Helsinki shopping

When in Helsinki I rarely miss a visit to Stockmann's department store. This shop is a bit of a Selfridges of Helsinki, and you'd be pushed to want something they don't stock. Especially the food hall downstairs is so moorish, I have to be really careful not to buy it all up! (Suitcase issues are always a problem when I'm travelling).

Edible roses…or

Strawberries and blueberries...

...or a rye sandwich to go?

Another place which I rarely miss is the large Marimekko store on North Esplanade, as I am a bit of a Marimekko freak. I've been brought up on the stuff after all!

This is me wearing the classic Raitapaita
circa 1970…!

You can imagine my delight when a friend asked me last Saturday if I'd like to go to the outlet store (Tehtaanmyymälä) in East Helsinki, near the newly branded shopping centre, Itis. I didn't even know such a thing existed!

Although some of the stuff in the Tehtaanmyymälä is not that heavily discounted (dresses were only down from 129 Euros to 119 Euros, for example), you can still find some fantastic bargains, like this classic striped t-shirt. I've head several of these Raitapaita t-shirts over the years, so I thought it was about time to get another one. I found a perfect summer combo: Navy and white, and it was discounted in the Marimekko Outlet store. Couldn't really say no…?

These are my other finds: the dress is from the current collection, but I couldn't resist as it's really thin fabric and perfect for a beach to bar cover up (we are off on holiday soon; can't wait).

Another great Finnish clothing store which a good friend recommends for businesswear is Andiata. They do good quality suits, shirts and dresses for special occasions. The fit is just right, and when in Finland I buy one or two pieces. This time I went for this sleeveless cotton shirt. It was so comfortable to wear I tried to get another one in white (you know me and my serial shopping problem), but they had run out of my size everywhere. (Andiata can also be found at Stockmann's).

A very different store, which I'd not visited before is Moko Market and Cafe. It's a sort of Finnish Anthropologie, although I was told Moko precedes the US store. This shop stocks quirky home wares and clothing from the Nordic countries, as well as French and American stuff.

The coffee they grind onsite is delicious, we brought home this breakfast blend, which was just perfect for a morning brew.

Finally, for me, a shopping trip in Helsinki would not be complete without a visit (or, erhm, half a day's browse) to Akateeminen Kirjakauppa. This vast bookshop on North Espalande has a coffee shop upstairs, called Aalto Cafe. Here you can hear literary discussions abound, or see refined Helsinki ladies having coffee and cakes.

Akateeminen Kirjakauppa has books on any subject in almost any language you may require. In short; a writer's heaven.

I love these old escalators.

This time I was also delighted to find a friendly face (or book cover) to remind me of London. In the biography section on the second floor I spotted Maggie and Me, salonista par exellance Damian Barr's recent book. I hope it'll soon be translated into Finnish and Swedish so everyone in Finland can enjoy this excellent biography.

In spite of now having no space at all in my suitcase, I bought three hardback books by new Finnish writers. I will report back soon on my book review site on these. Just as well my friend had room in her suitcase for my books. The same old story! (Kindle, what Kindle?)

Stockmann Helsinki

Aleksanterinkatu 52Puh. +358 (0)9 1211

Marimekko Tehtaanmyymälä (Outlet Store) 

Address: Puusepänkatu 4, 00880 Helsinki, FinlandPhone:+358 9 75871

Transit: Herttoniemen metroasema

Andiata

Alexanterinkatu 40 - 42

Helsinki

Moko Market & Café Punavuori
Perämiehenkatu 10
00150 Helsinki
p. 09-41504500
mokomarket@moko.fi

Moko Market & Café Sörnäinen
Vilhonvuorenkatu 11
00500 Helsinki
p. 045 144 6225
mokosornainen@moko.fi

Akateeminen Kirjakauppa

Keskuskatu 1, Pohjoisesplanadi 39 (PL 128), 00101 HELSINKI
Tel: 09-121 41
Sähköposti: tilaukset@akateeminen.com

London gets all dressed up for the Jubilee

Regent Street is all flagged up.

After attending a busy and hot networking drinks do at the Radisson Blu Hotel by Portman Square in London W1 last night, afterwards I popped into Selfridges on my way back to the Bond Street Tube. I was in a hurry to get back home as the terrier was crossing his legs, but I couldn't resist a visit to the Wonder Room which was full of Jubilee goodies, and taking a few photos of all the inventive ways the store was celebrating the Queen's 60th year on the throne.

These guards were cardboard cut-outs. I want one!

A small person's Barber - love, love, love!

I adore those Union Jack gloves!

Even the lampshades were red and blue and white.

What would I give to own this piece of arm candy!

And I always thought Absolut vodka was Swedish 0+ here parading its British side.

I can vouch for this product, the softest shave ever (for a man, obviously!)

Poetry please?

Good old Paddington Bear was there too.

The real Queen's gloves worn on the day 60 years ago!

I've succumbed to some of Emma Bridgewater's jubilee china. It's just fab.

A crown made out of jelly babies. Yummy!

The Clarins counter at Selfridges looked wonderful.

Pressies?

I hope these guys got paid for doing this to their bodies…

Corgies with scarves.

I can't wait to start celebrating the Queen's Jubilee - surely it must be Pimm's O'clock already?

To Spanx or not to Spanx is the question.

Due to the small operation I had a few weeks ago, I've put on weight. This is annoying, to say the least, especially as I've got a very important event to go to this weekend.

Luckily I still fit into the same dress size at Hobbs and found this demure wool dress in their new autumn collection. But in order to look my best at The Very Important Drinks Party, I decided I needed some shape wear underneath to hide the extra kilos. So off I skipped to Selfridges this afternoon, where one of the very helpful assistants they employ on the lingerie department, gave me a handful of Spanx to try on.

I don't know about you, but I found trying on this heavy armoury of underwear incredibly depressing. Bits were bulging in places I didn't even know I had a problem with. I got very hot and bothered in the cool, air-conditioned changing room. I certainly looked absolutely nothing like this....

Spanx at Net-a-Porter

After trying on six different types, from the body suit to the slips, I decided Spanx was not what I needed. Instead of trying to suck my body all into what I can only describe as a sausage skin, what I really have to do is to get back to the gym. Since I'm not a Spanx girl after all, my old D&G slip underneath the Hobbs dress will just have to do...