Alexander Vasiliev did not come to the interview alone - he was proudly accompanied by a black pug named Kotik, who important look I listened to our entire dialogue. We talked with the master of style and demiurge of fashion for more than an hour. A charming man in an ocher scarf answered each question for several minutes, and you got the impression that you were sitting at one of his lectures. Having ordered his favorite Earl Gray tea, Alexander noted that he would not answer all a hundred questions; you don’t even have to try to ask him all of them. But in the end we received 117 responses. And if our hero had not been in a hurry to the next interview, we are sure that we could fill an entire issue with his answers.
Text: Alexey Zimin
1 You are called a fashion historian. But this is too vague a definition...
I study the history of fashion, this definition is absolutely precise, there is nothing vague in it.
2 Tell me how your day is going.
I usually get up at seven in the morning, my day lasts until two in the morning. I spend a lot of time on the Internet - answering letters from fans and journalists, considering all kinds of offers. Then I walk with my pug and go to give lectures. I am in Moscow five days a month, during which time I give one or two lectures and give several interviews.
3 Where do you give lectures?
I have schools in Rome, Paris, Venice, Istanbul and even in the Kingdom of Cambodia. In Russia, I give lectures as part of the "MBA Fashion" program at the Faculty of Philosophy of Moscow State University.
4 How many people have already taken your course?
There are at least ten thousand people in Moscow.
5 How can I make an appointment with you?
I have a website vassiliev.com, where everything is described in detail.
6 What could you do without money?
Recently in Vladivostok I held a charity ball in favor of maternity hospitals, at which we raised 3.5 million rubles.
7 To be fashionable, is it necessary to know the history of fashion?
Certainly! Otherwise you will look like a wahlak.
8 When does fashion start?
Since prehistoric times, when people wore jewelry made from animal teeth, they dressed in skins. There were no sources of information about fashion back then, but even in the Middle Ages or the Renaissance, fashion changed very quickly. True, this concerned mainly the court and aristocracy.
9 Why do you live abroad?
I have several houses in Europe. I have lived in France since 1982 and my antique clothing collection is located there. But I also spend a lot of time in Russia, visiting Vladivostok, Murmansk, Samara, Novosibirsk.
10 How are domestic fashion designers treated in the West?
No one there realizes that they even exist.
11 How do they perceive our country there?
Wild, which is actually true. A country of crime, where every day a journalist is killed. Our country is an absolute western, where immorality, corruption and lawlessness flourish. What kind of Russian style is this?!
12 What is Russian style?
This question is difficult to answer. We listen to foreign music, wear imported things, drive only foreign cars, because we couldn’t make our own cars, we talk on phones from foreign companies, because in the 90 years after the revolution we haven’t been able to assemble a single handset. Whatever we undertake, we end up with a tank.
13 Don't you consider yourself a patriot?
That's not the point. Russia has not preserved its face. There is not even such a thing as Russian cuisine, because we do not grow anything - we buy all our products in a supermarket, where carrots are brought from Israel. And if Israel, tiny compared to Russia, feeds our huge country with carrots, this only means that we are complete idiots who could not build greenhouses. Don't we have room for them or what?
14 Does our country look unfashionable compared to Europe?
Oh, our people look super fashionable! It is the Europeans who do not follow fashion, because following it is unfashionable.
15 What kind of person can be called fashionable?
In Russian opinion, a person is fashionable if he has bought the latest products different brands, has a lot of clothes, goes to expensive resorts. But fashion and style are two different things. You can be stylish and not spend a penny on it. True, this is no longer about the Russians.
16 But the most fashionable people live in Russia?
Exactly! 27% of global luxury exports go to our country. 27% – in United Arab Emirates, 20% - to China, 15% - to the USA, 10% - to Japan, and only 5% remains in Europe, where they know that there are overseas fools to whom they can sell clothes at any price.
17 Do the Europeans themselves look better?
They look great. It’s just that no one will run around with Hermes or Louis Vuitton bags, because they are insanely expensive, impractical and anger the clochards on the street. In our country, all these labels are a sign of power, money and status.
18 Is it okay to buy things on sales?
Certainly! At the flea market in Paris, I see Catherine Deneuve, Yohji Yamamoto, the Fendi sisters, rummaging through old things. Believe me, they have a lot more money and taste than these Rublev snobs. But they are not idiots to go to the store for new things - the thing should be a little old, with history.
19 Grandmother's cameo - the squeak of fashion?
Still would! It’s nice to say that this brooch was left to you from your great-grandmother, and your mother wore these gloves to the theater. But our “elegant women” cannot boast of this, since often their grandmothers were accountants on a collective farm.
20 It is still difficult to compare the Parisian market and Cherkizovsky.
Why? The same Turkish things are brought there. Armani, for example, sews its clothes in two places - in Lithuania and Belarus.
21 Is it true that Armani began creating clothes at almost forty years old?
Yes. Christian Dior was born in 1905. And he opened his fashion house in 1947 at the age of 42.
22 When will beauty finally save the world?
She saves him every minute thanks to my books, programs, lectures. I single-handedly made Russia much better, more comfortable and more beautiful.
23 Can you determine how much a person is wearing?
No, that never interested me.
