the book (and I actually intend to get it now, and not wait for some years like I unintentionally did with the Jaffas...)

EDIT : I have to add, as I realized many of you do not know; it's interesting and a bit sad too perhaps to see the poster for Wiipuri - Finland lost that big and old city to Soviet after the war, and tens of thousands of people had to leave their homes, buildings and businesses behind. Some of my family lived there in the early 1900's too.

THE JAFFAS

Some years ago I mentioned the Jaffa posters here on this blog; soda advertisements from the late fifties and early sixties that made the billboards again in a retro campaign a few years back. I've always wanted these posters and for some reason I kept on wondering how to get them until it last summer struck me - what the hell is wrong with me? Few things are ever further than a google away!
(Yes, really, sometime I am so old school I actually forget about the internet and think I have to find stuff in real life.)

A few minutes later two of the Jaffas where on their way home to me.

The posters are made by Erik Bruun, one of my favorite Finnish graphic designers (I really love this one too for example :). They can be ordered from his shop.

RIDICULE AROUND RITA

Some time ago there were headlines over here, and smaller notices elsewhere, about Ivana Trump suing the Finnish fashion company IVANAhelsinki claiming the later was taking advantage of her name. This was when the IVANAhelsinki collection was presented at the New York fashion week. While many considered it a PR trick from Trump's side, it was considered plain idiocity over here : IVANAhelsinki was founded in the late nineties by Paola Ivana (yes, that's her name too) while Trump registered her name as a trade mark as late as 2002... And back then few even knew about any of the Trumps over here - and even fewer cared. I noticed that some of the non Finnish articles mentioning the case, while over all neutral, were wondering why someone would want to use the Ivana name anyhow as the thing is a bit "old and used already". (To be pointed out is that there seems to be several Ivana-named brands in NY already, like an Ivana Vodka for example). Which shows of bad research of those authors - apart from the facts already mentioned the thing with IVANA helsinki is that the brand of course has nothing to do with any other Ivana than the one designing the clothes, and does not really have any need nor desire to be associated with anything else than itself.

Well, I don't know how the case has continued as the news front has been silent so far. But yesterday a new case made the headlines (something I noticed already has been appearing in posts by many fellow Finnish blogs during the past day too); Adidas has demanded Minna Parikka to withdraw her Rita shoe from the market, claiming the three stripes are copied from the classic Adidas sneaker.

Minna has explained that the three stripes are the ribbons of the bows in front of the shoe, but she still chose to withdraw the boot as "a small entrepreneur stands little chance against a huge corporation". It seems her matching Mistress gloves are also no longer available.

Of course companies and trade marks should watch out for themselves and their copyrighted products and look (for example the Marimekko vs. D&G case was rather obvious), but not by being obsessive - or cocky. I think comparing a high heeled boot from a chick designer to a classic leisure sneaker is, well, ridiculous.

For me those striped boots resembles a covered version of some of her pumps with three or more straps. But never in a lifetime would I have thought of Adidas! What do you think?

THE FLYING SAUCER / A SEAGULL IN THE LIVINGROOM

Our living room lamp is named "Lokki", which is Finnish and means seagull. It was designed by Yki Nummi, one of the great Finnish mid-century designers, in 1960. The English name of it is Sky Flyer although it is also widely known as the flying saucer.

Lokki is still in production; our lamp is new, not vintage. We got ours from Paloranta (where it for some reason was more than 150 euros more affordable than elsewhere!?)

I like it!

(you can see what it looks like in daylight here.)

HATS OVERLOAD ( + ME OVERLOAD)

Some time ago I modeled hats for Fiona Timantti. Here are the results; the photos of her fabulous hats!

Fiona's own site is not up for the time being, but if you are interested in hats of hers I suggest you check out her blog and contact her!

The Photos are taken by Riku Ryynänen.














So Iäve been thinking of getting myself one of Fiona's creations but how on earth am I going to choose??

ALLMODERN AALTO GIVEAWAY

Well hello everyone - I hope you all had a nice Christmas with friends and family, a lot to eat and lot's of presents to unwrap. I did. But you know what, about the presents. In most cases - in my case at least - it is more fun to give than to get. So why not top Christmas off with a nice give away? From Allmodern.com! AllModern is a online store carrying furniture and home decor from design brands like Vitra and Alessi for example, as well as some classic Finnish design like Iittala and Artek. Prices vary from afforbable to exclusive.

I am now very happy to announce that one lucky reader will win a Iittala Aalto vase! If you could ever have only one vase it should definitely be this one, as the Aalto vase is such a classic design piece. I think every home should have one - I had one too, a special edition one actually, which I got from my parents for my graduation. My cats broke it within two weeks. A sad story yes, but- back to the good news again: the vase you can win is a classic large clear one, and all you have to do to enter is to leave a comment on this post!

There is one little but however - I'm afraid this contenst is only open for those of my readers living in the US or in Canada. I'm very sorry for that. But I will arrange something small here really soon for everyone everywhere to particiapte in!

The give away will be open until Wednesday Janyuary 6th! And don't forget to leave me your email if you don't have a blog. Good luck!

(Ps. Check out the Klaus Haapaniemi for Iittala Taika series too! Some items are on a discount and very worth getting, I love them myself...)

