Bohemia of Porvoo.

Today I’m ending the latest Porvoo saga with a post of a place that is probably one of my favourite meccas to shop: Bohemia second hand, interior and lifestyle shop.

Enter the boutique of boho-chic wonderland here.

A composition of autumn apples and tea mugs.

Bohemia is actually a mix of various different types of items from different sellers.

The shop itself offers a wide selection of imported boho style clothing, jewellery, decorative items etc.

There’s also hand-made local products like the jewellery made from recycled paper above.

I wish I had one of those candles. And robes. And everything.

As you may already have guessed, my favourite section of the shop is where people can rent a rack and shelves for a period of time – so you may get to find really cool and unique pieces with just pennies. Although all of the items sold in Bohemia are absolutely lovely, I do admit that the price range of many of the imported and hand-made goods are a bit too high for my budget.

There was a couple of pieces of these gorgeous old wooden toy horses around the shop.

A peek of the second hand/vintage section with the fitting room that is oh so familiar to me…

To finish this post, I have to highlight the friendly and assertive customer service that works in at least three languages, Swedish, Finnish and English. So don’t be afraid of asking for help or assistance!

When I asked the permission to take pictures for my blog, the owner came forward as super supportive and interested in reading what I’ve come up with. I know it’s a long time since visiting but I do hope that the staff of Bohemia sees this! I do love your place and I hope I can get as many people as I can to visit your shop in the nearby future.

Yours,

Miah

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Gasp – Vintage!

Next in the ‘Lark Lane series’ is a vintage (or even more like antique) shop called Gasp Vintage.

Even though I personally am more of a clothing freak, I’ve always found it pleasant to come and check out what kind of cool stuff Gasp has this time.

The shop is basically almost like an old warehouse full of unique finds ranging from old plane or theatre seats to small porcelain cups.

What I love about the place is its colourfulness and variety of even strange objects sometimes!

Design for the tea-lovers!

I have really wanted to get some of those reproduction retro posters but so far I’ve just been too worried that they’d get all wrinkly in my backpack. Well, maybe next time! Tell me in the comments section which is your favourite – and maybe I’ll even send it to you…

Yours,

Miah

Vintage on Bold Street.

Cow

I was actually heading to another vintage place on Bold Steer, Pop Boutique, when I randomly (out of curiosity for the quirky beautiful display window) popped my head into Cow.

And what an oasis of good-quality vintage shopping did it turn out to be!

Even though I happened to find the best stuff from upstairs…

…the downstairs was also filled with racks full of cool-looking clothing.

The fitting rooms are also located downstairs so you kinda can’t avoid digging into the collection. Which is a bad thing only if you’re in a rush!

I absolutely love the design of the whole store though I have to admit that the fitting room doors may be a little bit confusing. On the positive side, the lighting is good and there is definitely enough room to place everything until you’re ready.

Pop Boutique Liverpool

The second shop in this post is my absolute favourite vintage place called Pop Boutique.

After visiting the place they have in Manchester, I realized how much better (and affordable) the vintage scene in UK really is. Compared to Helsinki, I mean.

Okay, I understand that sometimes you just have to get new sports bra or tights from Primark or H&M – and that’s completely fine as long as you understand the effect ‘fast fashion’ has on nature and the workers. But honestly, when there’s places like Pop Boutique where you can find a unique piece of clothing made to last with the same amount of money that you’d spend on a normal shop, why still choose to support the nasty industry?

Resurrection Liverpool

My friend told me that he used to basically live in this shop about 10 years ago when he was a student. Unlike most of the other second-hand/vintage boutiques, Resurrection still had a student discount available.

The downstairs is full of ‘menswear’ (but you can still go there and try on some of those gorgeous grungy flannel shirts…) and the upstairs is for the ladies’ second-hand, vintage and retro reproduction clothing.

Yours,

Miah

Tripping to Liverpool.

And so it is that, once again, this restless soul is soon going to be packing and leaving to see the world again.

Proper introverted traveller hobbies!

This time the travel destination will be Liverpool (via Manchester).

Although Manchester is particularly known for its brick buildings, this old brewery (above) is actually found from Liverpool.

The last time I had a morning walk in Sefton Park, it was kinda freezing… Though I honestly don’t know if I prefer it to this weather! At least it provides me with the possibility to go out camping in the Lake District that I’ve heard reminds the landscape we all Twin Peaks fans adore…

I also have some unfinished business on Lark Lane since the combined bakery-cafe AND vintage store ‘Freida Mo’s‘ opened the next weekend after I had already left. I can’t wait to get my paws on their collection and vegan treats!

This time I won’t miss it (or any other of the second-hand/vintage shops nearby). Another must is Pop Boutique located in both Manchester and Liverpool. I see only some serious shopping possibilities here!

So far away – but so close…

When this post reaches all of you guys, I hope to be already working on the new material gathered from UK!

Yours,

Miah

The Old Town of Porvoo (part 2).

Continuing my Porvoo trilogy with a random collection of the cutest pics of indie-businesses located in the Old Town area (totally non-sponsored, though I wish I was).

The text pretty much says ‘The Steward Manager’s Heirs’.

Starting with some retro cars, naturally.

Jeez – just look at that pink gorgeousness. I could totally see myself honking for the tourists to step aside when I am making an important emergency cake delivery to the other side of the town.

Or the van above! Initially, as we were approaching it, I thought the van would’ve sold ice cream but now I’m not so sure no more. Anyway, isn’t it just cool in such a retro spirit?

Though the price level probably isn’t from the cheapest end, Porvoo does provide you with a variety of bed and breakfast or other hotel/motel options. Speaking from experience, I’d definitely say it’s worth the investment of getting to stay overnight in such an atmosphere! Who knows, maybe there’s even ghosts wandering around in those old rooms?

Entrance to the museum from the court yard side.

Out of all the museums I’ve personally visited in Porvoo, I’d definitely rank the doll and toy museum (that is actually more of a private collection) as number one. Even if you only have half a hour of so, you are able to see the full collection – and perhaps make even small purchases yourself!

Here’s a link to the museum’s official web page (only some parts translated in English): Porvoon nukke- ja lelumuseo

Tuulian Aitta (‘Tuulia’s Shed’), selling mostly vintage table ware, is located right next to the doll and toy museum. Definitely worth visiting as well!

Traditional type of Finnish barn painted with red ochre paint.

If you love second-hand, vintage and retro reproduction – Porvoo Old Town is your place.

Porvoo vintage cafe collective – hire me, please… Don’t you just love the shade of the old ochre buildings?

I’m pretty sure Porvoo is marked into maps (or apps) as an important design area as well – and for good reason! Personally, I’d much rather invest my money into vintage jewellery and furniture but each to their own, right? At least there is a good variety of locally produced handicraft and design products to purchase in Porvoo.

Sadly, a lot of the businesses were closed on Sunday, which is an unfortunate, but important part of the flaneur. I mean, we’re probably a bit too used to living in an overall capitalist culture based on quick, cheap and disposable consumption. If you appreciate a spontaneous adventure, then you gotta accept the fact that sometimes the coolest places just happen to be closed. Then you just have to come and visit some other time…

Even the paintings on the ordinary maintenance structures were promising for vintage and second-hand lover like me!

Loving the bench perfectly matching the orange logo!

Brace yourself for the grade finale of my Porvoo series: tomorrow in my special post I am going to introduce you to the best cafe in the Old Town of Porvoo! Vegan options included, of course – so stay tuned, my lovely rainbow soul…

Yours,

Miah