24 Do you go shopping in Moscow?
I was recently at TSUM. Looked at the prices for men's shoes. I couldn’t find a pair of boots for less than 23 thousand rubles. And the average price was around 40 thousand. I was amazed. There are no such prices in the West, otherwise we would walk barefoot! How can a coat cost about 200 thousand rubles?!
25 How to distinguish a fake from a real thing?
I am far from the world of brands, but at one time I bought a lot of fakes.
26 Do you have a favorite brand?
Yes, Earl Gray tea, which I drink every day. I do not drink coffee.
27 Favorite clothing brand?
I prefer things from Hermes because they last a long time.
28 Which brand is unreasonably expensive and at the same time looks unattractive?
Cavalli. This is an example of the worst taste. There is nowhere to fall further. (Thinking.) And then Versace.
29 How many neckerchiefs do you have?
More than a hundred, but I never counted. They give me a lot of them. If they don't match the color, I re-gift them.
30 What brands of scarves do you prefer?
From European ones - Hermes, Paul Smith, Lanvin. And so I prefer exotic ones - Cambodian, Uzbek, Indian.
31 Why did you dress this way today (dark woolen jacket, thin brown scarf, blue jeans)?
I went out for a walk with the dog. I didn’t dress up to meet you.
32 What accessory should every man have?
The word “should” needs to be eliminated from any fashionista’s vocabulary. As soon as debt begins, fashion ends. This concept remains with us from the totalitarian communist regime. We have no debts, we are all different. There are male football players and there are male actors; There are bankers and there are miners. They are united only by the shape of the genital organ. But essentially they are all different, understand.
33 Let us rephrase: what should a man pay attention to?
First of all, you should have clean underwear: no one knows when and where you will have to take off your clothes. And you should always take care of your nails and teeth. Make sure your socks don't have holes.
34 This the main problem when you come to visit someone?
The main problem is that in Russia, for some reason, it is customary to take off your shoes when visiting people, as if in a mosque. This is especially terrible for women: she came to you, you know, in heels, and suddenly they land her and give her some chewed-up slippers from a Turkish hotel. This Islam must be eradicated. You need to decide what you value more – floors or guests.
35 Is it true that black socks are for the proletariat?
If you are wearing black shoes, then white socks do not go well with them - this is the proletariat. And you cannot wear socks of any other color with ballroom or evening shoes. They should be tall and silky.
36 Are white socks only allowed for sports?
Tennis white socks are for the gym only. If you don’t want to wear black ones, match the color of the scarf in your jacket, tie or the color of your eyes.
37 Shoes patent leather or matte leather?
It depends where. For the ball - only in lacquered ones.
38 Name the three most fashionable places in the world.
Paris, Milan and London. Then I will give you the addresses of entertainment establishments.
39 Do you go to clubs?
No. I take care of my health. Firstly, I don’t smoke, and secondly, I don’t drink. Thirdly, I don’t need to dance and I don’t need to make acquaintances with anyone - I’ve already made friends with everyone I need to. In addition, it is better not to tolerate club relations in real life, since many girls are good only in dim lighting.
40 Has the financial crisis hit the fashion world?
Very. This is not yet felt in the collections, but soon everything will become obvious.
41 Which literary hero has become a standard of fashion and style for you?
Evgeny Onegin is a real dandy.
42 Who can you mention from the world of people?
(Thinking.) Prince Charles, of course.
43 Which of our politicians looks unstylish?
I don't want to quarrel with anyone, so it's better to leave this question out.
44 What will be trending this spring?
Glamor will go out of fashion. Along with it - blondes, rhinestones, heels, gold, silver.
45 Why is fashion coming back?
We live in an era of decadence and bad style. But previous eras were more interesting, and we can only imitate them. Fashion comes back once every 25 years. Before the crisis, there was a trend towards 80s fashion. And now, I think, the clothes will be more closed. The porn guy will go away.
46 How can you tell if a person has taste?
First of all, this is heard in speech. When they tell me that they themselves are “from Moscow”, having lived there for only a couple of years, this indicates that people have no taste.
47 At what age does a sense of style and taste develop?
It is inherited, just like hearing.
48 Why are there so many gays among fashion designers?
20th century aesthetics were invented by gays. Among the creative elite, 95% are gay men. A heterosexual man is able to undress a woman, and a homosexual man is able to dress her!
49 They say the more expensive a thing is, the better it is. This is true?
There are a lot of fools who are ready to buy a three-penny thing at exorbitant prices.
50 How do you feel about skinny ties?
It was fashionable in the 20s and 80s. A tie is a phallic symbol, they are worn so that women have the idea that the dimensions of the tie correspond to the dimensions manhood. As a rule, this is a scam. Just like with cars, usually disabled men drive huge jeeps.
51 What kind of car do you have?
A small gray Renault car.
52 Do you drive?
This is not a lord's business. There are cab drivers and drivers for this.
53 Are you a metrosexual?
No, a metrosexual should be slim, go to a sports club, where I don’t go. Rather, I'm a bon vivant.
54 How many centimeters should...
...it's a secret! But if you want, I will send you the information by mail later. Or what are you talking about?
55 About a shirt sleeve peeking out from under a jacket sleeve.
Depends on the era, but two centimeters is normal.
