Underwater fashion photography

I love being creative and the ability to be unique. This underwater fashion photography session proved to be a great challenge for me but with the professional assistance of the first Bulgarian fashion photographer Julian Nedev it turned out very well.

Underwater fashion photography is not a widely common art, but a very impressive one. The outcome is very beautiful, but that comes with a lot of effort and preparation both from the photographer and the model. Everything has to be well planned in advance. It is very important to know how to communicate underwater with gestures. Each shot is taken on one apnea (single breathe in until the shots are done).

The choice of cloth materials is also very important – they have to be light and buoyant, the outfits should not be the kind that can tangle around you and prevent you from getting safely to the surface, should the need arise. 

The make up is also very important – on one side it has to be water resistant, obviously and on the other it has to be an intensive one. For this one I have to thank Plamena Mileva.

The equipment used is also very special – the lighting and the flashes should be the kind that reflect the color spectrum. 

There is also the background to consider – it has to be prepared in advance and match the outfits and the desired effect and colors.

For this session I chose a high contrast red dress, a mint-blue colored long ball dress that imitates the waves of the ocean and of course a set with a whole swimsuit and colorful spring accessories. 

Underwater photography by Julian Nedev

Austria’s Glorious Balls

Every winter, Austria hosts hundreds of classy ball nights – nowhere are balls so romantically formal as in Vienna.

Over 400 of them are staged each winter, strict dress codes, an opening fanfare, the entrance of the debutants and debutantes and the call „Alles Walzer!“ (literally: “Everything is waltz!”) are all part of a classic ball. Balls open usually with a Polonaise and punctuated by speeches, etc.

In the past wearing of masks and costumes was reserved for the nobility. To compensate for this, Emperor Joseph II opened up the dances in the Redoute Rooms in the Hofburg palace to everyone. This allowed the Viennese to copy the courtly customs of these celebrations, something which they retain to this day.

The waltz, being a partner dance, was initially perceived as a provocation, and caused moral outrage. The Vienna Congress (1814/15), meeting in the city to establish the new order in Europe following Napoleon’s campaigns, made it acceptable via the salons.

The balls today have kept a lot of the traditions of the past, while at the same time adapting many modern elements – like performances by professional dance groups and celebrities, charity campaigns, etc. It was a charity ball in the Viennese Hofburg palace that i was at – the 14th Dancer against Cancer Ball. From the opening with the debutants and the „Alles Walzer“, through to the modern dancing performances, the whole show was full of variety.

I am sharing with you some photos from this fabulous event. I was wearing a black and white dress, shoes and bag, trying to blend in with the waltz couple’s monochrome colors.

Lake Millstatt – where mountain and lake dreams come true

Lake Millstatt – a place that I have visited so many times and a place where I can switch off and just chill. It is a dream location where the snowy Alps meets the calm deep waters of the lake – a sight to marvel both in summer and in winter. 

Coincidently being the first place to visit in this new year, I take it’s beauty as a way to charge myself for all the things I plan to achieve in the next months. 

To match the surrounding Alps, my outfit today is in a light mountain style – a winter ALCOTT sweater with mountain details, a matching jacket, Calzedonia leggings, lovely red winter ALCOTT socks, Tanca booties and bag and trendy black sunglasses. 

From Wikipedia

It is situated at 588 metres above the Adriatic (1,929 ft), north of the Drava Valley within the Gurktal Alps (Nock Mountains) range of the Central Eastern Alps, near the town of Spittal an der Drau. With a surface area of 13.3 km2 (5.1 sq mi) Lake Millstatt is the second largest lake of Carinthia (after Lake Wörth), though with a depth of 142 m (466 ft) the most voluminous by far.

Its steep shore gives the lake a fjord-like character. The Millstätter Alpe mountains in the north up to 2,100 m (6,900 ft) protect it from cold winds, so the water temperature can reach 25 °C (77 °F) in summer. The narrow and long surface stretches over 12 km (7.5 mi) from east to west. In the south the wooded Hochgosch plateau, with a breadth of 2 km (1.2 mi) and an elevation of 876 m (2,874 ft), divides the lake from the parallel Drava Valley.

The name derives from the market town Millstatt on the northern shore. Other municipalities near the lake are Seeboden and Radenthein-Döbriach. The shaded southern shore, a protected area since 1970, is almost uninhabited.

Merry Kissmass!

This festive season is so much more than Christmas parties and gift giving. It is a special time to enjoy with all your loved ones, spreading divinity and cheer around. So, may your Christmas be filled with the true miracles and meaning of this beautiful time.

Celebrate the Wonder and the Joy of Christmas, give your love and may love and prosperity follow you always! I wish you a very merry Kissmas!

Photography by Marg Basarova

Have a holly jolly Christmas

Hello everyone! I hope you are doing great and feeling super festive! I can’t believe that Christmas is already here… So exciting! In line with the festive mood, I want to share this post called „Have a holly jolly Christmas“, just as my outfit here says.

It’s the most magical time of the year and I guess you already have your Christmas tree and some festive plans coming up. For me, I always linked these holidays to the tree decoration, the family comfort and the Christmas mood.

So, I wish you for this Christmas Eve lots of wonderful moments with your family and/or friends, and may it bring joy to your hearts and happiness to your home!

