Windswept

Blogging challenges...

It's not always easy being a style blogger. Trust me, blogging can be quite challenging at times.

For example, when you want to snap a few quick photos on your way to lunch, and Mother Nature decides to dump something wet and / or cold on you, just for fun. Or mistakes you for a kite and makes sure there's not a single spot where you could escape the wind.

Spring Has Arrived

So, spring has arrived...

The days are getting longer, and it's getting warmer. Well, a bit warmer. Most of the time. Sort of.

OK, let's try this again...

Where Does Inspiration Come From?

Loose, Fluid, Floaty...

That's what I was thinking about when I put together this outfit. Maybe I've overdozed on 1920's (or pretend-1920's) imagery...

I blame Netflix. All those shows with sassy heroines cracking secrets and running around in loose, floaty clothes. Well, there's Miss Fisher, of course. And Frankie Drake. And the Spanish show about telephone operators (just as fake as the other two, historically, but the clothes are to die for).

It's Almost Spring!

It's almost spring!!!

Well, give or take some April showers snow... Really, waking up to a fresh coat of snow on Tuesday was a bit of a disappointment, but at least the snow is gone now. Again.

And the days are getting longer, the sun is shining, and the birds are... well, doing whatever it is that birds do. My point is, spring is in the air, finally.

OK, it was still quite fresh when these pictures were taken, but we're getting there. Slowly...

Accessories: Form and Function

And the blue coat is back...

Let's call this a bonus post, in addition to the 3 posts featuring outfits created around this coat (maximalist, minimalist and casual).

Old Coats...

Spring clear-out...

It's wardrobe clear-out time! In other words, time to get rid of all those old t-shirts you never wear, jeans and trousers that no longer fit, impulse purchases in weird colours and anything that makes you wonder what the hell you were thinking when you got it...

Shopping

I hate shopping

It's probably not what you'd expect to hear, right? I mean, here I am, someone posing as a style blogger, trying to make you believe I hate shopping. Yet, it's true: I really, really hate shopping.

Well, I'm not exactly your typical style blogger either: I'm not interested in the latest trends or obsessed with fashion. 

Sure, I like nice clothes, but I'm happy with a small wardrobe of classic, high quality clothes that suit both my personality and lifestyle. Thus, I mainly wear comfortable, low-maintenance basics that travel well. To be honest, I could live in pyjamas... Especially if I could accessorise them with a nice handbag and a glam pair of sunglasses.

Happy Easter!

Tiina

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Studded

Snow, sleet, rain, snow... That's March in Finland. Well, in Helsinki, anyway. And I know I'm beginning to sound like a broken record when I say that I'm so tired of it. Unfortunately, spring won't get here any sooner, never mind how impatient I am...

However, by now I'm really struggling to come up with new outfits for the blog: you've seen my entire winter wardrobe over and over again, you must be as tired of it as I am. So, what should I do?

Snow in Hannover

I just realised I've been to Germany twice this year (I visited Munich just last month)... Well, Germany is Hubby's home country, so we visit quite often. And last weekend was one of these short visits.

Anyway, Professor M had a meeting or something in Hannover (yes, I'm using the German spelling here) on Friday, and I tagged along. You know, to do some sightseeing. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans...

The Classic Coat: Part 3/3

High-Impact Accessories

"Minimalist does maximalism", that's how I could describe this outfit, I suppose. In a way this is the opposite of my last post (where the coat was the focus of the outfit) in the sense that now it's the coat that becomes the backdrop to some high-impact red accessories.

Currently

I'm going out of my mind...

I've been sick with the flu for the past week and a half, and it's beginning to drive me crazy. Which probably means that I'm finally starting to get better. I mean, in the acute, most miserable phase of the flu you don't have enough energy to worry about something as trivial as going crazy, what with sneezing and coughing and camping out on the sofa overdosing on bad TV... By the time cabin fever sets in, you're on the road to recovery, just way too slowly.

OK, I admit, I haven't really been a model patient, as in suffering from the flu full-time.

