Weekend in Kiev. Vogue's suggestions

   The perfect color to define the city of Kiev is gold. First of all because the Ukrainian city’s main attraction is the Monastery of the Caves (or Kiev Pečerska Lavra), a site protected by UNESCO, dominated by golden cupolas of churches that hide miles and miles of underground tunnels where ascetic monks built their sanctuaries and where they now rest, lighted only by the candles of church-goers that visit their cave-graves. ..

  ... There’s another reason, though, to call the capital of Ukraine golden: the cultural effervescence, the energy in the air. This weekend the city will host Lomography photography for the Lomofest Ukraine: 24 meters of LomoWall, 8 groups of installations, 30.000 photos (without counting those that participants will take during the event), meetings, workshops and movies dedicated to the pictures taken analogically with Lomography. 

  The next event of the Ukrainian spring – but not only seasonal – will be the city’s birthday, from the 27^th to the 29^th of May, during which the city will be filled with events: from the urban culture festival I love Kiev to the book event “Book Arsenal”, to the official celebrations with fireworks.

SHOPPING

Atelier 1

  Atelier 1 is one of the few concept-stores in Kiev. It’s located in a cool spot, in the heart of the city, just a few minutes away from the ancient market of Bessarabka. Despite its central position, you won’t find it on a map: the location, in fact, is secret and hidden by a court. The walls are made of stone and if you look at the ceiling you can see fragments of tubes, often used to hang clothing. In the selection of clothing: Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe and Peachoo & Krejberg, some directly from the runway. There’s also a room dedicated to perfumes and one of the store’s main attractions is the project that the concept store is developing with Ukrainian designers: each of them has their own corner. And, also, the greeting is sweet with tea and biscuits: the ideal after a day of shopping.

The Icon

  This store holds a selection of avant-garde brands, among which Jeremy Scott, Camilla Skovgaard, Marios Schwab, Margiela, Gareth Pugh, Hakaan, Proenza Schouler. There are also more traditional pieces, from Oscar de la Renta and Balmain. One of the best stores in the city for its selection of menswear, it also has a small DVD and fashion book corner.

Pure

  A new boutique in the heart of Kiev, it offers young British and Ukrainian designers next to fashion magazines and art from all over the world. The store’s logo is a stylized portrait of Hannibal Lecter, better known as Hannibal The Cannibal. The creators of the concept stores have been inspired by philosophy both for the way they choose brands and for the way the store is set up, but also for the creation of their brand, Læctær, a praise to independence, elegance, originality and passion. 

Sanahunt

  The first and biggest luxury store in Kiev, it has a very wide selection of brands and a series of unique corners dedicated to big names like Balmain, Lanvin, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana. Recently the store has launched an art area, the first exhibition in it was of Damien Hirst.

ART

Pinchuk Art Centre

  The most important exhibition space in Ukraine, among the most important in Eastern Europe. Every opening gathers an extremely elegant crow of trendsetters and artist from all over the world: even Miuccia Prada has flown to Kiev for the ceremony of the Pinchuk Art Prize. Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst and Takashi Murakami have created some projects dedicated exceptionally to the Pinchuk Art Centre. The next exhibitions, Your emotional future, solo exhibition of Olafur Eliasson, and Blow-up, solo show of Arsen Savadov, will open on may 21^st. On the last floor of the center you can also find the most fashionable café in Kieve, called Sky Art Cafe. From the design spaces you can enjoy a wonderful view of the city.

Mystezky Arsenal

  This old arsenal, transformed into a multi-functional space, hosts every year the Kiev Fashion Days. This old arsenal, located in the heart of the city, in front of one of the most important churches in Kiev, the Pečerska Lavra, famous for its underground tunnels dedicated to saints. During the year there are many and interesting exhibitions: one of the latest was dedicated to sculptured and the famous Degas ballerina was part of it.

Lavra Gallery

A huge gallery, located near the Pečerska Lavra and the Mystezky Arsenal. A big space that is a Mecca for graffiti artists: a different writer has painted every wall. Old garages are offered to young painters and sculptors. This gallery hosts I love Kiev, the fashion and music party that celebrates the city’s birthday and that will take place on May 26-28.

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