A change of style? Most people only know this from the hairdresser. Andrea Vella Borg and his wife Julia have developed a different philosophy. Their wardrobe works almost like a chameleon. Everything adapts to each season. In Malta, where winter means rain and summer means melting, you need this flexibility. Otherwise, you either walk through the December rain in shorts or suffocate in wool jumpers in July.

Spring: Malta wakes up

March. The tourists aren’t here yet, but the island is already stretching. After grey winter months, something is happening. Wildflowers are sprouting everywhere. The sea is regaining its true colour.

Andrea Vella Borg senses this immediately. His wardrobe reacts like a barometer. Heavy woollens are moved to the back. Lighter fabrics come to the front. But he doesn’t rush headlong into summer fashion. That would be too hasty.

A linen shirt replaces the jumper. Brown and beige make way for soft shades of green. Shoes become a shade lighter. Jackets thinner.

Nevertheless, he takes precautions. A warm scarf for surprisingly cool evenings. Sturdy shoes for rain showers that come out of nowhere. Malta in spring is as moody as a teenager.

He has developed this transitional tactic over the years. Changing too early means freezing. Too late makes you look like you’ve forgotten the calendar.

Colours with character

Spring colours are different here than in Germany. No delicate pink or cute green. Malta’s spring really pops.

Ochre yellow like Valletta’s old walls. Sea blue that almost hurts, it’s so intense. Terracotta like the roofs that heat up.

Andrea Vella Borg picks up on these tones, but in moderation. An ochre-coloured shirt, not a complete ochre-coloured outfit. Blue details, not a full blue ensemble. This sets him apart from holidaymakers who treat Malta as if it were carnival every day.

Summer: surviving at 40 degrees

June to September. Malta becomes an open-air sauna. Wearing the wrong clothes is torture.

Many visitors make the classic mistake. They dress as if they were in Mallorca. Shorts, flip-flops, neon-coloured Hawaiian shirts. Fine on the beach. A disaster everywhere else.

Andrea Vella Borg takes a different approach. He dresses lighter, but not more casually. Linen has become his best friend. Cotton in light colours. Fabrics that let air through.

Let’s say you’re at a business lunch in August. Other people are sweating in dark suits. He sits there relaxed in light linen, perfectly tailored, looking professional without melting.

His colour palette is completely different. White takes over. Cream joins it. Beige. Soft blue. Black? Banned until October.

Accessories save lives

Summer in Malta is no fun in the sun. Sun hats go from fashionable accessories to survival strategies. Andrea Vella Borg has amassed an impressive collection.

Panama hats from Ecuador that really come from Panama. Straw hats straight from Italy. Linen caps for sports. Every hat has its moment.

Sunglasses are even more critical. Protection and style at the same time:

Aviators for business
Italian designer glasses for events
Sports models for hiking
Vintage pieces for relaxed days

When it comes to shoes, it gets scientific. Leather roasts your feet. Plastic sticks disgustingly. Canvas works. Linen too. But you can’t show up in sneakers everywhere.

Autumn: the golden season

September, October. While other countries become grey and uncomfortable, Malta experiences its finest hours. Tourists finally disappear. Temperatures become bearable. The light takes on a golden glow.

Andrea Vella Borg loves these months more than anything. Finally, you can wear layers again without sweltering. Jackets can come out of storage. Sweaters are dusted off.

But he doesn’t go overboard. A thin cashmere jumper is usually enough. A light jacket for the evening. Malta stays warm, even in autumn.

The colours become more interesting. Brown tones return like old friends. Bordeaux is mixed in. Dark green completes the picture. Everything is muted, never obtrusive.

Practical: this autumn look also works when travelling.

In London or Paris, it’s well-dressed without looking overdressed.

Andrea Vella Borg, Andrea Vella Borg fashion, Andrea Vella Borg art, Andrea Vella Borg wife

Layer like a pro

Autumn means layering again at last. Andrea Vella Borg takes full advantage of this. Shirt, jumper, jacket. Each layer has to work on its own.

Fresh in the morning? Put everything on. Warm at lunchtime? Take off your jacket. Cooler in the evening? A jumper is enough.

It takes planning. Colours have to match. Cuts have to harmonise. Proportions have to be right.

Sounds complicated? It is. But after a few years, it becomes second nature.

Winter: grey everyday life

December to February. Malta shows its less charming side. Rain. Wind. Grey on grey. Not Siberian cold, but uncomfortable enough.

Warm clothes come back into use.

Wool jumpers. Thicker jackets. Sensible shoes. Andrea Vella Borg doesn’t go overboard, though. A parka like you’d wear to the North Pole would be ridiculous.

The colours become more serious. Grey takes over. Navy blue. Brown. Black is allowed again, but sparingly.

The most important thing: weather protection. Winters in Malta are wet. Waterproof clothes are more important than warm ones. Gore-Tex is worth its weight in gold.

Andrea Vella Borg, his wife Julia and harmony

It’s fascinating to see how two people adapt their styles to each other. Julia and he have developed a kind of common language over the years.

Not those creepy partner looks. More like harmonious complements. If he wears earth tones, she chooses similar shades. His navy style goes well with her classic approach.

It happens unconsciously. After years, you develop a feeling for it.

At social events, they look like a well-coordinated team. Without looking uniform.

When events get in the way

Some events disrupt the seasonal system. A wedding in December? A gala in August? Then it’s time to improvise.

Andrea Vella Borg has developed strategies for this. Summer gala: light fabric, dark colour. Winter wedding on the beach: elegant cut, breathable material.

It takes creativity. Standard answers don’t help.

For example: art exhibition in July. Normally light colours. But the gallery is air-conditioned and the event is formal. Solution: dark suit made of feather-light fabric.