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March 24, 2005
"Moscow Style Claims New Fashion Victims"
"Vaguely resembling a Tajik gastarbeiter [on the day I decided to don my hooded army parka], I had barely left the metro when a cop demanded to see my papers. He was surprised when I produced a U.S. passport and apologetically sent me on my way. I deemed it futile to explain to him the punk-grunge influence on post-material chic.
...
Once I was nearly turned away from a club -- known more for its earthiness than its elitism -- because a bouncer had detected 'sporty elements' in my footwear. Only after paying a 100 ruble fashion fine was I admitted."
Lucian Kim of the Moscow Times ponders such mysterious developments in Russian men's fashion as "pointy elf shoes".
Posted by michele at March 24, 2005 2:47 PM
Comments
"male purse, an accessory I've so far spotted only on the streets of Moscow and Tashkent."
Interstingly, in Tashkent, male purse has been in fashion since at least late 70s. And the author definitely exaggerates unfashionness of Moscow 11 years ago. Moscow and even Tashkent folks traditionally have been paying a lot of attention (and cash) to follow the trends: in mid 80s, buyig a pair of "Montana" or "Texas" branded jeans would easily cost you 70-100 roubles, a monthly salary of a librarian, but it was a must for guys in their high teens.
Posted by: GweiLo at March 27, 2005 12:05 AM
sladkii-
I hate to point this out, but fashion awareness does not mean fashion success, and when Mr Kim talks about Moscow fashion 11 years ago it is probably the latter he is referring to. My personal favourite Petersburg fashion trapping is the unintentionally ironic slogan t-shirt: hyper-styled devchonki in tops that read, tight across their breasts, "Fashion!" and "Glamour!"
Posted by: Michele at March 29, 2005 1:17 PM