Olena Dats

Olena Dats

Olena Dats

That’s right…Kiev, Ukraine’s capital (and my home town), has been rising within the fashion circles as the next mecca of young fashion. With both Chanel and Louis Vuitton stores doing quite well, the city has decided to devote its attention to hosting its own fashion week.

Natasha Glazkova

Natasha Glazkova

“Our goal is to make sure any young designer with talent and ambition really has the chance to stage a proper runway show under professional conditions,” explained Alexander Sokolovskiy, founder of the local season.

Natasha Glazkova

Natasha Glazkova

Oksana Karavanska

Oksana Karavanska

Oleksiy Zalevskiy

Oleksiy Zalevskiy

Oleksiy Zalevskiy

Oleksiy Zalevskiy

“Sokolovskiy charges designers 1,500 Euros (or $2,050 at current exchange rates) for the use of the show space, including lighting, a pittance compared to Bryant Park or the Caroussel du Louvre in Paris, where rates start at 10 times that price.

Oleksiy Zalevskiy, a theatrical costumer, whose absurdist collection earned roars of applause. A curious mix of historic costuming and Eighties touches,  he had all the models stand at the finale on the runway reading a copy of his own extended coffee table photo biography.

Other shows included Olena Dats, who sent out overly complicated picnic and cocktail dresses that intermittently were wearable but in general too contrived.

Kiev does boast one pretty talented accessories designer and her name is Oksana Karavanska, who showed a series of suede Cowboy Cossack boots with rosettes that looked great. However, this local take on Moschino was a tad too crazed in her mix of patchwork prints and fabric ensembles, except when it came to a final foursome of some great kids wear that garnered a round of cheers.

The day’s best collection was by Natasha Glazkova, whose lace and cotton blend cocktails and shiny slinky silk dresses, all worn with white lace leggings that covered platform boots, had plenty of romantic zip.”

-Content from FashionWireDaily

FWD502 Model walks the runway at the Olena Dats show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Olena Dats

FWD503 Model walks the runway at the Olena Dats show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Olena Dats

FWD504 Model walks the runway at the Olena Dats show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

FWD505 Model walks the runway at the Natasha Glazkova show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Natasha Glazkova

FWD506 Models walk the runway at the Natasha Glazkova show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Natasha Glazkova

FWD507 Model walks the runway at the Natasha Glazkova show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Natasha Glazkova

FWD508 Model walks the runway at the Natasha Glazkova show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Natasha Glazkova

FWD509 Model walks the runway at the Oksana Karavanska show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Oksana Karavanska

FWD510 Model walks the runway at the Oksana Karavanska show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Oksana Karavanska

FWD511 Model walks the runway at the Oksana Karavanska show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

FWD512 Model walks the runway at the Oleksiy Zalevskiy show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Oleksiy Zalevskiy

FWD513 Model walks the runway at the Oleksiy Zalevskiy show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Oleksiy Zalevskiy

FWD514 Model walks the runway at the Oleksiy Zalevskiy show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Oleksiy Zalevskiy

FWD515 Model walks the runway at the Oleksiy Zalevskiy show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Oleksiy Zalevskiy

FWD501 Model walks the runway at the Olena Dats show during Ukrainian Spring 2009 Fashion Week in Kiev on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (Fashion Wire Daily/Kiev Media Holding)

Olena Dats