Dress Codes & Jewelry - What to Combine? Part 2

This blog post is second part of my dress code & jewelry post.

Most are confused about what to wear, if they have dress code invitions. So in this blog post I will tell briefly about the dress code and what to wear and how to accessories. Please read also my first part about the dress codes and jewelry which you can find HERE.

SMART CASUAL:

Smart casual attire is a blend of two innately different dress codes. The term "Smart" alludes to a dressed-up something more than formal than classic t-shirt and jeans. Smart casual dress code are slightly less formal than business casual which you read below.

Women can select pencil skirt, top and jacket in pop colors (bright colors). Also blazer goes.Select for a shoes flats or high heels. 

Men can wear denims, chinos or suit pants with a shirt or dressed-up t-shirt. No ties for this type dress codes. What comes to shoes, select loafers or boots. 

Jewelry to combine with this outfit:

Women can wear pearls or small sparkling jewelry.

Men can wear bracelet and necklace.

BUSINESS CASUAL:

Business casual attire is less formal than traditional office clothing but it still falls under “just professional enough” to be appropriate. Business casual dress code changes from company to company, from industry to industry and in all parts of the globe.

Women: For this type attire choose pants and blazer. Also pencil skirt and blouse goes. You can choose for shoes flats, pumps, stilettos or open-toed heels.

Men can wear slacks, chinos and a collared shirt. Do not select jeans or sneakers. As for shoes, select tie-up shoes, dark leather shoes or loafers. 

Jewelry to combine with this outfit:

Women: Choose pearls, small sparkling jewelry. Stick to high quality jewelry.

Men: Choose luxury brand watch and if you like to wear bracelet, choose chain bracelet.

BUSINESS FORMAL:

Business formal dress code is a standard dress code and it´s also highest level of professional attire. Suits are essential for both men and women but stick in conservative colors and polishes accessories.

Women can wear tailored dress or pantsuit.

Men can wear suit with a tie.  

Jewelry to combine with this outfit:

Women: Wear simple and minimal jewelry that don´t draw much attention. Choose medium size hoops or pearl jewelry.

Men: Cuff links and luxury watch.

CASUAL:

This dress code is most relaxed and employees are allowed to dress-up comfortably but your outfit needs still to fit to event.

Women can wear casual dress and skirts. If you don´t want to wear a dress, select jeans and blouse.

Men can wear jeans, sneakers, khakis, polo shirts or sweaters.

Jewelry to combine with this outfit:

Women: Choose hoop earrings, costume jewelry, layered necklace.

Men: Choose bracelet (chain, leather, beaded or layered) or necklace with pendant or some charm. If you have pieced ears, choose studs.

I hope my blog have clarify for you different dress codes and helped you to pick the outfit and jewelry for your special event. Finally, I would like to thank my stylist friend Annika, who inspired me to write about this. She also keep Finnish blog called Ihana Tyyli so check that too if you are more interest about fashion.

~ Minna

Dress Codes & Jewelry - What to Combine? Part 1

My newspapers & ads distribution work has kept me busy this week. I took one extra district to distributed and in two days I have been cycling a lot more than normally I would but I don´t complain, since weather has been Sunny and warm. My work is independent, I get nice tanning and exercise in fresh air. 

Although, in this unfortunately COVID-19 time you can´t host big parties, I want to write a little bit about the dress codes and what kind of jewelry you could combined with the dress code outfits. 

If you’re lost with these dress codes, then don’t worry, I’ll tell you about each dress code briefly. Please also remember to read my last blog post, as those tips are also useful for these dress codes & jewelry post. You can find my last blog post HERE.

WHITE TIE:

This dress code are most formal one so what should you pick?

Women can select floor length formal gown and gloves. 

Men can select suit with vest and white bow tie or wear a tuxedo.

Jewelry to combine with this outfit:

Women: As a jewelry, choose as authentic as possible but stick to small jewelry. Good choices are genuine gemstones, pearls and diamonds. If your dress is simple, you can put earrings, necklace and bracelet. If your dress have some embroidery in top or rhinestones, choose just earrings and bracelet.

Men: Choose cuff links with genuine gemstones and luxury watch. 

BLACK TIE:

This type parties are usually after 6 p.m and weddings. 

