Interior Mood

Hi all, long time no see and it is 2021. Cheers!

My life was pretty packed leading up to Christmas, as I was working on a couple of (not fashion related) projects and took up a day job for a while. And whenever I have had time off, I have spent every minute eyes glued to the screen of my Mac only to realize how little I know about interior design - but also to understand how much I know about fashion, in contrast. My understanding of the real world out there might be slightly skewed, because I tend to think everyone knows as much about fashion as I do but, obviously, that is not the case.

The thing is, however, that I don’t own any furniture. And given that this new flat I just moved into is so nice, I think it is about time I should start making some long-lasting interior investments. But trust me it takes forever to see every singe table or chair out there before one can settle on the final choice. Got the point?

So, in the perfect world where finances don’t stand in my way, I would get a Pierre Jeanneret chair like the one in these images (you can find it here). Another favourite is the Public Bench.

Image courtesy of Laffanour Galerie Downtown.

New Apartment

Thank god I can end this year on a high note. I am about to move into a new (rental) apartment, which I will share with an old friend. This is really the first nice (like really damn nice!!!) flat I have ever lived in, even though all of them have been pretty decent. Quite naturally I have now got an urge to invest in some pieces of decor… which is a novelty.

Without the pandemic my life would look very different on the other side of the world, but this pretty good too!

Fairy Boots

I am slightly repeating myself here, but these ‘Fairy’ cashmere boots haunt me. They are quirky in the right kind of way. Not practical - I can admit that! But then again being practical was never the point of this platform.

‘Fairy’ cashmere boots THE ROW

Contains commercial links.

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.

Beauty Cravings

I got my hands on the Active Botanical Serum by Vintner’s Daughter not too long ago and it is terrific! I am only using the serum now - as per instructions - paired with my Whamisa toner and an acne treatment from Mádara, as I got some breakouts a couple of months ago. Here’s some other products I am thinking of getting:

CHANEL Hydra Beauty Essence, BYREDO Tobacco Mandarin Perfume, CIRCUMFERENCE Active Restorative Moisturizing Cream, CHANEL Rouge Coco Baume, DR. BARBARA STURM Hyaluronic Serum, CHANEL Baume Essentiel ‘Golden Light’, RODIN Luxury Body Oil, VINTNER’S DAUGHTER Active Treatment Essence

Contains commercial links.

Memory Lane

Near The Box.

I was deleting some images from my iPhone when I came across these images from my Aussie adventure earlier this year. Before the pandemic, obviously. All of these are from the area near Margaret River. It is a nice lifestyle over there and the locals were such nice people. I think I might even prefer the West Coast…

Hamelin Bay.

Yallingup Beach.

Chanel Cravings

My life has been quite packed lately but I suppose I had to check in to let the world know about my Chanel cravings. If you saw my wish list, well, it would only read Chanel. I am actually a major fan of the classic French House, as they truly stick to their style - a piece of Chanel is something you can have forever. Also, their Resort 2021 collection is damn good. Belly chains yes please. It was one of the first collections to emerge amidst the pandemic back in June and the House always serves as a reference point.

As always, the shoes haunt me, so these are the two I would like (whenever my next vacay will be). This back is quite nice too.

black suede sandal CHANEL, baby blue suede flat CHANEL

Image courtesy of Chanel.

Vestiaire Cravings

I would say about fifty per cent of the clothes and accessories I purchase are second hand. I am Vestiaire Collective regular. I thought it would be fun to share a couple of pieces from my current wish list. I am into vintage inspired jewelry right now and that Céline bag from the Philo era has been haunting me.

bag CÉLINE (by Phoebe Philo), blouse CÉLINE (by Phoebe Philo), leather sandals BOTTEGA VENETA, necklace CELINE

Another pair?

My best shoe purchase (not counting Philo’s Céline boots) has been a pair of The Row’s mesh flats. I have worn them countless times, both indoors and outdoors, and they always enhance my mood and look. I am thinking of getting them in black too. Yes or no? This time of the years tends to darken my taste and lean towards all black looks.

mesh flat THE ROW

Image courtesy of Olivia Kijo (such a chic babe!).

Contains commercial links.

Vivanterre

Turns out we are still living the pandemic life and that means alcohol consumption is OK at any time of the day. It also turns out alcohol is a pandemic-proof business as sales have not declined. Well, I am a wino and there is a new wine which flirts with the fashion world (and that obviously translates into ridiculously chic branding).

Rosie and Max Assoulin (Rosie is the brilliant New York based designer) have entered the wine business with their natural label Vivanterre. The wine is made in the Auvergne region of France by Patrick Bouju and Justine Loiseau using sustainable practices.

Sadly, only my friends in the US can order Vivanterre online. But I would suggest Let me or Bioviini to take note! I would love to try this one and apparently it is good!

Image courtesy of Vivanterre.

Spring '21 Cravings

The Row’s beautiful spring collection is currently available for pre-order at Moda Operandi (ending in 10 days). The best pieces include these Igor pants and the Cremona cashmere vest - the fresh-looking silhouette of the upcoming season. And the best part is that you could easily use vintage pieces to recreate this look. Smart, no?

‘Igor’ pants THE ROW, ‘Cremona’ wool-cashmere vest THE ROW, ‘Ginza’ sandals THE ROW, leather clutch BOTTEGA VENETA, classic belt THE ROW

Contains commercial links.

The Row Spring 2021

God bless we have The Row!

Today, when fashion and luxury might seem somewhat unnecessary even, amidst the pandemic, I find it is important to ask yourself (not sure if designers generally think of this?) what kind of clothes make sense. I am definitely in the subtle, make no fuss, wear your clothes like an armor club - and that is what The Row also stand for.

So, my fellow club members and I can either invest in or rediscover a pair of the perfect oversized suit pants from your own closet, and we are all set for 2021.

Image courtesy of The Row.