HOW TO DRESS MORE FEMININE IN COLD WEATHER? OUTFIT PROPOSAL, MOSTAR (BIH)

I've been talking a lot about winter outfits lately, haven't I? It's quite cold here in our sunny Mediterranean region of Herzegovina, so I can only imagine what it is like in countries that have a more continental climate. Therefore, speaking about dressing for cold weather seems to make sense. Spending time outdoor is beneficial for our health. I know I'm repetitive but it is one of those things I don't mind being repetitive enough. We're not bears and we're not supposed to curl up, hibernate and sleep through the winter (though we all sometimes wish we could). I spoke about benefits of spending time outdoors here.  Plus, getting out can be a great opportunity to take some photographs and share them (because sharing photographs one way or another- that's just a part of our daily lives right now, almost like a modern way of communication).

One might say I have it a bit easier than some. Surely being surrounded by such beautiful mountains I'm tempted to go outside for a hike. Well, that's certainly true. This glorious view of Mostar city is a walking distance from my home. I did walk up to this point many times in the past. However, this particular time we drove there, because I just wasn't well enough to walk (I'm still trying to get my iron levels up). As much as I love sports, hiking and all that, I also have a chronic illness that at times makes it impossible to enjoy physical activities. That's life. Sometimes we have it easy, sometimes we have it hard. I think we all have it both easy and hard- in certain areas of our life. Nobody has it all. When I'm well enough, I do sports. When I'm not, I don't. I don't stress about it. I think worrying about things like that is more unhealthy then skipping a work out day. I'm all for fitness and stuff, but sometimes people get obsessive about it, especially in January. This is another thing I wrote about in my blog in an article titled Working Out Philosophy. (What I haven't wrote about? Maybe I've been blogging for too long? Maybe it is time to retire?)

This lake you can see besides me doesn't actually have a name, as far as I know. The place itself is called Halda (not sure is it an official name) and it is located near Vihovići and obviously quite close to neighbourhood Rudnik (close in like five minutes from here). Rudnik means a mine, and there was a carbon mine here in the past. My husband's father worked in that mine. It was closed down some time ago but you can still sometimes see the heat coming out of the land.  From this place you can enjoy a glorious view of Mostar city. If you visit Mostar city, this is another photo worthy location to consider. I've actually taken outfit photographs here quite often in the past. If you want to see more photographs of this are, you can do so here (Mostar in the background) and here (Close to the edge).

Now, a few words about my outfit. I'm wearing a grey midi dress I made myself (available for sale) in the fashion sewing class I took last year. I wasn't sure how this dress is going to look like paired with high boots and mid length coat, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was worried that the silhouette of the look would be clumsy with the coat cutting the dress at a bad angle, but now that I look at the photographs the silhouette looks fine to me. The fact that this coat has a belt helps, I'd say. Still, this might not be the best combination for petites. This outfit would look more elegant with high heeled boots but these ones are so comfy I couldn't resist. As much as I love high heels, I must admit that a low heel is often more comfortable. Fortunately, today there are so many shoe models and designs available that it is easy to find dressy flat or low heeled shoes. So, we can have the best of both words.

IS COLOURED COAT THE ULTIMATE WINTER FASHION OUTWEAR?

How do you like my new coat? This lovely brown faux leather/ faux fur coat was a gift from my husband. He saw it and decided that it was perfect for me. What could I do? I had to try it. This coat is quite fitted so I had to take of my chunky sweater to try it on, but once I tried it on I was surprised by how comfy and warm it is. I do like that it came with a faux fur hoodie. Perfect coat for cold weather. I think brown coats are a great alternative to black ones. I do own a black coat ( two actually- one short, one long) but I often find myself reaching for coloured coats just because they are so fun to style. 

Dress: DIY (available for sale here) / Boots, Coat and Bag: Not branded

I really like the colours of this outfit. Brown and grey go surprisingly well together. I'm not sure why I haven't discovered this colour combo before (or maybe I have and I have just forgot?) but it is certainly a lovely one. On overall, I do like this outfit. Faux fur always makes me feel so glamours. I was going for a feminine winter styling that will be both warm and comfortable, and I think I've done a pretty good job. When creating a feminine winter outfit, little details like cute gloves or a pretty bag always help. Moreover, winter accessories can help us stay warm. I wrote about that in a post title d Winter Accessories: How to Stay Warm While Looking Stylish so feel free to check that one as well. 

