Minna

Vintage shopping in Joensuu

It has been two years since I have been visiting my home town Joensuu. While cycling ( bicycling is the best way to get around here), I found the most amazing antique shop.

Romuritari, which is what the shop is called is located in an old traditional wooden house, which is very characteristicto this area. With high ceilings and generous room sizing, this house is simply stunning. Each room is arranged in different themes and I could have literally brought every piece of furniture from there. I am sure you will agree with me! I cannot think of a better location for a photoshoot, which is exactly what we will be doing tomorrow......

 

Our new wedding dress collection is coming together................ | Minna.co.uk

Our new wedding dress collection is coming together................ | Minna.co.uk.

Our new wedding dress collection is coming together................ | Minna.co.uk

Sense of Fashion

There is not enough hours in one day I have decided...well have decided like years ago. Between kids, trying to be domestic goddes ( I did bake banana cake this afternoon...) and running a busy fashion label I can hardly manage to find any me time. Yes, me, me, MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE time.

Next week we are off again collaborating with the lovely Greendress boutique in Helsinki. So the studio has been super busy putting together amazing treats. I can ponly say that I cannot wait to wear them!

We launched today with the Sense of Fashion, which is the US equivalent for Asos.

How exciting! Kids are in bed, I am off to have a nice hot bath and a trashy novel..bliss......

Hat

Hat is one of those things that never quite seem to suit me....although as much as I would like to wear them. I can't think of a better thing to wear when I am having a bad hair day (which is every two days), weather is cold and rainy (which seems to be all the time) or I  want to look edgy ( every day).

So finally my hunt for the perfect hat is over! While running errands I drove past my favourite vintage shop near Victoria station. Not only does all the money you manage to spend go towards a charity ( Fara is a charity working for orphaned children in Romania), but they genuinely sell the most amazing vintage finds.

So I suprised myself and bought a red hat with a raffia detail. I was not the only one liking the hat as Kristiina seemed to go for it as well. Forward 10 years and I think we will be sharing a wardrobe!

Ireland, so nice to meet you!

Today was one of those lovely days full of suprises! Landed at 8am in Dublin, took a long bus ride to my crappy hotel, worked and went to check out all the shops. I so rarely have time to go out and do market research in London so it was a real treat to have some me time. Yes, ME, ME, MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE time.

Brown Thomas did not dissapoint me with the usual suspects, all the lovely labels which made me feel like breaking the bank, which ( thank god) I did not.

Finding a cool vintage shop was the highlight of my day. Totally unexpected, which made it even better! I found the most gorgeous navy blue, 1930's dress that was calling my name. It really was love at the first sight....So this lovely shop worth checking out is called Dirty Fabulous ( the name is just spot on) but remember I warned you, you do not want to leave empty handed. They source their vintage from the US so it is in pristine condition and worth paying the heft price tag...

 

 

 

 

Cape

I constantly have this dilemma when running around. I am either too hot or too cold. The solution was sitting right at my office. The cape! I used to wear my vintage capes when I was pregnant, last time, when I was on my way to the hospital to give birth to Hayden. This is now three years ago...Maybe the cape was reminding me of the time, when I was preganant, when I was unable to do up my jackets, see my toes or enjoy a glass of wine. Hmmmm......

Cape was the key piece of my latest Autumn/Winter collection. The girls at the office have totally fallen in love with our edgy UK made wool cape with Finnish reindeer leather collar.

The thing about cape is that it is so versatile. A wardrobe staple, like a well cut pair of jeans, crispy white cotton shirt or a perfectly tailored jacket. It will never let you down! Anyone can wear it, regardless of age or size. What is there not to love?

So there it was, hanging right next to me: the softest cashmere blend cape. It was also my favourite colour; camel beige, with leather edgings and an adorable brooch. I decided to put it to the test over the weekend.

And let me tell you, it was like falling in love again! So much in fact, that I am dashing to buy fabrics tomorrow in a range of stunning new colours, so watch this space.......

Lastly, what do you do when you have run out of gift wrapping paper? These days Kristiina's calendar is booked with birthday invitations and as organised as I try to be, I always forgot to buy the damn gift wrapping paper. But voila, since our house is filled with magazines, it is better to put them into good use, don't cha think?

 
 

 

Remember the other day when I was cursing my pair of brand new Zara heels? Well, I can proudly tell you that they have found a new home. Or should I say that group of My little ponies and Hayden's lonely green, slimy lizard have found a new home with a little of help from Kristiina.

Last two days my bum has been firmly seated in my car, running around, doing deliveries and buying fabrics with school and nursery runs thrown in.Not very eco I must say. But most of the time, all that driving around has its bonuses. I get to find all these cool antique and charity shops that otherwise would be left undiscovered. The other day I came across the most amazing charity shop. The Fara charity shop near Victoria is only selling real vintage. Parking my car illgally, I ran in and spent 15 minutes dashing in and out of the shop and spending a small fortune, that will be the inspiration for our new collection. This is the kind of shopping I like. Finding stunning 30's tea dresses with a knowledge that ALL the pennies goes to helping orphaned and abandoned children in Romania!!!! 

I can't resist showing our latest addition: the Madeleine dress, that was inspired by my Fara purchase. Made from wool jersey and lace, this maxi dress even got the nod from my husband, who normally would not blink an eye on our lace creations.....

 
Me, looking like I need a another cup of coffee, hair brush and make-up...The reality when you hit the post 30 mark is that " I just got out of bed " look does not work anymore.......

