DRESSED FOR A STARTUP

Most of you already know that I work for a startup. Working for a startup can be the worst thing to happen to your style unless you enjoy the t-shirt with a logo -style. However, I would claim that it can also  be the best thing that can happen to your style. More often than not, I choose to view startup as a super flexible atmosphere where I can try out my cravings (all my colleagues already know that my favorite colour is leopard!). 

When I know that I am the day at the office I can choose to put my pink sneakers on and just go with a super casual look that was created few minutes before running to work (the famous jeans, t-shirt, trench combo). However, since I do work in the public procurement business, I sometimes have to face the super strict dress code which would usually mean a suit for my colleague and a combination f blouse and pencil skirt for me. 

I travel for work in UK and there I feel conscious about my design decisions.  Especially London is one of the ultimate Business Cities. Nevertheless, those who know me personally also know that I tend to avoid extremely lame decisions and even in the combo of blouse & pencil skirt I try to add some excitement either through colours, the material or the cut. 

Here I wanted to create a very simple yet chic Autumn look that I could wear either for a regular startup day but also for a day at the client's premises. 

Zara coat // Zara heels // H&M pants // Zara bag //  H&M shirt // H&M necklace // 

Inspired by these looks

Pics from Pinterest

PASTEL PINK COATS

Lately I have noticed paying an extra attention to the pastel coats I see people wearing. Maybe it is the spring coming or maybe it is just a week in Italian culture and fashion! Anyhow, I must have one. I already have a pastel blue coat, which I love love love, yet I somewhat feel that I need one in pink as well. 

I mean seriously, I think I might have some issues with pink. I just can't resist it. I find myself buying pink accessories and I found myself twice at the cashier in Italy holding a pink coat and thinking that I just must have it. I didn't buy either of them. Thinking back, I might have been intoxicated by the Italian weather as the coats I wanted could be used only for too limited period back here in Helsinki. 

Nevertheless. Even if I don't feel like spring today, it will come eventually and I will find my perfect pink coat sooner or later. Here some inspiration! 

Pics from Pinterest.

NEW YEAR'S SEQUINS

New Year's eve is just few days away but since this autumn has been so so so busy, I didn't have time to stop and realize that all the stores are full of sequins and shiny jewellery for the Christmas and New Year's period! 

I really love Christmas as a celebration as it unites families and allows them to sit down by the same table and spend much needed quality time together. Nevertheless, Russians do not celebrate Christmas the same way as Finns, for example. To Russians it's all about the New Year's eve, about leaving the old stuff behind and opening a blank page in the calendar for the upcoming year. 

New Year has always fascinated me and brought to me the feeling of magic. Russians say that the upcoming year depends on how you greet it, meaning that if you have a fantastic New Year's celebration and you greet the New Year with a happy smile, you will make sure your upcoming year will bring lots of those happy smiles. I know it sounds silly, but I have always kind of trusted in this old belief and that is why this year is no exception: I want to celebrate it fancy dressed, surrounded by good company and with lots of laughing. Since I love everything that sparkles, there is no better colour that sequins. And yes, as a good friend of mine would say: "sequins indeed is a colour of its own!" 

I want to welcome the Year 2015 with excitement and sparkles as I have no idea where it will lead me next! Wishing you all the best of luck to the upcoming adventures! Remember to dress properly! 

Pics from Pinterest

SHELVING & STORAGE

I don't know why I am suddenly so into book shelves and storage solutions. I came across these pictures on Pinterest and they immediately catched my attention. Also, notice that they are all very simple and WHITE solutions. I mean, cmoon, I am not a person who is into white, I am always into colours. At least usually. That's why I am confused even myself, why these pictures fascinate me that much in first place. As my beibs laughs at me, I'm having some weird white and in some way minimalistic season!

Anyhow, I have been working a lot on furnishing and storage solutions this autumn, since I do plenty interviews for my thesis on interior design software, and I also work on a project for Kaapeli which is a lot to do with finding the right storage solutions. So maybe my subconscious processes all the information that I work on on a daily basis, and then it appears as inspirational pictures in my blog postings!  

One really positive surprise for me in storage solutions has been Lundia. They are traditional Finnish furniture company but in my opinion they convey an image of traditional Finnish design furniture yet with a twist of innovation. I have to say they have done fabulous job with marketing and sales strategy, and their collections look really nice, their webpage is very intuitive, aaaand they use a 3D design tool to let the customers to play around with visualizations of possible interior solutions. Which is kind of really cool. And it's also the core of my thesis! 

Maybe one day I'll notice that I have adopted a bookshelf back into my interiors at home. Cause these pictures look fabulous to me. And I'd love to collect all sort of small and cool items from the flea markets to injcorporate them as part of the shelving design. 

Pics from Pinterest

HALLOWEEN TIPS

Halloween is just behind the corner and it's time to start deciding what to wear! I usually don't get excited about costume parties but this year I decided I could actually wear something appropriate for the event! 

