Femmes fatales; American Vogue breaks the stereotype of a Russian woman.

For more than 15 years I have been trying to break the stereotype of Russian women – “poor submissive housewives, who wear nothing but babushkas, and who are interested in nothing but marrying out to the westerners.” And these have not been after the Russian women only; Asian and Latin American women hold the same stereotypes, minus 'babushkas.' So, one can realize how refreshing it was to finally have one of the leading fashion magazines, American Vogue, to cover more than just cultural aspects of Russia – but cover the Russian fashionistas and Russian women’s fashion interests and tastes.

Of course, it didn’t happen yesterday, the article is old news, but my observations today proved that there is still a need to mention this article, and more - there is a need to talk about women all around. And not because March is the Women's History Month, but also because women around the world have something to say, do and show.

I grew up around Russian women: my mother, aunts, grandmothers, siblings, cousins, and my girl friends. I was noticing that Russian women, as any other fashion-minded and fashion-following women in the world, have been always sensual and attentive to fashion trends, which became evident after the iron wall has come down and the western designers were allowed to enter the market. Even with the lack of the resources, the little that has been available from the Eastern European countries, Russian women were quick to adopt the latest fashion trends, be it a dress cut featured in Burda Mode (German fashion magazine) or Barbara Streisand’s hairstyle from “Funny Girl”, shown on big screens 15 years later after its release in USA. (I'm still amazed by some of great American movie fashions that made such an impact on so many women around the world. Just think of Ali McGraw (Love Story), Audrey Herburn (Breakfast at Tiffany's), Faye Dunaway (Bonnie and Clyde) and Diane Keaton (Annie Hall), among many other greats.)

Vogue’s article Cold Case by Lynn Yaeger, only proves that there is more to Russian women and Russian sense of fashion than babushkas. (By the way, babushka means “grandmother” in Russian; neither a scarf, nor a fashion style.) Lynn Yaeger allows to see beyond the “frozen” images of Russia of 1980s, it gives a light on the present day with all the glitter that is true to the present day, without exaggeration.

Besides serving as inspiration to such designers as Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana and Coco Channel, Russia has been becoming known for more than just fur, diamonds, and cold winters. It’s a raw market for fashion. I thank Yaeger for, once again, breaking the stereotypes for those who still see Russia as one long line to McDonalds. And I hope this article would be archived and available at the libraries across the country.

And what’s a better way to showcase Russian women’s sense of fashion and lifestyle than introducing a few young and aspiring Russian actresses. I recently saw a foreign film where one of the main characters was portrayed by a young French actress. I remembered very well, how not only fascinated I was to see and learn the new faces of International cinematography but also how I studied international fashion trends by seeing what actresses across the world wore. I watched Sophie Marceau’s career very closely, having watched La Boum and L’ Étudiante about one hundred times. However, not many people get to know international actors and actresses other than the most exposed ones who happen to score a blockbuster gig. So, here it is.

There is never enough time to talk about the Russian actresses on the rise. They have been featured in French, British and Australian Vogues, called on at the Cannes festival as jury, and have been recognized as talented and inspiring personalities who use their personas to do some good when not acting, socializing, and raising a family.

Femmes Fatales de la Russie

Olesya Sudzilovskaya
An actress of film and theatre, she is also Russia’s sex symbol among today’s Russian femmes fatale actresses. She is also one of the most wanted at the social events and celebrity sightings, as well as most sought by designers and advertisers to become their “face”.

You can see her in the following films: Garbage Man, the only one available on Amazon.com.

To learn more about her work in film, visit here.

To see what stage plays she is involved in, go here.

Maria Mironova

Actress of film and theatre. One of the most wanted young actresses in Russia who came from under the scrutiny of being a daughter of the most famous father actor, Andrei Mironov, who didn’t live long to see his daughter excel on stage and in film. Mironova has had a lot to prove, having been born to a generation of actors: her parents and grandparents are actors, she studied acting for five years before auditioning for one of the best theatrical directors in Moscow, begging him to give her a chance. She spent years in non-speaking and dancing only roles, only later having paid the dues, she began to be noticed by film directors. Now, not only she plays leading roles in theatre, but she is also one of the most demanded young actresses in Russia.

(Maria Mironova, actress and grandmother; Andrei Mironov, actor and father; Maria Mironova, granddaughter and daughter)

To see what roles she is playing in theatre, go here.

Don’t miss her in: Night Watch. Unfortunately, no many Russian films with Mironova have been acquired and translated in English.

Renata Litvinova

She is probably the oldest of these four women, but one can never tell. The winner of the movie award for the original script of the infamous film, The Country of the Deaf People. Litvinova is a successful actress, director, scriptwriter, and TV personality. The press and bohemians call her the "retro" queen, as Litvinova is known to favor and prefer retro style to any other fashion styles and periods.

Keep your eyes piled for: It Doesn't Hurt, Passions, The Tuner.

Chulpan Khamatova
Khamatova is not only an actress of film and theatre, but she is also an active speaker for the www.donors.ru, an organization that seeks donors for sick kids in Russia (e.g. who need blood transmission, organ transplants, etc.)

Khamatova is regarded as young “Meryl Streep” of Russian cinematography. One of the youngest actresses to be invited to be a Jury at the Cannes Festival in 2006, she is actively sought by filmmakers and theatre directors across the world, from Germany’s Wolfgang Becker, Austria’s Michael Sturminger, to Latvia’s Aleksandrs.

To catch her in the latest: Good Bye, Lenin, Tuvalu, Luna Papa, The Sword Bearer, The Whore’s Son.

To see all of her works in film, go here.