Fashion Trends or Fashion Statements?

Reflections on Russia - Fashion Trends or Fashion Statements?
After stepping off the plane in Moscow, one of the first things you will notice is that people dress a little differently here in Russia than in other parts of the world. While cosmopolitan cities may have a stricter dress code, per se, the fashion you see here isn't something you'll notice on 5th Avenue of New York or the streets of larger European cities. Maybe it's because I am male, but the first thing that stands out to me is the women. If you took a small sampling of women on the streets of Moscow, you would notice that an overwhelming number of women choose to be in heels as they navigate the city. These aren't the heels of an average women's dress shoe, but rather stiletto heels that you might expect to see on the dance floor of an upscale club. How the women of Moscow manage to survive the excruciating pain of these inhumane torture devices all day long is beyond me. Aside from heels, there is also another trend among women. There seems to be some unspoken rule that if you choose to wear a skirt, dress, shorts, or anything that shoes a little leg, you are obligated to have hosiery as part of your uniform. While ordinary pantyhose might come to mind, you will be surprised at the variety of hosiery you'll see on the streets. Apparently fishnets are acceptable business attire as I saw them on numerous occasions complementing formal business suits. Since I'm moving upwards anatomically, I'll talk about the brassiere, or the absence thereof. On numerous occasions, myself and fellow program participants observed that many women seem to feel no need for the support of the modern bra. While letting it all hang loose is one option, another popular alternative seems to be the black bra. Women out there may identify with the need to wear a different colored undergarment to match their outfit in a given day, but this trend doesn't seem to have reached all the women of Russia. This became all so apparent after seeing many women wear see through lace blouses. Gentlemen, please don't become all too excited in a hurry. This style of dress is sported by not only younger women, but also the geriatric crowd.

Leaving the women behind, speaking about men's fashion is a whole different story. The first thing a Westerner will notice is the distinctly different hairstyle popular among men. Some may call it a rat-tail, others may refer to it as a mullet, but to describe it briefly, many men wear their hair shorter and spikey on top and longer and unshaven on the back of the neck. Those familiar with the famous, or perhaps infamous, Russian pop star, Дима Билан, will know exactly what I'm talking about. Dima is just one celebrity figure who also wears his hair in this style. While in the metro, you will observe that many men will dress up in their own way that might seem unfamiliar to foreigners: the uniquely patterned and colored dress shirts will be kept unbuttoned, often to expose part of their chest and a Russian Orthodox cross; their pants will fit tightly; and perhaps the most striking thing of all will be just how pointy their dress shoes are! Popular among Russian men are shiny dress shoes imported from Italy that come to a sharp point at the tip of the toe.

Next time you are traveling in Russia or at least at a tourist destination elsewhere in the world where you may encounter Russians, keep in mind these descriptions and you are sure to spot a Russian or two who look just like this. It is important to note that all Russians do not dress in this manner and that most Muscovites dress better than the average American. Furthermore, one should keep in mind that each country and culture has its own fashion trends that may seem very strange and unfamiliar to an outsider. I am not making a judgment, but I simply wanted to comment on a fashion trend I observed among some Russians that deviates strongly from what the average Westerner is accustomed to.