Shiver At Roma Rush

An evening of elegant fashion and festive frolic

By Olena Wawryshyn

Held on December 14, the inaugural fashion show at Roma Rush, the Toronto boutique of designer Roma Kulyk, was a memorable way to get the Christmas season underway.

At the event called Shiver, young hipsters, Ryerson University fashion students, select customers, stylish members of Toronto's Ukrainian Canadian community and friends of the hospitable Roma and her husband, Roman Kulyk, mingled at the elegant shop and design atelier in the edgy part of Queen St. W. 

Victor Mishalow’s virtuosic bandura playing added an air of subdued sophistication to the otherwise boisterous occasion.  Two bartenders ensured that the assortment of colourful cocktails flowed freely at the ever-busy bar, and servers kept re-appearing with large trays replenished with quickly vanishing hors d’oeuvres.

“For the theme of the event, I tried to come up with one word that would give you a feeling for the whole show,” says Kulyk, explaining her inspiration.  “Because of the time of the year, I chose ‘Shiver’ as it represents a couple of things: Shiver is associated with cold and ice and also with a feeling of ‘shivering’ when you get goose-bumps and a feeling from what you see or a shiver up your back, hopefully in a good way,” adds Roma.

The highlight of the evening, the fashion show, emceed by Roman Kulyk, featured evening wear from the Roma Rush line. The models sported short little black dresses, perfect for after-work Christmas parties; elegant pants with flowing lines to wear for New  Year’s gathering with friends; and floor-length, creamy-white satiny skirts to make an entrance in at malankas.

“I tried to stay with black and white because for evening wear they’re easy colours for people to wear, no matter what complexion,”  says Kulyk. “People are always wearing black for evening, but I also wanted to introduce white. It’s such a great colour also,” she adds.

Interspersed with neutrals were also some bright pieces in hot colours, namely sizzling pinks, bold blues and turquoises.

Walking up the runway, built especially for the show, many of the models looked like elfin pixies with shimmering wintry white faces and upswept hair, braided and adorned with twigs.  Their look was Toronto makeup artist Vasso’s interpretation of the festive Shiver theme.

The braided hairstyles evoked Christmas wreaths, though the influence of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Julia Tymoshenko’s trademark braided hairdo was definitely there too says Roma. “Designers like Hermes–the French particularly, because they do like Julia–had braids in their Fall 06 shows, and I was inspired by that too,” says Roma.

With the winter show over, Roma’s thoughts have now turned to her next collection. Every season, she produces a ready-to-wear collection, though her discriminating clientele also appreciates her impeccably made high-end custom made-to-measure wardrobe pieces. 

Another show at Roma Rush, to highlight the designer’s next season’s offerings, is being planned for sometime in the spring.