56 What color should never be present in clothes?
There are no such flowers. You just need to make sure that they suit you.
57 The deadliest clothing combination?
Sports and classics. There is no need to wear sneakers under a jacket and trousers. And you shouldn’t come wearing a trowel with three stripes to a meeting in the Duma. This is for washing a car.
58 What do you never deny yourself?
In my favorite tea.
59 Gold or silver?
I wear both. But in the city, silver is preferable, and at the resort, in combination with tanned skin, gold looks very good. I don’t like diamonds in gold – it’s vulgar, in my opinion.
60 Can you rate your collection of antique clothing?
Insurers appreciated it. This is several million euros.
61 How long have you been collecting it?
About thirty years old.
62 How much do you spend on clothes per month?
Several thousand euros each - mainly for collectible clothes for his museum. And I mostly wear clothes for myself as gifts, because I have many fashion designer friends who sew things for me according to my figure.
63 Which fashion designer do you communicate closely with?
With Bartenev, Simachev, Akhmadullina...
64 You are a fashion critic. Do you listen to criticism yourself?
I love her! But I would like the criticism to be clear. I enjoy listening to constructive comments regarding my lectures, speeches or books.
65 When will your new book be published?
My new book “Russian Hollywood” will be published in at least a year and a half.
66 How did you make your first money?
I lectured at a fashion school. And then he began to design performances that were staged in many countries around the world.
67 Which event has a higher level - Russian Fashion Week or Moscow Fashion Week?
Yes, no difference. Talented designers are involved in both.
68 Do you attend these shows?
No, I don't have enough time for this. There you have to waste an hour waiting for the action to start, which is not always brilliant.
69 Who are the undisputed leaders in the footwear, clothing, and accessories market?
I don't bother with this.
70 Silk or velvet?
I wear silk and velvet. But all this will go out of fashion. For example, in the 70s, velvet was terribly popular, but in the 80s it didn’t go anywhere.
71 What's the sexiest item in a woman's wardrobe besides lingerie?
Corset. He creates a figure that not everyone has. By outlining the waist and lifting the chest, it makes a woman more attractive - an object of dreams and desire.
72 What does a woman not have the right to wear?
Yes, they can walk in anything! Depends only on age, size, type of activity. Shapeless clothing should be avoided, but it is not taboo.
73 What should a woman pay attention to first?
She should take more care of her body than her clothes. And first of all, she should be a man’s friend, and not a piece of talking meat.
74 What makes our girls vulgar?
Well, there are more Ukrainians in this genre. Our women have no charm or mystery - just sex that hits the spot, and that’s all.
75 What can you say about young people?
And guys, as a rule, don’t take care of themselves. Most of our men are brothers. A little beer, a little football...
76 Jeans or trousers?
I'm wearing jeans today, but I can't appear in them often because they expect me to do something sophisticated.
77 Stand-up collar or regular?
Depends on the length and proportions of the neck.
78 In what cases does a T-shirt under a shirt have the right to life?
If it's cold, yes. But you don’t want it to peek out from under your shirt and be the wrong color. Don't wear a blue T-shirt under a striped shirt.
79 What thing will you never wear?
I don't really like tracksuits. They make me look like some kind of toddler.
80 What fashion especially irritates you?
Basically, no matter what. Fashion has a beginning and an end. Therefore, you need to be patient and wait for it to pass. Fashion is a game and there is always an alternative.
81 Were you consulted when the new military uniform was created?
No, they only consulted with Valentin Yudashkin. He did everything perfectly, but still he is mostly a female fashion designer, and mostly men serve in the army.
82 Which structures would you reform?
I wouldn't get into this at all. Uniforms have nothing to do with fashion. Moreover, it is created not for a season, but for entire decades.
83 What movie could you watch endlessly?
These are mainly films shot before 1975. How many times have I watched Casablanca, Breakfast at Tiffany's, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music...
84 You create costumes for cinema and theater. In what productions can you see the characters you created?
Now I’m working with the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater, preparing the premiere of “The Snowstorm” based on Pushkin. In "Snuffbox" I am working on "The Marriage of Figaro" based on Beaumarchais. And at the Ankara National Opera I make sets and costumes for Anna Karenina, as you might guess, based on Tolstoy.
85 Most valuable thing in your collection?
Me myself.
86 What should a real man smell like?
Well, not later for sure. I like Tom Ford, Comme des Garcons, Dior. The scents of iris and sandalwood are very popular now. But you need to choose something of your own so that the smell does not cause a gag reflex in the girl next to you.
87 You are a big lover of everything antique. Is there anything you like in our world?
Yes, for example, the Internet. Without him, I would not have accomplished much in life. Mobile phone– a magnificent thing! And also airplanes, television, which I never watch, but on which I constantly film.
88 Do you swear?
Never. I know all these words, but I do without them.
89 Remember the most terrible sight you saw.
These are news programs on TV, which talk about human grief, and programs where various incidents are separately reported. Disgusting.
90 The most terrible buildings in Moscow?
Kremlin Palace of Congresses. New Arbat is the drama of our city. And spoiling the general landscape of the capital is the glass complex in the Mezhdunarodnaya metro area.
91 Has the capital's public changed over the past ten years?
Yes, and very much so. Moscow became a magnet, many people came from other cities. Native Muscovites disappeared among the newcomers.
