Having lived in the US for some time now, I can’t help thinking about certain fashion and grooming conventions that are matter-of-fact in the US but would stand out as bizarre in Russia and vice versa. Some of these will inevitably be subjective, but they are true for most cases I’ve observed. Despite the “do”\/”don’t” form, these are not to be taken as recommendations but observations on what conventions exist in Russian society. I realize some of these enforce patriarchy and gender stereotypes, but being aware of these fashion trends is a good starting point for discussion.<\/p>\n
One thing that caused a lot of discussion after the royal wedding in the UK is Duchess Catherine’s simple manicure. As of mid-2000s, hand care and a manicure (\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0438\u043a\u044e<\/span>\u0440<\/strong>) were considered good form for most young women in Russia, and lack thereof could make the person a slob in the eyes of others. In fact, one of the first things you would try to do as a teenage girl is grow out and paint your fingernails (\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u0442\u0438<\/strong>). “Stubby,” “unfeminine” fingers are considered unappealing. I have to admit that this trend is letting up, and in Moscow in the latter part of 2000s, short nails and “nude” manicure on women were becoming more common.<\/p>\n Interestingly enough, toenail polish as an indispensable part of a woman’s look is more common in the US than in Russia. It is fairly common to see women in open-toe shoes without nail polish (\u043b\u0430\u043a<\/strong>) on.<\/p>\n Another thing I notice in public outside Russia is people wearing sneakers\/tennis shoes\/trainers (\u043a\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0438<\/strong>) with slacks when going to work or in a public venue. That would stand out in Russia because sneakers are a relatively recent addition to the Russian wardrobe and are reserved for exercise, yard work, or casual walks. In the Russian fashion book, they are certainly not to be mixed with business attire, slacks, skirts, or dresses.<\/p>\n This, too, is changing, especially in the two “capitals” — Moscow and St. Petersburg. Young people may be seen combining styles, but it is considered a “hipster” thing to do and still stands out in public.<\/p>\n Wearing high heels (\u043a\u0430\u0431\u043b\u0443\u043a\u0438<\/span><\/strong>) is much more common in Russia than in Europe and the US in a variety of situations. First, heels aren’t limited to special occasion or office attire. They can be seen in universities, hospitals, on public transit, and on the streets as much as in a club or an office. Moreover, some women will wear heels in the winter, which I’m sure makes walking on ice interesting!<\/p>\n Goatees and all sorts of creative facial hair is not very common among Russian young men (high school and college students and recent graduates). When you do encounter a young man with a goatee, it is almost seen as a fashion statement and a free-spirited thing to do. Stubble (\u0449\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0430<\/strong>) is frowned upon as a sign of being unkempt. At the same time, older men are more likely to wear a mustache and it’s not considered “creepy” or “gross.” More information on cutting hair and shaving is available in this post<\/a>.<\/p>\n These are some things that stand out to me as typical for Russia off the top of my head. Of course, fashion is always in flux and perhaps what’s rare now will become common in a few years. I would be interested to hear what stood out to you on your trips to Russia or when interacting with people from Russia. Did your sense of style change after spending some time in Russia?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Having lived in the US for some time now, I can’t help thinking about certain fashion and grooming conventions that are matter-of-fact in the US but would stand out as bizarre in Russia and vice versa. Some of these will inevitably be subjective, but they are true for most cases I’ve observed. Despite the “do”\/”don’t”…<\/p>\nDon’t: Wear Sneakers with Slacks<\/h2>\n
Do: Wear Heels (for the Ladies)<\/h2>\n
Do: Be Clean-Shaven (for the Gents)<\/h2>\n