Alina-Mariia Hodz is a Ukrainian creative who has been living and working in Helsinki since 2014. As a lead product designer, you might not expect her office fits to go this hard – but they do. Here she is, with Eva-Liisa, inviting you to break free from all the stiff and formal rules.
From sewing clothes for her dolls to dressing up in her pink puffy childhood dress, her connection to clothing began early and never faded. Today, her style moves between contrasts: a touch of grunge from her teenage years, soft femininity from childhood, and the structure of everyday workwear. Rather than choosing one, she blends them – guided less by trends, more by feeling.
With her rapidly growing Instagram, Alina reminds us to play with clothing, even during a long day at the office. There’s no need to wait for a special occasion to wear sequins or ruffles.
[Eva]
When did you realize that clothes matter?
[Alina]
I think it started very early. When I was a little girl, I loved dressing up – both myself and my dolls. At some point I even started sewing clothes for my dolls, and honestly that became more fun than playing with the dolls themselves.
I just remember loving the feeling of dressing up like a little princess – it made me happy. And that feeling never really went away. Through my teenage years and into adulthood, I’ve always enjoyed clothes and fashion. So I can’t point to one exact moment – it’s just always been a part of me.
What are your earliest memories related to clothing?
I remember this beautiful pink dress with a big puffy skirt. My grandma put it on me when I was about six, and I just felt amazing.
That’s probably my first strong memory connected to clothes – that feeling of being completely validated in what I was wearing.
This look is based on a classic office outfit – suit trousers and a blue shirt. But both pieces have small twists that make them more interesting. The trousers have pleats at the back, and the shirt is double-layered, so it already feels a bit different from something standard. To make the whole look more playful, almost a bit ironic, I added a puffy skirt on top. The Tabi shoes complete the outfit and keep that subtly strange and unexpected feeling.
Wearing: Weekday shirt & skirt, Ukrainian brand German Apparel pants, Maison Margiela shoes
This is one of my comfort outfits – something I can almost hide in. But I still can’t go fully simple, so I added a striped skirt on top of striped pants. Even though the look is mostly black, it still has a bit of an edge because of the layering and the mix of patterns. The t-shirt says “Alina,” and it was made for me by Finnish brand Danny Wu. I’m really grateful for that – it makes the outfit feel even more personal!
Wearing: Danny Wu T-shirt, Edla Shoes, Thrifted bag & German Apparel pants
How did you dress in high school and university?
In high school, I was very much an alternative nu-metal girl. I wore ripped jeans, sneakers, band t-shirts, and bags covered in pins. It was a fun time.
I also loved secondhand shopping – I would find pieces and then cut or adjust them myself with simple hand stitching to make them fit my body and style. It felt very personal.
When did your current style start to take shape? What influenced it?
My style is always changing depending on how I feel, but there are a few elements that have stayed with me over time.
I still carry a bit of grunge from my teenage years, along with my love for rock music. At the same time, these days I’m drawn to very feminine pieces, which probably comes from my childhood memories – all those cute dress-up moments.
And then there’s a more “office” side, simply because I work in that environment now. I actually enjoy mixing these worlds together – grunge, feminine, and a bit of structure. Sometimes I combine all three in one outfit.
I’m wearing a slip dress over pants, and underneath there’s also a t-shirt, so it’s a mix of pieces that usually belong to different contexts. I really love the blue color here – it gives me a fresh spring feeling and makes the whole look feel light and easy. I’m also wearing my first designer bag, the Maison Margiela camera bag. I found it online on discount about seven years ago, and I remember how incredibly happy I was when I got it. It still feels special every time I wear it. I wore this outfit to the office, and it felt completely natural for me – like a good balance between playful and put-together.
Wearing: Free People slip dress, Maison Margiela bag, Danny Wu T-shirt, Edla shoes.
Why do some people know how to dress cool and others don’t? Where does style begin?
I don’t think there’s one definition of “cool.” For me, it’s about confidence and honesty.
