Street fashion in Helsinki
December 1, 2005 6:28 AM   Subscribe

Hel Looks. Street fashion from Helsinki, Finland. You're probably familiar with Japanese street style, and how they're dressing in Shibuya, but what are things like on the other side of the world? Some Hel fashions look familiar. Very familiar. Some recall the 'world between the wars'. Shemagh are popular, although not for the head. Sometimes just...eek! If Death Metal marries Neko Musume, in which religion will the kittens children be raised? Of course this is Helsinki: "When I dress up the most important thing is not to be cold!" [via]
posted by Slithy_Tove (39 comments total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Cool. Such a strong sense of personal style. I like the explanations behind people's looks.

"I'm a cross between J-pop and punk"
posted by bullitt 5 at 6:42 AM on December 1, 2005


It gladdens my heart when I see "style" interpreted as meaning something other than "what they wear in [Paris/Milan/NY/etc.]." Even if it just means staying warm.

Some of it's kind of ugly, but if they like it, I guess that's what matters.
posted by lodurr at 6:52 AM on December 1, 2005


(So, do people in Japan see imitation like this and say, 'hey, that's cool', or is it more of a 'wtf' reaction?)
posted by bhance at 6:54 AM on December 1, 2005


Obligatory JapanesePedantFilter: Sure, those folks whose photos were taken in Shibuya are technically "how they dress in Shibuya", but it's pretty clear if you know the area that they are how "people who hang out in Harajuku and then pass through Shibuya to get on the train" dress. It's like taking pictures of Nigerians getting off a plane in Tokyo and saying "This is what people in Tokyo look like!" Not quite.

Sorry [/end digression]

posted by Bugbread at 6:56 AM on December 1, 2005


Reminds me a lot of street fashion in Reykjavík... though the Icelanders don't seem to be as concerned with staying warm. If you see anyone in December who looks like they're not freezing, they're probably foreign. :P
posted by grapefruitmoon at 7:03 AM on December 1, 2005


Well, not that much of a digression. What seems different about this is that a lot of it is plausible. I saw a lot of similar stuff in Reykjavik in October. Mostly this seems like stuff I'd expect to see at some nightclubs here in Rochester on a Saturday night, though not so much on the street.

Probably this isn't meant to be representative, as such, so much as highlighting the interesting.

What would be interesting is to know how representative this is. Any Finns?
posted by lodurr at 7:04 AM on December 1, 2005


If I see 2 women who have a purse that's "close to [their] heart," that's probably just coincidence, eh?

Lots of cool varied styles though. Makes me feel rather boring (no, I don't wear what they wear in Paris...).
posted by artifarce at 7:05 AM on December 1, 2005


"Anything can be cool now. You just need to believe in what you are doing or wearing. It's superfree now. Anything goes. Nothing is out."
See, this shows I don't know anything about current cultural trends. I would have definitely guessed this guy was out.
posted by justkevin at 7:05 AM on December 1, 2005


grapefruitmoon: I've been to Reykjavik twice, a year apart. I was interested to see the evolution of fashion in that time. Pilgrim cuffs had migrated up the age-spectrum and were no longer so evident on young girls, but short jackets over long sweaters seem to be a permanent fixture. I was amused to see a bunch of young girls seeming to copy Silvia Nott -- couldn't tell whether they were being ironic or serious -- must be one of those positive feedback loops.
posted by lodurr at 7:10 AM on December 1, 2005


lodurr: I don't recall these Pilgrim cuffs, but I left in July. Perhaps they were introduced later.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 7:12 AM on December 1, 2005




Pink hair rocks, though she is only 14 and they do look like emo girls.

And these look like mini-moshers.

In general when looking through these I just thought "oh johnny foreigner you are funny"

Clearly I dress far beter. Ahem.
posted by 13twelve at 7:47 AM on December 1, 2005


lodurr: What would be interesting is to know how representative this is. Any Finns?

Not a Finn but I do hang out in Finland on a regular basis (my mom lives there). I usually only go to Turku, though, which is not as big a city as Helsinki.

This is not representative of how I see the Finnish youth. I guess you see some of them (the trendier ones) dressing like this but there are also a lot of generic goths and even more in boring H&M outfits.
posted by sveskemus at 8:08 AM on December 1, 2005


Clicking through each of these and reading the commentary is hypnotic. I discovered it a few months ago (through BoingBoing, I think), and it makes me want to learn Finnish and travel to Helsinki.
posted by Saellys at 8:23 AM on December 1, 2005


Yeah, this to me looks basically what you'd find (hip and/or eccentric) people wearing in any urban center of the U.S.
posted by TonyRobots at 8:25 AM on December 1, 2005


The more I read, the more I conclude the Helsinki youth is more grown up than the Manchester youth.

Somehow they seem more sure of themselves than I did at that age.

Unless they just babbled some rubbish to sound more intelligent and change their minds about everything every 2 weeks like I did (and still do..)

Or maybe in translation to English, Finnish people sound more intelligent.

