go disco!

with the increasing popularity of acts like glass candy, sally shapiro, metro area and hercules and the love affair, it seems italo is definitely making a comeback. the new acts evolve from dark electro sounds, but add color and happy housey choruses. i think next summer we'll all be italo discoing (and actually there's a chance to get in the mood at rautatientori ice park next tuesday).

therefore, i will return the favor sugar kane provided earlier today with a disco remix for your friday pleasure by dj-photographer extraordinaire antti hiljá. go dance!

stained.

i have to admit that i ain't your regular domestic goddess. i'm preoccupied with projects more important than household work -- or so i want to believe -- and when it comes to solving domiciliary problems i find myself grabbing the latest cillit sh'bangbang (or whatever miracle solvent came out the latest) only to realize that it's probably really poisonous and does not perform as it did in the commercial.

in situations like these, most people grab the phone and call their mothers. the thing is, i was raised by two scientists who share my tendency to procrastinate when it comes to mundane issues like household chores. my mom and dad can kinda cook (read: we were fed as kids) and they clean regularly (read: we did not live in a pigsty), but the house was never immaculate and the meals often less than appetizing. my utmost admiration for my parents is in no way lessened by their shortcomings, but if i need help in stain removal the last number to call is mom. (dad might know, though... he's the one who sews in the family, too.)

for people like me the martha organization is an essential source of invaluable information. the organization is a sort of a stitch'n'bitch club for women who have an interest in domestic perfection. and it isn't about exclusivity because they're more than willing to share their knowledge -- even through a helpline! i mean, how great is that?

while some people apparently fail to appreciate the variability of human interests and how they promote communal well-being, i give two thumbs up to the marthas. we need people like my mother whose groundbreaking research on identifying the mrsa bacteria has helped towards finding solutions to control a significant hospital killer, but we also need domestic magicians who keep our stained stoves in check. variance is for the benefit of all!

epilepsy is dancing.

epilepsy is common as a subject matter in art most likely because of the dramatic seizures involved. imagined both demonic and saintly, the disease carries a stigma often associated with insanity and creativity. pages upon pages in literature utilize the condition to create suspense or transcendental imagery and the basis of the descriptions vary from superstition to empirical facts.

my most important encounter with epilepsy inspired art is joy division's song she's lost control which is said to be ian curtis' reflection on his own condition and the difficulties of living with such sudden crippling attacks.

antony hegarty's take on the subject matter is quite different: his song becomes alive with the video and he concentrates on the liberating aspect of leaving reality. a mystical and magical experience already rooted "one of the worst videos of all time" i must admit feeling slightly torn about the clip. there is glitter and beauty, though. see for yerselves.

neighborhood recommendation #2: hair salon.

finns have a flair for hair. we're brave when it comes to color and cuts and, supposedly, people in the hair trends industry love visiting helsinki for the edgy looks we go for here. how very cool of us.

courage is a double edged sword, though, because we're also very much for diy: spunky hair color out of a box is way too common a sight in the streets, especially when the tone is off and there's barely any makeup to fix the appearance. skimping on salon visits means there are roots shoving everywhere, often blonde roots leading to black ends. lamentably the requests for trendy hairdos at times outweigh the skills available and we see heads with tons of, um, "idea", but haywire implementation. moreover, there are graphic cuts with bold stripes of neon on people who seem to come from the little house on the prairie, and i'm pretty sure not all of them modeled for a hair trend show.

doing hair well is a trade, a learned skill, but also an artistry. it requires incomprehensible psychological skills: in mere minutes the hairdresser should figure out the customer's day-to-day style and preferences and apply them to whatever quality of hair s/he needs to work with. without going to clients who bring photos of celebrities and want a simple perm to create red carpet hair that should settle with a simple blow dry, we normal sensible people usually have a mental image of what we'd like to look like walking out of the salon -- and as we all know, that image is fragile and, oh, so easily shattered. i assume that i'm not the only one who's left a salon crying?