Women can select floor length formal gown. 

Men can select suit with a black bow tie.

Jewelry to combine with this outfit:

Women: What comes to jewelry, stick in small jewelry and select genuine jewelry materials like pearls (seashells, freshwater pearls...), jewelry that have genuine gemstone or classic diamond jewelry.

Men: Choose cuff links with genuine gemstones and if you like or own, add a luxury watch.

LOUNGE SUIT:

Lounge suit parties are during lunch time or if you are English, timing is during afternoon tea.

Women Can choose preferably knee-high dress or formal gown. 

Men can simply choose suit with a tie.

Jewelry to combine with this outfit:

Women: As a jewelry, you can choose less formal but pearls are always suitable as long they aren´t acrylic or wax pearls. Choose preferably glass or crystal pearls if you don´t own any genuine pearls. Swarovski Crystal pearls are closest in real pearls, they feel little cold towards skin since the pearls have crystal core. Plus, Swarovski pearls comes in variety colors. If you like to add a necklace with your outfit, choose something simple like a pendant necklace. 

Men can choose classic cuff links and classic watch.

COCKTAIL:

Cocktail attire is a standard dress code for parties and evening functions.

Women can choose dress that finishes at or above knees. Also short black dress is appropriate. You can also select evening pantsuit. What comes to shoes, select high heels that are neutral colors or black

Men can select dark colored suit and tie is optional.

Jewelry to combine with this outfit:

Women: Choose sparkling jewelry like anklets, pearls, cubic zirconia jewelry or any other high quality jewelry. 

Men: Choose pendant necklace, sparkling cuff links or statement watch. This time the watch doesn´t needed to be classic and restrained, your watch can be eye-catching. 

I have divided the dress code attires in two parts in order to keep my blog post in decent size. I will post later second part of dress code attires. Special thanks to my stylist friend Annika, who keep Finnish style blog called Ihana Tyyli.

 ~ Minna

Building Your Jewelry Wardrobe

Losing My Creative Powers

At this point I´m so out of blog post ideas and feeling like all my creative powers has gone. I think this is pretty common situation time to time to people who do a lot of creative works in their hands. I have lost my creative enthusiasm couple times before but luckily it always come back.

When I feel that I have used all my creative energy, I usually head my focus elsewhere for little while. I might scrolling Pinterest or just going walk in the nature and trying not to stress so much about lack of my creative powers.

I have always enjoyed to do something with my hand weather its baking, trying new food recipe, planting flowers, crocheting, knitting or making jewelry that I  have done past eight years now more or less as a full-time job. Sure, I have my work as a newspaper distribution but it only takes one or two days from my week.

What Do When You Don´t Feel Creative

Here´s few tips what to do if you feel you´re out of creative powers:

1. Don´t force yourself to make something if you feel opposite

It´s pointless to sit in front of your work table many hours just wait if something comes up. This usually lead frustration and leaving you more angry than you were at the beginning.

2. Do something else

Usually when you head your focus elsewhere, you might get sudden inspiration what to do or make. If you are professional writer, you might get writing inspiration when you least expect it. In my opinion, same goes pretty much other things that require creativity. Don´t be scared, if month or two passed when you get back in track. Our brain needs "vacation" or other things to think. I like to say that creative mind is usually busy mind. I mean that creative people often do multiple things at the same time and your focus might change hundred times during the day.

3. Learn something new

When you head your focus elsewhere and learn to do something unusual you, you often find yourself to having fun and not to worrying your creative power. Don´t stress about it. Most important is to have fun and enjoy what you are making even if it renovating your home. That´s creative too but you might feel much happier when you see your favorite color on the wall.

4. Take a course

I went couple years ago to jewelry making class although I make my own jewelry. It was wire wrapping class and it was so fun! I never get same peace and calmness to make my own jewelry in home because I have multiple cats that´s usually start to fight each other or dropping things that they shouldn´t and my work usually interrupted multiple times in day. Plus in course, I learned new and there were similar people who shares my interest to making jewelry. The course cheered my up and given me so much boost to make my own jewelry.

5. Scroll Pinterest

Pinterest is a good place to go when feel out of creative powers. Pinterest offers so many good tips for gardening, home interior, how to renovate your home etc. Usually just looking beautful pictures might get you inspired again.

