Midsummer Magic

Marimekko kaftan

I know, I know, Midsummer was last weekend…

Even though this was a bit unusual Midsummer, in the sense that we are still self-isolating to some extent (= haven’t seen any of our friends for ages), I wanted to capture some of that longest-day-of-the-year-Midsummer-magic anyway.

And this is why Professor M and I set out to stage the most clichéd Midsummer shoot we could think of: all Finnish countryside romance, the midnight sun, the works.

So, how do we fake a romantic countryside setting, given that we live in a big city? Well, as it turns out, it’s surprisingly easy…

kaftan dress 1300 x 1000

Marimekko Unikko

Birch trees, wildflowers, meadows, the midnight sun…  Actually, in order to see the midnight sun, we’d have to go to Lapland: here, in southern Finland, the sunset is before 11 pm. And as the golden hour starts several hours before the actual sunset, we were able to cover several locations over 6 kilometres (and 2 hours) quite easily for this photo shoot… But hey, this is a fantasy, work with me, OK?

Right, back to clichés…

So, a young, blond maiden is frolicking in the meadow… OK, a few grey hairs won’t make me blond, in any fantasy (by the way, it really is just a cliché that all Nordics are blond and blue-eyed…). And the young maiden… Well, they say 50 is the new 30, so… No? They don’t say that? OK, whatever. Why should young people have all the fun? Or all the clichés?

Right, let’s try this again: a 50-something woman in a moo moo is frolicking in the meadow among wildflowers, there is not a sound except the birds singing… Actually, I was standing with my feet firmly on the footpath between two fields (as if I’d set one foot among all those weeds! One word: nettles, they sting…), trying to block out the noise from the motorway…

OK, it seems I’m not very good at telling a story. Perhaps you should just look at the photos…

Marimekko Unikko

Marimekko kaftan

Outfit details (all old):
Kaftan: Marimekko / shoes: Camper / sunglasses: Nina Ricci

Tiina

What summer clichés have you tried to live up to, or avoid?

Linking up with:

Elegantly Dressed and StylishHigh Latitude StyleA Labour of LifeCurly Crafty Mom, Doused in Pink,  Not Dressed As LambLiving on Cloud NineElegance and Mommyhood, Nancy’s Fashion StyleShelbee on the EdgeA Pocketful of Polka Dots Style SplashAway from the BlueMummabstylish Mutton Years Style and I, Confessions of a Montreal Styling DivaIndependent Fashion Bloggers

18 Comments

    • Tiina
      Author
      1 July 2020 / 11:18 am

      Thank you!

  1. q
    29 June 2020 / 6:07 pm

    Lovely pictures! And lovely colours in the unikko pattern on your caftan.
    Is midsummer in the countryside a cliche? I did cycle to nearby farm with my daughter on midsummer eve and on the way there we did joke about picking 7 flowers from seven different places. We did not pick any flowers on that trip, but did pick some flowers closer to home. -q

    • Tiina
      Author
      1 July 2020 / 11:20 am

      Thank you!
      Well, a little cliché every now and then can be fun, right? I don’t think I’ve actually ever had a Midsummer in the countryside…

  2. 30 June 2020 / 5:45 am

    Such a fun outfit! I love your dress paired with those big earrings. Love that you managed to get that “meadow” look, haha!

    Miles of smiles,
    Grace

    gracefulrags.com

    • Tiina
      Author
      1 July 2020 / 11:21 am

      Thanks! I love these earrings: they’re made of leather, so they weigh nothing but make a big impact.

  3. 2 July 2020 / 2:51 pm

    Your storytelling is brilliant (love some humour and Real Life!) and love your dress and magnificent photos!. This print just put a smile on my face!, and this dress looks so comfy and fresh and delightful to wear!
    Totally agree that a 50-something-lady can have some fun (and clichés)!
    Besos

    • Tiina
      Author
      3 July 2020 / 12:23 pm

      Muchas Gracias Monica!
      This print has been around fora as long as I can remember, and it is part of the Marimekko collection every year. I have a few bags and 2 dresses with this print, too…
      And this dress is basically just a huge sack: it’s enormous. But it’s the best thing ever on a hot day because it sort of just floats around my body and it doesn’t really need ironing, either.

  4. 3 July 2020 / 5:05 am

    I love your dress! Colors and prints are gorgeous and you look great in it!

    Life is a Shoe

    • Tiina
      Author
      3 July 2020 / 12:23 pm

      Thank you, Celyn!

  5. shelbeeontheedge1
    5 July 2020 / 7:57 pm

    I love the photos and I love your story telling and I absolutely freaking love this dress! Thanks for sharing and linking up and making me giggle!

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    • Tiina
      Author
      6 July 2020 / 5:35 pm

      Thanks!
      The dress is wonderful on a hot day, mainly because it’s just a giant sack. But it’s cool and barely touches the skin, so just perfect for a hot day.

  6. Jess
    5 July 2020 / 10:11 pm

    What a pretty setting! I love the lavendar in the background. And you frolicking in the meadow! 🙂 Lovely scene setting and the colors in your dress are such a wonderful combo!
    thanks for linking!
    jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

    • Tiina
      Author
      6 July 2020 / 5:36 pm

      Thanks, Jess!
      This is what suburban Helsinki looks like; it’s easy to fake the countryside setting…

  7. 6 July 2020 / 2:28 pm

    Such a fun dress and a beautiful setting! I think you managed to capture the look you were going for really well! 🙂

    Thanks so much for joining the #WeekdayWearLinkup!

    Hope your week is off to a good start! 🙂 We spent some time at the beach today 🙂

    • Tiina
      Author
      6 July 2020 / 5:39 pm

      Thanks, Mica! Yes, I had a very specific idea, and as we’re on the outskirts of the town, it was quite easy to find a location to match it. Some of these photos were taken in a park just 10 minutes’ walk from where we live.

    • Tiina
      Author
      6 July 2020 / 5:39 pm

      Thanks, Emma! I love this print: I have two dresses, a couple of bags and a pair of shoes with the print…

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