Good things come to those who wait

This past month, I've been mostly watching football and curating my burgeoning collection of Ann Demeulemeester masterpieces. In other words, I managed to snatch a couple of past season goodies that had been loitering in my Yoox dreambox, at a very agreeable discount price.

As someone whose income doesn't quite meet the requirements of her expensive taste, I've long since given up trying to buy on-trend pieces. Can't really afford the designer garb and don't really feel satisfied with high street knock-offs. Instead, I tend to look at my favourite designers' collections trying to identify pieces that could become my wardrobe classics and try to get them later. Fortunately, my conception of must-have pieces seems to be a bit odd, so I usually get very lucky at sales and discount stores or second-hand shopping.  Of course I'm still very much affected by trends, for instance this summer I want to wear trousers with floral or abstract prints and something that floats behind me, just like all the other cool kids in flower jeans or mullet skirt.

I fell in love with Demeulemeester's hazy black-and-white print as soon as I saw the spring-summer 2010 collection. Now that I have these stove-pipe pyjama pants in black silk satin, I still don't know whether the print is a bird or a flower, but I love love love it.

(If I ever get married, I'd love to do it in the long skirt from the same collection, white or black.)

The other thing I got is an off-white version in silk chiffon of this wrap-around thing from s-s 2011. It's actually cut like a wrap mini skirt with a long asymmetrical side/back hem. I'll probably wear it on top of a black dress or trousers, or peeking under a longer dress.

(catwalk pics from Style.com)


But enough about me, have you dolls been successful treasure hunting during the summer?

One should either be a work of art or wear a work of art.

This new blog of mine is supposed to cover both fashion and art. In addition to my on-going, troubled odyssey of personal style, I want to share inspiration from all fields of art, showcase aspiring and established Finnish fashion designers and try to keep up with what's going on in these scenes here.

My absolute favourite things happen, when the art and fashion worlds collide. That's why I must start with a post about a very special artist, who inspires me both through his work and as an impeccably stylish person. Oscar Wilde would approve: the artist makes works of art of himself wearing works of art!

Ari Pelkonen is currently Finland's Young Artist of the Year. His work blends woodcut technique and painting, and has been described as the most elegant art in Finland. I would concur and add that he's the most elegant artist anywhere that I know of.



I guess you might call most of Ari's paintings self-portraits. He uses his own stylishly dressed person as a figure, and builds on it with layers of luscious colours. Or at least that's my uneducated way of describing it, you should definitely go and see for yourself. Do hurry - the exhibition at Tampere Art Museum closes after TOMORROW, Sunday the 22nd.



I first met Ari at my absolute favourite store, Helsinki 10. His style encapsulates everything I adore about their selection, atmosphere and staff. He wears the avantgarde stuff by the likes of Demeulemeester and Owens with a natural ease, and he -like most of the people who work at the store - is also very naturally friendly, kind and welcoming.

I think my favourite piece of art in the world at the moment is "Tricky" by Ari Pelkonen. It's pink, and there's a picture of a pony!

(All pictures courtesy of Tampere Art Museum.)