Come on, who has time for that?!? Not me, that's for sure. For starters, I have to work. Sure, it's just a few hours every other day this week, but still (as a freelancer, I have either way too much work or not nearly enough, depending on the time of year). So, I thought I could do this part-time instead. The flu, I mean. You know, pop in to work whenever I had lessons and then get back to being miserable and binge-watching TV the following day.

Because I'm a superwoman. Yes, that's me: I fit my illnesses around work and other commitments, not the other way round. I have things to do, and plans, and a to-do list longer than my arm, I don't have time for this shit!

I'm beginning to think there might be a slight flaw in my thinking, though. Mainly because after a few hours of teaching (with the help of a hefty dose every type of flu medication available in the local pharmacy), I felt absolutely exhausted (and more than just a bit groggy), and spending the following day camping out on the sofa felt like the best idea ever. Besides, I had to watch all 4 seasons of Grace and Frankie. It was either that or do some dusting. And you can't do dusting when you have the flu because it's too much of a strain and you need to rest. Especially if you plan to go to work the following day...

No, I'm not a workaholic. I just use work as an excuse to get out of the house. You know, to to avoid cabin fever. Work is a perfectly legitimate reason to get out and about for a few hours. And it's also a perfectly legitimate reason to spend the following day doing absolutely nothing because you're tired, and had a relapse as the flu came back with a vengeance.

And clearly I have a screw loose...

How do other people do this?!?

Tiina

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Linking up with:

Not Dead Yet Style, Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, Garay Treasures, High Latitude Style,  The Pleated Poppy, Style Elixir,  A Labour of Life, Doused in Pink, Curly Crafty Mom, Fashion Should Be Fun, Rachel the Hat, Sincerely Jenna Marie, More Pieces of Me, Color and Grace, The Wardrobe Stylist, Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Nudge, Coco et La Vie en Rose,  Living on Cloud Nine, A Well Styled Life, Elegance and Mommyhood. Posh Classy Mom, Nancy's Fashion Style, Shelbee on the Edge Over 50 Feeling 40 A Pocketful of Polka Dots Style Splash, The Fashionista Momma, Tina's Pink Friday, Fake Fabulous. Lazy daisy Jones, Vanity and Me, Sheela Writes, Jodie's Touch of Style, Glass of Glam 

The Classic Coat: part 2/3

Modern Classic

That's how I would describe this look. It's simple, classic and minimalist. I kept the accessories to a minimum to allow the coat to become the star piece here. 

People often think of minimalism as wearing only black and white, or grey and beige. I'd say that's a rather limited view, not to mention boring. Minimalism has nothing to do with wearing ugly, boring colours. The same style principles work, whether you wear just neutrals or deep and vibrant hues.

The Classic Coat: Part 1/3

What do you look for in a coat?

Besides the obvious (warmth, fit for purpose etc), that is? Well, if you live in a cold climate, you probably need quite a few coats to get you through the year. And as nice as it is to have some variety, few of us have the financial means or storage space to get a different coat for each outfit we create.

So, versatility is key. Well, when it comes to criteria for choosing a coat, versatility comes right after warmth and practicality, in my opinion. As it's not really feasible to have a different coat for all my different outfits, I need a coat that goes with everything.

Winter Slump: Just Add Colour

OK, winter is going nowhere fast. It's useless to fight it, and dreaming of spring at this point is a total waste of time.

I've resigned to my fate, as you can see...

And yes, as far as the outfit is concerned, it's still the same old, same old... But in colour, this time. Isn't colour supposed to brighten your mood or something?

Taking a Walk Down the Memory Lane

I used to love London

I still like it, although I have lost some of my enthusiasm in the past few years. Visiting London, or the UK for that matter, is somewhat bitter-sweet these days. And my visits seem to be getting less and less frequent. In fact, last autumn I didn't visit the UK for 5 months (mainly because I was busy with work), and I didn't really miss it.

It's because of Brexit, of course: why would I want to visit a place where I'm seen as a second-class citizen? I'm not a masochist: I think it's useless banging my head against a brick wall. It's not going to make the wall love me more: it will only give me a permanent headache.