92 What is the most ridiculous offer you have received from TV channels?
For example, they ask to take part in a competition for the best costume of various girl groups. For what? I don’t understand anything about this.
93 Is your style called something?
Don't know. I don't think so.
94 What question do you get asked most often?
What is the most expensive item in the collection, who am I, who do I wear... This is a standard gentleman's set.
95 What does this mean?
The fact that, although I have my own website, people still don’t know me well.
96 What do women want?
Judging by the way you look after yourself, you.
97 If you were a thing, what company would it be?
I wouldn't sign the title.
98 What does FHM stand for?
I do not remember. Cheap GQ?
99 Which publication would you call the fashion bible?
Except my books.
100 Can I use “you”?
You can, my dear.
FHM February 2009
Yesterday I spent half a day in Ostankino filming the “Fashionable Verdict” program.
I needed one person for an interview...fashion historian Alexander Vasiliev.
And you know, preparing for the conversation, I came into a state of shock...
The man gives lectures on the history of fashion all over the world, he has the world's largest collection of antique costumes and he is going to create a museum of clothes in Russia, he has an awesome sense of humor, he has been working as a TV program host for about 20 years, he is a stage designer and costume designer in more than 29 theaters around the world....and all these theaters...Lisbon, Monte Carlo,...National Theater in London, Scottish Ballet in Glasgow; Royal Ballet of Flanders; Bonn Opera and Wiesbaden Opera, Germany, Lisbon National Ballet; Teatro Communale and Ballet Theater of Tuscany; Baron Thyssen Foundation in Lugano, Guangzhou Ballet and Hong Kong Ballet...etc.
Royal courts are all around. The feeling that a person was born in a different era!!
And the amount of his talents does not stop there...
You know, I became very interested in his position regarding fashion... because this person really objectively evaluates style and clothing!
And after reading several of his old interviews I pulled out interesting tips and reasoning)))
It turns out that all our brightness, pretentiousness, trying to put on as much jewelry as possible... this is all due to the subconscious instinct of a woman to find a partner in such a difficult period of time, when the female population outnumbers the male population)
and also, his attitude to the crisis;)
- How to look stylish in a crisis?
Stylishness comes from within. Avoid unnecessary things, follow the silhouette line. There is no need for everything to be sticky. As Renata Litvinova correctly noted, there should be space between clothes and the body. Second hand - best gift women. There you can find a lot of valuable, interesting, even original things for little money. Well, you can go back to sewing machine. If you know how to sew, knit, embroider, as many did before, this will help out a lot. Although there are a lot of lazy people in Russia now. If we were all hard workers, then our fashion houses would not sew models in China.
- In general, those who know how to do handicrafts will probably survive the crisis...
And also those who know how to make canned food, raise chickens, and weed potato beds. They will survive the crisis even better. The worst stupidity of people is when they think that the state will help them. Never. Rely only on yourself, and not on your kind uncle, and don’t think that a bag of gingerbread will fall on your head.
-Are you not afraid of the crisis at all?
Take advantage of it! The sun is still shining, spring has come, the flowers have bloomed. And even in times of crisis, we can afford a lot of inexpensive pleasures: admiring nature, studying arts, languages, caring for our bodies. We may have to eat less, but this will only benefit us. Because everyone was so fed up that they began to think only about how to lose weight. Here's a real chance! I see only benefit in the crisis! Foam and scale will go away - many meaningless brands, inflated persons who were associated only with gold, rhinestones and bare navels. I think people will have to work harder. But they will stop spending money on stupid and meaningless things. What is the problem with Russian women? There is nothing to go out in, although the wardrobe is full. It’s smart to act like Chanel: she died with three of her own suits.
Osinka: Alexander, your advice to women. How to always look stylish and well dressed?
Alexander Vasiliev: When they look at themselves in the mirror, they should always think about what they could take away, not what they could add. Less is more. And then, ladies should always focus on their social status, according to your age, according to your capabilities. And try not to look funny, because that kills a woman.
Osinka: Are there win-win options?
Alexander Vasiliev: No. But I can give you some advice. Of course, wide clothes are more elegant than tight ones. A black dress always looks elegant too. A string of white pearls and black dress- this is almost always good!
And this is Alexander Vasiliev in his youth!))
Osinka: I would like to ask you about the influence of, so to speak, “blue culture” on fashion...
Alexander Vasiliev: It is huge, all-consuming... You know, it's no secret that approximately 95% of all male designers have gay. I can hardly even name three that would be traditional... Most designers create for themselves. They dress themselves by drawing a female silhouette. Yourself, but not the man. Therefore, they often create an exaggerated silhouette, which would not be typical for a woman, but would be very suitable for a transvi man. And this is very important.
Osinka: But why do gay men create women's fashion?
Alexander Vasiliev: Well, of course! Straight men, as they are called in Russia, are created to undress a woman, and other men are created to dress a woman. That's all! This is the whole mystery! Why can't a heterosexual man create anything for a woman? Because he wants to see her naked. He has a different focus. But who will sublimate a woman, comb her hair, decorate her, exalt her, make her a diva? After all, all the hairdressers, stylists, and make-up artists are almost all gay too.