Winter style tips for dressing more feminine 

1. Think before you get dressed

Alright, maybe this is kind of obvious, but putting some though and effort into getting dressed can pay off in the long run. You might want to put together a list of things that worked for you in the past, a list of things and outfits you want to try out. Take a minute and think before you get dressed.

2. Look for inspiration 

If you're feeling stuck or uninspired, don't be afraid to look for inspiration. With the help of various social media and fashion sites ( such as Pinterest, fashion blog/magazines and Instagram) , and search engines ( google and whatever else you're using) you should be able to come up with great outfit ideas.  

3. Don't forget about layering

I know it is pretty obvious but still. You need to stay warm. The best way to do that is layering. In addition, layering gives us more options. Creating a feminine outfit is easier once you master the layering. For example, when you want to wear a pair of warm leggings, consider wearing a nice elegant skirt or a dress over them. Wearing a dress or a skirt over leggings or even pants is a great way to fight the cold.

4. Pay attention to the accessories

Anything from a nice scarf, leather gloves to a pretty necklace can take your outfit to a new level. Write down all the feminine accessories you can think of. Check out what you have in your closet. Remember that gorgeous pair of earrings you totally forgot about and finally wear them. You do not have to wait for the Spring to wear your favourite necklaces. Wear your necklaces over turtlenecks and scarves. 

5. Wear fitted items or a belt

Fitted items are often by definition feminine. They make any outfit appear more dressed up and feminine. If you cannot invest in tailored and fitted items right now, consider belting your clothes. A nice belt can create an illusion of a fitted cut. 

6. Skirts and dresses are an obvious choice (so don't you ignore it)

Well, they are. Skirts and dresses are clothing items that are by definition feminine. Today dresses and skirts come in all shapes and forms, so finding a cut that suits you should not be a problem. The same goes for finding a style. From rock chic to classical elegance, there is a dress for every style.

7. Don't forget about 'formal' clothing items 

By formal clothing items I mean anything you would wear for formal meetings, special occasions or office. Most of us have shirts, blouses, dresses, blazers that fall into the dressed up category. Sometimes we do not wear them as often as we could. There is no reason why we should wait to be invited to a wedding so we could wear our best blazer. 

8. Opt for luxurious fabrics

Luxurious fabrics such as velvet, silk or satin will always make an outfit seem more feminine. I mentioned formal clothing as a way to create more feminine clothing in my previous note, and we might notice that often the art of the appeal is in the fabric. Moreover, when we think about formal clothing, there is often a connotations of a special type of fabric. Cotton, suede and denim are considered casual materials, while silk for example is considered a more luxurious material. Inspect your closet. Find those luxurious fabrics and think of a way to wear them.

9.  Suit up and don't forget a pair of nice heels

Wearing a classical suit is always a good idea. Whether it is a pants plus blazer or skirt plus blazer, a nice suit adds elegance into every look. If you want to look extra feminine when you are wearing a suit, do not forget to wear dressed up shoes, it does not matter whether it is a pair of heels or a pair of fancy flats, what matters is they match the suit and make the outfit more polished.

10. Vintage clothing- the obvious feminine choice

Vintage fashion bloggers and models can be your perfect inspiration. Yes, vintage can be the best place to look for feminine garments, especially vintage clothing from the fifties and earlier. Be it second hand, inherited, bought or whatever, a vintage clothing item can add femininity in our closet. There are many vintage shops out there, but if you are not in the mood for shopping, you can always ask your mothers and grandmothers, family members and friends and see if they have some item they would like to get rid off.  

11. Faux fur or wool lining for jackets and coats

Faux fur/wool lining is a great way to keep warm. Such jackets and coats can be your best friends during the winter months. Take this faux leather coat with faux fur lining that I'm wearing. It's super warm. I could literally wear a tank top under this thing and still be warm. I'm not kidding. I know I said that layering is everything, but sometimes when you find the perfect jacket or coat, you don't need to layer that much. Just pick a nice dress or a jumper and you're ready to go. 

Dress: DIY (available for sale here) / Boots, Coat and Bag: Not branded