The Recipe for a Glam and Understated Look

When it comes to style, I prefer cool and understated to glitz and glamour. I'm a minimalist at heart: I like streamlined shapes and clean lines, without too many details. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't want to amp up the glam factor every now and then.

I just like my glitz and glam in a nice, neat minimalist package. With streamlined shapes, clean lines, and without too many details. Makes sense, right?

Style Is In The Details

Where do you start when putting together an outfit?

I always start with accessories. I first choose the bag, shoes, sunglasses etc first, based on my mood. And then I start thinking about the actual outfit to go with my accessories.

Yes, that's how I approach style: I build an outfit around my favourite (of the moment) accessories. My spending habits also reflect this: I have no problem spending (way too much) money on a nice bag, but I would never buy a designer dress. Why? Well, in my opinion, a bag is for life, and it always looks good, whatever your weight. A designer dress, on the other hand, is often not a very practical item. For starters, it usually requires dry cleaning. And that's just silly (= costly, annoying, and not very environmentally friendly).

Besides, I wear mostly simple basics (so much more comfortable), so I need my accessories to make an impact.

Uninspired

Lately I've been feeling  a bit uninspired

As far as style is concerned, among other things. Well, It's not totally unexpected. I mean, I always get into a bit of style rut in winter: wearing a limited set of clothes all the time. And I'm not talking about having a well-curated capsule wardrobe here; I'm talking about wearing the same old, same old, day after day. 

Bad Tourist in Munich

If you follow me on Instagram (where I post all sorts of random pictures that have nothing to do with style or fashion),  you probably noticed I was in Germany a while back. It was a very quick visit, just a couple of days. And even that short weekend visit was split between Munich and Dortmund.

Why these locations? Well, hubby was in Munich for a conference or something, and Dortmund is where we visited family. In other words, I had a day to go sightseeing shopping in Munich by myself, and then the two of us spent another day running like crazy around Dortmund...

Yes, this pretty much sums up how we travel: we're in a hurry, and without a clue as to what we should be seeing. There's a reason I call myself a Bad Tourist...

Anyway, what can a bad tourist do in Munich?

The Darker Side of Red

Red is my colour

Always has been, probably always will. And by 'my colour' I mean that I like it, and it looks good on me. Well, most shades of red suit me, anyway. However, I usually go for either fuchsia or tomato red.

But it's only since the past few years that I've been experimenting with the darker shades of red. And therefore you've seen me wear lots of plum and berry tones, over and over again. However, these are 'safe' colours, in a way, as they're blue-red, and I know they're flattering on my skin tone. Yet, I'm getting a bit bored with my blue-red comfort zone...

So, I've been experimenting with something a bit more unusual (for me, that is). And this is how burgundy has been working its way into my wardrobe, slowly but consistently. And yes, this is a major step outside of my comfort zone.

WHAT TO DO IN MADEIRA: Eira do Serrado

Mountains are not really my thing. I'm afraid of heights, for starters. And taking the narrow, winding road on the side of the mountain is not exactly my idea of fun. If anything, it reminds me of a roller coaster (which I also hate, by the way).

So, what was I doing, going to this mountain top?

Who's Afraid of Snow?

When I was a child I lived in an area with cold winters and lots of snow. But now that I've been living in Helsinki (for most of my life, actually), I've got used to milder winters with significantly less snow. Or snow that comes and goes, over and over again, for months. However, for as long as I can remember we've always had snow in January and February, often accompanied by very cold weather, too. And this year seems to be no exception.

So, what does that mean, as far as winter outfits are concerned?

Winter Scenery

I'm getting really fed up with winter. Sure, I've never been a fan, but the fluctuating temperatures - from barely freezing to cold snaps - and snowstorms followed by sleet and rain are starting to get to me.

Well, it's late January, so my 'I really, really hate winter' phase is right on schedule...