You have to love fashion for what it is. She won't change. I know that in Russia there is a very strange attitude towards all this. Many of my students say: “Oh! What a nightmare! I didn’t even know he was blue. But now I certainly won’t buy panties or a skirt from him.” This is silly! Because there will be no other. I'll tell you an example. When Gianni Versace was killed, of course, everywhere, in all the media, it was written that he was killed by his lover. There was a Gianni Versace boutique in Moscow at that time. And one of his customers, very popular customers, said: “What a nightmare! I was the one who dressed, I spent so much money on this fagot! I will never do it again. I am moving from you to Jean Franco Ferret.” But Jean Franco Ferré is exactly the same homosexual as Gianni Versace!
If a woman approaches fashion from the point of view of the sexual orientation of a male designer, this is complete stupidity. She should like or dislike the result of his creativity, not his sexual orientation. She’s not going to sleep with him, and most importantly, he’s not going to sleep with her either! She is only a client for him. Therefore, dear girls, choose what suits your style, your build, the color of your eyes, the color of your hair. And try not to look vulgar, because there are a lot of vulgar girls on the streets.
Alexander Vasiliev is popular person. He studies the history of Russian and European fashion, collects various items, which he collects literally little by little at flea markets around the world.
Our today's hero is engaged in teaching, writes books and articles in which he talks about fashion trends. modern world. Lectures are given by Alexander Alexandrovich all over the world.
For 8 years, the popular art critic worked in “Fashionable Sentence”, in which he shared his knowledge on this issue with television viewers.
The fate and biography of our today's hero attracts many people who are interested in the world of fashion. They want to know everything about him, including his height, weight, age. How old is Alexander Vasiliev is also interesting. He is 177 cm tall. The art critic leads healthy image life, monitors his diet, which has a beneficial effect on his weight. It is equal to 78 kg.
Next year, Alexander Alexandrovich Vasiliev will celebrate his 60th birthday. He recently stated that it will be something big with big amount invited guests. An expert in the fashion world wants to prepare a TV show about himself and his destiny on the eve of this event. He says that many people do not know him personally, and this gives rise to many rumors and gossip.
More recently, Alexander Vasiliev: a photo in his youth and now posted it on his Instagram page. Fans of his talent noted that he has not changed at all during this time. Only became somewhat brutal and extravagant for last years.
Biography of Alexander Vasiliev (Fashionable verdict)
Alexander Vasiliev was born in December 1958 in Moscow shortly before the New Year. His father, Alexander Pavlovich, worked in one of the Moscow theaters, where he held the position of artist. Mother, Tatyana Ilyinichna, was a dramatic actress. All this led to the boy becoming interested in art and the world of fashion, and in the future he decided to connect his life with this activity.
At two years old, the boy was his father’s assistant, working on costume sketches. At the age of 5, he created a collection of clothes, which was presented at one of the fashion shows, held in the capital of the Soviet Union. At this time they started talking about him as an aspiring fashion designer. From the same age, Alexander Alexandrovich took part in the filming of television programs well known to Soviet television viewers.
He begins decorating children's theater performances from the age of twelve. Although Alexander Vasiliev was incredibly busy designing costumes, this in no way negatively affected his studies. He perfectly comprehended various sciences. He especially liked literature, history and mathematics.
After graduating from school he decides to tie his professional activity with fashion and art. On his first attempt, Alexander Vasiliev entered the Moscow Art Theater School, where he studies in the production department. During student years An expert in the fashion world showed excellent knowledge, receiving a diploma with honors. Young man I was pleased to be invited to work at the Theater as a costume designer.
The biography of Alexander Vasiliev (Fashionable Verdict) at this time takes on a romantic shape. The young fashion designer was struck to the heart by love. But soon the young lovers separated. Beloved Alexandra Vasiliev and her mother are moving to France for permanent residence. Our hero is suffering, he is eager to go to Paris, but in those days it was very difficult to travel outside the Soviet Union. Soon, Vasiliev had an opportunity: he met a girl who came to the country to learn the intricacies of the Russian language. The decorator married this girl. There was no love between them. The relationship was fictitious. Alexander rejoiced like a child, he strove for his beloved. At that moment, the fashion designer did not imagine that he was leaving his homeland for a long time.
In France, it turned out that his beloved girl did not wait for him. She linked her fate with another man.
Alexander lived in Paris for several years, after which he received a notice ordering the fashion designer to return to Soviet Union. At that time political situation in her native country was ticklish: Soviet troops were introduced into Afghanistan. Foreign countries opposed this. The country found itself on the brink of isolation. All citizens living outside the USSR had to return back. Alexander decided not to return to the Soviet Union; he is applying for permission to stay in Paris. The French authorities grant him citizenship within a short period of time.
Vasiliev works on the design of theatrical performances and festivals. He develops himself in the art of decorating. In addition, the young man studies at the Louvre school, after training he received a diploma as a professional in palace interior design.
At the same time, he worked with Ronde Pointe, the Royal Opera, the Studio of the Opera de Bastia and others. In addition, he teaches at the Russian Theater School and various fashion schools.
