Hamsterdam

It's all happening. Just barely managing to get it in before I turn the big 3-0, I will actually be leaving my fair continent. Though the 3 I's (Italy, Ireland, and Iceland) have always been at the top of list of places to see first, somehow the idea came about to go on a quick jaunt to Amsterdam (referred to in my house as 'Hamsterdam') and Bruges (thanks to, of all people, Colin Farrell). And, since we decided last weekend to tough it out in our little one-bedroom-no-sunlight apartment for a wee bit longer, the trip is a go! This change in plans led me to searching kOs for Dutch designers, because I couldn't think of any off the top of my head. Which is silly, seeing as there was a very very recent Dutch postee here on kOs, namely Steffie Christiaens. Steffie just posted photos of her A/W 13/14 menswear collection, and, I must say, even outside of shower curtains, I like how this girl thinks. The entire collection is definitely worth checking out (click here), but I'm particularly drawn to these two pieces: the blazer/bomber hybrid (above), and the zip-off coat (below). 

I don't think the tapered back of the hybrid piece (i.e. the bomber portion) would work on a woman, but I suppose that guys deserve some fashion fun of their own. The zip-off coat, however, would work on anyone, as evidenced by that great Vietto coat. Anyway, Steffie is based out of Paris, so I don't know if I'll get to see any of her work up close. Any suggestions for local designer shopping in (H)Amsterdam?

(Photos by Sascha Heintze, via Facebook)

P.S. Speaking of Vietto, you can snag some Vietto pieces in New York next month. Helsinki's Paloni will be setting up a pop-up shop between February 11-28 at the Ivana Helsinki concept store, unleashing Vietto and 36 other Finnish labels (including OutsaPop Trashion) on NYFW. I knew I should've booked a trip during reading week!

Vietto

I have a favorite voluminous jacket I bought from a local store many Boxing Days ago that I just realized I haven't worn for a long time. And the reason is that I have a lot of voluminous clothing and, when coupled with a voluminous jacket, that's simply too much volume. Also, it's either summer or winter here, and this jacket is more like a dressed up hoodie, so I have to wear something really really warm under it (or some things) if I can wear it at all. 'Really really warm', of course, meaning voluminous. So I was quite happy to see an email in my inbox this morning from Minna Kaartinen, the designer behind Finnish eco-conscious label Vietto. Vietto's been on my radar for quite some time, as Jaana, the writer of the now-defunct Finnish blog The door in my wardrobe had worked with the label and featured it a few times. It seems Jaana is still working with Vietto as a photographer, and Vietto has just posted some new pieces! This one in particular, informed by my sad tale of the neglected spring hoodie/jacket, is what has caught my eye. Made of surplus Finnish military wool, the lower section of this lovely winter coat can zip off (see below), allowing me to both stay warm and not to have a silhouette resembling Grimace. Which is always a good thing, being vegetarian and all.

Edit: Since posting this post, I can't get enough of early Björk (including, I have to say it, Post). I think I was subconsciously affected by the model's hairstyle. And now, posthaste, I shan't say 'post' anymore today...