Given that there's still plenty of winter ahead, maybe I need an attitude adjustment. Maybe I need to try and see the positive side of winter. No, let's rephrase that: I'm trying (very hard) to see the beauty of winter. You know, as a coping mechanism. With plenty of sarcasm, of course.

Hey, I'm trying. OK? I can try and see something beautiful about winter, but I need my edge. After all, sarcasm is my middle name. Or at least it should be.

Right, I'm taking a little stroll in my home town, looking for the beauty of winter. So, this is it, Helsinki in winter... OK, let's see... Hmm... my brain is frozen, this may take a while...

Déjà Vu?

And we're back to travel wardrobe posts...

By now you've seen every piece in this outfit. Some of them a few times (or more). But that's real life for you: even fashion bloggers have to make do with limited funds wardrobes. Does that mean limited options, too?

Winter Staples

Meanwhile in Finland...

I thought I'd take a break from my travel wardrobe posts and talk about winter wear a bit. Or winter in general. Because now it seems that winter is finally here.

How to dress up pinstripe trousers

How to put together a minimalist, yet dressed-up outfit?

I'm a minimalist. For me less is more, whether we're talking about accessorizing or the number of clothes I have in my wardrobe. Having too much stuff makes me anxious.

It is therefore no surprise that I don't really have anything that would qualify as formal wear. I have no use for it; why would I keep it hanging in the closet 'just in case'? Instead, on the few occasions I want to dress up, I simply mix and match the semi-casual clothes I have, add a few accessories, and pass my lack of decorum off as being too cool for school...

Madeira, The Flower Island

Madeira is often called the flower island, and it's easy to see why. The island has an astonishing variety of flowers, even in mid-winter. And I thought it might be nice to post a few pictures to give you an idea of what I'm talking about here.

However, you should understand that these are just random photos of flowers by someone who knows absolutely nothing about the subject. And therefore I'm using the term 'flower' quite freely here: I tend to lump together everything in the same category (here referred to as 'flowers'), whether they're actual flowers, trees or something else.

How to dress down pinstripe trousers

Remember the cropped pinstripe trousers? Yes, one of those impulse purchases that I just had to get even though I had no idea how to style them... Well, it turns out that the trousers might prove to be quite useful, after all. Or something that I really needed for my travel wardrobe on my recent trip to Madeira...

The trousers are made of viscose, so they work well for warmer weather, too.  And the wide-leg, cropped style can easily be dressed up or down. Oh, I do love clothes that can be dressed up or down!!!

Understated Bling

Understated bling...

Is that an oxymoron? Well, it shouldn't be. Yes, I know that sequins usually make you think of OTT glam and sparkly outfits. But that's not my style.

I'm a minimalist: I like clothes that are stylish yet understated and comfortable. For me, elegance means simplicity and functionality, and comfort means that I wear my clothes the same way I would wear my pyjamas. In other words, my clothes must be comfortable enough to sleep in. That's a figure of speech, of course, but you get the idea...

So, how do sequins fit into that equation?

Travel Wardrobe Essentials

Is there something you always take with your when you travel?

It probably depends on where you're going, but I bet there's something that you consider essential, for one reason or another.

For me, this outfit epitomises everything I need in a good a holiday wardrobe. Just to be clear, I'm referring to a holiday in a sub-tropical location in winter (i.e. my recent trip to Madeira). In other words, it's not warm enough for beachwear (and I never go to the beach anyway), but mild enough for t-shirts. However, the evenings are a bit chilly, so some sort of a light cover-up is necessary. And there's going to be a lot of walking...

Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A new year and new plans? Or just more of the same old, same old? What's it going to be for you?

I don't make New Year's resolutions, and I definitely don't want to start a new year with a to do list. So, this isn't going to be one of those posts with all sorts of fabulous plans and new ventures. Because I have none. Fabulous plans or new ventures, I mean. Not yet. As far as I'm concerned, I'm still recovering from 2017: it was quite hectic, to say the least. So, instead of mapping out the new year, I decided to just slow down and see what happens.

In the meantime, I'd like to linger on some nice moments of 2017 for a while. More precisely, the last couple of weeks.