The fashion zone of the National Centre RUSSIA x Sofia Ernst’s project "Making a Wedding"

On July 8-10, the 2nd All-Russian Wedding Festival will be held at the National Centre RUSSIA.

In support of this event, the wedding wear from Sofia Ernst's TV show "Making a Wedding" will be exhibited in the fashion zone of the National Centre RUSSIA. These outfits will show the traditions and national flavor of different regions of our country.

A total of 11 national wedding clothes will be presented: 7 paired costumes, and 4 singles.

PAIRED LOOKS

Belgorod region

Designer: Olga Ivanova

The look of the Belgorod bride is inspired by a traditional festive costume originating from the village of Nizhnyaya Pokrovka, Belgorod region. It is based on the elements of ancient women's attire, conveyed through modern stylization:

 • The shirt is made of light fabric resembling homespun linen or hemp fabric. There is black embroidery on the sleeves, referring to the ornaments of the region.

 • Poneva — homespun woolen plaid skirt.

• White long upper vest is used instead of

traditional aprons, and at the same time resembles a shirt with a swinging bottom, giving a feeling of layering.

 • The look is complemented by a traditional decoration called "gribatka", worn by married women.

The male look has its roots in the festive costume of Nizhny Pokrovka's resident, and is adapted to modern forms, while retaining some recognizable elements:

 • A white shirt with black embroidery on the collar is a direct citation of a traditional outfit where a black thread was used for geometric ornaments.

 • A black vest, which is used as a substitute for a zipun (homespun coat), or an armyak (a long, loose, and heavy outer coat). It adds rigor and solemnity to the look.

 • Classic trousers are used instead of porty (kind of pants), but the loose fit retains the feeling of a folk costume.

Yaroslavl region

Designer: Albina Aliyeva

The base is a festive attire from the Yaroslavl region, but in a light, modern presentation. The bride and groom's outfits are united by brocade with a shared motif.

The bride's look is based on an A-line sundress made of powder blue jacquard with a square neckline. Instead of dushegreya (a sleeveless jacket), there are champagne-colored taffeta

 lantern sleeves. The pearl crown has been reinterpreted into a light multi-tiered gossamer-looking tiara.

The look of the groom is based on a natural linen kosovorotka - a blouse with a standing collar, trimmed with the same brocade as the bride's. The silhouette is held by a wide belt; woolen trousers are used instead of a traditional caftan.

Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

Designer: Madina Saralp

A Kabardian women's festive costume is distinguished by its multilayeredness.

First, a girl puts her undershirt on a corset, then she puts on a thin underdress. On it, a caftan (an outer garment) with chest clasps is put, and finally, a long dress with sleeve pendants and gold embroidery covers the whole composition.

For a wedding outing, you also need: a cap with a silver top, a belt with a silver buckle, and special ceremonial shoes - koturnuy.

A Kabardian men's costume consists of an undershirt, narrowed trousers, a beshmet — a caftan with a high stand-up collar and narrow sleeves, a Circassian coat with gazyrs — special pockets for powder charges, a bashlyk -- a very comfortable hybrid of a scarf and a hood, a burka — a woolen cloak, which during the bad weather became a temporary dwelling for a highlander, a papakha — a tall fur hat, an indispensable attribute of a real horseman.

Perm Region

Designer: Olga Velichko

The looks are inspired by 19th century costumes and decorative elements, and are reinterpreted in concise architectural forms.

A bride has a column-shaped sundress in the color of warm clay, referring to an ancient dubas sundress. A silk shrag (a sort of short jacket, like bolero) of a dark blue shade is decorated with textured "scales" inspired by the forest patterns of the Kama region. The lantern sleeves are gathered at the wrist, making a clear silhouette. Instead of a veil, there is a high collar stand, adding verticality and solemnity to the look.

A groom is dressed in a dark blue kosoklin (a kind of a sarafan) with diagonal stitching, which is inspired by the shape of a coat and a shoulder strap. Underneath is a cotton shirt with hidden embroidery.

The light ochre trousers echo the bride's sundress, adding a working, industrial touch to the look. Accessories are kept to a minimum: the belt is hidden inside to emphasize the relief of the top.