When someone feels good in what they’re wearing and expresses themselves without trying to shrink or blend in, that reads as cool. You can look cool in a simple black t-shirt and trousers, or in a very bold outfit – it’s not about the clothes themselves.
Style begins from within. It starts with asking yourself: how do I feel today, and what do I want to express? Even people who say they’re “not into fashion” still make choices – like picking between two pairs of jeans. That’s already style.
It’s really about being connected to yourself and being okay with showing that.
Clothes as a form of communication?
Clothes definitely communicate something, often without words. They can show what sort of group you belong to, or what values you might have.
If you dress boldly, it can project that you’re confident and expressive. If you keep it very simple, it can say that clothes are just a practical tool for you.
But I think the most important communication is actually with yourself. What you choose to wear reflects how you feel and who you want to be that day.
I love this outfit because it feels like two different moods in one look. The bottom part is almost like I stayed at home in pajamas, while the top is very office-like and structured. To make it a bit more interesting, I layered two pairs of shirts, which adds a slightly unusual detail without being too obvious. The bloomer-style pants underneath almost feel like something from a lingerie wardrobe, but in this context, they look surprisingly natural. I finished the look with tabi dress shoes, which elevate the whole outfit. I don’t even think anyone at the office noticed how unusual those pants actually were. It all just blends in in a very organic way.
Wearing: Ukrainian brand SAYYA grey shirt, Sister Jane pink shirt, Free People bloomers
Why do you enjoy hunting for special pieces?
I love pieces that carry someone’s creativity, effort, and story. Especially when it’s something handmade or found in a secondhand shop – it feels like you’re discovering a small piece of someone else’s world.
To me, special clothes are like wearable art. You don’t just look at them – you live in them, you move in them, you make them part of your everyday life.
Clothes as memory keepers?
Definitely. I have clothes I haven’t worn in years, but I would never sell them.
They hold memories. When I look at them, I can feel all the emotions from that era again. It’s like a small time capsule. Some pieces just carry moments that are too personal to let go of.
This outfit is actually something I upcycled myself. I took a slip dress, cut it, and stitched it into a shirt – so now it’s this hybrid piece that feels like a classic office shirt, but with a twist. It has that slightly unexpected, almost “wrong” detail, which I really enjoy. I paired it with white bloomers that feel like they come from the same world as the original slip dress, so everything still connects in a subtle way. To balance the look, I added very sharp office-style loafers. They ground the outfit and make the whole thing feel a bit more structured. What I like most is that it’s comfortable because of the loose shapes, but still interesting and a little bit playful – almost office-appropriate, but not quite.
Wearing: Upcycled shirt, Weekday bloomers, Edla shoes
Are there clothes you miss and wish you still had?
The only pieces I sometimes think about are from my childhood – clothes that were given away. It would be fun to have them now, just for the memories.
Your everyday outfit – what matters most in it?
Comfort, but not just physical comfort – emotional comfort too.
My outfit has to match how I feel that day. If I want to feel cozy, I go for oversized shapes, soft fabrics, maybe darker tones – something I can almost “hide” in.
If I feel more energetic and playful, I choose brighter colors and more fun combinations.
For me, the most important thing is that my outfit reflects my mood. That’s when I feel the most like myself.
Whose style has caught your eye in Estonia and abroad, and why?
I really like the style of Mari-Ly Kapp – there’s something very expressive and confident about her. She is also a stylist and her work is just incredible.
There’s also a fashion photographer from Estonia whose work I really like – Kertinvasser!
Here I’m wearing a very classic office look – a SAYYA wool suit with trousers and a shirt. But to make it more playful, I added a skirt on top that I made myself. It’s a wrap-around, belt-style skirt that I can wear with almost anything. I love how it instantly adds a slightly ironic, unexpected twist to a very traditional outfit. That contrast is what makes it fun for me – something structured and familiar, mixed with something personal and a bit unusual.
Wearing: SAYYA wool suit, self made wrap-around belt-style skirt, Edla shoes
CREDITSInterview & photography by Eva-Liisa Orupõld