the problem with hairdressing is that what works for someone, does not work for another, and this applies to both cut and color and to the person holding the scissors. when we find the right fit, we stick to it. but the relationship is always tentative: one screw-up can ruin a beautiful thing... and the process of hesitant building of trust must begin from scratch.



nevertheless, i will recommend a salon worth trying if you are on the lookout for your perfect match. i popped in today with my dog (who instantly found a lap to rest on; see her peeping through the coverup on the customer?) at loisto which is a small establishment with a busy schedule, so book early. their philosophy is simple: they're passionate about skill and personal service. the people working are simply talented (like mv, in the pic) and the customers vary stylistically from the trendiest club kids to the family restaurant owner down the street and their common denominator: great looking hair. at a time when many hair salons try to lure in customers with extra pampering services and make a fuss about bringing you a glass of champagne (which in itself is great, in a way, but does not compensate for the end result being less than great...), loisto emphasizes the meaning of great manageable hair as a daily ingredient of a more pleasant life. the atmosphere at the shop is happy and friendly, and while the staff is definitely on the quirkier side, none of your diva scissorhands work there.

and if you enjoy people watching and tend to draw conclusions from behavior, as yours truly does, this might just be a top selling point: i have never seen a customer leave loisto trying to readjust their hair in front of a mirror before walking out... i don't know about you, but i've done it at salons before and seen people do it in other places more than i care to remember. so, go get impressed.

vanity ink.

honey junkie suggested a spring time craze for tattoos, and i must admit to my urge growing with the weather getting brighter. while it is partly a seasonal desire, my quest for the perfect half-sleeve has taken years and there are several reasons behind the delay.

first, i've been uncertain whether i'd grow out of the fascination. i may be spontaneous when it comes to my looks otherwise, but with permanency my binary self reveals its true internal contradictions: tattoos are a lifelong commitment. nevertheless, since the desire to get ink on my arm has not diminished throughout the years, i think i just might be ready.

second, as we all know, tattoo trends come and go. my skin already carries the stigma of early 21st century tribal fad, but luckily situated, ahem, somewhere a bit more private. i fear that whatever i choose as my skin adornment, it will look outdated in a year or two. the thing is, everything you may consider classic nowadays (like cherries, sailors, etc.) should be reassessed remembering what was said about tribal tattoos a few years ago... remember? classic and timeless. sure, at their time. but again, i believe i've finally come to terms with getting stuck in an era and must stay true to my present likes and dislikes. que sera, sera, right?

third, i feel torn between visible and concealable. my other tattoo is on my scalp and, presently, covered by hair which is sometimes very frustrating: i really like it, but to show it off i'd have to shave my head. then again, i feel unsure if i want to be stuck with long sleeves later in life if my tat shows signs of aging earlier than my skin does. this particular hesitation really baffles me since i am not exactly the kind of a person to take aging very seriously. my propensity is to take my fashion seriously, i guess.

fourth, i really wanted mine done completely in white ink. i realized that it would most likely look almost like a scar and would probably be mistaken for one. i didn't mind. the problem is that white tattoos are technically extremely difficult to produce and prone to failure, and no-one would even start designing one for me. it has taken me about two years to grow into imagining colors on my arm.

fifth, and most importantly, i have not found an artist i trust. i am quite sure there are excellent artists out there, but it is my skin, after all, and the only one i have. my friend who's responsible for inking me before relied on my own drawings, but for something bigger i'd need professional help. moreover, his style has evolved towards a direction i do not fancy which means he's out. it is crucial to find the previous work of the artist (and they are artists!) admirable, not only subject-wise but in terms of execution of finer details.

my wait may be over: i found an artist! i asked a friend whose tats i really liked and he gave up the person responsible. her name is saira hunjan and her designs are feminine, intricate and pretty. the problem is that she's in london. i visit the city regularly, but to book an appointment (or several) for sporadic weekend visits may prove a hassle. i will try, nevertheless. and i'll keep ya updated...

neighborhood recommendation #1: deli.