Where are my heels?

What on earth has happened to me? Over the last two months, I have started looking like a desperate housewife as opposed to a glamorous fashion designer.......I keep eyeing my amazing fashion interns and thinking how the hell do they find the time to get glammed up? Obviously the difference is 2 children!

Laura, my amazing assistant, is always so glammed up and pulling cool looks together. Her mom's YSL skirt worn as a dress...you get the idea, she is officially cool.

So, I decided to start wearing some make-up again and wearing heels. Yes, you heard me right. All my 50-60 pair of heels have been living under the bed, feeling lonely and covered in dust. They have occasionally been pulled out for some odd photoshoots...poor heels!

The first pair of heels that I decided to wear were the lovely camel beige heels that I bought from Zara during frantic, last minute, " my parking meter is running out" kinda rush.

They looked amazing with my gap skinny jeans and pedicured toe nails. My first test was the school run, carrying kicking Hayden and hurrying Kristiina. It did not go well. I walked like someone who has had too much to drink. The shoes kept stretching, which meant I felt like I was wearing very heavy high heeled flip flops. Needless to say, I kept falling down while trying to recover myself quickly without anyone noticing....Not a good sight!Once I got to the office I kicked of the heels and run around barefeet...much better.

My walking in heels was again put to test when doing a quick shopping trip to the local fabric shop. My lifestyle requires me to run 100 miles per hour, but this time I was walking as slow as a snail...who might have even been quicker...

But the good thing about those damn heels was that I was actually looking around. I noticed a sign for a pop-up craft market in a lovely pub and all these lovely new cafe's opening up in Brixton market.

Found some cute little bits and bobs for the house and bought a birthday present for Kristiina's friend.Yes, I was officially super organised...and wearing heels......

What shall I wear tomorrow, another forgotten pair of heels of my super comfy flats?

 

Top ten feel great moments

Apua mikä viikko taas takana..Grazia lehti tuli Tiistaina ulos, jippii. Uskomatonta miten paljon on tullut kyselyja ja tilauksia! Aamu alkoi heti Laura Baileyn onnentoivotuksella, ei hullumpaa, olo oli kuin lottovoiton saaneella. Välillä tuntuu, että nykyajan muotilehdillä ei enää ole pulling power mikä vaikuttaisi myynteihin. Mutta, Grazia, en siis voi enempää sanoa että se on nykypäivän muodin raamattu ja brändit tekee mitä tahansa päästäkseen heidän sivuilleen......Minä myös........

Koko tämä Tammikuu on ollut ihan kauheata työtä. Eihän siinä mitään jos olisi sinkku, mutta kolmekymppinen sellainen ja perheen äiti, nämä muotialan raadolliset työtunnit eivät oiken kropalle enää käy. Aamu alkaa kello 6 ja työpäivä loppuu siinä keskiyön paikkeilla kun silmät lupsahtaa kiinni......Ensi viikolla Kööpenhaminan messuille ja sitten Maaliskuun loppuun asti sell, sell ja sell. Ja tietenkin toimiston voisi siivota joskus..........

Kaiken tämän kiireen keskellä on hyvä muistaa ne arjen pienet juhlat, jotka piristävät päivää.

Metro lehden mukaan kymmenen top ten feel good moments:

1. Getting into a freshly made bed

2. Finding a £10 note in an old pair of jeans

3. Being wrapped up in bed when there's a storm outside.

4. Stepping into fresh snow

5. Sitting in front of a warm fire when it's cold outside.

6. Stepping on the scales to find you've lost weight.

7. Enjoying the peace and quiet of the countryside

8. Drinking cold beer in the garden on a hot day.

9. Meeting a loved one at the airport.

10. Finding something that you wanted to buy on sale.

 

I am tired.............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Ja mihin tämä viikko on taas mennyt? Olen painanut 14 tuntisia päiviä ( ja sen seurauksena ollut huono äiti, vaimo ja täysin unohtanut pitää itsestäni huolta) ja tiimini kasvaa viikko viikolta mutta siltikin tuntuu että hommaa riittää! Suomesta tulee työharjoittelija tänne ensi viikolla joten ihan kiva nähdä minkälainen tyttö sieltä tulee! Vanhan kookemuksen perusteella Suomalaisilla on todella hyvä työasenne, millä pärjää tällä alalla. Minä en prinsessoja tiimiini kaipaa!

Tänään ravasin ympariinsä ostamassa kankaita, nappeja, hakemassa tilauksia minkä lisäksi olenmarkkinoinut ja myynyt uutta mallistoa ja ohjannut tiimiäni....apua, tukkani sojottaa joka puolelle ja näytän enemmänkin kodittomalle henkilölle kuin muotisuunnittelijalle...... Hohhoijjaa, pitää laittaa itseni asennuksen viikonloppuna, aloittaen mani-ja pedikyyristä paikallisessa kauneshoitolassa.

Kleins, Lontoon Sohossa, sieltä löytyy parhaat napit, kuminauhat jne..........

Tämä viikko on ollut yhtä pr hulinaa. Norjan Costume lehti kirjoitti meistä uutispalstalle. Ensi viikolla Englannin "fashion bible" laittaa Jade maxi mekkomme viikon tärpit palstalle! Olen niin innoissaan, että en varmaan saa nukuttua!

Ja Maanantaina teemme kuvauksen yhden Englannin suurimmista sanomalehdistä......jännittää!