Friday, May 30, 2014

Inspired


Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments on my last post. I will do my best to respond to everyone as I usually do, and catch up with all of your new posts as well. I am always touched when you show interest in life back in my home country and ask me questions. Since we are exploring personal style here, I thought I'd mention a few style blogs in the Russian language which are definitely worth of checking out, so let's come back to this by the end of this post, OK?




This outfit was inspired by an all-denim look by one of my favorite fashion bloggers - Stephanie Zwicky of  Le Blog De Big Beauty. I just adore this woman - so much fun, freedom and creativity in her outfits. Trendy - yes, but done with an exceptional artistic eye and soul. You can see the photos of her denim outfit in this post. Here in particular, I love how she combines casual denim with soft and feminine details, such as flowers in her hair and long flowy scarf. I find blue/brown color combo very striking too.  

But as much as I loved Stephanie's look, I did not want to simply copy it - I had to add my own little twist, you know - to feel like Natasha Lialina, not like a girl who just read the famous Big Beauty's blog. So I left the basic idea untouched (all-denim, wide leg trousers, chunky accessories) and added a bit warmth with gold and a somewhat nautical feel with my own accessories. There is really not much for me to add about this outfit, other than I couldn't resist buying these wide leg pants at Chico's Memorial Day weekend sale. I always loved the look of such trousers, but haven't had a chance to wear them before. I love them so much, I think I could wear them every day!








And now, as promised in the beginning of my post, let's talk a little about style in Russia. I actually consider Russian women among the most stylish or at least, fashion aware. I can't emphasize enough how much style and fashion mean to Russian girls. One of the most stylish people I personally know is a beautiful Russian lady who lives in my neighborhood and who used to consider starting a personal style blog. I kept encouraging her and still hope that she gives it a go one day. There is really nothing to lose. If anything, only to gain. And yes, I know there are a bazillion style blogs nowadays, but people like this Russian beauty or like Stephanie Zwicky for whom style is a true passion coming from the depth of their being, are still a rare and invaluable find. Well, since I don't know whether or not this talented Russian lady started blogging, I decided to share with you a few other style blogs in Russian language (I think they also translated into English, or just use Google Translate which is wonky, but better than nothing). The photos you will see below are not exactly representative of a typical Russian Winter dressing - they are rather exceptionally artistic outfits for not the most cruel weather (we do have mild Winter days too!). But I thought they will give you a good idea just how much style actually means to women in Russia. I intentionally picked bloggers with completely different styles, so there is something to enjoy for every taste. The common thing between them - they all are REALLY GOOD! So enjoy! :)

Vita (St Petersburg, Russia) of La Vita Mia - feminine retro inspired outfits


Tatiana (Moscow, Russia) of Bonnie Blog - imaginative boho inspired outfits


Elena (Odessa, Ukraine) of Galant Girl - dynamic contemporary outfits


I hope you'll enjoy your visit to my part of the world and find out for yourselves that even in the extreme weather conditions, as they say, girls will be girls! To complete the picture, I'd like to finish this post with my humble self and show you a photo which I have already posted in my blog before. It was probably a not-so-bad winter day (-15 to -25 C) in Siberia. Still cold, of course. I would say I look pretty stylish here - yes, warm and cozy, but still stylish in my long dark blue sheepskin coat with side splits, white beanie and oversized scarf, and fashionable boots. And even though this photo was taken  about 15 years ago, I still consider this outfit stylish and I would wear something like it again if I happen to go to Siberia in Winter. I just really hope that I won't have to! :)


Today's outfit:
Denim shirt - Lane Bryant (previously worn here)
Chambray wide leg trousers - Chico's (still on 50% off sale here)
Wedges - Jeffrey Campbell
Purse - Cole Haan (old)
Necklace & earrings - Chico's
Bracelet & ring - Lane Bryant

26 comments:

  1. Darling Natalia/Natasha! I love everything about this post! From those fabulous wide-legged jeans, to your amazing bum, your funky shoes, and your starfish ring! And I love the fact that you want to share some beautifully stylish Russian bloggers with us too. I agree that Google Translate is extremely wonky (it's given me some laugh out loud moments when I use it for Beate's blog!) but it gives you an idea, and of course the beautiful images don't require translation. And I really adore that final photo of you looking gorgeous in the freezing Siberian temperatures. Definitely still stylish, despite the cold! xxxx

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    1. You made me giggle! Who else can say it in such a cute and innocent way - bum? :) It was a fun outfit to wear! Thank you, my dear!! xxx

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  2. Natalia! Your amazing shoes! Don't know if they would work in the snow ;-) I love your homage outfit. It looks stylish and comfy. Win, win! The starfish ring is pretty funky. That end photo of you is amazing on your "warm" winter's day !

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    1. Nope, definitely wouldn't work for snow! :)) But you'd be surprised how many women wear tall boots on high heels in winter! xxx

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  3. Oh my! Siberia in winter ...eeek! I'm getting chills just looking at it.

    You are the second blogger I've seen sporting wide legged pants this week. Great retro 1970's vibe going on here.

    Thanks for sharing those other bloggers. I need to check them out. I follow a few Polish bloggers and also a few Romanian already. Style is an international language ; )

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. Yep, style IS the international language, like all art is. :) I too get chills just thinking of cold! xxx

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  4. natascha! you look sooo cool - like one of "charlie´s angels"!
    this wide legged pants are very chic - even in denim they look elegant. and your accessoires make it even more glamorous.... love this shoes!!!!!
    in the GDR we always knew that russian girls/women are very stylish - elegant and feminine. we drooled over the furs and makeup skills, the jewelry..... those bloggers you introduce here are gorgeous. very beautiful and creative with they´r looks. it has´t to be 24°C and sunny to look and feel beautiful.....
    love your sheepskin coat and soft white hat and scarf - you look so cozy in this photo!
    (don´t know if you know already that i´m a huge winter&snow lover, if you like look for winter 2012/13 on the blog)

    hug you!

