THE WINTER MUSE conversation with Nathalie Orselli Her winter picks.
Parisian elegance, Italian freedom, and the art of texture and layering. A special conversation for Unique Wooman about the coming winter — and the style that stays with us.
By Keren Levy | Unique Wooman
There is a reason I always encourage women to travel. To explore, discover other cultures, stay curious, taste something new. To wander down an unfamiliar street, sit in a café, and watch the women passing by.
Meeting people and experiencing new places awakens our senses and feeds our imagination. We return with ideas, combinations, and perspectives that find their way into our work, our homes, our relationships — and the relationship we have with ourselves.
For style icon Nathalie Orselli, that curiosity takes shape in colour, texture, and silhouette.I caught up with her while she was travelling in Tokyo. I told her about Unique Wooman and the women who make up our community, and she was immediately happy to give us a personal glimpse of the coming winter and, more broadly, of the way she sees fashion and develops her own style.
A fashion personality and influencer with an Instagram audience of more than 200,000, Nathalie has an eye for beauty, design, and the interplay of materials. The sheen of leather against soft knitwear.
A man’s shirt beneath a structured jacket. A scarf that adds depth and movement.
These are the looks that make you pause, lean closer to the picture, and wonder: how did she put it all together?
She lives between Paris and Livorno, and her style carries something of both: the simple lines and instinctive combinations of Paris, alongside the colour, lightness, and freedom of Italy.
For our conversation, she also shared a selection of inspiration images: tailoring with presence, rich leather, and layers you can almost feel through the screen.Come explore with us. Your next idea might already be waiting in your wardrobe.
It All Began with the Women of Paris
How did your story with fashion begin, and how has your personal perspective developed over the years?
“My story with fashion began very early. As a little girl, I admired elegant Parisian women, especially their poise and the way they carried themselves. After finishing school, I studied fashion. I couldn’t have done anything else.
”You live between Paris and Livorno. How have these two cities influenced your understanding of style, femininity, and aesthetics?
“They bring out different feelings in me. Italy is colour, lightness, and a free spirit, where the body is revealed with very little clothing. Paris is simplicity of form and a mix of styles that only the Parisian woman manages to wear in a way that is recognised all over the world.”
Her Five Winter Essentials
Looking ahead to winter, which five pieces truly deserve a place in our wardrobes?
“A jacket — preferably a man’s jacket. A beautiful coat, a trouser suit, white jeans. And I never forget my basket bag.
”Which colours feel particularly strong to you this season, and which would you recommend embracing?
“I’ll say black, black, black. All right, let’s add brown, camel, and a touch of red. Even just on the lips, it works beautifully.”
In the Images: Finding Depth in Black
In the inspiration image featuring a black sweater, a dark shirt peeks out beneath the hem, paired with wide trousers. The palette is almost uniform, yet each layer catches the light differently. Knitwear, crinkled fabric, and pleats give the look depth and movement.
In two runway images, tailored knee-length shorts meet tall boots. One features fine pinstripes; the other, a richly textured grey fabric. The volume of the shorts against the long line of the boots creates a dramatic silhouette.
Try it in your wardrobe: When dressing in one colour, combine different textures and experiment with lengths. There is a whole world within black.
The Pieces That Stay
What are your Forever Pieces — the items you keep for years, even as trends change?
“I’m not someone who follows fashion, because fashion goes out of fashion. My Burberry trench, for example, is always with me.
”Many of us already have full wardrobes. How can we look at what we own with fresh eyes and make it feel current again?
“In the end, it’s the details that make the real difference. This year, let’s bring out our scarves again, and our large bags worn over one shoulder. A man’s shirt will always make a difference. I think a slightly less studied mix is the right approach.”
In the Images: The Art of Layering
In the close-up of the olive-toned jacket, a pushed-up sleeve reveals a pale layer with a subtle sheen, followed by a long, light-blue shirt cuff. Several shades and textures meet within one small area.
The tailoring softens, and the sleeve becomes the focal point.In the image featuring a brown leather jacket, the sheen of the leather stands out against the dark layers beneath. A soft bag worn close to the body adds a diagonal line and volume. Brown and black come alive through the contrast between materials.In another image, a belt draws in a grey-brown jacket at the waist. A dark scarf fills the neckline, while long fabric ends carry the movement downwards.
The styling changes the silhouette and gives the jacket a fresh character.
Try it in your wardrobe: Put on a familiar jacket with a belt, a scarf, or a shirt whose cuffs extend beyond its sleeves. Notice what happens to the proportions.
Her Obsession with Details
Which detail do women often underestimate, even though it can make a look unforgettable?
“Details are my obsession. A sleeve showing beneath a sweater or jacket that can be enough. A watch worn over knitwear, a scarf tied in the hair. You need to give some thought to getting dressed.
Opening the wardrobe before going out in the morning and choosing everything in three minutes that can’t work.
”How can a woman develop a personal style without becoming a copy of the trends she sees on social media?
“You have to want to. Rather than constantly looking at fashion, think: ‘I felt so good the other day — what was I wearing?’ Start getting to know yourself.
That’s how you begin to build your style. Ultimately, fashion should give us ideas.”
In the Images: Tailoring Lets Loose
In one image, a pale striped shirt is worn with dark, wide trousers and another garment tied around the waist.The knot introduces an extra layer and movement.
The open neckline and pushed-up sleeves give the tailoring a relaxed feel.In the street-style image, a generous white shirt is paired with light trousers, flat sandals, and a large woven bag. Nathalie’s affection for a basket bag makes perfect sense here: its texture brings warmth and ease to a clean combination. The idea can travel between seasons — a masculine shirt paired with an accessory in a natural texture.In another image, a dark leather blazer meets olive cargo shorts. Tailoring comes together with a practical, relaxed shape.
There is room to move, and the mix gives the outfit character a reflection of the freedom Nathalie describes.
Try it in your wardrobe: Bring together two pieces you usually wear separately.
A dressy shirt with everyday trousers, a structured jacket with a loose silhouette, a woven bag with tailoring. Give yourself a moment to see what happens.
Nathalie’s Winter Wishlist
If you could buy only three new pieces this winter, what would you choose?
Nathalie chose four. We’re keeping them all:“A beautifully cut black velvet jacket.Beautifully cut jeans.A vintage black leather coat — I LOVE it! And heeled boots. ❤️”
The Next Scene: Your Own Wardrobe
I leave this conversation wanting to look again. To feel the fabric, try a different fit, add another layer. To bring the curiosity we take on our travels into an ordinary morning at home.
There are plenty of ideas in Nathalie’s chosen images. But her most personal advice takes us back to a moment we have already experienced:
“I felt so good the other day what was I wearing?
”Perhaps you have a photograph of that moment on your phone. Go back to it. Notice the cut you loved, the combination you chose, the way those clothes made you feel.
That could be the beginning of your own winter chapter.
An interview created especially for the Unique Wooman community. Answers translated from French and lightly edited for clarity and flow. Inspiration images supplied by Nathalie; image commentary and styling suggestions by the Unique Wooman editorial team.
Discover more of Nathalie’s world:
