Zelensky chose a stylized suit from a Ukrainian designer to meet with Trump: who dresses the head of state
19 October 00:21
Viktor Anisimov, one of Ukraine’s leading designers, designed a stylized suit for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who wore it to a meeting with Donald Trump at the White House on October 17.
The New York Times published an article about Anisimov (VIKTORANISIMOV brand). “Meet the designer who dressed Zelensky in a suit,” the headline reads, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
As it turned out, Viktor Anisimov first worked with Zelenskyy about 20 years ago. Back then, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a member of a comedy troupe. In January of this year, the team of the first lady of Ukraine asked Anisimov to change Zelensky’s style. For three years, the president of Ukraine chose to dress exclusively in military style, but after a quarrel with Donald Trump on February 28 in the Oval Office, the Ukrainian leader changed his approach to his images during working meetings abroad.
“He dressed in a way that made him comfortable,” said Anisimov, who is now Zelensky’s fashion consultant. The President of Ukraine chooses what he wears. On Friday, October 17, Zelensky appeared at the White House wearing a stylized suit that Anisimov had designed over the past few weeks.
“It is very rare to find designers who, without having a professional education, reach the level he does. Everything he does is very complex. Each of his works has a deep philosophy behind it,” commented Irina Danilevskaya, co-founder and chairman of the Ukrainian Fashion Week organizing committee.
Anisimov gradually modernized the style of the President of Ukraine. As a first step, he created a straight-edged black jacket with corners cut at 90 degrees. This silhouette was close to Zelenskyy’s style. The President of Ukraine wore this jacket to his meeting with Trump on August 18. Then Anisimov moved on to the second stage. He made a new black blazer with rounded corners instead of straight ones. Zelenskyy wore it to the NATO summit in late June. Then Anisimov designed a formal military-style jacket and navy blue pants for Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The designer also recalled that the President of Ukraine refused to wear a stylized blue suit. “He said: “It looks too fashionable,” Anisimov said, adding that the Ukrainian leader was not ready to give up black. On Friday, October 17, Zelenskyy wore a different suit, although it was similar to the one the Ukrainian leader wore to the UN General Assembly.
Anisimov admitted that he likes the way the Ukrainian president has been dressing lately, but he dreams of taking it one step further. “A classic suit. I hope it will happen soon,” the fashion designer said.
