Winter is not for the faint-hearted. You'll have to say goodbye to beige monochrome, comfort at all costs, and sneakers for good. This is a winter style school for anyone who wants to look like an influencer at any age, even when it's barely above freezing outside.

Learn to combine colors and prints.

Don't be afraid of colors in your wardrobe. Not even "just black." Although wearing only black is also an art, as it requires the skill of combining the right textures and silhouettes, you need to forget about two-color basic combinations. By the way, if you have purple on your scarf, it doesn't mean you have to have purple somewhere else too—this old rule was long ago debunked by Dries Van Noten, Miuccia Prada, Raf Simons, and Alessandro Michele. Green and purple, butter yellow and blue, brown with orange and green – if you master this alchemy, you will be able to free yourself from passing trends forever and create your own style.

The art of combining colors according to Scandinavian women, who teach us to combine animal prints with checks or contrasting colors that we would never have thought of, is a separate chapter. But that's for a later chapter for advanced learners...

Learn: hardening

It seems that movie heroines and street fashionistas photographed for lifestyle magazines have learned to completely ignore the thermometer and stoically strut the streets of big cities in miniskirts and sneakers in the middle of winter. Looking at Carrie and Miranda Priestly in short fur coats and pumps (sometimes even without tights), I gasped in horror and immediately imagined scenarios of a month-long bed rest with antibiotics. Whether for pneumonia or a urinary tract infection.

Obviously, women still haven't unlearned setting unrealistic standards for themselves, although honestly, shirts and trench coats definitely look better than sweatshirts and down jackets. #FairEnough

Unlearn: choosing comfort at all costs

To expand on the previous paragraph in a different direction, too much of anything is bad for you. Comfort included. We've gotten used to sports leisure, après-ski, ugly sneakers, and other ultra-comfortable everyday trends, and we've completely forgotten how to wear beautiful pieces. We often save them for an "event" that never comes or "the theater," which we only go to once a year. Old turtlenecks and comfortable jeans could end up at the bottom of the closet for once and be replaced by satin skirts, cashmere sweaters, and boots instead of sneakers... Just this once.

Learn: layering

Styling has taken on a more important role than design itself, which we often see on the catwalks – if you increase the number of well-chosen items, you are likely to create a modern interpretation of a basic outfit, adding your own unique character. Just by adding a white T-shirt or shirt under an oversized sweater, complementing it with an oversized coat and ankle boots instead of sneakers, you'll get a little closer to the "catwalk look."

Learn: to add one more detail

Before you leave the house, grab one more small accessory. A silk scarf, leather gloves (preferably elbow-length), a string of pearls, or a brooch on your coat will teach you to experiment in small steps on a daily basis. The devil is in the detail, so even the little things will help you gain confidence and teach you to love playing with creativity.

Over time, you will master more difficult disciplines and build your own signature style, unaffected by Instagram (micro) trends or celebrity influence.