It's September in Kyiv

And it's getting cooler. That means the skirts don't get longer but the boots get taller. If you're not familiar with the principles of devushka fashion, you'd better read up first.

We're in a shoulder season here in Kyiv. It's still too warm for cropped puffy jackets and pink fake rabbit fur, and black wool coats trimmed with dog fur are still a month or two away. Stiletto sandals are out, but stiletto boots are in, in, in. Tampon-string skirts are never out of fashion, nor are camel toe jeans.  Be sure to accessorize liberally -- winter, spring, summer or fall -- with sequins, crystals, rhinestones, fishnets, brass studs and superfluous buckles!

Let's take a look at what's hot on the streets of Kyiv this season.

While her tampon string was not visible, the tops of her stockings were.

Admire the whole devushka package here: Mobilichka in use, black fake handbag, lots of ruches and boots that serve as both hosiery and footwear!

Those heels are pretty low.

As an experienced Devuska photographer, I never produce quality work when I position myself in prime territory and wait for them. I do my most creative work when I rip my camera out of my bag, dropping pens and receipts on the ground, in order to capture an iconic devushka as she clacks by, supported by the arm of a much less attractive friend. A smart devushka knows that when promenading on Khryshatik on Friday evening, an accessory more valuable than an animal print catsuit is a less attractive friend.

Alas, sometimes quality suffers for spontaneity

If knee-high white boots are wrong, I don't want to be right!

Alas nothing is more fleeting than youth.

Comments

[Marc]

Carpetblogger,

I can't remember how I stumbled upon your blog, but I have enjoyed reading... well, pretty much all of it. I have spent time in Ukraine (and obtained a three year-old devotchka last time I was there), will be living in Russia soon, and hope to be living in Baku within the year. I could tell you more, but then I would have to... um, convert you. But anyway I have enjoyed your observations as we will have so many things in common. I have been especially amused by the commentaries on devushkas, although I have seen several innocent young girls go through the transformation to devushkas (along with all the life choices that the stereotype seems to go with) over the years and it does sadden me too.

One question that I would be curious to get your take on is about the transformation from devushka to babushka. What I can't understand is the lack of transitional states. It seems as if devushkas enter a cocoon at some point in time and come out a babushka. Actually, that is not quite true. I have seen many of the 50ish heavyset women with unnatural hair colors, who aren't quite ready for the headscarf, but even still I don't see the transition between devushka and almost-babushka. What are your thoughts?

[carpetblogger]

Well Marc, I'm glad you asked that question. As it happens, I have a lot of thoughts on this issue. They are as follows:

First, those Ukie gals have some serious genetic chickens coming home to roost. You can't grow up on diets of salo and potatoes, wear those clothes and carry that figure for more than 20 or so years. There is some justice, and it hits back hard. At about age 40.

Second, Once a devushka achieves her goal (capture of male caretaker) she pops out a kid and things start to slide, as it were. Unless she caught an oligarch or a foreigner, plastic surgery and expensive beauty treatments are out of reach. If she did score an oligarch, she will go to great expense to maintain the look, knowing full well her position is very unstable.

Congratulations on your three year old devushka, I think. I'm guessing you meant daughter, right? Regardless, Congrats.

[enidd]

gah, carpetblogger, you're making enidd homesick.
well, almost.
no, you're right, not really at all. but it would have been good to meet for a beer and swap devushka spottings.

[carpetblogger]

Get on a plane! There's still time to meet me and LMM Thursday night. Hurry! We'll order your beers in advance.

[Marc]

Yes, I meant a daughter. My wife and I adopted her from Donetsk, with our malchiki along for the ride.

And in regards to your latest post, our favorite restaurant in Kyiv was Puzata Khata. It isn't going to be winning any awards for quality of food or service, but it was cheap, quick, and had a children's room where the kids could zone out and watch inexplicable Russian cartoons rather than the R-rated music videos in every other restaurant.