Tote by The Row

This is my back to school post. As, in fact, I am a student again; I got accepted into a Master’s program at the University of Helsinki. It is going to a nice change, as I graduated from my previous degree over four years ago.

Now the thing is I have not purchased a bag since 2019 (and that is pretty damn impressive!). I almost feel like a deserve (and need) one. And I believe a new school bag is a thing, no? In any case I like this tote by The Row. It is by no means practical but it would last a lifetime.

tote by THE ROW

Contains commercial links.

Summer

Way Bakery.

Too long no see! I have had great but god damn busy summer; I have worked more than ever before. That is because I have been saving up for the life after covid aka travel. My brother is on the Faroe Islands as we speak and I could not be more jealous. Thankfully, I got injected my second shot of Pfizer two week ago so I am good to go!

Anyway, here comes a random selection of images I have taken lately. This is not a very sartorially orientated entry, even though I am fully aware that this platform is strictly focused on aesthetics and my love for good clothes is still there. It is just that the world is changing around me, slowing down I guess, and I have changed as well. So bare with me. More life and a littles less fuss.

Shoes by The Row.

As you might has read between the lines, shopping has not been the busiest past-time. This is the only pair of shoes I have got this year. Good for me.

Home.

Wino.

Splash Bleu

The Splash Bleu collection (by Sophie Bille Brahe, as you surely know) came out a few days ago, but I still want to post these damn gorgeous images. Sophie’s inspiration for the collection was David Hockney’s "A Bigger Splash" from 1967. It is an iconic and still modern-looking painting in which water cascades into chaos, as Sophie puts it. Here the jewelry reflects the splash in the most beautiful way.

Image courtesy of Sophie Bille Brahe.

A.S.Helsingö Sideboard

Commercial collaboration with A.S.Helsingö.

I moved into my apartment six months ago and it has been obvious from the beginning that I would need more storage space. My vision was to either invest in minimalistic sideboard or have it custom-made. Ideally, the sideboard would fit into the vibe and character of the apartment seamlessly. Like it had always been there.

For this project I have teamed up with A.S.Helsingö, a Finnish brand that specializes in unique, tailor-made kitchens, wardrobes and sideboards. It is a brilliant concept; their product offering is highly customizable and the selection of colours, handles and worktops look modern and beautiful. The A.S.Helsingö sideboards are built on top of IKEA metod cabinets, which are bought separately. This combination enables a lower price whilst maintaining a high level of quality.

I settled on a 180 cm width x 80cm height sized INGARÖ sideboard in the frame style. From the outset, I also knew I would opt for the push-open doors instead of handles to maintain that minimalistic vibe. However, choosing the right colour proved difficult; probably because their selection of colors is superb. I was given a colour sample box to take home with me. I think that is quite vital in order to ensure the wanted result.

I reckon I would have been happy with almost any choice, but I eventually I went with Feather Grey - my first pick. I was pondering between Feather Grey and Thermal Grey, but somehow Feather Grey felt more fresh and right for the space. The room has an original 20th century wallpaper, which features a green floral pattern, on one of the walls. Hence, adding more greenish tones could have been too much.

Even though my vision was to design a simple storage solution, I always gravitate towards something edgy or quirky. Adding a worktop is another way to customize you sideboard; they come in classic marble, clay and quartz for instance. I wanted a worktop from the get-go. Here I had two options again, which were linked to my colour options. Had I picked Thermal Grey, I would have combined it with a marble worktop, but that felt too cliche. And when I visited the A.S.Helsingö showroom, I fell in love with the Coral Clay.

The selection of worktops. Some only available for kitchens.

Using the sideboard design tool that you can find on the brand’s webpage, I finalized my order and went with the Feather Grey and Coral Clay combination. I think one of my reference points was the decor in Céline stores during the Phoebe Philo era; mixing up unexpected surfaces. But not everything goes as planned. Once my order arrived, in about 4-6 weeks after the order had been placed, I quickly realized that the combination does not go well together in my apartment.

I want to share this story because these things happen. I have never renovated or decorated any of my previous apartments, so this has been a good learning curve. I think it is good share what goes on behind the scenes, because people tend to think I always get it right when it comes style and aesthetics. Well, that obviously is not true. I just try my best. Anyway, I love my Feather Grey sideboard, even without the worktop. It works well in the space. I have also decided to keep the worktop, as you never know what the future holds.