6. Walking in the nature

Walking in the nature by yourself, with boyfriend, friends, husband or with your dog might get you inspired again. Nature has healing powers and our stress level decreased. I love to live in Finland since we have so much forest near us. I love to go for jogging by the river or small forest path. I usually plan my walking and running routes that I don´t get interrupted by cars or other traffic so much. I love to listen music too so that´s is good way to relax. Finnish singer artist have once said that she doesn´t know any state of mind which the music wouldn´t help and that´s so true. Music and nature has power to heal us and help us to deal with our emotions.

I hope these tips would help you and feel free to comment which has helped you.

~ Minna

Mother´s Day & Gift Ideas

Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world and this year Mother´s Day is celebrated on May 10,2020 in United States and also in Finland.

Many families have traditionally bring breakfast for the mother in her bed with self-made card. With cards, the mother is often remembered with a Mother’s Day poem or verse.

Today, Mother’s Day lunches and brunches are also popular. Here in Finland our Mother´s Day tradition is to collect white anemones for mothers. I did that every year when I was younger and lived in home but as a adult, I usually send a card. At the Finnish Mother's Day celebration, the President of the Republic awards Mother's Day badges to deserving mothers. Grandmothers are also often celebrated on Mother’s Day.

How Mother´s Day Celebration Started

The Mother´s day celebration began in the United States when Anna Jarvis mother died in 1905 which made her thinking society haven´t take into account the role of mothers the nation's industrialization and raising children. At Jarvis' suggestion, a memorial service was held for all mothers at Andrews Methodist Church in May 1907. The following year, May 10, 1908, the first “official” Mother’s Day celebration was celebrated in Jarvis ’hometown of Philadelphia, and six years later, in 1914, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother’s Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the second Sunday in May.

Mother's Day was celebrated in Finland for the first time on July 7, 1918, although only in Alavieska. Mother's Day was brought to Finland by Vilho Reima, who once worked as a primary school teacher and Member of Parliament. The following year, the day was celebrated on the third Sunday in May and in several localities, but by 1927 the present time had become established for Mother's Day. Mother's Day was confirmed as the official flagging day in 1947.

Mother´s Day Around The World

Nowadays, the second Sunday of May is settled and below is dates and other countries when they have Mother´s Day.

• February second Sunday ━ Norway
• March 8th ━ Albania, Bulgaria and Romania
• Mothering Sunday ━ Ireland and United Kingdom
• March 21nd ━ Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria
• May first Sunday ━ Spain, South Africa, Lithuania, Portugal, Hungary
• May 8th ━ South Korea (Parents' Day)
• May 10th ━ United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Commonly celebrated in South America 
• May second Sunday ━ Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Philippines, Hong Kong, Italy, Austria, Japan, Canada, China, Cuba, Latvia, Malta, Peru, Germany, Singapore, Slovakia, Finland, Switzerland, Taiwan, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey, New Zealand, Estonia, United States 
• May 26th ━ Poland
• May 27th ━ Bolivia
• Last Sunday of May ━ Dominican Republic, Sweden
• June first Sunday or last Sunday of May ━ France
• Aug 12th ━ Thailand (Queen Sirikit's Birthday)
• Aug 15th ━ Belgium (Antwerp), Costa Rica
• Second Sunday of October ━ Argentina
• Oct 14th ━ Belarus
• Last Sunday of November ━ Russia
• Dec 8th ━ Panama
• Dec 22nd ━ Indonesia
  

Gift Ideas For Mothers:

• Cook for your mom special dinner
• Spend movie night together or go to cinema together
• Buy a ticket in her favorite concert
• Buy a jewelry
• Reserve table in her favorite restaurant
• Buy flower bouquet
• Make a long phone call if can´t visit 
• Take a walk to the park
• Record a video (everyone can say "Happy Mother´s Day" etc)
• Make a playlist 
• Make your own card

Or go to help your mom with her garden or offer helping hand with yard.

~ Minna

How I started To Crochet

I haven´t crochet much before I started. I remember doing one crochet work in the primary school and I think it was something for the Easter time, maybe little chick or something. 

Years later I was studying in Interior Designer school and hadn´t time to learn how to crochet although my internship place boss were crocheting almost anything but at the time I wasn´t so interested to learn.