Just a few years later, Vasiliev begins working with British, Icelandic, and Turkish theater troupes. Although Alexander Alexandrovich was very busy, this did not prevent him from perfectly learning French, Spanish and Italian in addition to the English language he already knew. Having learned these languages, the fashion connoisseur translated and gave his lectures around the world.
After the breakup great country(Soviet Union) Vasiliev decides to return to his homeland. A few years later, he begins to host a program dedicated to fashion. It was called "Breath of the Century". She is actively involved in teaching and teaching fashion history to students of various universities and fashion schools. Since 2009, he has been hosting the television show program “Fashionable Sentence”, which was hosted by Vyacheslav Zaitsev before him. The renowned fashion historian studies and writes books, the number of which is currently approaching fifty. Vasiliev is also a collector. He collects neckerchiefs and scarves, the number of which is approaching 250.
The fashion connoisseur takes part in preparing sets for various films and theatrical performances. For example, he worked in a film by Roberto Enrico.
Recently, the well-known decorator and art critic left the “Fashionable Sentence” program. He is currently engaged in the opening of a museum exhibition, which will be in addition to the capital Russian Federation also in Paris, London and Rome. Museums in these European capitals will be constantly updated, telling about the history of fashion.
Personal life of Alexander Vasiliev
Many fans of the famous fashion historian know almost nothing about his personal life. It is known that in his youth Vasiliev fell in love with a girl who soon left for France. Having arranged a fictitious marriage, the future star of fashion history managed to leave after her. Since that time, the personal life of Alexander Vasiliev has been hidden under a veil of secrecy. According to some reports, he lived with his fictitious wife for 5 years. WITH ex-lover the relationship did not work out, although he tried several times.
In the late 80s, the historian of Russian and world fashion had a short-term affair with Icelandic Stefania. But after just 2 months they had to separate, since Alexander did not want to stay in Iceland, and his beloved did not want to move to Paris.
In recent years, some have said about Vasiliev that he has a non-traditional orientation, and therefore cannot get along with more than one representative of the fair sex. The fashion star does not pay attention to all the gossip and slander, preferring to keep his opinion to himself.
Family of Alexander Vasiliev
Alexander Vasiliev's family was intelligent. Parents paid all their attention only son. Our hero's father and mother provided big influence on his professional choice. For many years, my father worked as a theater artist and fashion designer for one of the Moscow theaters. Every year Vasiliev’s dad held a presentation of the clothes he designed. Many recognized fashion designers in the country took his opinion into account. Vasiliev Sr. was awarded a large number of different awards. Alexander Vasiliev Jr. is proud that his father was awarded the title - People's Artist of Russia. The State Museum named after Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin houses some of the works of the famous theater artist.
The mother of the popular decorator was an actress. Performances in which a woman played were popular. In the 80s, she began teaching at theater institutes in the capital. Her former students They still remember her stage speech lessons as a school of excellence.
Currently, Vasiliev jokingly calls his dog Palma, who lives in his apartment, his family.
Children of Alexander Vasiliev
Alexander Alexandrovich does not like to answer questions about children. It is known that the popular fashion connoisseur does not have any children of his own. But he
baptized three children from his friends. The godchildren of Alexander Vasiliev currently live in three European countries.
He communicates only with Marfa Milovidnaya, who lives in the Russian Federation. they call each other very often. Alexander Alexandrovich often visits her, and also gives her small surprise gifts after visiting other countries.
In his interviews, the decorator and art critic states that many women offer him to have a child. But our hero believes that he does not need a fictitious child.
Ex-wife of Alexander Vasiliev - Anna
For the first time Alexander saw future wife in the mid 70s. She came to the Soviet Union to improve her knowledge of the Russian language. The girl entered the Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov. She was the daughter of Russian emigrants.
Alexander Vasiliev at this time was looking for ways to leave the country. He invited Anna to enter into a fictitious marriage. After some thought, the girl agreed. The young people got married and left for Paris. But the marriage remained fictitious, although it lasted about 5 years.
The ex-wife of Alexander Vasilyev, Anna, does not maintain any relationship with her ex-husband after her divorce. They don't meet or communicate. Currently, according to the decorator himself, he has absolutely no idea what his ex-wife is doing now.
Instagram and Wikipedia Alexander Vasiliev
Vasiliev follows modern traditions; he has pages on the World Wide Web. But he works most actively on his Instagram page. And Alexander Vasiliev’s Wikipedia contains a large number of information about his life path and parents. The Instagram page contains a large number of photographs of the popular art critic, from everyday life to photos as a presenter. Fashionable sentence».
Here Alexander Alexandrovich announces his future performances related to fashion and its history. For example, soon Vasiliev in Once again will perform in front of an audience in the city of Rome.
The number of page subscribers is constantly growing. It is now close to 5 million active users social networks, interested in fashion trends and new products.
I'm currently reading a thread about him on another site. There is a girl there who went to his traveling style school, I read her story, what a boor he is ((and I once really liked him.
Here's part of her story:
back to the story
A story that shook me to the core happened during one of the excursions with Sasha.
To make it clear, I’ll start from afar. As you all remember, the audience was somewhat mixed. And some of the “cats” were big fans of Sasha. To meet their idol, they reserved their best outfits, which was their strategic mistake.
