Noora Vesterinen

Dressed in The Row and Marimekko.

Meet my friend Noora Vesterinen, a Paris based founder of MIES, an online store dedicated to pre-owned coats. She also works at Marni and as a brand consultant. Before Noora’s home became my Paris base, her very refine taste caught my eye - she takes you on a virtual trip to the best places in Paris and beyond. As told by Noora:

Has the Covid-19 pandemic changed your life?

My life has certainly slowed down from what it was before, but I am really grateful for still having a work to go to, and my loved ones are all healthy. In Paris, we have been following quite strict measures - and quarantined twice - since March, so nearly everything happens now remotely from home and the social life is nonexistent. But, as soon as I learned to establish the boundaries between work and rest, I have been actually enjoying the quarantine quite a lot.

Weekend views in Étretat.

Along Rue du Bac.

Tell me about your style. What brands do you wear?

I love an oversized silhouette and I mostly wear large pants from Marni or Phoebe Philo’s Céline, paired with a knit from Samuji or The Row, or an oversized shirt from Comme des Garçons. My wardrobe is very small and I like my clothes to remain discreet and the brand unrecognizable, so everything sort of goes together. I prefer to invest in coats; a perfectly cut cashmere coat helps create a chic look immediately and saves the day when I don’t to what to wear.

What’s on your wish list?

I have been searching for a pair of vintage Levis’ to replace my old and most used ones that I cut into shorts, something I highly regret! Otherwise, something I have been dreaming of, for quite some time, is the grey coat from Hermès FW1999 collection or actually any coat Margiela designed for Hermès.

Fondation Maeght.

Eyeing Repossi jewelry.

Favourite beauty products?

I use REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF every day and love to treat myself with Odacité serums. I rarely wear make up, especially now when I am wearing a mask every time I leave the house. But, when I something important is coming up, I curl my lashes and brush my eyebrows with Glossier’s Clear Boy Brow.

Has the pandemic influenced your shopping behavior?

As I don’t shop that much on everyday basis, so I would say no. Some great advantages of having friends within the industry are the generous discounts and private sales - before I’ve been either enjoying these benefits or shopping vintage. But, now more than ever I really want to do my part in supporting small brands and young entrepreneurs with whom I share the values and I will choose carefully where to purchase the next time I need anything.

Musée Zadkine.

Vacay view.

How would you spend a day off in Paris?

There’s always great exhibitions going on, so a visit to a museum or a gallery tour is a must. My favourite galleries are all located along Rue de Seine, but also Galerie Patrick Seguin in Bastille is worth a visit.

Follow Noora here, her platform here and find MIES here.

Petra Koivisto

Petra wearing the alphabet necklace from Céline.

This Chic Ladies interview is very special, because Petra is the first person I ever met in the world of fashion. Give or take ten years ago. Petra is a Senior Agent and Partner at Agent Pekka and, in my opinion, she is the original style icon in the Finnish fashion scene. She loves all things well made, and her approach to style is modern - a highly curated wardrobe, which consists of special pieces or, in other words, her essentials. As told by Petra:

Tell me about your style. What brands do you wear?

For the past couple years, my style has kind of slowed down, and it is now changing at a slower pace. I guess it’s grown up. I love clothes, so it’s taken a while to learn I don’t have to or want to own everything I love. I think style is something that’s always evolving. It is a part of me representing who I am and who I’ve become. I love going back to pieces I’ve bought years ago. They are memories of life lived, souvenirs from travels, and reminders of perfect summer nights.

I especially love and treasure the pieces I have from Prada, Loewe, Jil Sander, Miu Miu, Max Mara and Céline. My essentials include a couple black dresses from Jil Sander, a couple of silk coats from Prada, a Loewe leather jacket, Miu Miu pants and cardigan, a spring coat from Max Mara, and shirts and a cashmere knit from Céline.

Your work is super inspiring. Could you tell us what you do?

Thank you! I’m a Senior Agent and Partner at Agent Pekka, an illustration agency with offices in Helsinki, Amsterdam, NYC & LA. I’ve been at Pekka from the beginnin. I was the first hire, and we’ve built the agency from a small set of Finnish artists to a global agency with a really good roster and nice local and international clients. 

It really is inspiring - I get to work with artists I look up to and see the stellar work they produce coming together. 

What I do is mostly emails and calls all day every day. Discussing potential projects with agencies or direct clients and artists, making cost estimates, overseeing projects etc. I’m also involved in non-daily activities like searching for fresh talent, doing sales meetings and building company strategy.

Has COVID-19 influenced your shopping behavior?

Not much. I mean I don’t shop much and when I do I tend to do that abroad or on Vestiaire Collective or eBay. I’m not a great online shopper, as the feel of fabric and how the piece of clothing sits on me means so much. 

Dressed in Prada.

What's on your wish list?

Right now, Céline SS2017 coat (look 33), navy ostrich feather dress from Dries van Noten FW2013 and Gervasoni Brass 96 lamp.

Your essential beauty products?