After I graduated from Interior Designer school I started to spend my free time crocheting things. I wasn´t plan to learn how to crochet, it just started naturally. I searched on YouTube suitable videos for beginners and I must say I really enjoy to crochet.

My first bag handles. These are slightly
flexible and flat shape.

First I started to crochet bag handles since my friend needed them in her bags and wanted different kind handles than faux leather or fabric ones. So I started to seek right kind yarn and suitable video on YouTube. I learned pretty quickly to crochet bag handles but then my friend was looking for some decorations that she can attach in her bag creations. I remembered my grandma´s crochet butterflies but couldn´t remember how they crochet so after couple hours seeking right kind videos I found one but the butterfly wasn´t exactly same but still it was pretty.

After making things for my friend, I wanted to expand my crochet skills and now I have crocheted ear warmers, scarf, couple ballerina slippers, baskets, cat toys and my favorite thing to crochet: fingerless gloves.

I learned all on YouTube so naturally the stitch names that I know are in English. I laughed with my friend that once I didn´t know the stitch names in Finnish! 😆 So now I´m willing to learn those stitch names in Finnish and want to learn how to read different patterns.

As you can see, you can crochet pretty much anything. Here´s some of my crochet work that I´ve made during this time.
My cats just loved to play with crocheted mice but the ball wasn´t their favorite. On the right are the butterflies. pink edged butterfly is my grandma´s that she made years ago and next to is my version.

As always, I´m open to learn anything new and interesting so now I have crochet about year and half and now I´m learning how to needle tat. It´s been little challenging but at least I´m trying and most of all, I got new experience and learn constantly from my mistakes. 

This quote describe well about my creative life. Try, learn and most of all have FUN! 

~ Minna

Photographing

This week I thought to write about photographing. 

My Interior Design studies included one course of photographing and first I was so excited about it since I´m always eager to learn to take better photos but when I realize that the teacher wasn´t going to teach us to use SLR camera even some of us haven´t used it before and told us to just to take bunch of photos I consider the course vain.

I´m not professional photographer but I´ve been photographing pretty much my whole life different things  like my favorite Finnish singer which is pretty difficult to photograph since she likes to dance along with her songs. Lately I also love to take nature photos too. Usually I have my Iphone with me and the phone have good camera.

Once my Interior Designer teacher said that camera doesn´t affect the quality of the photos but I´ve testified it wrong as below photo collage show you - camera do matter the quality of the picture!

Over these years I´ve changed my camera probably three times. Above collage you can see how different camera affect the quality of the photo.

First photo on the left is with white glitter background. That time my camera was battery based and they were pretty quick out after couple photos. Also for this photo I haven´t used any natural light nor flash.

Second photo with wooden imitation background I took with my new camera that needed to charged with USB cable. For this photo I tried to use natural light but it was pretty much impossible for me at the time since my apartment were near forest and corner where the Sun didn´t shine was any time of the day.

Last photo is taken with my latest camera. I´ve been long wanted SLR camera that suited for beginners since I didn´t want any fancy one with fine features that I probably won´t learn to use. I planned the background, used natural light and bought a mannequin bust for the necklaces.

If you have Etsy shop or planning to open one, I simply recommend to buy good camera. Mine camera is Nikon D3300 which is user-friendly camera. With that camera I´ve taken all my Etsy photos and I´m so pleased with the camera. This camera is also good for any beginners who haven´t used SLR camera before.

Here´s my few photograph tips to take better photos:

1. Buy good camera

As I´ve shown you, nothing beats good camera that takes clear photos and the quality of your photos will bring you many sales

2. Plan your photos

Many seller favorites clean white background, usually PhotoFuzed one but I personally think that it may be clean but also makes items little floating in the air. I highly recommend to use clean background and I bet it can be found in your home. You can use your kitchen table or counter to photograph your items or any other table you may have in your home that suited your item style

3. Use natural light

I´m not talking about direct sunlight but good day light which won´t bring much shadow around your item. This may require to observe little while how the natural light come in your home and which time of the day is the best time to take photos

As you may know, you can´t learn photographing unless you just photograph. Try different settings of your camera and transfer the photos in your laptop to see the differences between photos. That way you can find the settings that suited best your items.

~ Minna