As soon as January starts, my brain decides that the winter is essentially over. In Estonia, this is very far from the truth (it can still be snowing in May) and even in Brussels it’s a tad too optimistic. Of course, I don’t really, seriously think it’s spring and put away my coats, but there is a definite shift in mindset: I want to wear white and clean silhouettes and gravitate towards lighter food and green and crisp perfumes.

There is nothing wrong with that per se, the problem simply is that this approach strips away the things that make winter liveable and sometimes even enjoyable. Cosy jumpers, hearty stews, hot beverages of various persuasions, cardamom buns and thick books – you need all this to survive January and February and potentially March and April, depending on your location.

When it comes to dressing, there is one genre that is especially well suited to winter. You could call it eccentric opulence or maybe cosy glamour. The difference from the non-cosy glamour is that it’s not about sexiness and slinky dresses, but about gorgeous fabrics, patterns, colours and textures; about bold forms and unexpected juxtapositions. It’s more Iris Apfel than Marilyn Monroe.

One reason this style is winter-friendly is obviously that it’s warm. Large swathes of luxurious fabrics and layers upon layers will deliver both in terms of beauty and practicality. The other reason is a certain fantasy, fairy tale mood that works well in winter and makes me think of Muscovite boyars, Eastern nomads wrapped in silk and dark opera evenings in 19th century Italy.

I’m wearing a skirt by Ketlin Bachmann, one of my favourite pieces ever, with the kimono you have already seen, another favourite. The beautiful scarf is by Soyka Design and the Victorian blouse by Zara. There is absolutely no skin on show and the silhouette is rather generous, the only definition being at the waist, but you can even skip that. The focus is on the clothes not on the body, and that can sometimes be welcome.

Images by Liina Jasmin, MUAH by Grete Madisson. Shoes by Prada and slippers kindly gifted by H&M. Sincere thanks to Tallinn Botanical Garden and Hotel Telegraaf/restaurant Tchaikovsky for the use of their beautiful premises.