My go-to products are Whamisa Cleaning Water, Whamisa Deep Rich Toner, Whamisa Water Cream and Clarins SPF50 Sun Care Cream. I’ve lately started doing facial Gua Sha and love it. Final essential would probably be lash curlers, and my scent is Tam Dao by Diptyque.

What are you most looking forward to in the post-pandemic life?

I’m lucky to have my family around me, so I’m actually doing okay with the quarantine. However, I can’t wait to go for a long dinner (which will likely end up in a karaoke bar) with my best friends and to eat lunch out! 

You can find Petra here & Agent Pekka here.

Maria Hjortdal Veng Larsen

Maria in Cecilie Bahnsen and jewellery from Sophie Bille Brahe.

Back on track with my favorite project. For those not familiar with the concept, I started the Chic Ladies interview series whilst I was working under Styleby to highlight sharp and inspiring women who work in the fashion space.

Next I would love to introduce you to Maria Hjortdal Veng Larsen who coordinates PR and Sales at Sophie Bille Brahe, the chicest jewellery export from Denmark. I met Maria in Paris a bit over year ago, as I had been invited to view their new collection privately, and was completely smitten by her low key yet strikingly fashionable appearance. But that is no wonder, as she comes from center of the Danish fashion scene. As told by Maria:

Tell me about your style. 

I love to wear uncomplicated, loose clothing I can move and bike in, but it needs to have a well-groomed touch. For instance, if I wore a simple pajamas, I would prefer that the touch and look of the fabric are of high quality. Or if I wore a loose hand-me-down shirt, then I would add a pearl necklace like the Peggy or a pair of diamond earrings such as the Boucle Ensemble, both from Sophie Bille Brahe.

I have a wide taste and I love to wear Cecilie Bahnsen, Acne Studios, Supreme in addition to vintage pieces, so I tend to buy into a lot of no-brand, pre-owned clothing.

Why do you think the Danish look is so appealing?

I feel we have a different take on how to dress, as we are not afraid of “not being on point” or “not being dressed properly”. We take chances and I feel we are deeply inspired by each other’s looks, but I would never do a copy-paste. You would create a look with a similar feel which is why trends evolve quite fast, as we all have our own interpretation.

The 4 ever love known as the Croissant de Ensemble ring.

What's on your wish list?

My wish list is ever-changing and I am addicted to Etsy and Vestiaire, where I love to browse, find old gems and then heart them as my favorites. It almost feels like buying the clothes when I heart them, and then I can always look back at all these amazing pieces every time I feel like I need something.

At present, I am looking into furniture because I am trying to make my home a comfy place - where you want to stay for a while. However, I love this amazing silk pajama set from a New York based label, Olatz, in fuchsia. I would wear it on the set on a workday or just wear the pants with a washed-out t-shirt.

My forever love (besides my boyfriend lol) is the beautiful Croissant de Ensemble ring from Sophie Bille Brahe! Can we all just agree on how amazing it is! 

Also, I often travel to Paris to do PR and sales, and we always showcase at the beautiful, old historic L’Hotel in Saint Germain. Right next to it you will find a Buly store. If you haven’t heard about this beauty brand, you have been left in the dark! Established in 1803 on Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris, Buly is only working with natural products and their packaging is so extremely adorable. I would love to add their scented cleansing oil to my beauty regime for the cold winter months in Denmark. HUILE DE SAVON, Scented Cleansing Oil, 190ml. Available for 6 scents.

Favorite beauty products?

I am a die-hard fan of retinol and acids (so geeky), so I love to go down the rabbit hole on YouTube whilst trying to understand which element actually does something! What has an actual scientific proof behind it?I love the Retinol Crème and Oil by Ren, Buly’s Face Crème, Citron Douche shower cream by Weleda and my Karmameju lip balm.

How would you spend a day off in Copenhagen?

I only have days off during the weekend, so I would start the day with a morning walk with my dog, and then go to the local bakery called ‘Verdens Rummet’ to buy a simple bun or a piece of bread. Head home and make a simple classic breakfast for my boyfriend and I, and then we would normally spend the day hanging out with our friends. 

I spend a lot of time in the center of Copenhagen, Paris and New York when I work, so for me the true pleasure in a day off is spending it on the coach with my man, dog and friends. Perhaps at the end of the day we would go to a nearby bar that makes their own draft beer. The place is called Kølsters 12 Haner and they make this very special light IPA.  

If my boyfriend is working, which he often is during the weekend since he is a chef, that is when I go to the place where he works and order my favorite dishes with friends! The place is called Restaurant Safari and I can highly recommend it!

Maria wearing the upcoming Sienna Grand earrings - available in June.

Do you have any special plans for 2020?

Rebuilding my kitchen and hopefully seeing new places in the world!

For now I only have plans for a lovely week in Portugal with my friends and a weekend trip to Germany, where I will join a big summer party held in the woods by a German family that I know. Each year they build their own little festival in a way. You spend the first days building the outdoor kitchen and then throw a huge party, and lastly you take everything down again. It has grown a lot and I think over 200 people will join in on the festive this year!

You can follow Maria here and find Sophie Bille Brahe here.