Ukraine travels, world literary classics, new Charli XCX tracks, and books that inspire experimentation with fashion looks: the Ukrainian Vogue editorial team shares what’s inspiring us this summer. May this selection be a delightful discovery for you too.
Reference Book “A Dictionary of Color Combinations”, Sanzo Wada
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This summer, I’ve set a goal to step outside conventional fashion “boundaries” more often and experiment more boldly with vibrant hues in my outfits. The Japanese artist and designer Sanzo Wada’s A Dictionary of Color Combinations has been my greatest aid in this endeavor. This compact edition is based on his legendary six-volume work, Haishoku Soukan. I turn to it when I want to curate an ensemble with an unexpected color palette, and sometimes, I simply open it randomly when I feel a lack of inspiration.
Alexandra Semenchenko, Fashion Editor
Track “Love & Hate”, Michael Kiwanuka
For the past few weeks, I’ve been returning almost daily to Michael Kiwanuka’s iconic track “Love & Hate.” I’m particularly drawn to the live version from “Live In Session at RAK Studios 2016,” which recently became available on Apple Music. There’s something incredibly authentic about it, as if the musicians simply gathered in the studio and played purely from the heart. Each time I listen, I discover something new: a sense of longing for what has passed, a unique bittersweet nostalgia that doesn’t bring sadness but rather inner peace, and concurrently, hope. That’s why the lyrics “You can’t take me down, You can’t break me down” resonate each time as a reminder to persevere and try again.
Alexandra Semenchenko, Fashion Editor
Albums *Music, Fashion, Film* by Charli XCX and *A*Pop* by Tyla
Each summer, I like to associate it with a particular album. However, this season has brought forth two highly anticipated and diametrically opposed releases – Charli XCX’s *Music, Fashion, Film* and Tyla’s *A*Pop*.
I had been eagerly awaiting Charli’s album since her very vibrant SS26 and experimental “Rock Music.” Among my favorites are “Wink Wink” and “Card Declined” – they possess a distinctly feminine, slightly bewildered character that I recognize in myself during moments of doubt or fatigue.
Conversely, Tyla’s new songs are perfect for getting ready for parties; they effortlessly create the atmosphere of a hot summer evening, where only dancing and friends lie ahead.
Svitlana Manukyan, Social Media Editor
The Krychevsky Family Museum, Opishnia
This summer, I am particularly inspired by journeys within Ukraine, a country I continue to discover daily, falling in love with new places and people. In July, at the invitation of cultural manager and journalist Tetiana Teren, I traveled to the Poltava region. Tetiana, originally from Poltava, recently founded the cultural agency “Tereny” and organizes tours to various regions of Ukraine, encouraging Ukrainians to learn more about local culture.
In the Poltava region, I was most captivated by Opishnia – an ancient village situated on picturesque hills above the Vorskla River. It’s noteworthy not only for its serene landscapes but also because it was historically the capital of pottery craftsmanship in Ukraine. Our journey, however, was less about exploring ceramics and more about familiarizing ourselves with the heritage of the renowned Krychevsky artistic family. This family is linked to the development of the Poltava region, as Vasyl Krychevsky was the architect behind the Poltava Zemstvo building, which now houses the Poltava Museum, along with several other structures that define a surprisingly modernist ensemble in the region (it’s worth noting that the journey from Kyiv to Poltava takes no more than three hours).
One of the most fascinating sites in Opishnia is the Krychevsky Family Museum, housed in a building constructed in 1916 based on designs by Vasyl Krychevsky and Ivan Lebishchak. Firstly, the building itself: striking, brick-built, in the Ukrainian modernist style, it showcases how forward-thinking Vasyl Krychevsky was (who, incidentally, designed the Ukrainian Trident symbol). For practically the entire 20th century, pottery artels, employing Opishnia’s finest artisans, operated here. Currently, the museum preserves works by the Krychevsky family – from Vasyl Krychevsky himself to his great-great-great-grandchildren residing in the United States today, who continue to work in art and oversee the museum, featuring graphic art, painting, ceramics, and installations. Secondly, one can admire a superb collection of ceramics from various Ukrainian regions (Vasyl Krychevsky traveled extensively throughout Poltava and collected Ukrainian heritage), alongside embroidered shirts and decorative folk art items.
The Krychevsky Family Museum is a modern, well-developed, almost exemplary museum located in a small, picturesque village. It demonstrates how passion for one’s own heritage can be a powerful catalyst for development.
Daria Slobodianyk, Culture Editor
Istanbul Edits Instagram Page
For the past few years, I’ve been genuinely fascinated by Turkish culture – I’m learning the language on Duolingo, reading Orhan Pamuk and Elif Shafak, hiking along its Mediterranean coast, and have visited Istanbul several times a year. During my explorations, I discovered the inspiring Istanbul Edits project, an account that curates vintage books. Many of these are dedicated to Turkish culture – their archival photographs can be perused for hours. The curators of the project are Simay Yilmaz from Manu Atelier and Özge Tan Özbek. It’s a must-see for anyone involved in visual arts.
Violetta Fedorova, Chief Editor of the Website
John Steinbeck, “East of Eden”
This summer, I finally dived into John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden.” From the very first pages, it becomes clear why this novel is considered one of the most significant works of 20th-century American literature. I’m reading the novel in its original language, and every page brings immense pleasure. Steinbeck writes with incredible subtlety, simplicity, and ease. He masterfully employs literary imagery and metaphors but never overcomplicates the text for effect. With just a few sentences, he creates such a vivid picture that it feels as if you’ve witnessed it all yourself or personally know his characters. His ironic observations and witty remarks deserve special mention. You laugh at them initially, then reread them with professional envy, trying to decipher how such precise articulation of thought was achieved. It’s simply a flawless balance of form and content. If you’ve been planning to get acquainted with Steinbeck, this is an excellent moment: Netflix is releasing an adaptation of the novel this year.
Maryna Shulihina, Editor and Video Editor
Arctic Monkeys
This summer, I unexpectedly decided to revisit old Arctic Monkeys albums. “Humbug” found its way onto repeat, almost continuously. For me, Arctic Monkeys has never been just a band. If their lyrics were published as a separate poetry collection, I would readily place it on the same shelf as Walt Whitman, Sylvia Plath, and T.S. Eliot. What captivates me most isn’t just *what* is written, but *how* it is written. Their lyrics are multi-layered, ironic, imaginative, and so precise that I sometimes find myself rewinding the same passage a third time just to hear a single line again. Music, in general, has literally pulled me out of the darkest periods of my life on numerous occasions. But Arctic Monkeys are one of those bands whose music makes you feel a genuine gratitude for being alive at the same time as people capable of creating something so brilliant.
Maryna Shulihina, Editor and Video Editor
Book “I’m a Mess” by Gabi Garcia
In general, new knowledge always supports me, and this summer particularly so – along with the book club, which has been my companion in reading adventures for over a year now. Recently, we read and discussed the book “I’m a Mess” by American writer Gabi Garcia. It’s a novel about a young woman who gets pregnant, becomes a single mother, drops out of school, loses her job, and struggles to figure out her next steps… leading her to start earning on OnlyFans. Initially, I wasn’t particularly drawn to this story, but as I began reading, I realized it’s a perfectly light read from which everyone can take away something significant. For instance, I finished the book admiring the wisdom and courage of the main character. Incidentally, a series based on it was released on Apple TV this spring.
Valentyna Anokhina, Editor