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    1. I have to check out Charlie's Angels - I only heard about them, but have never watched! Justin said they were supermodels spies - haha, that's so not me! :)

      I agree - 24 C and sunny is the best weather for anything including looking stylish! I looked up your winter entries - what a gorgeous fur coat!!! I've never had one like this. I used to have a fur coat, but not as pretty as yours. :) xxx

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  5. I love this look on you! So chic and breezy! I too love blue and brown, and especially denim blue with brown or teal blue with brown.. And those shoes! Oh you are so stylish it's just so much fun to follow your blog. I always think you look like a work of art. And you look so cosy and stylish all bundled up for winter too! Thanks for sharing some Russian style blog links. What fun to explore those!
    xoxoxo

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    1. Really? "Work of art"? Me? That is such an amazing compliment, Shawna! Thank you!! I definitely have lots of fun, and my creativity is flowing these days thanks to this blog and your enormous warmth and support, my dear friends! Life is art, I always say that. Blogging is such a fun part of my life. xxxx

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  6. Your outfit inspired by Stephanie's blog looks lovely and those shoes and starfish ring are fab.Thanks for sharing some other style blogs and I love that photo of you wrapped up warm in the snow xx

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    1. Photos of snow look quite cozy, but I am not a big fan of winter in general. :) Glad that we have such a mild winter here - similar to yours! xxx

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  7. You look so exotic in the depths of Sibiria. In Crete/Greece, where I live with my family there come a lot of Russian tourists for holidays and I have the chance to meet many Russian women. They are so feminine comparing with German or British women and they love,love, love to pose. Russian women are beautiful and dress in sexy ways.
    I'll go check those blogs but before I have to say you are a poser,too and what a beautiful unusual ring is this? A starfish that matches your nail paint! Shoes and how you defined your waist all make this outfit special! Thank you for the warm comments.

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    1. He he, exotic! Yes, it's becoming exotic to me too these days. I offered to take my parents up to our mountains to enjoy the snow (sooo pretty) last winter when they visited, They said, thanks but no thanks. :)))))

      Agree about Russian girls - they do prefer sexy style of clothing (I've always been a bit too subtle to really be Russian :). xxx

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  8. Natalia ,
    To love your denim on denim lost and I love those wide legged trousers on you. Those fabric Missoni like shoes are just gorgeous too.
    Thank you for sharing this other Russian blogs with us, I do agree that they represent a great deal of fashion and originality. I am part Russian also. I really enjoyed this post. Kisses, Elle

    http://mydailycostume.com

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    1. I did suspect that you are part Russian, Elle! I can see it in your beautiful face! Glad that you enjoyed the blogs - those are my favorite of the ones I know about. xxx

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  9. Nataia, I mentioned your post on style in my latest blog post, Essay on Style :-)

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  10. I adore your denim outfit! like Beate, I thought 'Charlie's Angels' immediately, the wedges and belt give it the Natalia look and your bum looks so good! and you do look super stylish in your Siberian winter, -15-25 is not so bad, oh my goodness! one of our worse winters was -11, we were rubbish! thank you for introducing these amazing Bloggers too, they are gorgeous! x x x

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    1. It's all relative, of course. I hate it when temperature here is around 0 C - I don't like cold, and we really don't even have the right clothes for it here as it's not a necessity. Maybe that day WAS -11 C... it's hard to remember! But -11 C is really mild for Siberian winter. :) xxx

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  11. Cool look, Natalia! I too love wide legged pants, especially they are good for hot weather as when it is above 30 I can't bear any skinnies and to wear dresses all the time may become boring. So, I go for wide legged pants then. As always, adorable jewelry, I particularly envious about the starfish ring, such a beauty! Thanks for sharing links to other Russian girls' blogs. I know Tatiana but two others are new to me, will go check them out. Have a nice day!

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    1. Glad that I introduced you to some new blogs, Olga! It seems the starfish ring is a huge hit! :) xxx

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  12. Ok,where do I start?
    Only recently I discovered wide leg trousers for me and really love them! Good to see your in denim. I will keep on looking for another pair, I was thinking of black. Love your golden jewellery, the necklace is so stylish.

    Winter... I live in the mountain area in Bavaria and we often have cold winters but of course Siberia is a different level of cold and snow !!

    Thank you so much for recommending these blogs, they are very interesting and if you can mention some more every now and then, I think your readers will appreciate it. Just because of the language it is hard to google them and I always enjoy reading new blogs.

    Hugs,
    Annette | Lady of Style

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    1. The thing is you don't know how cold it can be until you experience it... There are places on earth even colder of course. It's tough! I much prefer the mild climate of the Pacific Northwest where I live now.

      I will definitely keep my eyes open for other interesting blogs, but I don't actually follow many blogs, and not very many Russian blogs. So I'll have to explore some more! :) xxx

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  13. I love your double denim! Those jeans are fantastic, a great fit and perfectly aged looking. Your trademark funky jewellery and those shoes make you look so sassy and confident.
    Wide legged trousers are the best, I only have a handful of pairs but love wearing them.
    I love Russian style who else could look so fabulous in temperatures that chilly? Certainly not the Brits! xxx

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    1. I like that word - sassy! I don't usually feel sassy, but it's fun to pretend once in a while. :) xxx

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