A.S.Helsingö have just opened their first overseas showroom in Stockholm located on Birger Jarlsgatan 71. If you are able to visit, definitely do! My experience with A.S.Helsingö has been such a smooth ride.

Hello Riviera!

Long time no see! But I feel inspired for the first time since the outbreak of coronavirus. When it comes to fashion, I mean. And the weather has been damn good, which brings us to the Totême and Matchesfashion collaboration that just dropped. I am fully aware my tone has contained a level of critique towards Totême in some recent posts - calling for the curated Totême of the old days - but I should also give them credit.

This collaboration consists of their most classic pieces; the glorious swimwear, dresses, towels and other things that have formed the basis of my summer wardrobe for years. Elin Kling, the Founder, mentions that the towel was one of their original pieces from the first collection. By now we could call it a modern classic and I have been using mine ever since, every summer, every holiday! Right now I would give anything to be Othilia Simon on the shores of Hyéres! God bless I got my first vaccine today.

Find the collaboration here.

Image courtesy of Totême and Matchesfashion. Photographed by Ben Parks.

Wall Lamp By FOS

FOS is a Danish artist (born Thomas Poulsen) whose work might me familiar to you, if you ever visited a Céline store during the Phoebe Philo era - like many of us did, and often. No regrets! Anyway, I really loved these lamps by FOS, which added that tiny bit of edge to the decor. I sometimes browse through 1stdibs hoping to find his amazing work.

Image courtesy of etage projects.

Constance by The Row

The snow is finally gone and I can kind of feel the warmth of the sun. That never gets old. Anyway, this is my favorite pair spring/summer shoes of the season - by The Row, obviously. These sandals will look good for many years to come. Imagine wearing them with The Row’s Igor pants or a more relaxed pair from Saks Potts.

‘Constance’ heels by THE ROW

Image courtesy of Net-a-Porter. May contain commercial links.

Hello Spring!

Hey, hey! I got these gorgeous magnolia branches today. That is all I have to say.

Vestiaire Cravings

Here comes another selection of pieces I have saved on Vestiaire Collective. I think this is a fun way to promote (what I consider to be) more sustainable shopping behavior. Enjoy!

cashmere jumper THE ROW, necklace SOPHIE BILLE BRAHE, shearling flats THE ROW, shirt CÉLINE from the Phoebe Philo era

May contains commercial links.

Masque Visolastine +

Since I am on it here is another beauty product I want to get my hands on. Biologique Recherce is a cult brand which hails from France. I have never tried any of their products, but the brand has been on my radar for some time. Actually, I was going to get one of the Lotion P50s but the essence I use from Vintner’s Daughter does a similar job and I really love it. I would like to try both the Masque Visolastine + and the Masque Vivant. The latter might suit my skin perfectly at the moment because I have had some imbalances and breakouts ever since fall. Have you had any experiences with these masks?

Contains commercial links.

Self-Care Update

Long time no see! But I don’t have that much to tell when it comes the business of getting dressed. Instead, I have focused on self-care; I used to go to pilates (studio) twice a week and I still attend a class or two whenever possible. But now I also workout at home like many of us do. I love Fluidform at Home which is my go-to and I do it around 4 times a week. It is quite nice to see that doubling up my workout regime has yielded some results! Though, that means I have cut down on wine consumption, sadly and shockingly.

Anyhow, I am super into all things lymphatic drainage and have been wanting to try this tiny little thing called Circu-Lite Squueze Therapy For Legs by Legology. I know it looks rather interesting, but it should promote circulation and reduce fluid retention. We shall see how that goes! I also got this scalp treatment by Act + Acre. My scalp gets itchy in the winter, but the make-up queen Cyndle told me this brand has worked for her, so I wanted to give it a go!

Contains commercial links.

Velvet Box Treat

My favourite brand in the jewellery space, Sophie Bille Brahe, has a special treat: a complimentary small velvet box with all jewellery orders until tomorrow. These boxes are so beautiful! They add an edge to any space and are perfect for storing your most beloved pieces.

velvet jewellery box SOPHIE BILLE BRAHE

Contains commercial links.