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When it comes to shopping, Russian women are generally non much different to their European counterparts (except for spending at least twice every bit much time on information technology*). There are no secret shops or salons that turn a plain Jane into a existent Russian woman.

On the contrary, Russian women frequent the same erstwhile Zara, H&Thousand, and Mango, while others get to Massimo Dutti or order things from Europe on Yoox. They are hooked on outlets offering branded items at a discount (Russians love luxury even if they tin't afford it). Notwithstanding, globalization and the mass market did non laissez passer them by.

How is it then that you can (nearly always) identify a woman from Russia simply by her appearance?

We could call it the "inimitable Russian style," but that would be an exaggeration. Or would it? There is, after all, an chemical element of uniqueness well-nigh information technology. "Russian style" is not something that women from other countries would like to attempt—not least because it would exist a devilishly hard (and, permit's be honest, pointless) task.

The "over chichi" factor

Sergey Bobylev / TASS, Pixabay/Getty Images

"Expect at the corporeality of shiny stuff she has on herself, and compare it with the locals: the shinier information technology is on her, the more than probable she is to be Russian. It tin be anything—shiny jackets, shoes, and even a shiny confront due to as well much makeup," says Utkarsh Bhardwaj from India, who has spent the last three years in Russia.

Yep, Russians similar highlighters and the "radiant skin event," not to mention rhinestones on everything from nails to sneakers and T-shirts. Russian women love to look vivid, regardless of whether they are five or 50 years quondam.

Red on gray or black, green and yellowish through a golden accessory—whatsoever kind of "active" print is Russian-mode. Makeup a little brighter than necessary, a ring far more expensive than need be, a necklace instead of a nondescript pendant—that's all Russian-style as well. Russian-way simply means "too much," designer Lena Karin puts information technology in a nutshell.

"These Russian girls. I can spot them in any sized crowd. They ever take long eyelashes like spiders, information technology's a chip scary. And they adore long nails and ruddy varnish. Plus heels," says 29-year-erstwhile Nils from Kingdom of the netherlands. "I can't stand up it when my Russian girlfriend wears high heels, because after half an hour she starts whining that her legs hurt. But information technology was your choice to wear them. To the park!"

Merely what comes most naturally to Russian women is fur. That is Russian to a tee. A natural fur glaze and lid, or just a furry frill on a skirt... "I don't know, perhaps it'south nice and warm underneath," wonders Nils. Certain, Nils, that's partly it. Butnon entirely.

The "tin't lose face" factor

Valeriy Melnikov/ Alexey Kudenko, Pixabay/Sputnik

My Italian friend told me about his Russian girlfriend. They went on holiday. She got bad food poisoning and had to go to the hospital. While he was caringly putting on her socks, she bent in half reaching for her face up pulverization. "I await very stake" was her excuse. Even rotten seafood is no reason to expect off-color.

Excessive grooming is what gives Russian women away. "We notice if your pilus is unwashed or if your nails are chipped; we volition, internally, gauge you", says Ana Johnson, who lives in Russian federation, on Quora. In Moscow, at that place are manicure salons open 24/7, because some women are too busy during the day and evening, but still want to prepare their nails. Is that excessive? Maybe. "But Russian women like to look subsequently themselves," says Ana. "Most really say we get over the top, to us information technology is normal and is office of our routine."

Hence, the mutual notion that a Russian woman never appears in public without making herself up first (which frequently means foundation, powder, rouge, mascara, and something else to her taste)—even if she's only taking out the trash. That's why "you'll never encounter girls in Russia drunk out of their minds, puking their guts out like it's all too common in the U.k.," says Ivan, a Russian expat. They but cannot lose face up (so prefer to cover information technology with pulverization, some might say).

The "beauty is hard piece of work" factor

Ekaterina Chesnokova, Pixabay/Sputnik

As you probably already figured, Russians (men and women) don't recollect much of unisex. For women, demonstrating femininity (which in practice ofttimes equates to sexuality) is the name of the game when choosing what to wear. It doesn't matter that the clothes are tight and the shoes rub. "Dazzler demands sacrifice" is a famous Russian proverb. Russian women take information technology all too literally.

"I'thou non Russian, only I've visited Moscow and St. petersburg quite a few times. What struck me is how lilliputian some of the women wear, even in cold conditions. Quite a lot like women from Essex or Newcastle here in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, but far more presentable and fashionable," says Charles from Manchester, England.

Yeah, a brusk skirt in cold weather is pure Russian. Equally are "fashionable dress," whatever that really means. A Russian woman buys new stuff when she is bored with what she has, not when it's worn out. Or if her things were in a previous collection and a new 1 just came out (which happens more frequently than at that place are seasons in the year). After all, old hats are and so… old-hat.

Equally a consequence, the standard Russian wardrobe is full of many non-so-expensive things, favoring quantity over quality. Why do Russian women do it? There are many reasons, like there are for why they clothing fur coats orheelsand so obsessively. Ane of the more than controversial theories is to practise with Russia having10.7 meg fewer menthan women, meaning the female of the species has to fight for attention. Yet at the same time, they desire no one to know about it, or indeed the very fact that they are Russian (when abroad, that is). "The best compliment for a Russian woman is: 'I'd never have guessed you're from Russia.' Personally, I don't understand the desire to erase 1's 'Russianness,'" says Lena Karin. "I don't see annihilation incorrect with it. 'Brand recognition' is to exist encouraged."

Peradventure it'due south considering the fashion Russian women dress works only in Russia. "I call back one time in Moscow I forgot to put shoes in the car and had to become to a meeting, just a regular one, in ugg boots. I wanted the basis to swallow me up," recalls designer Alena Akhmadullina.

"But then ane time I flew to Florence after a hard 24-hour interval's piece of work in Moscow. I was dressed in a sleek black dress, skirt 5 inches higher up the knee, and very fashionable Nicholas Kirkwood high heels. I felt similar I had to swap my heels right away for some flat shoes out of my suitcase, considering I seemed so terribly out of place."

*According to the GLAMI fashion search engine

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