F. Scott Fitzgerald described the French Riviera as a place where the whole world goes to “forget or rejoice, to hide its face or have its fling.” With its crystal blue sea and palm-lined boulevards, many more have turned to the playground for inspiration over the years. And this is exactly what Dubai-based designer Kristina Fidelskaya did to create her new 25-piece Resort collection of beautiful evening gowns.
We talk to the ESMOD graduate about her “Côte d’Azur” collection, inspired by the idea of a woman holidaying in style. Whether it’s the timeless elegance, the effortless panache, luxury fabrics or fabulous colours, each unique dress in the collection is an ode to summertime in the French Riviera.
Why did you call the collection “Côte d’Azur?”
Côte d'Azur is my first Resort collection, and it is all about a beautiful woman on a beautiful resort holiday. The collection embodies the brand’s DNA of a timeless, feminine and contemporary allure, with luxury fabrics and the KF (Kristina Fidelskaya) brand’s signature romantic silhouettes.
What inspired you while designing the collection?
The inspiration for this 25-piece collection came from the relaxed elegance of summertime spent on the Côte d'Azur. The idea of the colours used in the collection was inspired by summertime in the French Riviera: a warm gold sunset, grey mountains, the deep blue of the sea and other colours of nature… These are reflected in the collection’s colour palette of ivory, powder rose, smoked orange, golden ebony and midnight blue. All the colours are very feminine, elegant and relaxing.
The dresses include feminine accents like floral lace, voluminous layers and Swarovski crystals. What else makes them stand out?
All the fabrics we used in this collection are exquisite: silk organza, structured woven fabrics, French lace and Swarovski buttons. We used luxurious European-made materials like Jacob Schlaepfer’s floral embroidery and handmade lace by Sophie Hallette.
Another important element that makes this collection truly unique is the fact that each dress has been made in one piece only and will not be repeated again.
Do you find it harder to design eveningwear?
No, I don’t find it hard because I really enjoy it.
What do you always take into consideration while designing eveningwear?
I take into consideration the woman I design for, the KF Woman. Her desire is to always look effortlessly elegant, feminine and timeless with a contemporary minimalist edge.
How have things changed on the Dubai fashion scene since you launched in 2014?
The fashion industry in the UAE is shaping up and becoming more visible internationally. Over the past three years, we have participated in several great fashion events in the region, and I was very pleased for my brand to receive a great response from industry professionals, media and clients.
What are the advantages of being based in Dubai rather than Europe?
Dubai is a very cosmopolitan and modern place. It is also located very centrally between Europe, the Middle East and Asia. People living and visiting Dubai have great interest in fashion, and because of this, I felt Dubai would be a right place for me to start my brand, with future plans to expand it around the world.
So what are your future plans?
We have very exciting plans of taking the KF brand internationally. We will present our SS’18 collection in Paris during the Paris Fashion Week in September. Also, we are working on creating a KF perfume, which will add a new brand experience for our clients.
Looking further, I would love to set a trend for women worldwide to keep their femininity in modern life. My dream is to see many women embracing the KF brand’s philosophy of effortless, elegant and contemporary style.
Have you always wanted to be a fashion designer?
I have been interested in fashion since I was a child, when I was watching my mother creating beautiful clothes for my sister and I. Later on, I started creating my own clothes when I was a teenager. After moving to Dubai, I studied design at Dubai’s French Fashion Institute ESMOD. And in 2014, I created my own womenswear label named Kristina Fidelskaya.
