The youth of Alexander Vasiliev
Alexander Alexandrovich's whole life was devoted to culture.
Born into an intelligent family, where his father, Alexander Pavlovich, worked as the chief artist of the Moscow Theater, and his Mother, Tatyana Ilyinichna, fascinated the viewer with her play of dramatic roles on stage. Alexander simply had no chance to escape his fate. He designed his first costumes for a puppet show at only five years of age. And at the age of 7 he was already delighting young viewers in the television programs “Bell Theater” and “Alarm Clock”. For the rather serious production “The Wizard of Oz,” the boy created the costumes and scenery when he was only 12. So it is not surprising that in 1974, as soon as he turned 16 years old, and the law allowed Sasha to draw up a work book, he He was immediately hired as a prop maker at the Sovremennik Theater, where he worked until the Moscow Art Theater. Vasiliev graduated from studio school at the age of 22 and went to work as a costume designer at “On Malaya Bronnaya”.
Childhood
Alexander Vasiliev was born on December 8, 1958 into a theatrical family. The boy's father worked as an artist and corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Arts. For his high-quality work and achievements in creativity, he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR.
Little Sasha’s mother was a drama theater actress. She also taught acting and stage speech classes at the Bolshoi Theater Choreography School and the Moscow Art Theater School. Future theater and ballet stars took lessons from her:
- Nikolai Tsiskaridze;
- Nina Ananiashvili;
- Andris Liepa;
- Ilze Liepa.
Alexander's mother was a very beautiful woman and was popular with the opposite sex. Many men were in love with the popular actress.
Poets Mikhail Svetlov and Nikolai Aseev dedicated poems to her, and artist Vladimir Tatlin painted her. But only the future father of the famous fashion historian was able to win the beauty’s heart.
They met in 1947 while preparing for a theatrical production at the Children's Theater. The young people talked for a long time and became close. In 1958 they got married, and soon their son Alexander was born.
As a child, Sasha loved to be with his family . During evening gatherings over tea, the father talked about his work, which the little boy absolutely loved. He made plans for decorating their house, Sasha’s room, and drew new room designs on pieces of paper. The father instilled in his son a love for his family, his sister Natalya Tolkunova, and even for the Fatherland.
The Vasiliev family often opened the doors of their home to guests. Friendly gatherings became their real tradition, and the atmosphere of creativity and art interested the boy from an early age. It couldn’t be otherwise, because it was part of his life.
At the age of five, Alexander created the first outfits for his small puppet theater. He borrowed ideas from his father, who created not only sets for theatrical productions, but also costumes for actors.
At the age of seven, the boy already participated in the television children's show “Bell Theatre”, and a little later he hosted the morning television show for children “Alarm Clock” with Nadezhda Rumyantseva. It was a popular program that attracted many children from all over the Soviet Union to the screens.
The role of women in the life of Alexander Vasiliev
It is unknown how the fate of the great art critic would have developed further if not for his stormy romance with Masha Lavrova.
The young hot blood always wanted to be close to the woman he loved. But her mother married a Frenchman, taking her daughter to another country. - “You should come to me there - to this most beautiful city on earth!” Alexander Alexandrovich still remembers these words. And he promised to come. The 21-year-old guy then had no idea how, but firmly believed that he would succeed.
Alexander Vasiliev in his youth
The opportunity presented itself two years later. A French girl, Anna, came to Moscow State University to improve her Russian language. It became Vasiliev’s passport to Europe.
In 1982, young people sealed their relationship with marriage and left the country of the Soviets.
Personal life of fashion historian Alexander Vasiliev: photos of the maestro’s wife and children
Many believe that fashion historian Alexander Vasiliev was never married. And in general, as a creative person, she has a non-traditional sexual orientation. However, this is not the case. As a young man, the future fashion guru fell madly in love with a girl, Masha. But, as often happens, Vasiliev’s parents did not approve of their son’s choice. Sasha is a boy from a famous creative family. Father is People's Artist of the RSFSR, mother is a famous dramatic actress.
Alexander Vasiliev in his youth
Soon Masha leaves with her mother for permanent residence in Paris. It would seem that nothing can reunite the lovers. Take into account: it’s the 70s, almost the entire country is “restricted to travel”... But a miracle happened! Alexander Vasiliev meets a French woman and enters into a fictitious marriage with her. Paris is becoming more and more real...