sis. deli+café offers a thoroughly considered deli concept from values to recipes, locales to outfits, and stands out from the rest in helsinki. it still baffles me how many small enterprises start without a clear and focused concept: a great idea or an amazing product is not enough to set one apart and bring about success, but an entire understanding of market positioning and visual identity among others are needed.

sis. deli+café got their focus right: they created a coherent visual concept which is in accordance with the product. it's not extraordinary in any sense, but rather just beautifully thought out and well executed. when it comes to food, they use organic, locally produced ingredients with a commitment to transparency of origin. additionally they serve great coffee and a selection of other items -- anything you need for a lunch or a light dinner. the three shops feel inviting, the staff is friendly and the packaging is a pleasure to handle (yes, it makes a difference for an everyday aesthetician like myself).

go support.

sharing.

our simian friends never cease to bring a smile on my face.

urban habitation.

i am an urban being by choice. i have never entertained the idea of moving to the countryside: aimless wondering in the forest bores me, fresh air does not thrill me, and i have only recently started to appreciate getting my hands dirty in the soil. i enjoy sporadic moments at the cottage if there is enough nourishment for the body and soul, that is, books and magazines and great food. the suburbs are as close to my ultimate nightmare as may be as living in an environment where i'd have to depend on a vehicle of some sort to get around strikes me as unfathomable: i want to be able to walk everywhere i need on a daily basis. moreover, i do not want a house nor do i need a lot of space around me.

there is an increasing amount of people like me, and obviously, we're found in the centers of the larger cities. many of us are single, but many are not. we (plan to) raise our (possible) (future) children in these centers and not because we have to, but because we choose to. many of us have never owned cars nor wish to, or could possibly share one with another like-minded family or person. we socialize daily over coffee and wine knowing that the price we pay per cup/glass is ridiculous considering the production cost, but we're willing to pitch in that extra euro/buck/quid for the atmosphere, service, freshly ground coffee beans, etc. additionally, we eat out a lot, appreciate and demand quality food and service even with the realization that we could probably cook the same dishes better in the comfort of our own homes. we take our kids to restaurants, galleries and shopping in small specialty stores as comfortably as we arrange playdates and park visits. we do not consider our consuming habits elitist, but rather normal because they result from giving up some of the perks suburban dwellers have, such as being close to nature, silence or having bigger houses.

herein resides the greatest defining factor when it comes to urbanites: while we appreciate the tranquility of our homes, the city is an extended home where we're not visitors but integral parts. no matter how great an apartment we may live in, it really does not matter without the exterior, buzzing world being right there at our doorstep. we take great pride in the blocks we live in, not because of property value (or lack thereof), but because as extensions of our homes they reflect who we are and, moreover, enable us to be who we want to be. we also worry about our surroundings and the changes that take place; we sometimes get anxious about the possibility of gentrification or falling off the income bracket which enables the choice to live where we want to. as unrealistic as we all understand it to be (because we obviously have all sorts of different occupations), a recurring topic of conversation are plans/dreams/hopes to start a small business of one's own to liven up the neighborhood just because something essential is still missing -- i don't think i've ever touched upon the subject with my suburban friends.

my own neighborhood is still one of the liveliest in helsinki: there are bars, restaurants, clothing stores, services, and all businesses are on the small side which alone supports variability and vibrancy -- around the corner, there is a small store selling just vacuum cleaner bags, i kid you not. nevertheless, the neighborhood is a far cry from a couple of decades ago, when almost every street was lined with small businesses from bakeries to butcher shops.

every day there are people walking the streets, popping in and out of galleries and stores, sipping coffee from a local deli, working on their laptops at small restaurants and bumping accidentally into friends and strolling off to some bar for a glass and some good old chit chat. for me, all of this is essential. the survival or, more optimistically, the progress of my neighborhood depends on the appreciation of urbanites and our choice of lifestyle. it isn't uncommon to hear that the way we live is unrealistic and a sign of extended adolescence; our reluctance to settle down (meaning, to move somewhere where the exciting temptations of nightlife are less predominant) is often considered immature. the most significant point of differentiation comes with children: sometimes we're harassed because we're unwilling to provide our children safety and ample room to play in. for many people, we're anomalous and symptomatic of a cultural change that overly appreciates youth and lack of responsibilities.