The lady from Kazakhstan was especially unlucky. She was Russian, studied network marketing or something similar, her hair was dyed a very bright blond, she walked in stiletto heels, and to top it off she wore a mink vest. The mink vest was cool, by the way. It was also so cold that it was quite appropriate. Just in case, I’ll add that she didn’t look like a prostitute or a kept woman.
It was this lady that Sasha chose as a target for his witticisms. She goes out on an excursion in the morning in black patent leather shoes - and Sasha immediately begins to talk about how prostitutes were the first to wear black patent leather shoes, and that to this day a prostitute can be easily identified by her black patent leather shoes. The lady is blushing, the rich minority is perplexed, but formally there seems to be nothing to send them away for, so everyone is silent so as not to aggravate the situation. The poorer majority agrees and chuckles into their fists.
The sun comes out from behind the clouds, the lady takes out her sunglasses, half an hour later she slides them onto her head... what awaits us? That's right, the lecture is about the fact that Russian women were not given kokoshniks and crowns, so they sublimate with glasses. The lady dejectedly removes her glasses.
Hellishly cold. Lady in a mink vest. What do we get? That's right, another tirade on the topic of how excessive the Russians are in their desire for luxury, and how they have sickened the world with their Barguzins. “Your Barguzins” became another meme of this trip. "Where are your Barguzins?" - Sasha asked that bright blonde when instead of a vest she was wearing a down jacket. “Of course, you need a good scarf for your Barguzins,” I heard when I asked where there are vintage scarves in perfect quality. Barguzin here, Barguzin there. One day he annoyed me so much with these Barguzins that I suggested that he organize a campaign among the “cats”: “Give Vasiliev some Barguzins!” Like, he can definitely gather enough skins for a couple of skins, and this is a scarf, although it’s a bit lumpy.
But the story after which fashion historian Alexander Vasiliev turned into walking absurdity Sasha was this one.
The excursions usually moved with the shops. Well, that is, while we were walking from one museum to another, Sasha periodically took short breaks and showed us all what he loved about France. And we went to the Kusmi tea store. I saw it for the first time, so the story is that this company belonged to the Kuzmichev merchants, who after the revolution had one warehouse in Hamburg that survived, and with what was in this warehouse they began new life, I like it. I immediately wanted to buy something. The same thing happened with the other 30 “cats”, who were pretty tired of moving between museums in the snow and rain, which for several days now, under Sasha’s supervision, I bought exclusively rag trash, and this in Paris! And finally, something made in the 21st century! And there is no risk of being obstructed by the maestro! In general, the cats went on the attack (and I was with them).
Meanwhile, Alexander bought himself two hundred-gram bags of loose tea and (while the “cats” were trying to navigate the assortment) began discussing the appearance of our bright blonde... with the seller. French. Hoping that no one will understand. The phrases were approximately as follows: “Only Russian women think that this vulgar, burnt hair color suits them,” “It would seem that this is a lady of easy virtue: bright white hair, red lipstick and a mink coat, but no, this is a Russian woman who tried to dress fashionably "
And then it broke through for me. I politely apologized for interrupting such interesting conversation, and asked Sasha how he felt, insulting a woman who had paid him a considerable sum for his work, knowing for sure that she could not answer him. Does he consider this to be professional and dignified behavior? The seller immediately pretended that he had urgent business in the back room, and Sasha said, “I didn’t know that you spoke French so well,” after which he went out into the street, clutching a tea bag to his chest.
After I told my mother and our friends about this incident, their first reaction was shock, and then everyone started trolling Sasha. “The campaign “serve for Barguzin!” is exactly from this opera.
Of course, Alexander Vasiliev is a fashion historian, whom almost everyone knows, since he is a public person. He teaches at universities, hosts a well-known television program, and speaks to a wide audience, talking about what wardrobe items are most relevant today.
Probably many will agree that Alexander Vasiliev is a fashion historian with capital letters. As you know, fashion is a fickle and capricious lady. Its history is a reflection of how ideas about female beauty for centuries. And it is very important to learn to catch the slightest changes in what clothes will be popular tomorrow.
And it should be noted that Alexander Vasiliev is a fashion historian who has perfectly mastered this skill. From childhood he dreamed of devoting himself creative profession. Who is he, what was his path to fame? Let's look at these questions in more detail.
Biography
Alexander Vasiliev, a fashion historian, was born on December 8, 1959 in a family of intelligent people who lived in the Russian capital. His father was a national artist, and his mother served in one of the Moscow theaters. Little Sasha was brought up in an atmosphere of love for art and creativity.
Today Alexander Vasiliev is a fashion historian, whose advice is an invaluable gift for many Russian couturiers.
Childhood
Alexander himself recalls with delight and nostalgia the years of his youth: “My father was a real master of the brush, and my mother played roles superbly in the theater. All my ancestors were in one way or another connected with creativity. Dad himself created costumes and scenery for the theater. He was a true professional in his field. We had a huge library, so I read a lot. I enjoyed going to plays and art exhibitions.
Even as a child, it was clear to me that my life would also be connected with creativity.”
Fashion historian Alexander Vasiliev, whose biography is simply unique, as a young man became so attached to the theater that he began sewing costumes on his own and inventing decorations for his dolls. At the age of 12 he was already staging plays.
