A large-scale tribute concert titled "National Legend Igor Poklad," dedicated to the prominent Ukrainian composer, recently took place at the Palace "Ukraine." One of the brightest and most discussed moments of the evening was the performance by popular singer Olya Polyakova, who stunned the audience not only with her vocal prowess but also with a dramatic gothic look by a Ukrainian fashion brand.
Gothic Aesthetics and Haute Couture on Stage
For her stage appearance, the singer chose a total black outfit designed by Janis Stepanenko for the Ukrainian brand YS Couture. The look featured the Black Swan dress combined with the Majestic March Cape, which was earlier presented during Paris Fashion Week. The foundation of the outfit was a structured lace corset dress featuring semi-transparent elements, merging tight architectural forms with layered lace textures.
Over the dress, Polyakova wore the Majestic March Cape crafted from French lace and manually decorated with black bugle beads and intricate Luneville embroidery using artisanal techniques. The cape’s design draws inspiration from the grotesque ornaments of European gothic cathedral architecture, giving the entire attire a powerful theatrical character.
Rock-Opera Interpretation and a Legendary Song
Explaining her stylistic choice on social media, the singer noted that the gothic aesthetics directly reflected the musical arrangement of her performance. "Tonight I performed the song in a rock-opera style, so I wanted to convey this interpretation not only through my voice but also through my image," Polyakova explained.
During the concert, Olya performed the timeless classic "Oy, letili dyki husy" («Ой, летіли дикі гуси»), composed by Igor Poklad with lyrics by Yuriy Rybchynsky. Created back in 1969, the song gained iconic status through Nina Matviyenko's historic performances, while Polyakova's modern rock-opera rendition brought a fresh, dramatic perspective to the stage.