these basic premises, however, are wrong: an urban lifestyle does not imply resistance to accept life's realities. the preference may be novel in finland, but could be due to the lack of truly urban environment; preferring the city throughout one's lifespan is not unusual globally. the widespread acceptance of the premises is thoroughly damaging, though, because urban development is, undoubtedly, based on the flow of capital. therefore, pedestrian streets, bike pathways and encouragement of small businesses owe allegiance to cars and parking space, because the assumption is that the consuming population resides somewhere outside the borders of the city. while there's plenty of talk about decreasing traffic in the center for various reasons -- safety, pollution, etc. -- the person these changes are meant to please does not live here, but needs to be lured in from somewhere else.

but we are here, we're not students anymore, and we make a good living. our consumption is predominantly immaterial, and we spend so much time in the public space that we do make an economical (and ecological) difference. we should be taken seriously, not only as consumers (which seems like the biggest selling point politically these days) but as part of the adult population who make informed and mature choices. as long as we're considered as people who either need to "grow out of it" or stop living in denial (everyone wants a big house if they only had the means for it, right?), our living environment will not be addressed in our own terms. we deserve to take back the streets we want to consider home.

***
as an endnote, i want to stress that i am aware of the fact that i represent a rather well-off group of people and, moreover, that the ability to make the choices we make is based on relative wealth, health and education level/career success. lifestyle choices are meaningful only if one is able to choose -- which already implies being luckier than most people in this world.

the justification for writing and ranting about this is that regardless of being lucky our choices do not come without sacrifice, just like everybody else's, and feeling an absence of control over our surroundings can be quite frustrating. especially, if the basis for the lack of control seems unwarranted.

***
inspired by this rant of mine, i will start listing things which make my neighborhood great.

fall promise.

last night a hefty group of fashion and design enthusiasts gathered to see what marimekko, the most iconic fashion house of finland, has to offer next fall. since changes in ownership, they have taken a different artistic and marketing direction; instead of high culture consuming middle aged women who love to power dress, marimekko has their eye on the fashion sensible young woman who identifies with the hype of finnish design.

since the arrival of samu-jussi koski, who was appointed creative director this year, they've had my attention, for sure; i still fondly remember prancing around their store on the esplanade in my converse high tops, tsubi (presently known as ksubi for whatever reason...) tee and koski's bradshaw skirt (one of five, i was told, although they reproduced a few more next summer...) not knowing what hit me whilst buying baby shower presents. the next year, koski's first small collection was produced for marimekko, and ever since, i've regularly bought something from each collection and praise the wearability.


as marimekko is best known for colorful cotton prints, it didn't come as a major surprise that their fall theme was about bringing color into the darkness. i don't envy the designers who have to work with graphic patterns which in most cases look best as large surfaces, but they seem to succeed quite well. the color combinations were bold: expect purple with yellow (outch, i must say. the use of opposites creates interesting tension in fashion, but entire patterned outfits are a bit too much...), more purple with blues and greens (quite fresh and beautiful), oranges, salmon red and green.

since i am a fashion pragmatist, my foremost attention grabber is what pleases the shopper in me, that is, the dress i want for myself. the show was dresses galore, but i cannot help but wonder how many seasons are they going to reutilize the egg and the tulip hems? there's nothing essentially wrong with those shapes because they are very wearable, but it does get repetitive... then again, some might call it staple style.

ultimately, my favorite was this green velvet dress. judging from the buzz afterwards, i wasn't the only one who enjoyed the beautiful soft sheen of the material and the simple, yet sophisticated cut.


but the quintessential gossip generator was the announcement of a new designer team: rinne-niinikoski. known for their playful collages and bold detailing, their handiwork was instantly recognizable and, i must say, a breath of fresh air. i really look forward to these knit dresses.