Moscow Art Theater student
It is quite natural that after graduating from school he wanted to connect his life with the theater, submitting documents to enter the production department of the Moscow Art Theater School. The dream comes true, he becomes a student of this theater university. After receiving his diploma, he worked for some time as a costume designer in
In 1982, the future fashion historian Alexander Vasiliev, whose biography is extremely interesting and remarkable, goes abroad to the capital of France, where he subsequently studies and works. And this is where success awaits him.
Path to glory
It should be noted: despite the fact that the family of Alexander Vasiliev, a fashion historian, was very famous in the Russian capital, the aspiring theater artist was not immediately noticed in Paris. There was a time when he could barely make ends meet financially. He couldn’t even afford to buy a chair, and he made money by singing Russian songs with street musicians.
However, the dark streak in life could not continue indefinitely. After some time, several famous Parisian theaters began to order decorations from Vasiliev. The future collector and writer studied in France for a long time: he successfully graduated from the Louvre School with a degree in interior designer for large palaces. He also devoted a lot of time to self-improvement, regularly reading books about fashion.
As a result, in 1994, he prepared his own course of lectures on this topic, which was translated into several languages. And today the host of the “Fashionable Sentence” program is actively involved in teaching. University and college students know him different countries peace.
Homecoming
At the beginning of the 2000s, the fashion historian returned to Russia and began active work. He becomes a TV presenter on the Culture channel. Alexander hosts his own program called “Blow of the Wind.” He is invited to teach at the Moscow State University. He also organizes tours for students to get acquainted with European culture. Students of his course travel to Spain, Italy, England and France.
In 2003, Alexander Vasiliev created a design studio, whose stylists in their work combine the unique traditions of Russian culture with
A few years later, the writer and collector becomes the head of the Fashion Academy, which was established at the Ostankino Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting. Currently Alexander Vasiliev is leading known to Russians TV show called “Fashionable Verdict”.
Attitude towards the opposite sex
Despite the fact that Alexander Vasiliev - public figure, he clearly does not intend to reveal the secrets of his personal life. And the fact that he managed to achieve a lot (became a successful decorator, art critic, TV presenter, collector, fashion historian, writer) does not go unnoticed by representatives of the opposite sex, so they show special interest in Vasiliev.
Of course, there were ups and downs in his personal life, it was simply impossible to do otherwise, since the path to fame was difficult and thorny.
Due to the fact that the presenter of “Fashionable Sentence” does not like to advertise his personal relationships with the opposite sex, some Russian print media began to actively spread rumors that, they say, our Alexander Vasiliev, a fashion historian, is gay. Whether this is true or not is unknown.
The theater artist himself has previously stated that he likes the point of view that justifies male polygamy.
Alexander Vasiliev admitted that he can experience passion for several women at the same time. However, he is not at all shy about it. This outrageous behavior attracts the opposite sex even more. Of course, famous TV presenter, writer and collector great amount fans
Is Alexander Vasiliev married today?
A very curious fact is that the first wife of Alexander Vasiliev (fashion historian) was French. They say that it was only thanks to this marriage that he ended up abroad.
It should be noted that the marriage with her was fictitious and did not last long - only three years.
After some time, the theater artist married for the second time. His chosen one was an Icelandic woman, from whom he also later divorced.
The children of Alexander Vasiliev (fashion historian) never came into this world, which the presenter of “Fashionable Sentence” greatly regrets. The reason is that he never managed to marry the woman he loved. Today Alexander Vasiliev is not bound by marriage.
Alexander Vasiliev is proud that he was able to prove that a girl with brightly colored white hair is no longer as stylish and fashionable as before. He is also pleased that he managed to dissuade the fairer sex from the need to bare their bellies in front of others and wear jeans decorated with rhinestones.
The theater artist masterfully masters seven foreign languages, traveled around the world three times. He firmly believes that it makes no sense for a person to sit in one place, since life is very short.
Alexander Vasiliev is the owner of a unique collection of dresses from Russian culture. He repeatedly demonstrated it in European and Asian countries, USA and Australia. The collection was collected over three decades. It is represented by exclusive models, ranging from the 17th century to the present day. These include exhibits that were created by the fashion houses Chanel, Doucet, Givenchy, Valentino, Paco Rabanne, and Gaultier.
Some models from the collection were worn in the past by famous ladies of their time, such as Baroness Galina Delvig, Countess Olga von Kreutz, Princess Maria Shcherbatova. Many exclusive items were donated by celebrities: Natalya Fateeva, Klara Luchko, Maya Plisetskaya, Lyudmila Zykina, Natalya Durova, Lyudmila Gurchenko.
Also a writer
Alexander Vasiliev is known as a talented writer. His work, entitled “Beauty in Exile,” has been reprinted more than six times and has been translated into English language and was awarded the title “Best Illustrated Book of 1998.” He also wrote a series of articles about the history of Russian fashion, which was called “Russian Fashion. 150 years in photographs." Vasiliev is also a co-author of the work “Lyudmila Lopato. The Magic Mirror of Memories", published in 2003.
Awards
The presenter of “Fashionable Sentence” was awarded a medal for the fact that he managed to draw even greater public attention to Russian art and also he received gold medal Academy of Arts, V. Nijinsky medal, Order of Patron.
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