Alexander Vasiliev's first wife was French
Soon the future fashion historian receives the coveted positive response to travel to France. Together with his young wife, Alexander Vasiliev settled in a small rented apartment in Paris. Soon he meets again with his first love, Maria. But, as it turned out, the girl did not wait for her lover, and became pregnant by a Frenchman, a reporter for a well-known publication. True, she was soon left alone again. But Maria still has warm and friendly relations with Alexander Vasiliev. Moreover, Paris has long become a second home for the fashion historian.
Alexander Vasiliev in his Paris apartment
After a divorce from his first wife and failure to re-build a relationship with Maria, Alexander Vasiliev plunges headlong into his favorite work. The fashion historian travels a lot around the world - he is invited as a set designer by leading theaters, and universities are eager to get the best lecturer who knows everything about fashion and style. While working in Reykjavik, Alexander Vasiliev meets a charming Icelandic girl. Subsequently, young people decide to have a civil marriage.
“She was lovely. Her name was Stefania. She was a very beautiful blonde with blue eyes... She was offered to me as an assistant. She was such a good assistant that she helped me with everything. And she helped!..”
But this love, alas, soon ended. The girl did not want to follow her beloved to Paris, preferring to stay in her homeland, in cold and mysterious Iceland.
Even in his youth, Alexander Vasiliev was known as a master of fashionable shocking
As for the child, Alexander Vasiliev has... three of them! True, these are godchildren. The first and beloved goddaughter, Marfa, is the daughter of the maestro’s longtime friend and classmate. But the fashion historian practically does not communicate with the other two girls. One of the goddaughters lives in Germany, and the other in Paris, but contact with both has long been lost.
Alexander Vasiliev in Paris
Paris greets the young man with its contrasts, dark alleys give way to the blooming Champs Elysees.
The night city simply sparkled with lightboxes outlandish to the Russian people. In Paris there was choice, there was freedom. Even the ordinary restaurant menu was amazing. The newlyweds lived in the 14th arrondissement in a small apartment on the fifth floor. That building didn't even have an elevator. After the 100-meter Moscow chorus then. But freedom was more expensive. Freedom and that beloved girl to whom he promised two years ago to change his life.
Then there was a trip to a villa in Arcachon, a paradise on the Atlantic coast. Wonderful beaches and simply amazing views could not leave the creative person indifferent. A genius spends a long time near the sea.
The only thing that caused protest was the uniformity and monotony. Dinner at the same time, the same dishes, the same orders. And everything alive in Alexander was playing, demanding reforms. The first thing the artist changed was the old bedspread on the marital bed. But he approached even such a small thing with all his talent and creativity. Everyone appreciated his choice.
Don't trust your friends - Alexander Vasiliev. Three months flew by quickly, the visa expired, Sasha submits documents to extend his stay in France, and his request is granted. Now it sounds commonplace, but at the time it was fantastic. Only many years later did Vasiliev learn that this was facilitated by the KGB itself, which had its own plans for the Russian decorator.
"Fashionable verdict"
Perestroika and the collapse of the Soviet Union allowed the popular fashion historian and designer to return to Russia.
Wanting to educate his native people in the field of design, fashion and aesthetics, Alexander Vasiliev opens the Volga Seasons fashion festival in Samara.
Two years later, in 2002, he became the host of the television project “Blow of the Century” on the “Culture” channel. Many people sign up for private lectures with him, at Moscow State University he teaches students the history of fashion, and organizes traveling fashion schools in the cultural capitals of the world. One can endlessly list the vigorous activity of the master of fashion and design, but despite this, many first learned about Vasiliev through the TV show “Fashionable Sentence”.
Having replaced Vyacheslav Zaitsev on the set of the popular show, Alexander Alexandrovich became a constant favorite of women. Not one of the participants was ever offended by the presenter for criticizing her appearance. He chides the invited guest with a smile and gives advice with the same smile and insinuating, soft tone. There are many famous phrases from the TV presenter that have become catchphrases: “Yes, you are not Angelina Jolie, but she too will go out of fashion,” “You can wear a mini until you’re 99 years old, but you don’t need to show it to anyone,” “You remind me of the heroine of Mayakovsky’s comedy “The Bedbug” or Red A retirement cap” and so on.
First steps in Europe
The idleness is over.
The artist enters the school at the Louvre, and upon graduation, enters the graduate school of the Sorbonne theater department. Already in the fall of 1982, Vasiliev was invited to decorate the play “Pope Joanna,” which took place at the Poitiers and Cartoucherie theaters. Then there were the sets and costumes for the plays “Galleries of the Palace”, “Triumph of Love”, “Galleries of the Palace”... He got to work with such stars as: Valerie Dreville, Recep Mitrovica, Michel Witold. Unfortunately, the wife did not share her husband’s aspirations, and after he refused to be a Russian language teacher at the local lyceum, they separated.