Or maybe its me thats not intelligent...
posted by 13twelve at 8:29 AM on December 1, 2005


After being released from stasis by the G-man, Gordon Freeman retired to Helsinki to wear bad clothes. Though it does look partially better than the HEV suit mind...
posted by 13twelve at 8:37 AM on December 1, 2005


With enough of the right kind of attitude I think you can pull nearly anything off. Great post. I was only recently made aware of Shoichi Aoki's Fruits and Fresh Fruits.
posted by well_balanced at 9:15 AM on December 1, 2005


Er... Fruits
posted by well_balanced at 9:19 AM on December 1, 2005


Interesting how many of them make their own clothes.
posted by Dean King at 9:46 AM on December 1, 2005


Clicking through each of these and reading the commentary is hypnotic. I discovered it a few months ago (through BoingBoing, I think), and it makes me want to learn Finnish and travel to Helsinki.

You don't need to learn Finnish to visit Helsinki. Nearly everyone speaks english very well and is happy to do it. (And it's among the most difficult western languages to learn, anyway. As in "pretty impossible.")

I once pricelined a roundtrip ticket to Helsinki from Boston for 300 bucks. And it's a mind-blowing place to visit with Tallinn right next door. I don't give a shit about fashion, but I love Finland.
posted by Mayor Curley at 10:06 AM on December 1, 2005


A swedish friend of mine told me a Finnish joke:

Q - How do you tell a Finnish extrovert?

A - He looks at your shoes when you ask him a question.

So, anyway, that's it. These folks don't seem that shy. damn stereotypes.
posted by Pollomacho at 10:15 AM on December 1, 2005


I've got a few Finnish friends, and have been over several times to visit in Helsinki, a great place. I always end up commenting "Those crazy Finns" at some point...
Clicking through each of these and reading the commentary is hypnotic. I discovered it a few months ago (through BoingBoing, I think), and it makes me want to learn Finnish and travel to Helsinki.
Then do it!
posted by iain at 10:23 AM on December 1, 2005


Indeed, all Finns are crazy. That's why they get on with New Zealanders so well...

These people look like Hamburg Mueslis ca. 1988. Ooh! Huge romantic scarves! How daring!

Also, many of them could do with a hot meal.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 10:40 AM on December 1, 2005


emo kids.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 10:46 AM on December 1, 2005


Inspiring... and a little addictive.
posted by Lillitatiana at 11:30 AM on December 1, 2005


I'm a native Finn, and it seems to me that sveskemus is correct. Most of the Finnish youth does not dress like this. The Helsinki scene is a bit special, probably because Helsinki is the capital, and the largest city in the country.

ALL of Finland is a bit kooky, though. But in a good way, I assure you..
posted by Eco at 11:45 AM on December 1, 2005


Gotta respect the Finns. How many other countries have defeated the Soviets in war (without foreign help)? Plus, while I wouldn't want to have to learn it, I think it's definitely one of the sexier languages around. (Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, and Finnish, in that order, if anyone cares.)
posted by lodurr at 11:53 AM on December 1, 2005


... (plus there is that whole c. 1988 "edge of the Internet" cache)...
posted by lodurr at 11:54 AM on December 1, 2005


I agree with Eco. I think that this is somewhat representative, but then it fails to capture the people who were apparently too boring to get on the website. There are a bunch of those too. Like any other city, Helsinki is populated with people who may not care so much about fashion.

There are definately some people who are way out there. Saw this kid who had purple lipstick and golden sparkly pleather pants on as I got on the bus. I guess I was more impressed about how people here barely bat an eyelash at things like that, whereas in my home town (Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, US), people would stare and start to talk about you within earshot.
posted by taursir at 12:11 PM on December 1, 2005


Heh heh, the Finnish Beavis and Butthead,Janne and Joonas!
posted by Jawn at 12:17 PM on December 1, 2005


How many other countries have defeated the Soviets in war (without foreign help)?

Ummm, the Nazis were helping them. And they lost the Winter/Continuation war and had to give Karelia to the Soviets.
posted by Mayor Curley at 12:43 PM on December 1, 2005


Yeah, Finland is a strange place filled with weird people. Can't help but love it.
posted by sveskemus at 12:47 PM on December 1, 2005


"I don't try to stick to any particular style. I wear and do things that feel natural. Sometimes I feel like a grannie and I colour my hair grey. Sometimes I'm a stylish middle-aged woman and sometimes a child. This teddy bear is not my accessory. I'm going to give it to my mother who is at the hospital. It will bring her joy."

A manifesto for a new age...
posted by hototogisu at 4:10 PM on December 1, 2005


Helsinki is crawling with art students who dress like this.

Finland is a wonderful place to visit. Really wonderful.
posted by surplus at 4:59 PM on December 1, 2005


70 year old Irma rocks. Check out her cool blue suede boots!
posted by phoenixc at 7:20 PM on December 1, 2005


oops...do-over...
posted by phoenixc at 7:22 PM on December 1, 2005


Living in Finland. Not really a representative sample- seems to be mostly art students. The palestinian scarf thing is dropping out of fashion around here, it peaked around 2003 I guess. Current fashion seems to be dictated by what's in H&M, mostly. There's a generous helping of gothy-metal type style due to the popularity of bands like HIM and 69 Eyes.

The first one Salla (22), and Cecilia (22) is probably the most representative for women. Big 'ol scarves, boots
posted by daravida at 12:21 AM on December 2, 2005


Yeah, gonna have to second what daravida said.

Am Finnish and lived there for the first 20 years of my life.
Oddly enough, my ex-girlfriend's (American) one complaint about Helsinki is how uniformly everyone dresses...

So yeah, this is not exactly an indication of Helsinki as a whole.
posted by slimepuppy at 5:00 AM on December 2, 2005


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