Altai Republic 

Designer: Kamine Satunova

The elaborated traditional wedding costume of the indigenous Altaians is a result of living in a harsh climate, where every detail had a functional and symbolic meaning. Modern looks retain a solid frame of form and ornament, but they are reinterpreted in a lighter presentation. The shape and proportions remained recognizable, but became lighter and softer.

Republic of Buryatia

Designer: Evgenia Murdygeeva

The looks were inspired by traditional wedding costumes of the Buryats.

They are based on classic elements: a dagel robe with a stand-up collar, a wide belt, traditional hats and decorative pendants. The designer reinterpreted these shares, preserving the spirit, but adapting them to modern aesthetics and functionality.

Khabarovsk Territory

Designer: Tatiana Vasilyeva

The inspiration was given by traditional Nanai wedding costumes.

A bride has a one-piece dress made of light fabric with a photo print, referring to the traditional print. A stand-up collar with dark edging adds clarity to the look. The look is complemented by an amulet sewn in the costume as an element of protection and connection with the family.

The groom has a bleached shirt and an elongated cardigan made of black cloth, a modern version of the traditional fur robe. Monochrome trousers and shoes emphasize minimalism. Amulet decorations are also used in the design of the look.

Photo prints instead of skins, soft fabrics and laconic shapes make the costumes expressive and comfortable.

SINGLE LOOKS

Republic of Abkhazia (men's suits)

Designer: Guliza Avidzba

The inspiration was taken from the Abkhazian traditional man's costume. Like many other such costumes of peoples of the Caucasus, it includes the Circassian hat.

The man wedding wear was reinterpreted in the light of wedding aesthetics of the Coast, preserving the key ethnic elements.

Irkutsk region (Village of Pikhtinsk) (men's suits)

Designer: Polina Akimova

The look is based on a festive man's clothing set typical for the Siberian golendras. These people are descendants of Western European (Dutch and Polish) colonists who moved to Irkutsk province at the beginning of the 20th century. The costumes of these "Siberian Dutch" people combined the European sartorial fashion and peasant practicality. 

On weekdays, the Golendra tied a thin cord, on holidays they tied a colored ribbon. Light cotton with a soft stand-up collar, and a narrow two-tone ribbon (blue + white) instead of a cord is a fresh accent.

Key ideas for rethinking:

 1. Lightweight materials: tweed and thin cotton instead of heavy cloth, so that the suit "breathes" and does not crease.

 2. Minimalism layer-by-layer: the vest was left as the main historical marker, the upper jacket and hat were removed when indoors.

Thus, we have preserved the DNA of the Golendra costume (standing cord, tweed vest, laconic cut), but simplified the silhouette and materials for the aesthetics of a modern wedding.

Irkutsk (women's suits)

Designer: Elena Maksimova

To create the Irkutsk wedding look, we got the inspiration from the traditional costume of the Russian Siberians — a shirt with a turn-down collar, a brocade sundress and a dushegreya. The modern version retains the basic lines.

The skirt is made of shiny silk satin of a warm golden shade.

In order to avoid overloading the look, while keeping the idea of an additional warm layer, we replaced the dushegreya with a light bolero corset. And a laconic corset lacing repeats the ancient technique of tight chest inset.

Republic of Buryatia (the village of Bichura) (women's suits)

Designer: Shide Naidanova

The bride's look is inspired by a wedding costume of the Old Believers of Transbaikalia. It is based on a bright color and a symbolic kichka (a type of ancient headdress) under a headband.

One-piece robe dress. The color of the dress refers to

a traditional sundress, but it is made lighter and looser. There is a kichka on a head, with a characteristic "horn", completely hidden by a printed headband. Instead of the gold embroidery on the border, small beads are embroidered, creating the same ritual accent.

The look is assembled in a laconic way: heavy petticoats and layering are removed to preserve the silhouette, color and symbolism, and at the same time to give more air.

The creative team of the "Making a Wedding" project (istokdk.ru) conducts weddings based on a mixture of traditional rituals and modern wedding celebrations. One of the main tasks of the project is to make the outfits for a bride and for a groom. The stylists of the project, together with designers from those regions where the weddings are to be held, develop modern outfits, and harmoniously put the elements of the traditional costumes into them.