Fashion trends

Yulia AISINA, designer:

“As for the color range, pastel shades will be the trend of the 2011 spring-summer season. Incidentally, quiet and noble shades always look rich, elitist, and respectable. Therefore, a woman who has these in her wardrobe is always on the winning end. What is also rather interesting in the new season’s color gamut is a bright red and a lettuce-green shade. They undoubtedly draw attention, put the right emphasis, and are an integral part of a festive mood. Things of lettuce-green and bright-red color in my collection have nothing to do with kitsch — it is a steady balance between femininity and passion, reality and game. I also intersperse my collection with coral colors because this tender shade helps stir up positive emotions in a woman. Wedge heel shoes are also going to be a trend in the spring-summer season. In fact, practicality and comfort can look very feminine and effective. Women should by no means be squeezed into a tight framework in the new season. Loose silhouettes, popular in the warm season, say that freedom comes first. Cashmere, silk, and hand-knitwear is a must-have in the 2011 warm season. Meanwhile, fork knitting is a trend-setter today, for it can produce hemstitch patterns. This soft and body-comfortable outfit stands every chance to become the favorite item of a woman’s wardrobe because it possesses a positive energy and a magic aura, which you can feel even visually.”

Zinaida LIKHACHOVA, designer:

“A woman who tries to show her ego is the image of a strong and, at the same time, sensitive person, that can be called ‘ethno-modern.’ In my new collection, I tried to use the prints I have designed in order to expose the true essence of today’s ethnic fashion that fits in with the city’s rhythms. I must say I have fulfilled myself as an artist, not just as a designer. As for must-haves in the 2011 spring-summer season, I think every Ukrainian woman’s wardrobe must include — in any season and irrespective of fashion trends — an amulet that helps her preserve and transform feminine energy and protect herself from any kind of negative influence. This may be a dress with a suitable print, an apron-looking item (I mean elements of the traditional Ukrainian costume), a wreath, or a neck decoration. Above all, this should be a symbol which you can feel.”

Olena BURENINA, designer:

“Even a very beautiful girl may think she has some flaws and will try to look still more beautiful. There is a certain aspiration to reach the absolute, which I tried to show in my new collection that looks rather bold, unconventional, brilliant, and maybe even wild. I wanted to draw public attention to genetic experiments that deprive the human race of individuality. For it is now equally easy to grow a carrot and a human hand. A beauty who dislikes something in herself can change that by simply altering her DNA. Incidentally, a sheep’s DNA was encoded in the music to our show. As for the new season’s trends, most outfits will be of light — beige, gray, and tender green — colors. But, as long as all of us show duality, a contrast will be in vogue, i.e., the bright colors (blue, orange, and yellow) that symbolize life.”

Natalia KAMENSKA, Olesia KONONOVA, designers:

“In our 2011 spring-summer collection, the woman is ‘a woman in herself,’ a woman who needs no additional techniques to attract attention. She values the nature of things and, first of all, her own nature. Her image is special in that it combines outer restraint and diversity of textures. We are going to show restraint in the clothes we make by way of resorting to an austere style, white, beige, black and red colors, and diversity in textures by using leather, laces, silk, and knitwear. Femininity, elegance, inner sexuality, simple means of self-expression, and a though-provoking image are the things that we think should prevail in the new season’s outfits. So every Ukrainian woman’s wardrobe should include straight or loose knee- or floor-length dresses, bell-bottom slacks, dinner suits and vests, a pleated skirt, and heavy-pleated culottes. You can make bold experiments in footwear by combining pumps and lace-up shoes with variable-length dresses and trousers.”

Yulia ANDREIEVA, designer:

“I dedicated my new season collection to nature, to something very natural. For it is the content, not the name, that matters. I think the trend will be the image of a strong girl who is not afraid to put on a chiffon dress and rough shoes. So a multi-layered and asymmetrical style of apparels made of pink, olive, brown, red, black, bronze, golden and green silk, chiffon, cotton and viscose knitted fabrics will be in vogue. The wardrobe of every girl must have floor-length and knee-length skirts in the new warm season. I suggest wearing them with tanned-leather rough shoes or sandals on a bicolor platform with straps and metal buckles.”

P.S. Den expresses gratitude to Austrian Airlines and BMW for helping organize an interview with Mario Boselli, president of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion (Den, No. 191, October 21, 2010), and a special thanks to the Ukrainian Fashion Week organizing committee.