The Inspiring Evening

I was lucky enough to attend a lecture of Sergey Surkov, a wonderful stylist and buyer of Sunday up Market (http://www.sundayupmarket.ru/). This is a pretty new place, which concept is to sell clothes of Russian designers including young and fresh start-up projects. It’s amazing how open-minded a person can be. He was totally telling us all the secrets of How-Hard-It-Is-to-Be-a-Russian-Designer story as if it was ok for us to know that super-pricey dresses by them are sold to each other only cause they are all friends and will fight otherwise. Start-ups in Russia are so expensive. I mean they are expensive anywhere and anyways, but literally nothing is done to break the prejudice that the words Russia and fashion can’t stand together. Registration costs a lot, transportation and production, wages and PR. Fabric is actually the least part– may be 7 to 10 per cent of the final cost. As to everything else – you should spend tons of money, time and effort to find the cheapest options. A good and reasonable production is hard to find, a place to put your collections so that they sell – even harder. Another interesting thing about start-ups that Sergey was telling us about is, surprisingly, team. For instance, a graphic designer – if he does an amazing job – will make your new brand successful for years. Look at YSL or Nile labels. Aren’t they awesome? These brands sell themselves, no matter what the design concept is. Another option is to use your own name - it works well too. Sergey says there is no way you can set up a brand without a good manager, an accountant and tons of connections. Fashion world is not that big (even thou money-wise you wouldn’t say so) and everyone knows each other, especially people attending fashion events. You should think twice before starting on your own.

Every brand to be created must have a story, a concept, an idea. Look at Alena Akhmadullina -she chose the brilliant idea of fairy-tales, which will totally last forever and make her brand successful.

Thnx to my wonderful Irina S. for invitation.

 Thnx to Sergey Surkov for a wonderful and inspiring evening! High time to create!

No salt please!

It’s crazy how different of a summer it’s going to be. I am so used to spending this hot season of a year in Cali that I can’t even imagine being in Moscow this time! It means that I am stepping into smth different in my life, and it will definitely be new and exciting, but feels so weird! It’s sad not to lay out with my favorite Erin and Dominika any more, not to wear a bikini top instead of a bra throughout the entire summer (just in case you want to get some tan on your lunch break), not to go on runs – barefoot – on the bay or the ocean.

 It’s crazy how weird this summer will be without Taco Tuesdays (tacos, coronas and margaritas – no salt please!) and picking out a new bikini (which I have soo many already! Where will I wear them?) Without Extraordinary Desserts, Henry's and Farmers Markets. Without Ben&Jerry’s  ice cream and walks on the beach, June gloom and ocean breeze. 

Without Pacific and Mission beaches, Fashion and Mission Valleys. Without Cowdog and Dr. Marley, Matt, Liz, Danielle, Mr. Greg and the Sparta place. Without shopping every weekend and waiting for the new Toms to come out. Without sample sales of all the cool surfbrands and looking thru fall-winter collections. Without getting presents for family and friends to bring back to Moscow and missing them like crazy. Without Skype dates and time difference, e-mails and diary, ocean, Michael Kors, Juicy Couture and Loehmann’s. Nothing can be better than spending summers in SD –one by one, year by year, but life goes on and times change. I’ve probably grown up enough to live my life here, in Moscow and to graduate and get a job and a family and all that. Well, I will try my best to make it as exciting as I can! Changes in my life are coming up and I am not afraid.

  

 …

At the end of the days

do you know where my heart is?

God bless California

What happens in spring

This spring is just crazy. I am not sure if it’s a good crazy or a bad crazy. It’s too much of both. I feel like I am on the edge of big changes in my life and I am literally freaking out. School drives me crazy, cause all my papers are due this month and my finals are waiting for me at the end of this month. It’s so nice out that I feel miserable sitting there writing and reading stuff that is boring to death – why didn’t I think about it earlier this year to have May holidays free from stupid studying? It’s probably my last month of work too and I will have to start a job search soon. It's kinda of exciting! Trying to find time for everything I didn’t even realize that May has already started and summer is coming up, bringing a hot and sunny vibe to life!

What makes me happy any time is road trips. Sitting in a car with a peron you love and driving no matter where feels so awesome! It's such a perfect get away from all the problems of our Moscow-hectic-every-day. We've spent a couple days in Vitebsk, Belarus. It's pretty long of a drive but days spent there were full of love, spring, life.