Kyiv, January 24 - Despite the offer by Russian fashion guru Valentin Yudashkin to create an inaugural dress free of charge, Ukraine’s first lady Katherine Chumachenko-Yuschenko was adamant that the gown for the big day be created by a native Ukrainian fashion designer. Yuschenko’s press service withheld details as to who has been called upon to design the inaugural gown until the very last moment. Finally, at inauguration ceremony, which officially took place in post-revolutionary Kyiv on January 23, Katherine Chumachenko-Yuschenko appeared sporting a garment by Ukrainian Lviv-based native Roksolana Bogutska.

The white cashmere outfit, embroidered with flowers according to the country’s national costume tradition, was co-designed by the first lady herself and complemented with traditional red coral necklace and earrings. One of Chumachenko’s favorite designers Oksana Karavanska, who spoke of the first-lady’s penchant for the 50’s and 60’s fashion and the styles of Kennedy and Chanel, revealed last week that the first lady has made requests for the presence of Ukrainian national costume elements in her garments. Chumachenko ordered a number of designs from Karavanska, however it was Bogutska who designed the inaugural two-piece suit.

Roksolana Bogutska draws her inspiration from the country’s rich folk tradition and is expert in the smallest nuances of Hutsul folk attire. The designer who has previously created costumes for Eurovision 2004 winner Ruslana, bases her production in the country’ s Ukrainian-speaking western city Lviv.

The inaugural outfit of Victor Yuschenko’s oldest daughter Vitalina was designed by Liliya Pustovit, while his younger daughters Khrystyna and Sophia wore Ukrainian-style costumes by Oksana Karavanska. The youngest in the Yuschenko family, Taras, was dressed in a traditional Cossack era costume by Tetyana Ostroverkh.

During the evening part of the ceremony, the fist lady wore a dark-red evening gown with a big golden brooch on her right shoulder. The brooch, reportedly found at the remnants of the ancient Greek colony Chersonese in the south of Ukraine, was borrowed from the museum for the occasion and dates more than a thousand years back. Catherine Chumachenko said she wore it to remind that Ukrainian nation is as much a thousand years old.

Read also: President Yushchenko’s new course for Ukraine starts with visit to Moscow (by GamblingGates.com)

Photo: first lady Catherine Chumachenko wears a dark-red dress and a golden brooch for the evening ceremony

Credits: Pravda.com.ua