Creativity and career
Over time, the decorator's track record expanded with such clients as the Ronde Pointe Theater, the Royal Opera of Versailles, the Opera de Bastille, Lucerner, and the Avignon Festival. Orders came from all over the world, from Great Britain to Japan.
At the same time, Alexander began teaching at the Russian Theater School and the Parisian fashion school Esmod, the world's first educational institution of this type. The fashion historian began his visiting lecture practice in 1994, having received French citizenship by that time.
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Alexander Vasiliev with Evelina Khromchenko (left) and Nalezhda Babkina (center)
Returning to Russia after the collapse of the USSR, Vasiliev continued educational activities in the field of design, fashion and aesthetics. Under his patronage, the first fashion festival took place in Samara, and Russia’s first museum of the history of fashion of the 20th century was opened. Then an author’s program appeared on the Kultura TV channel, a series of programs on Mayak radio, a design studio, and our own traveling fashion school. Alexander taught at Moscow State University and the Ostankino Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting, and the MODA.ru style school.
Vasiliev’s private collection of historical costume is one of the largest in the world. The most valuable exhibits are outfits that belonged to Princess Maria Shcherbatova, ballerina Maya Plisetskaya, countesses Jacqueline de Beaugourdon and Olga von Kreutz. Russian theater and film actresses willingly provide items from their own wardrobe to replenish this collection. On its basis, the owner creates thematic exhibitions that are regularly held in Russia and abroad.
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Alexander Vasiliev with Valentin Yudashnik
The celebrity established a unique version of the “Michelin star” for the high aesthetics of interior design. The award in the form of a ceramic lily is made by hand, each with a personal number to determine authenticity. “Lily Alexandra Vasiliev” is awarded primarily for the design of public interiors open to the public: various cafes, train stations, public galleries. Photos depicting the process of creating the bas-relief were posted on Instagram. There, Alexander talks in detail about the next laureate.
In 2009, Vasiliev replaced Vyacheslav Zaitsev as chief judge in the TV show “Fashionable Sentence”, in which he works together with Evelina Khromchenko.
Of course, such a rich experience is worth passing on to descendants. Alexander Vasiliev is the author of more than three dozen books dedicated to the history of fashion and style of Russian emigrants of the early twentieth century. “Beauty in Exile” has been reprinted 6 times. The artist plans to release memoirs of Tatyana Leskova, the great-granddaughter of the writer Nikolai Leskov, prima ballerina of the Russian ballet and director of ballet in Brazil.
Confession of Alexander Vasiliev
As it turned out, Vasiliev did not take the risk in vain.
His talent did not go unnoticed. Already in 1985 he was invited to Reykjavik. Where he prepares costumes for the productions “Plato” and “Wild Honey”. The performances were sold out, and the artist was recognized. Also in 1985, Vasiliev began working for ballet performances. Which, a year later, led him to Galina and Valery Panov, who gave him the position of artistic director at the Royal Flemish Ballet. The genius is literally in great demand, he is literally bombarded with offers from the leading theaters of all European countries.
Fashion historian Alexander Vasiliev - about school uniforms In 1989, Alexander Alexandrovich was invited to Japan. Where Masako Oya invited him to design Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker”.
Vasiliev also made his mark in cinema. Working closely with Roberto Enrico, he creates costumes for the film “And the War Passes.” And also for the films: “My Friend is a Traitor” by Jose Giovani and “Manjklu” by Moshe Mizrahi.
Height, weight, age. How old is Alexander Vasiliev
The fate and biography of our today's hero attracts many people who are interested in the world of fashion. They want to know everything about him, including his height, weight, age. How old is Alexander Vasiliev is also interesting. He is 177 cm tall. The art critic leads a healthy lifestyle, monitors his diet, which has a beneficial effect on his weight. It is equal to 78 kg.
Next year, Alexander Alexandrovich Vasiliev will celebrate his 60th birthday. He recently said that it will be something big with a lot of invited guests. An expert in the fashion world wants to prepare a TV show about himself and his destiny on the eve of this event. He says that many people do not know him personally, and this gives rise to many rumors and gossip.
More recently, Alexander Vasiliev: a photo in his youth and now posted it on his Instagram page. Fans of his talent noted that he has not changed at all during this time. It just became somewhat brutal and extravagant in recent years.
Alexander Vasiliev today
2003 And again Alexander surprises the world. Having opened the design studio “Interiors of Alexander Vasiliev” in Moscow, yes, in his hometown, he amazes viewers with an unusually rich collection of antique clothing. Antique costumes purchased at various auctions are truly unique. And the collector will not part with them for any money. Although they offered quite a lot of money just for renting things.
