Tag: Villa Gyllenberg

Review in Helsingin Sanomat of the “ Schjerfbeck and Fashion” exhibition by Pirkko Kotirinta

Irma RomeroLeave a comment

Here’s the wonderful review by Pirkko Kotirinta in Helsingin Sanomat on the “Schjerfbeck and Fashion”exhibition at Villa Gyllenberg, including my outfit.

Excerpt from the article:

“Eräs maalaukseen ikuistettu vaate astuu näyttelyssä kehyksistään kolmiulotteiseen maailmaan: ompelija-suunnittelija Irma Romeron varta vasten tähän näyttelyyn luoma kimonotyylinen takkiasu. Se on vintagemuotiin erikoistuneen Romeron tulkinta Helene Schjerfbeckin maalauksen Tumma nainen (1929) mallista.

Romero pitää teosta kunnianosoituksena Coco Chanelille (1883–1971) ”uuden modernin naisen vaatettajalle”.

Kimonotyylisiä takkeja ja vekkihameita näkyi muotikuvissa 1920-luvulla, ja myös japonismi kiinnosti. Oliivinvihreäksi värjätylle kreppisilkille Romero onkin maalannut koristekuvion, jossa näkyy japanilainen henkäys. Hän kertoo tarkemmin työn vaiheista kotisivuillaan”


”One piece of clothing immortalised in a painting, steps out of its frame into a three-dimensional world at the exhibition: a kimono-style jacket created for this exhibition by Designer and Dressmaker Irma Romero. It is Romero’s interpretation of Helene Schjerfbeck’s painting The Dark Woman (1929), who specialises in vintage fashion.

Romero considers the piece a tribute to Coco Chanel (1883–1971), “the dresser of the new modern woman”.

Kimono-style jackets and pleated skirts were seen in fashion pictures in the 1920s, and Japonism was also of interest. On the crepe silk dyed olive green, Romero has hand painted a decorative pattern with a Japanese touch. She tells more about the stages of the work on her website”

My homage to Helene Schjerfbeck’s “Girl from Eydtkuhnen II” (1927)

Irma RomeroLeave a comment

Here’s my interpretation of the dress of the wonderful abstract painting “Girl from Eydtkuhnen II” (1927), by the amazing Finnish artist Helene Schjerfbeck which I wore for the exclusive preview of opening of the new exhibition “Schjerfbeck and Fashion”, which opened at the Villa Gyllenberg in Helsinki on February 14th 2024. See my previous post about how I became involved in this project.

This rather unusual bolero dress, which was a novelty in the 1920s, in silk crepe de chine, features joining panels of fabric, in this case, in different colours with the technique known as “faggoting”, a very popular thing in the Twenties, which could be made by hand or as in this case, by machine. It creates an interesting patchwork effect. The bolero top attaches to the front only. The light yellow main dress also features a beautiful accordion pleating on the skirt, in this case my homage to Clara Bow, and the skirt she wore in the film “It”, also made in the same year as the painting. The light blue belt, with a bakelite vintage buckle, fashionably placed on the lower hip brings a lovely balance to the elaborate bolero front.

Schjerfbeck and Fashion exhibition preview night

Irma RomeroLeave a comment

February 2024 has been an amazing and exciting experience for me. This week marked the opening of the new Schjerfbeck and Fashion exhibition at the Villa Gyllenberg. Creating an exhibit was a fulfilling experience, seeing my outfit inspired by the “Tumma Nainen” ( Dark Lady), 1929 painting, amongst the rest of the collection, was a special highlight.


Here I am pictured with my lovely Art Historian and Curator of the exhibition friend Marja Lahelma

and here with my Mum.