The New Ukrainian Street Style Crew Is Here Inline
Photo: courtesy of @ undervoodoo1/14Cate Underwood, photographer-model
Instagram: @ undervoodoo
This high-flying photographer and model has become a bit of an international—and Instagram—sensation, thanks to her ethereal bone structure and punk-influenced personal style. A Kiev native, Underwood is usually found in all-black (a leather jacket covered in studs or shredded black jeans), but she’s also been known to tap into her roots for sartorial inspiration, incorporating colorful pieces by Ukrainian designers (most recently a perforated robe coat by Litkovskaya) into her ensembles.
Photo: Courtesy of @juliya_pelipas2/14Julie Pelipas, editor-stylist
Instagram: @juliya_pelipas
Julie Pelipas has a way of inciting a mosh pit among street style photographers with her ensembles—which often include homegrown statement pieces like a fringed jacket by Marianna Senchina and head-to-toe denim by Anton Belinskiy. Another reason why the lenses love her? The mother has adorable mommy-and-me style.
Photo: courtesy of @ undervoodoo3/14Ulyana Boyko, editor
Instagram: @boykoulyana
As editor in chief of Ukrainian fashion magazine Pink, Boyko makes it a point to be patriotic and promotes local designers in her looks, ranging from made-in-Ukraine backpacks to a pin-striped blazer-meets-dress by Katerina Kvit.
Photo: courtesy of @asya_mkhytaryan4/14Asya Mkhitaryan, owner of Asthik concept store
Instagram: @asya_mkhytaryan
You may recognize Asya Mkhitaryan from her much photographed tour of Fashion Week wearing a Vita Kin vyshyvanka, and there is plenty more where that came from. Mkhitaryan is also the owner of the Kiev-based concept luxury store Asthik, which carries a bevy of Ukrainian designers, ranging from Frolov to Ksenia Schnaider. If that vyshyvankas any indication, she’s one to watch for the next big wave of Eastern inspiration.
Photo: Courtesy of Olga Yanul / @olgayanul5/14Olga Yanul, fashion editor
Instagram: @olgayanul
The fashion editor with a cool coif is a casual sartorial supporter for her country’s designers. Her looks range from neo-Victorian with intricate homespun pieces from Poustovit to slouchy pink pantsuits by Frolov. But whatever the look, Yanul has a knack for inciting mobs of street style photographers every Fashion Week.
Photo: Courtesy of Daria Shapovalova / @daria_shapovalova6/14Daria Shapovalova, creative director of Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days
Instagram: @daria_shapovalova
Daria Shapovalova is a chic force to be reckoned with: The street style star is a walking editorial featuring Ukrainian labels ranging from Anna K to Anton Belinskiy. Her knack for mixing in Western labels with smaller new wave designers has helped homegrown talent reach LVMH-nominated levels and score spaces in stores like Colette.
Photo: Courtesy of Yulia Magdych / @miss_magych7/14Yuliya Magdych, designer
Instagram: @miss_magdych
Need some more lessons on how to wear traditional Ukrainian costume, specifically the vyshyvanka, as your everyday look? Leave it to Yuliya Magdych, a designer who takes the Slavic embroidered piece into modern-day versions that range from a sleeveless gown to a velvet robe.
Photo: Courtesy of Elena Pashchenko / @elenapashchenko8/14Elena Pashchenko, creative director and buyer at Helen Marlen Group
Instagram: @elenapashchenko
Aside from Elena Pashchenko being able to pull off both a traditional vyshyvanka and a stellar jacket by Poustovit, she has a clever knack for infusing the sneaker into almost every outfit, from biking in Paris in a cute frock with a pair of cream Converse to hanging out in a black dress with matching trainers.
Photo: Courtesy of Nadiia Shapoval / @nadiiashapoval9/14Nadiia Shapoval, model
Instagram: @nadiiashapoval
With her angular features and a dark mane, model Nadiia Shapoval has a striking sartorial look to match. Think full-on retro in cropped patterned flares for a night on the town or in a vyshyvanka and topper while on vacation.
Photo: Courtesy of Natalia Modya /@modya10/14Natalia Modenova, cofounder of More Dash
Instagram: @modya
With her fitted frocks and prim collars, Natalia Modenova gives off a Wednesday Addams vibe with a motherland bite. You can find Modenova everywhere, from Fashion Week in Paris to the streets of Kiev, wearing the best of both worlds via designers like Anna K mixed in with Stella McCartney to Ksenia Schnaider with Balenciaga.
Photo: Courtesy of Alina Baikova / @alina_baikova11/14Alina Baikova, founder of Alina’s Flowers
Instagram: @alina_baikova
Alina Baikova is everywhere you want to be. Maybe you’ve seen her hanging out with model friends Toni Garrnand Constance Jablonski, or perhaps hanging out on Leonardo DiCaprio’s yacht? But no matter where she is, Baikova manages to don some Ukrainian pride, usually in an emblazoned shirtdress by Kiev-based designer Omelya.
Photo: Courtesy of Anna Zosimova / @annazosimova12/14Anna Zosimova, stylist
Instagram: @annazosimova
With more than 27,000 followers on Instagram, Anna Zosimova is a bit of a local celebrity. It may be due to the fact that when the former model turned stylist isn’t wearing a standout piece by Anton Belinskiy, she’s whipping up full vintage looks, like a velvet skirt and velour bomber jacket, or a print dress artfully accessorized with a Soviet car.
Photo: Courtesy of Kristina “Luna” Bardash / @kriluna13/14Kristina “Luna” Bardash, musician
Instagram: @kri_luna
Kristina Bardash, the singer better known as her stage name, Luna, is a bit of a phenomenon in Ukraine thanks to her music, as well as her style. For an ethereal ’90s feeling, head to her Instagram, which is brimming with distressed denim, graphic band tees, and plenty of turtlenecks.
Photo: Courtesy of Sasha Trishina / @vzdralosolnce14/14Sasha Trishina, photographer
Instagram: @vzdralosolnce
If you head out for the night in Kiev, you’ll most likely run into Sasha Trishina. The young soft-spoken photographer has Eastern Bloc club kid style down pat. Trishina favors raver-type pieces by Sasha Kanevski for a night out, and also sports some cheeky female silhouette–printed pieces that are strikingly similar to what Alexander Wang turned out for his Fall 2016 collectsion.
