From Russia with Style

This style makeover is very special. First of all, because it is inspired by the fashion heritage of my beautiful country - Russia, which to my biggest pride is becoming more and more influential in fashion world thanks to the pioneers of new Russian style-it girls such as Miroslava Duma, Ulyana Sergeenko and Vika Gazinskaya. Second of all, it is a wonderful collaboration with a talented girl Julia, who has got all the courage, creativity and passion to turn the oldest Russian accessory into a real fashion statement.

Russian shawls are genuine piece of art - they are hand-painted by Russian artists so you can be sure of not seeing the same pattern twice. They are extremely warm, since it is pure wool and versatile: they can be used as a scirt, dress, scarf, or a turban. Just use your fantasy and don't be afraid to experiment as we did together with Julia during this photo shoot and we did have fun!

This look is all about Julia and who she is: Russian temper adjusted by European education, healthy sex appeal without vulgarity, can be tough and very sensitive at the same time. And you may think it just does not match at first sight, but when you pull it together it looks quite harmonious and whole, at least to me.

This look shows how easy you can combine the typical oriental pattern of the shawl wrapped as a skirt with easy-going striped sweater. The stripes take the extravagance down and you can easily wear it in the day as well as dress it up for the evening by wearing a pair of sexy pumps coupled with a simple clutch.

Julia is wearing striped cotton sweater coming from some local market in Province, 

shawl Vera by T&K boutique, Cos leather necklace, pumps, clutch and belt.

Sometimes there are occasions in girl's life when you just need to give yourself to draw this extra edge and emphasize your authority no matter your age, sex or a cup size. Marlene Dietrich's style has already become classics but you cannot really call it masculine, because wearing masculine pieces and styling them the right way you only emphasize your femininity and girl's power and this is what this look is about. Don't be afraid to be bold!

The brooch and a tie make this look quite toreodorlike, but it is easily fixed by taking the accessories down.

Julia is wearing Diane Von Furstenberg leather jacket, Massimo Dutti pants, Zara shirt, 

shawl Vera by T&K boutique, black shoes and glasses.

This look is very Russian and very feminine as most Russian women. Take your shawl to the next level and wear it as cocktail dress with some light-weight blazer. Your customized dress is fixed with a pair of pins and a belt and you will never find anyone to wear the same.

Julia is wearing shawl Vera by T&K boutique, blazer, belt and pumps.

La vintage

Why is vintage so fashionable these days? I would say it is the easiest way to be unique: buying vintage you don't risk to see the outfit you're wearing on a stranger, and which is even worse at the same party. Thank's God I didn't buy the yellow mini dress from Karen Millen for a vintage 60-s party, because I have seen at least two of them passing by that evening. Being dressed the same in this case is even worse than being dressed tasteless, because "tasteless" might be quite subjective, whereas "the same" is a matter of fact.

Anyways, my next story is about vintage inspired look, and to be more precise about a very inspiring young lady who has a rare combination of femininity and emancipation at the same time. Her name is Melissa, she lives in the heart of Antwerp. I was so inspired by visiting her apartment which just breathes art-deco, jazz and the romance of that time, that I could not stand the temptation to style Melissa a la vintage. 

Melissa in her retro-chic apartment before

Melissa after re-styling.....

They say "Diamonds are a girl's best friend", I would say in our time "Accessories are a girl's best friends", because they are a way more easy-going: affordable, appropriate in a day and a night light and mostly important accessories are able to turn even the most boring outfit in the most stylish one. You want to know how to layer your jewellery, check out this video:

How to layer jewellery?

As much as tiresome and frustrating it can be to pick out the outfit, the hairstyle is still the worst. And I have never ever met a girl who is happy with her hair: curly ones want to have straight hair and vice versa, long hair are got cut, and then let grow again, blond wanna be brunette, but then realize they will always be blond in their heart and all these medieval tortures we do to our hair can easily be the reason to make them grey eventually, can't it be? A perfect solution for "the hair problem" is a turban. This head accessory is not only traditionally functional, but can also save you some hours of work with your hair and create some oriental mystery around your look. Be careful with it, you do need to have some extravaganza sparkle inside you, otherwise you risk to be not convincing in it. Here is a great video how to tie a turban:

How to tie a turban?

Melissa is wearing Malene Birger blazer, Cos overall, H&M bag and Monar pumps, Mango bracelets, vintage scarf wrapped in a turban

This look is a compromise between modern minimalistic and retro-romantic: modern outfit and retro inspired hair and make-up.

Melissa is wearing Malene Birger blazer, Cos striped sweater, Mango bracelets, Cos necklace, 

Dr Adams pumps and vintage clutch.

And the last but not the least............

 As I already mentioned Melissa is a very rare combination of a woman whose femininity does not contradict with her emancipation, and this is actually what a pin-up style stands for. To show women's femininity as a weapon and strength not fragility in the eyes of men. And even pin-up girls are past in the history, the style comes back over and over again, which let us doubt if it is that old-fashioned?

The hair and the make-up is the key in the pin-up look, it is far from being casual and extremely time-consuming however if you are still curious to try it on, check out this video, I used it for Melissa's make-up:

Pin-up-look

Melissa is wearing a Levi's vintage shirt, Top Shop belt, Essentiel skirt, vintage clutch&bangles and Sam Edelman pumps.