The protective color t-shirts will remain in the past by 2026.
The style of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky began to take shape at the beginning of last year at the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska. According to Ukrainian designer Viktor Anisimov, he received a request to create a wardrobe that should be comfortable, reflect the realities of Ukraine, and at the same time look official.
At the time of the scandal in the Oval Office at the end of February, when Zelensky was criticized for not wearing a suit, work on new models was already in full swing, and the first options were ready by March.
Anisimov emphasized that the change in style was not a spontaneous reaction to the incident in the White House, but rather a premeditated process. "The president's new suit went through three stages, gradually acquiring a more civilian character. The first option was in military style with elements of formality, then the shape of the collar and lapels gradually changed," explained the designer. The president first demonstrated the updated look at the funeral of Pope Francis in April, and then at the NATO summit in June. By August, during another visit to the White House, Zelensky appeared in an even more formal suit that fully complied with official protocol. Designer Elvira Gasanova explained the controversial outfit of the president at the meeting with then-US leader Donald Trump. She noted that the absence of a traditional formal suit was part of Zelensky's visual message to the world and reflected the peculiarities of his style.
Then Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a speech before the UN General Assembly in New York - and he wore a sort of black suit for the speech.
Ukrainian designer Viktor Anisimov specializes in tailoring men's clothing and footwear, but his collections also feature models for women and children. In 1997, his joint collection with his wife Lia Khmara, "Dresses from Hangers," opened the first "Fashion Seasons" in Ukraine. The designer has been participating in fashion weeks in Ukraine, Russia, and Milan since 1997.
Distinctive features of the designer's style include military, sports, transformer models, and complex constructions. A skirt can turn into pants, a hood into a scarf, sleeves can be detached, and a pocket can become a bag. Anisimov does not limit either his imagination or the creativity of his clients. For each collection, Anisimov himself develops shoes and accessories, in which the designer's signature can always be recognized.
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