Minju Kim

This coat.

I mean, right?

This coat stops traffic.  I make all kinds of new friends when I wear it.  Even the Swedes, who do not warm up to outsiders so easily, find themselves crossing streets or shops to ask me where the coat is from.  This woman was snapping photos of me (er, the coat) like crazy at a Marimekko party the other night, and I actually had one iota of a sense of how annoying it would be to go through life like that.  (Poor Kim Kardashi... wait.  NO.)

And do you know where it's from?  H&M.

Yeah, buddy!  H&M.  Over here (and in other selected big cities), H&M has all sorts of edgy and trendy get-ups.  And things that are produced in small runs.  (Ask me about my goat-skin fringed leather jacket made in Turkey...) Like this coat.  There were only four of them in all of Sweden.  How's that for exclusive?  I'm certain there were less than 1000 made.  F-A-N-C-E.

Anyway, the designer is Minju Kim and she won the H&M design award this year.  Her collection was sold in selected H&M stores, as well as in Opening Ceremony in the US.  I will post more pics from the  other pieces I bought from her collection (stay tuned for the "monster hug cape") as I wear 'em, but for now you can see more here.  God, it's like she was designing for me.

Back to the coat... real quick, the pink skirt-y part in the back zips off so it can be a relatively less-kooky item, made up of only two mis-matched wool blend jacquard fabrics.  I know... AND it's convertible??  This coat is tops.

Wearing

Shots from the past couple of months.

If I were guaranteed an open elevator every day, there would be way more of these shots.  

Great vintage print on a blouse from Melora.

One day I looked down and this was the scene.

And another day, it was this.

This shirt would be at the top of my list simply for being made of sequins.  But if those sequins are in the pattern of some awesome candy brands?!?  You're right, it's genius.   

St. Sebastian-inspired tights from the lovely French brand Les Queues de Sardines.  (By the way, THESE.)

Staying Warm in Stockholm

Cochino knows all the tricks.

Blocking out the draft on a furry rug.

Burying yourself under the blankets.

Staying in linear formation.

Using the lamp for heat.

Drinking with friends.

Keeping cozy with one eye open.

Stockholm

It's 3:06 pm and the sun is setting.  But I really don't mind.  I've still got beef with Stockholm, sure (the disproportionate ratio of full-body checks to utterances of ursäkta and the overpriced food and drink for starters) but I've really mellowed.  You know why?  Because we've met some really swell people in the past week.  People we jive with, people doing cool stuff, people including us in things, people who you want to stick around and have another drink with, people who make you feel creative because they are creative.  I think we're on the cusp of something here.  It feels like some of these people are gonna end up our super-awesome homedogs.  And everybody needs some homedogs, amiright?  I don't know why the universe waited until last week to throw ALL of the best people in Stockholm our way, but I'll take it.  I'm gonna try to ride out this warm and fuzzy new-friendship feeling as long as I can, though I guess it'll just get warmer and fuzzier if some of these new groupings become old ones.  Anyway... thanks, universe.

Foodstuffs

Homemade yums.

Berry tart with oat crust.

Throwing Kanye the bones.

Cashew and garam masala granola.

Just like grandma used to make--but now gluten-free!

Local shapes.

Sweet potato, sausage, and quinoa shepherd's pie.

'Naner pancakes.

Chocolate chip cookies with hemp seeds.

Mozzarella and olive "eyeballs" for Halloween.

Merengue-y goodness.  (Disclaimer:  store-bought.)

Berbere-spiced kale stew with cornbread muffins.