I feel that all fun in winter wear is about outerwear — coats, scarves, hats… …too bad they occupy such an amount of space. Wool and leather coats, even fur are so fun to thrift!

Honestly I don’t wear heels outside now (snow… …ice… …bruises… …broken bones…) but my black chelsea boots are continuously wet, just could not drag them to our living quarters…

Definitely stalking this from now on!

My greedy pawz will be all over Cheap Monday accessories this spring…

I’ve been absent recently — there’s plenty of going on in my life right now. Add the midwinter lighting conditions, winter weather and my aversion for outdoors outfit photography — not too much going on on this blog. Uh, to be honest, I think that winter in this country is season for ugly and practical clothes — my mitts and down jacket don’t really inspire me much, but they sure keep me warm.

However, I’ve found the interest to fashion slowly emerging again, midseasons (yes, spring is definitely soon…) are most interesting time to dress myself up IMO, I like the prospects for next summer (more neon hues, more brights) — and oh, I’ve even flicked through the pre-fall stuff already.

What I currently love and want to add to my wardrobe in one way or another is boxy structure — tailoring that does not follow the curves of female form, stiff materials that arrange themselves to surprising 3D formations around the body. On Phillip Lim the boxy tailoring is subtle: rectanglular shapes of tops, stiff skirts, stiffness paired to fluid elements, very inspiring considering everyday styling. On Givenchy, more extreme, familiar shapes forced to austere forms, single pieces “to die for”. And I would love to have a coat with stiff volume, like that Lanvin one. All Images from Vogue.com, pre-fall 2012 collections.

Okay, again a parade of clothes I can’t really afford — but I need some daydreaming to get over this depressing down jacket season (not really seen on catwalks too often).

I found this rabbit trapper hat (or Hrustsev hat… …eh) and a pair of almost unused English derby shoes from fabulous Kiliwatch.

In the beginning of December I did a partially work related trip to Paris. Yes, I did have my decent camera with me but it rained almost every day — so the few Instagram images are pretty much all documentation I have. Deemed from these it looks like it was my first trip there — all those tourist’y snapshots — but yes, Paris in the Christmas decorations, all those familiar landmarks dressed in sparkling lights, it was rather magical…

Pics: I did not catch the Eiffel Tower sparkling… …except from distance. The opulent Chanel window at Printemps. Dreamy Mary Katrantzou print at Le Bon Marché (my secret vice: visiting department stores for clothes I can’t really afford — less awkward than popping in upscale boutiques… …hmm), Champs-Élysées Christmas deco. Galeries Lafayette Christmas tree, scorched by the flashlights… Big Karl at LeWeb conference. Yes, I saw him IRL.

Biggest fashion related news was new Karl Lagerfeld line, debuting on January 25th, online only. The price point will be mid-range — sweet thing, will definitely check it up for sharply tailored jackets and crisp shirts…

Shortly put, there’s a blog competition going on (for Finnish style blogs), and the winner goes to NYFW. Not going to get lyrical how much I would love to go, but anyway if you want to read about the fashion week from this blog and see me stumbling around the Big Apple with my camera and feeling alienated in the middle of all that fashion crowd please vote this blog here. No registration or social media connection needed.

I know that the competition will be the battle between the big ones in this country — and honestly I don’t really believe that I have much chance to even get to the top five from which the Finnish Elle will pick the winner. Anyway, I’m super thankful for each and every vote — and good luck for all participants!

For my body type — curvy and feminine in relatively small boned frame — it would be all natural to explore the classic pin-up silhouettes. I just can’t do that. What I can do is to take a piece or two from that world and mess the silhouette by adding some oversizedness, clumpiness… …well, awkward shapes of my choice.

In my world this egg-shaped sweater is pretty much a perfect match for this old pencil skirt. I like how the sex-kitten angora fuzziness meets perfectly body concealing shape. The knit is heavyweight enough to have some body of its own. I also dug a pair of *gasp* kitten heel pumps with ridiculously sharp toe from my closet. They have looked so outdated for many years, but I still love their perfect nude shade and vintage appeal.

The knit is from H&M, pinstriped cotton pencil skirt with jean pocket details by Diesel and several years old — it’s truly restrictive with close fit, heavy fabric and no walking slit — the pumps are by Bronx, from the beginning of the millenium…

I got the gorgeous Blood Milk lookbook to my e-mail over a week ago — but I just did not have time for blogging last week. However this lookbook and Blood Milk jewelry definitely deserve attention… …better late than never!

Personally I definitely belong to the category of Blood Milk audience who just simply enjoys the aesthetics & design of these jewelry. Occultist notions, healing crystals, jewelry empowering the wearer… …well, lets just say that I’m boring pragmatist who just enjoys these random references to our social history — symbols with meaning piled heavily on them are often good discussion starters if nothing else. Blood Milk does exceptionally good job on cooking unique and awesome pieces out from these rather popular ingredients.

Now staring my deep burgundy nails and thinking how awesome would that giant crystal pyramid ring look in these hands…

Tips for the removal method for half moons here.