OFELIA

This weekend it's time for the third Ofelia Market! Like last year I will be modeling in the vintage & hand made items fashion show, this year with the rest of the Itty Bitty Tease Cabaret for Vaudeville Boutique as well as do a light version of our parasol number for Tyra/Punavuoren Putiikki, but on Saturday only. On Sunday I will spend some quality time with E out in the countryside.

VINTAGE STUDS

As time has gone by I have become less and less interested in fashion and trends, not to mentioned influenced by them. But of course I notice trends and such, and studs have been seen a lot lately (did it start with Carries studded belt in the SATC movie?), perhaps it's still really in, or perhaps the biggest boom is over by now, but anyway; behold, they had studs in the 1930 already! And not just shoes or bags but a studded dress!

Even though some of the studded stuff may be delicious per se I haven't really found it my thing but this one I could wear!


Lanvin from 1935. (Scanned from a book of mine).

LUCKY GIRLS

(Photo from here.)

There were so many participants of the Tara Starlet give-away but as you know, only one lucky girl to win. Miss Fortune has drawn that lucky new owner of the sailor slacks; this time it's The Sun and the Sparrow! Congratulations!

(Btw even though the Choo collection is not out yet it's already known that the next designer to work with H&M will be Sonia Rykiel. There will be a lingerie collection launched in both H&M stores as well as Rykiel's boutiques (!) in December 2009, and knitwear for women and children(girls) in the spring of 2010. I never end up buying any of the stuff anyway but I think the designer collaborations were a pretty genius idea for H&M to come up with. And if you're sad for not winning the pants maybe this will make some of you girls feel better :)

RECYCLED

I spotted my friend modelling for Viivi Vein and strated browsing around the VV designs realizing I really need that mint green ruffled bag! All the products are unique however so let's see if it's possible for me to get my hands on it - or a similar one!

The Viivi Vein prodcts are made out of all-recycled materials, or consist of revamped vintage products. You can see more of the bags in the slide on her myspace and browse her collection here.

www.viivivein.com

And remember, there are still five more days to sign up for my Chickdowntown giveaway! (It breaks my heart that there's only one dress to give away ond not one hundred :) But try your luck anyway!)

BIKINI GIRLS WITH... UM, HANDBAGS OR SOMETHING

...even though some machine guns wouldn't look bad in the first pic I guess.


Tyra Therman makes these bathing suits inspired by the early 60's to the late 70's. They are hand made out of vintage fabrics. If you didn't get yourself a pair at the Ofelia Secondhand Market last weekend you can buy these at Hoochie Mama Jane!







Swimwear - Miranda Burlesque / Tyra Therman
Vintage shoes & accessories - Hoochie Mama Jane

Fashion Illustration- Hannah Muller

The truly wonderful fashion inspired illustrations from Hannah Muller, with plenty more on her blog at:

http://myltan.blogg.se/

They make me wish I could draw!

BLACK, GOLD & GIRLS IN DISTRESS

The car has broken down in the middle of nowhere.




It's hot and dry and things don't look too bright for the moment. (But thank god the girls are at least properly dressed for a surprising situation like this!)




"No wait, I think I can fix this!"




"...hmmm...or then not..."




Well, if the car dosn't work there is only one thing left to do: keep on looking good and start posing!



Swimwear : Tyra Therman / Miranda Lingerie
Vintage accessories : Hoochie Mama Jane

Photos by Tyra.

Fashion Illustration- Sandra Suy

This woman is the most amazing fashion illustrator. The way she sketches clothes and portrays the girls wearing them is just breath taking.

Here is some of my favourites of hers:

OH ARMI

Oh Armi Armi, how I want you. How hard you would be to wear in the Finnish soggy winter, and how hard you'd be to pair with some parts of my wardrobe. But it doesn't matter. I'd still love you very much, if only you were mine.



I did buy a pair of shoes for last winter, but for some strange reason I chose them one size too big - theyr're totally wearable, but they look a bit, well, big (I'm slightly obsessed with having my feet look small). And my mother's suede boots that served first her and then me for ten years each are starting to slowly fall apart. Might need to get something new. You know, so my feet don't get wet and I sick and so on.

But my sister reminded me I could fly back and forth to NY for the price of those beauties. So it might be that -for the moment at least - they'll just remain on my 'dream on' list. *sigh*

But for the price of a ticket to, well, Copenhagen for example, I could get one of these. And that's already considerable:


Minna Parikka by Mantere. Not nearly as delicious, but not bad. And perhaps slightly more easy to wear in crappy weather and snow due to a thicker sole and lower heel. Considerable, indeed.

Buy them here for example (and check out other FInnish design at the same time too :)

(images from www.minnaparika.com and www.finnishdesignshop.com )

I WOULD PREFER THESE TO BE RED LEATHER GLOVES INSTEAD OF KNITTED MITTENS

Well... I bought he car, went on one date and managed to fix one bank paper issue, then I got really sick so the rest of the week has been spent under my bedcover listening to Classic FM. That would be rather comfy unless I wouldn't, well, feel ill and think of all the things that are now left undone...

Skirt - Miss60, Shoes - 67You, Jacket- Vintage
Bag - from a market in Thailand
Laptop sleeve - Golla


Before I got sick I still managed to pop by a press occasion at Golla, which is a Finnish brand growing quite a lot around the world. In their words, they combine fashion with portable electronics; making colourful bags with graphic prints for mp3 players, digital cameras and laptops. Now, I would personally just prefer the basic black leather sleeve for my mac but I know ther are many of you that wouldn't and then it's of course great to have options!





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Canada Goose