hey champ!

as requested by mv, here's some more music for y'all.

the buzz in the blogosphere around hey champ shows no slowing down. you can follow what they're up to from their own blog. i recommend the chicago group for those of you who like cut copy, killers and mgmt.

diet pop.

in the world of major brand soft drinks, low calorie is the punchline du jour. the market for diet drinks is huge despite the controversiality of artificial sweeteners; it seems strange for an age when organic and natural are increasingly common seducers of consumers. since dieting is considered essentially a female activity, but staying fit is a demand everyone regardless of their sex needs to fulfill, coca cola came up with zero, the light cola for the heterosexual man who is insecure enough to order a low-calorie drink. the advertising clips for zero vary from blatantly sexist to annoyingly stereotypical and, in my opinion, actually demean their target audience. but masculinity can sometimes be a fragile thing...

pepsi max avoids the pits of gender stereotypes by shunning the value laden words "diet" and "light". but they are definitely not exempt from pushing their product and fighting for a cut of the market. their promise to be "the one calorie cola" inspired a compelling campaign that uses visual imagery quite unlike those usually associated with soft drinks. moreover, the german advertising agency bbdo went slightly macabre. the new campaign is based on the loneliness of the poor calorie and the images show the lonely lump desperately trying to end his/her days. it's a brave and borderline vulgar move from the company.

the bird and the worm.

you all know the idiom "the early bird catches the worm", right? when it comes to sales, it seems a guideline most people adhere to and it may be the most sensible thing to do; the likelihood of finding something that fits on sale increases with rushing in to grab the best. common sense.

i admit to bargain hunting and feel terribly pleased with myself when i find something stripped off the majority of its suggested retail price. both my size and my taste help in some cases, because many of my preferred items hang on the racks till the end of sale. it's taken me years to learn not to buy a piece of clothing at full price whenever i am convinced that it will sell out immediately: my judgment on the desirability of items is usually completely erroneous and off the mark. nevertheless, i do miss out on some articles i really want.

but sometimes, i'm really lucky and find items like this one: martin margiela 6 handknit sweater with 3/4 sleeves, 70% off.


i've taught myself to believe in waiting patiently and letting the worm get really, really fat...

hello, my name is stella style.

while my blog is not just a style, fashion or trend blog, but a mix 'n match of everything i feel like writing about, some people have asked me about my personal style and requested snapshots of outfits that i wear.

why i have not posted photos of my own ensembles comes down to a few reasons:
1) i'm terribly unphotogenic,
2) i suffer from essential tremor which makes photos taken by hand very shaky,
3) my camera's autoshoot settings are a pain in the tush,
4) i work from home, which explains the irregular hours of posting, but also means i'm in sweats most days, and
5) when i do get dressed, i'm usually off to somewhere in a hurry or in a party mood which does not translate into taking style photos.

i'd describe my personal style as pretty monochrome, black, white and grey. i go for simple shapes, but love interesting textures and cuts which aren't necessarily flattering for my body shape. i love playing around with androgynity and sometimes get downright jaunty taking either femininity or masculinity to an extreme -- just to mess with things a bit. i combine expensive with cheap and do not care whether something is necessarily in season, i.e. i do not bother with riding the trend wave, but believe in my own style which obviously is inspired by trends. my weakness is accessorizing for which i browse several other blogs (see list on the right) for inspiration, but usually i just fail miserably at applying my inspiration. below is a typical me.

fan death.

one to keep an eye on if you like hercules and the love affair and glass candy. fan death is a project which draws your feet to the dancefloor. these girls will be huge!

oh, the death star is important...

there are telltale signs that you're a nerd. one of them is an ability to talk a fictional language (klingon, check!), another is knowing several sci-fi movies by heart (star wars iv, v and vi, check; the other ones are not considered star wars!! check for being an uptight nerd...). there are several other, rather embarrassing features, but if those hit close to home, you'll find the clip below hilarious...