Alexander Vasiliev and Valentin Yudashkin
In 2009, famous fashion designer Vyacheslav Zaitsev left Channel One for health reasons.
Alexander Vasiliev is invited to take the place of the host of the popular TV show “Fashionable Sentence”. In the same 2009, he took the post of head of the Moscow Fashion Academy, which was organized at the Moscow Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting "Ostankino".
Now the great fashion historian, despite all the years he has lived, is still 18. He is full of energy and initiative. He writes books, gives lectures, and is the host of many television and radio programs.
Instagram and Wikipedia Alexander Vasiliev
Vasiliev follows modern traditions; he has pages on the World Wide Web. But he works most actively on his Instagram page. And Wikipedia Alexander Vasiliev contains a large amount of information about his life path and parents. The Instagram page contains a large number of photographs of the popular art critic, from everyday life to photos as the host of “Fashionable Sentence”.
Here Alexander Alexandrovich announces his future performances related to fashion and its history. For example, soon Vasiliev will once again speak to an audience in the city of Rome.
The number of page subscribers is constantly growing. Now it is close to 5 million active users of social networks interested in fashion trends and new products.
Conquest of Russia
In 2003, Alexander comes to Moscow and opens an “Interior Design Studio,” where he presents a collection of antique clothes he collected, which he purchased at various auctions.
Since 2009, he became the host of the “Fashionable Sentence” program and in the same year he was appointed head of the Moscow Academy of Fashion.
Now Alexander Vasiliev, a fashion historian, participates in many television and radio programs. Works on stage costumes for the world's most famous performances. Also, since 2014, he has been teaching an educational course at the MODA.RU school.
Alexander's collection contains costumes that belonged to many famous women of the last century, among them were baronesses, countesses and princesses. In addition, he has things of such actresses as Lyudmila Gurchenko, Irina Ponarovskaya, Alla Demidova, Lyudmila Zykina, Natalia Fateeva, Klara Luchko. And even the ballerina Maya Plisetskaya contributed unique elements from her wardrobe to Alexander’s collection. Now these fragments of the wardrobe are exhibits of famous exhibitions of the artist. In the near future, Alexander Vasiliev plans to create a museum in Russia that will present the history of the development of the costume and will be open to permanent access to visitors.
Alexander Vasiliev left the show “Fashionable Verdict”, what happened
The management of the show “Fashionable Sentence” comments on the departure of Alexander Vasiliev. It turned out that Nikolai Tsiskaridze would not be in his place for long - just a few issues. So far, the famous and well-loved presenter Vasiliev has an unplanned weekend.
It turned out that due to the spread of coronavirus infection in Russia and in the world, Alexander took a short vacation and went for health and preventive procedures. But this is literally for a week. Therefore, the constant TV presenter can be seen again in the show “Fashionable Sentence”.
Let us remember that in 2020, Alexander Vasiliev also left the program, which shocked the audience and his fans. True, then both the TV presenter and the management of Fashionable Sentence assured that this would not last long - only for 8 issues, since Vasiliev needed to rest and prepare well for the exhibition at the State Historical Museum.
French life of a fashion designer
In 1980, Alexander entered into a fictitious marriage with a French woman and, having moved to France, took part in the creation of costumes and scenery for French theaters and festivals. The fashion designer, while in France, loved to spend his free time by the sea, he absolutely loved the wonderful beaches and the only thing was that he could not stand the monotony and monotony.
After getting married, the artist tried to add a certain zest to his everyday life; he even remade the old bedspread on his marital bed, and everyone appreciated his work. After a certain period of time in France, Vasiliev graduated from the theater department of the Sorbonne and in the fall of 1982 he began decorating the play “Pope Joanna,” which premiered in the most famous theaters in Paris. Then he begins to work with such show business stars as Richelieu Witold, Valerie Dreville.
Europe
Alexander Vasiliev’s creative and labor savings (photo is in the article) began to expand. At the same time, he began teaching fashion history to students at the Russian Theater School and the famous fashion school in Paris. The fame of the talented decorator spread beyond France. From London he received an offer to collaborate with the National London Theater and the Scottish Ballet in Glasgow.
They learned about him in Spain, Turkey and Japan, and everywhere Alexander Alexandrovich managed to draw up a long-term contract, enjoying his work, studying the languages and life of Europe. Today our favorite TV presenter is fluent in Spanish, French and Italian. Since 1994, having received French citizenship, he began to lecture on the history of fashion in these countries in their native language.