There are different opinions whether Halloween is about scary costumes or just whatever costumes. Since I was asked to tell you my own Halloween tips - excluding the dead bride look - I picked the options that I am considering myself for the next week's celebrations. 

1. Reindeer 

While searching for cool pics I saw quite fascinating ones with antlers. (Fascinating is the only word that describes my reaction!) Isn't it evident that on Halloween everyone should be reindeers?! Haha, when talking about antlers I just think of the murders in the True Detective.... Never mind if you haven't seen the series! Anyhow, I found this as very potential idea for my own Halloween outfit! The antlers can be done from wooden sticks or even foil works for this! And the makeup doesn't look too complex if you just have the right material prepared. 

2. Marilyn 

If you have short blond hair, as I do, then going for Marilyn should be a very doable option! I'd love to look fancy even on Halloween so if I don't come up with any freakish option then I'll go for this rather safe one. Though, I am not sure how much Marilyn is Halloween. Well, nowadays I am not even sure there are any rules for the Halloween costumes! This only requires red lipstick and a cocktail dress! oh and the hair. Which can also be corrected with a wig. Two options with Marilyn look: Dead or Alive 

3.  The Prisoners 

Are you going somewhere as a couple? Nothing is as cheesy as matching outfits. Even if it's Halloween. However, this is super easy option and this is always a classic one! Walk into the first cheap store like H&M, Pull&Bear, etc and get a striped tee, black hat and black gloves. Probably it will look better if the pants are also black and not the regular jeans (unless they're black) so if you go with this option, try to replicate each piece from the pic below. The masks can probably be cut from black cardboard and tied with rubber band. 

4.  Barbie and Ken 

I mean like HOW COOL WOULD THIS BE?! Haha, I am laughing out loud when even thinking about my darling in a costume like this!  I could definitely pull off an 80's bright jumpsuit but I'm not sure my beibs would go for a turquoise hawaiian shirt! I'll have to think on this cause this would be a super duper option! Yammee! 

5.  The Skeleton 

I know it's usually the evident option but if you are good with makeup then you definitely will stand out in the crowd even if you are wearing just a black dress. This is also available in the couples option! 

Pics from Pinterest

Have you already decided what you are going to be on Halloween? Let me know, I'm curious! 

LIGHT MY DAY - Giveaway from Valkee!

For the past few weeks I have been feeling like I am asleep all the time. I am never fully awake. I’ve been wondering whether it’s really just about the weather and my body adjusting to it. 

Last year I first discovered Valkee - earplugs with light. Okay now I know it sounds goofy and they have had some accusations of placebo but to be totally honest with you, I feel that they really helped me last winter. In the end, for me it doesn’t matter if the effect is scientific or placebo if the result is that I feel better. Scientifically talking, the light through ear channels is perceived in certain brain area similarly as sun light. Or that's how I have understood it! One of the things it can help you deal with is Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). So kicking your ass, Winter Blues! 

As always, it comes to the habit. Obviously,  I did not feel any drastic changes after the first use or even first days and week. However, after using them each day for 12 minutes at a time I started feeling more energised. It’s funny how it doesn’t hit you like an espresso shot but it comes smoothly and after half an hour you just notice that you feel better. I mean after using Valkee I really feel like I saw some sun. Hahah, as you can see I am a huge fan of this device! What also makes Valkee plugs great is that they are really sleekly designed and look fancy even as a gadget! 

And now to the best part of this post. Valkee is kind enough to grant one of my lucky readers a pair of their own plugs! So the rules are following: 

1. Go to my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/erika.kontkanen 
2. Tag in my FB post two of your friends who should read my blog 
3. Tell in the same comment what you'd want to read about on my blog 
4. Wait for the winner to be informed a week from now on! 

Best of luck and may the odds be with you!  

ISKU SHOWROOM OPENING

While my studies I never thought what would it mean to be writing Master's Thesis. I just postponed thinking about it. However, in the end of this summer I found myself in a situation where I had finished all my courses and was left with only thesis to write. I spent all the summer really really - I mean REALLY - thinking about topics I would want to write about. I knew I am excited about interior design and I knew I could combine my business background to it. Once we were sipping coffee at a good friend's place and I asked him to help me out with my topic ideation. He gave me an advice to write about interior design software and since then I have really dug into technology and its role in interior. 

Thesis time has been very controversial for me. I adore my subject but I am not at all a person who is able to sit down, read, concentrate and produce formal documents. I need to hustle and do things my own way. This hustling has lead me to meet incredible companies and people in the interior field of Finland. 

This Wednesday my thesis lead me to Isku's Showroom opening in Espoo. It was an event for interior designers, architects and partners. I had plenty of fun and Isku's Showroom looks really cozy and it has plenty of different styles showcased over there. I took some photos of details that I enjoyed and now sharing them with you!