As a general rule, when people have nice photos taken of themselves, they go for a look that’s more dressed up and dramatic than their everyday outfits. For me, however, it has been the other way around: both proper shoots that I’ve done recently have been about casual clothes. This is because if left to my own devices, I’d only photograph statement gowns and weird culottes. I need someone to tell me to put on a pair of jeans and get on that photo, because my thinking is that this is boring and who would want to look at a pair of jeans anyway? So I need some expert help to make normal clothes exiting.

I don’t really enjoy the actual shooting element of the photo shoots, as I’m a horrible model: for the first 15 minutes I just stand there, frozen. But I do find the rest fun and educational: it’s always instructive to watch professional hair and make-up people at work and it’s interesting to have someone else style your outfit and try things you’d never have chosen yourself (like jeans). The learnings from this photo shoot are:

1. A good photographer is an amazing thing. I knew that, of course, but it’s still amazing. To get a reasonable photo out of me is not easy, but if they can do it with me, they can do it with everybody. No real need for touch-ups, even.

2. A white sweater is one of the most useful pieces one can have for the Nordic summer. It looks summery, because it’s white, but it’s also in sync with the actual weather we’re having for most of the summer. Even if we are lucky and get 25 degrees Celsius during the day, the evenings will be chilly. The Superdry one on the picture is surprisingly flattering, but I could also envisage a cricket-inspired one, with a low v-neck.

3. The more I wear them, the more I think a pair of khaki/cargo/combat trousers is a great thing to own. The pair shown here is quite tough, but you can go more formal or differently casual. The ones I have don’t reference the army, but construction workers, with lots of decorative paint stains. They look good with a blazer, knits, tank tops, more romantic tops, everything.

The stuff I talk about and show on the blog is almost always owned and bought by me. The only exception so far has been the summer mood story. This is the second one, because when you have an option to be styled by Karolin Kuusik and shot by Riina Varol, you don’t say no. Even if the stylist has an emergency regarding a major TV show and doesn’t make it to the set in the end 🙂

Hair and make-up: Lana Vallo Studio
Photos: Riina Varol
Style: Karolin Kuusik and yours truly
Clothes: Superdry (Ulemiste Center)