My Style: Olga Karput
Portrait: Yana Davydova
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Not drinking a glass of fine champagne while you are getting ready.
Please describe your style in three words.
Сhiс. Easy. East meets West.
Do you believe in role models?
I am inspired by great minds, talent and charisma, not the way people dress.
What are your favourite fabrics?
I do not have any limitations when it comes to fabrics and do not dwell too much on how the fabric feels on the skin. For example, some really respected designers have fallen in love with polyester for next season and I don't mind it at all.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
Not really. It's important to be up to date or ahead of your time. Style combinations change and keep evolving.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
London and Moscow. Seoul has the best-dressed men!
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Bold is the way.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
I always follow the dress code of the events I am attending. Other than this, there are no rules. Plus, I'm fortunate enough to be quite tall and thin, so even wearing oversized clothes from top to bottom can look good on me.
Celebrities and style...
Do not necessary go well together.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
I adore all types of slip dresses and lingerie – I believe that a woman can never have enough of them.
A woman should always look like...
A goddess. Or at least feel like one.
Who taught you what you know about style?
Myself, my eyes, my hands. The only way to evolve is to have your eyes open, travel, meet people, touch clothes, try them on, analyse everything that you see, and trust your intuition. I'm very lucky to be the owner of the concept store KM20 and meet all the cool designers four times a year for buying - aren't they the best teachers?
How do you select your clothing every morning?
Spontaneously, it depends a lot on my mood. But if I am going to an important event I'm no different than all other girls; I choose the dress beforehand.
What is your biggest regret?
In terms of style? Big regrets are not allowed. Everything comes and goes. Sometimes I am a bit too hard on my hair, because I am fond of a very white colour, and I regret doing lots of treatments throughout this process.
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
Style can not be defined by what a person is wearing. Style is about how cool you are. And you can't buy 'cool' or create it by following certain rules.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
Having a store means that I get to see all the collections before they are available for sale – very often even before the press. We try our best to make the best selection from brands from all over the world and that's what shopping is for me.
We will never see you wearing...
Probably, panties visible in public? [laughs]
Which new designers do you follow and why?
I get to know the greatest creative minds of fashion and be inspired by their vision. We constantly do research in order to find and meet the best and the most talented designers. I'd say everyone who is now presented at KM20 is part of the designers that I follow and admire.
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
If we agree that style is not defined by the clothes one is wearing, I'd say John Patrick, designer of Organic by John Patrick. He has a big understanding of the fashion world and feels that the time of big luxury brands has passed; one can't feel the magic anymore when shopping from established designers. According to him, the energy and the real creative force is in the hands of younger designers and that they are the ones who define how global fashion evolves.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
If she is confident and relaxed.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
It's mostly pieces from designers or brands that don't exist anymore. I have an impressive collection of Meadham Kirchhoff and treasure every piece. Also, for the fifth anniversary of KM20 we re-issued key pieces from the ten years of Ashish; they were made in extra limited quantities and owning few of them is something very special. Moreover, I have a few beautiful Dior dresses made by Raf Simons and a few Maison Margiela Artisanal dresses from the time when Martin Margiela was working for the brand. True gems.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
When I was a kid all the buses in my town were covered with an advertisement of a soviet movie with an actress. I actually can not remember her name, but I would see her image anywhere I went. I suppose that image of her influenced me a lot, she was a very beautiful woman.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Raf Simons.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is...
Her underwear?
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Comfort is the best friend of style. I would never wear anything which I don’t feel comfortable in.
Who would you like to recommend for My Style?
John Patrick.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
When things get a bit too much, my husband tells me to let it go and relax. I consider this the best piece of advice a woman can get. :)
