Dreamy

Powder pink has become one of my favourite colours. It's cool and sophisticated all in one. Add the texture of suede to it and it becomes the perfect piece for fall and winter.

Here I added some contrast to it with black to make it stand out, but dare to dress up in it head to toe or pair it with whites and nudes to create a dreamier version of the "all white" .

You can call me crazy, but I'm a firm believer in dreaming. With dreaming I mean a very detailed visualisation of my future and my actions. It's not just wishing I had a pretty home or the dream job, but actually picturing myself in the position I want to be, whether it is about becoming healthier or conquering a fear like giving a speech. Athletes have used mental practises for years. Studies have shown that brain patterns that were activated when a weight lifter lifted hundreds of kilograms were similarly activated when they only imagined lifting. This obviously doesn't mean you can get fit by just imagining to work out (we wish), but doing both the mental and physical practices is more effective than either alone. If an athlete can perform better by the power of visualisation then why not apply to other areas in life? In our world of facts and realities, it can feel like a waste of time to train the imagination and yet all of the great women and men who made a change in this world were in the end dreamers. They had to be able to picture the outcome before it was reality or anyone else was able to see it, to get pass all the failures and attempts that made it seem impossible. Albert Einstein, Michael Jackson, Steve Jobs and Martin Luther King are only a few of the great dreamers.

You can start off with imagining how you're going to perform well at your job or kick your butt at the gym. Starting the day off by visualising how you're going to do all your tasks well and efficiently will set you up for a more successful outcome than by pulling the rug from under your feet by getting all depressed before you even tried. 

Don't be scared to lift up your hopes and begin to dream. It will open up new doors and dimensions that you didn't even know existed. Stop limiting yourself with negative thoughts and choose who you want to be.

xxx

Pictures by Adriana Dobrin

Biker Jacket: Zara

Shirt: Zara

Skirt: H&M

Beanie: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Clarks

Got You Covered

A trench coat has been on my list forever, but waiting for the right one definitely paid off. It was the powder pink colour that caught my eye. I love finding basics with a twist.

Pairing two different patterns might feel like risky business. If you want to stay on the safe side, do it with clear patterns that either are completely different to create that contrast, or from the same colour scheme to make it more solid.

Getting these boots was a little miracle. Now they've become one of my favourites. 

 After a long indian summer the weather is slowly starting to change and turn colder. It's time to invest in cozy sweaters and quality coats to take us through Finland's stormy fall and freezing winter. Helsinki is beautiful in the fall and I actually enjoy the turbulent winds and dark nights, a good reason to stay home under warm covers and enjoy a cup of tea or hot chocolate. The other thing keeping me covered through it all are my friends. I don't think I even understood what friendship really meant until a few years ago and I wouldn't be exaggerating by saying that I might have the best friends a person could wish for. Before, it was about what I was able to get, what I benefitted from it. Obviously it wasn't a clear motive, more like a subconscious one. With any relationships, really, it's very common to focus on how the other person should change, be nicer, more helpful and considerate. It was easy to externalise issues that really were an inside job. Blame the surroundings for not making me happy, when in reality, I'm the only one who's responsible for my happiness. So instead of focusing on how my circumstances, friends and husband should change, I started to work on how I can be a better worker, friend, sister, daughter and wife. No matter how cliché it sounds, when you sow love, you will reap it. It's a law of nature. I learned that giving is actually far more exiting and fulfilling than just being on the receiving end. Keeping my love on through any weather is what real friendship is about. So...

Who could you love on today?

xxx

Photos by Adriana Dobrin

Coat: Topshop

Shirt: COS

Jeans: Zara

Belt: second hand

Shoes: Zara

Friday Goodies

Music is food to my soul. I believe it is so much more then just notes and beats. The right song at the right time can move a person in a way that nothing else could. It can change the mood, speak to the heart, build up, empower, enlighten... Almost as if it could pass our walls and guards and travel right to the centre of our being. 

That's exactly how this song made me feel. The first time I heard it I didn't even know what hit me, so I ended up listening to it on repeat for hours. Maybe it will open up something new to you as well.

Have a wonderful weekend!

xxx

New Hair, New Beginnings

Hello, new hair!

I love mixing up different styles and textures in my outfits. Pairing a pearl necklace with a casual outfit creates the contrast that makes it pop.                      

A simple white tee becomes more interesting with a low back cut or by tucking it in on one side.

After thinking about it for a while and seeing so many edgy hair cuts out there, I decided to take a step and try something new. My hair has been long for many years and I felt like it was time for a change. Staying in the comfort zone is sometimes a good option (like when you find that hair colour/style that works for you, there's no shame in sticking with it until it all falls out!), but I notice myself too often holding on to old ways and afraid of changing things up a little. Wether it's starting a new hobby, moving to a different city or meeting new people, I've noticed that change is necessary for me to evolve. It always involves taking risks, stepping out into the unknown and listening to my heart. Usually it's the most important steps that I'm the most afraid of. It's like every cell in my body wants to go the opposite direction, but those have proven to be the most fruitful decisions in my life. They have made me the woman I am today. Someone once said; "There is nothing worth doing that doesn't have a million possible bad endings. Inaction however always ends in failure." Don't focus on all the things that could go wrong, even if you fail, you at least get a chance to learn something inaction could never teach you. Leave your fears with your old self and defy your circumstances with bold decisions. 

xxx

Photos by Adriana Dobrin

T-shirt and necklace: Zara

Jacket: Topshop

Jeans: Mango

Shoes: Vans

Black and White

A black and white outfit never goes out of style. I love to make statements with bold colours and prints, but I always come back to these basics.

Wearing some tall boots and a warm knit or leather jacket are great ways to make a summery dress more suitable for fall.

I don't only like the classiness and structure of black and white in fashion, but it also used to be the way I  perceived this world. Categorising and putting everything in a box was what I did with my surroundings and it felt safe to believe that everything had a clear explanation behind it. There was only  yes and no, good and bad, black and white. It wasn't until I got to experience real love that all the different shades started to appear and the lines became softer. I'm not talking about some gooey rom-com love with Ryan Gosling as the "male lead" (no offence Ryan, I'm pretty confident that all girls think you're doing a great job), but love that is willing to sacrifice, compromise, that doesn't look for it's own interests and never gives up, even when shit hits the fan. It melted away my judgemental attitude and showed me the beauty in the imperfections and "grey shades". I learned to take off my lenses of criticism and look at people as who they truly are and not at everything they are lacking. Applying that to myself was maybe one of the toughest tasks. It is scary to let go of old ways of thinking, because of the safety and feeling of control it might bring. But opening up to love and choosing to be graceful to others and yourself is something that will make a difference in your life. 

xxx

Photos by Adriana Dobrin

Dress: Mango

Leather Biker Jacket: Zara

Knit: COS

Tote: Rizzo

Boots: New York