Photography by Marg Basarova

The magic of the Christmas markets in Vienna

Vienna puts on her best clothes to welcome Christmas and all its guests. So many people visit Vienna for Christmas, and I think I know why – here we have one of the most wonderful street decorations in the world. All the streets are well decorated but my favourite are the chandeliers on the Graben – impressive and elegant at the same time.

But it’s not only the festive decoration on the streets that impress so much – the Christmas markets also offer a great experience. The one at Rathausplatz (the Vienna city hall) is the most visited, but there are so many others that don’t fall very much  behind. Some examples are the markets at Maria-Theresien-Platz, the one at Schloss Belvedere and Schloss Schonbrunn, the one at Karlsplatz, at Unicampus in the 9th, etc.

And although there is no snow (yet), neither are the temperatures too low, the Christmas mood is in the air. With great pleasure I walked through this market, wrapped in one of my all so favrorite teddy bear coats. Underneath I have a checked skirt and the outfit gets complete with comfortable long sock boots and a matching tiny black bag.

Photography by Marg Basarova

Happy ho ho ho to you with a Viennese punsch

You can’t be in Vienna in December and not have at least one Punsch (punch) or Glühwein (mulled wine) at a Christmas market. Glühwein is a typical Austrian drink consisting of heated red wine and spices. Punsch is a drink made of fruit juice, spices and alcohol like wine or liquor. You will be blown away by all the different Punsch available in Austria. Besides the classical Punsch, Orangenpunsch (orange punch) and Beerenpunsch (berry punch), they sell Apfelpunsch (apple punch), Eierlikörpunsch (advocaat punch), Kokospunch (coconut punch), Granatapfelpunsch (pomegranate punch) or Turbopunsch (strong alcoholic punch) and much more fancy and delicious mixtures.

So, when the scent of biscuits fills the air and you are holding a cup of hot, aromatic Punsch in your freezing hands, you know that Christmas time has arrived!

For many, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. In Austria, the offers and entertainment during the Advent time are enormous and Christmas magic can be found everywhere, especially here at the Rathausplatz (the Vienna town hall) as you can see on the photos. 

About my outfit today – a trendy shiny silver jacket, (of course) my favorite teddy styled sweater and skinny jeans. Happy HO HO HO to you, in a fashion way.

Photography by Marg Basarova

Christmas mood in Vienna

I am so happy to live for so many years in one of the most beautiful European cities – Vienna, where the magic before Christmas is so compelling. The countless lights and the glamorous decoration, all of it makes your soul realise that Christmas is coming.

I love the small local streets with their small curious shops, that seem to lead you to another world, especially in the evening. Nothing compares to that – magic is all around in the air…

As for my outfit today – I am definitely all about the teddy coats this season and I love this one in pink. It’s so fluffy and cosy, that it makes the Christmas magic mood even more magical. It is safe to say that I’ve never been wrapped up in anything warmer or cosier than this @zara outfit – fake fur trousers, black booties, coat and sweater.

No doubt, I feel like this year my coat wardrobe is consistently expanding, but my favourite one there is always the teddy coat. It’s the thing to go to with almost everything. So If you’re only looking to make a few firm outerwear investments this season, then stake your claim right now for teddy coats, of course, in a fashion way.

Photography by Marg Basarova

Love wearing long coats?

I always believed that a long coat is a super versatile piece of clothing that a woman should have in her winter wardrobe. I got convinced about that only after I started wearing one, because a cool, well-fitting long coat instantly elevates my look from super casual to dapper formal.

Moreover, it’s very easy to make an outfit with it – one of my favourite approaches is to just throw the coat over a simple long sweater and a pair of over knee boots – the result is amazing. Such a combination can also work in a formal meeting or event.

Wool is a preferred fabric for such an overcoat. But if you’re planning to wear an overcoat in the summer as well then go for 100% cotton. My coat here is with 50% Camel fur und 50% wool. The style is in your hands – there are many different types of long coats – no hard rules here, you can pick the one you like the most, but pick the length according your figure. The one here is a bit oversized, because I like to wear it with thick layers underneath.

I think a black fedora hat matches to a long coat nicely – it’s a chic and formal addition, in a fashion way.

Photography by Marg Basarova

Believe in yourself

No matter what happens in the outside world, as long as you have faith in yourself, no darkness can touch you!” – Mehmet Murat ildan

Today I decided to share with you something that’s not just a fashion article but one that is more personal about me.

Some years ago, there was a time when the lack of belief in myself was a big factor in my life. I was not pursuing anything that I wanted to, because I didn’t think I could. Sometimes it can be hard to believe in yourself, especially if you feel like you have something to offer but don’t know how to present it and are reluctant to do it because you’re afraid what people will tell you.

But as the time goes by I have learned that it’s completely fine to try, even if I fail, and to put myself out there and be imperfect, because everyone is worthy and capable to do something they believe in.

I try to set goals for myself and meet those goals. Once I make a goal, I work hard to achieve it. My education and previous work history were very different, but inside my dreams have always been drawing me to fashion.

Staying positive and learning from my failures made me think in the right direction. So, if you did something wrong, embrace it, because you’ll have an easier time to know what is right from wrong.

Today’s post is a challenge for me, too – before I never believed enough in myself and my figure to make a photoshoot in underwear (here in one of my favorite brands “Intimissimi”) – but as you can see I did, because I managed to overcome those concerns in a fashionway.

So, just believe in yourself and follow your dreams! ?

Encourage yourself, believe in yourself, and love yourself. Never doubt who you are” – Stephanie Lahart

 

Photography by Marg Basarova