THIS RUSSIAN DESIGNER INVITES FEMME FATALES EVERYWHERE TO CATWALK BETWEEN NEW RUSSIA AND OLD HOLLYWOOD

BY RHIANNA JONES

The notion of Russian glamour evokes an innate dedication to ornamentation stemming from its old world dynasty. Highly embellished layers of tulle paired with luxurious furs and bedazzled accessories traipsing around gilded dome buildings serve as a stark contrast to the minimalist street wear that dominates the industry today. Kamilla Purshie is bridging those two worlds, literally and figuratively, as the first Russian brand to showcase at NYFW in 12 years. Founded in 2008, Kamilla has been winning the hearts of Russia’s fashion darlings for decades, but it wasn’t until years later that she would make her mark stateside. With her signature collections of multi-layered evening outfits and asymmetrical silhouettes, Elle Magazine recognized her creations as one of the most striking debuts of the season, and eventually in 2018, Angela Lindvall wore one of her dresses to a Vogue fashion party and the rest is history.

The designer’s admiration for old Hollywood served as inspiration for her SS22 collection, marked by hyper-feminine statement dresses, a nod to ‘30s Hollywood chic, but imbued with a visibly contemporary twist, worthy of a modern femme fatale. The runway boasted 30 hand-stitched dresses of Italian crepe and velvet injected with an air of softness and sensuality. Cascading layers of tulle draped on a mesh turtleneck mini dress, laser cut metallic silk gowns, and floral bodiced accents felt like a forbidden garden of seduction and serendipity. In her words, “When I visited Dolby Theatre in L.A., where the Academy Awards take place, and all Hollywood stars meet, it had a very powerful energy. That’s where I started to envision first looks it was an anticipation of something new, and I knew for sure that the dresses from the spring-summer collection would be perfect for the red-carpet arrivals.” And as such, a Kamilla Purshie creation is an invitation to be the star of your own screenplay.

Kamilla Purshie
kamillapurshie.com