One of Russia’s most respected fashion designers and the only Russian designer to be honoured with membership in the Syndicate of High Fashion in Paris (which gave his works the official status of Haute Couture), Valentin Yudashkin was my mother’s favourite and the very first designer I ever heard of back in the Soviet era. Recently I came across these two wonderful Spring/Summer 2013 dresses while browsing Pinterest and decided to check out what Yudashkin has been up to..

Looking back, I remember Yudashkin came out to prominence during the 80s as he was dressing Raisa Gorbacheva – USSR’s first lady. In mid-90s he dressed Russia’s Olympic team, later he designed the uniforms for Aeroflot and  finally created 85 designs to dress all branches of the Russian Military.

Yudashkin loves all things Russian – the national dress and colors, history, culture and great personalities. He uses his collections to express that love and to show the world the vast and unexplored richness of his native country. The trademark of his clothes is delicate and luxurious embroidery with beads, pearls and rhinestones. His Fall 2013-14 collection mesmerised me with the nostalgic winter colours: shades of whites, grey and silver – and made me think of my fondest childhood memory – The Snow Queen fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.

by Olga Titarenko