Ukraine’s first lady wears elegant kimono-inspired jacket in interview with Japanese television

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska chose to wear an elegant, sky blue kimono-inspired jacket in an interview with Japan’s national television and radio company NHK.

The wool pantsuit came from the fall-winter 2022 collection of Ukrainian brand Bobkova, a collection that was reportedly inspired by Serbian artist Marina Abramović.

“Our first lady, Olena Zelenska, today is a model of freedom and resilience for women around the world,” designer Kristina Bobkova told Ukraine-based news company the New Voice of Ukraine. “The costume that we created for her speaks of the femininity and strength of its owner at the same time. It is no accident that the kimono jacket and straight trousers are made in sky blue.”

Zelenska covered a wide range of topics during her interview with NHK, including the devastation of war in her country, her family and her many meetings with world leaders such as U.S. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). She also spoke about the tragic death of a 4-year-old girl named Liza who was killed in a missile attack in the central Ukrainian town of Vinnytsia, a moment in the interview that had the first lady tearing up.

In her recent interview with UK journalist Piers Morgan, Zelenska wore a pearl-gray trouser suit, also by Bobkova.

Zelenska has been in the spotlight since the Russo-Ukrainian conflict began, with the first lady acting quickly to rally up global support for Ukraine’s stand against Russia.

She appeared on the cover of Vogue Magazine in July alongside a caption that described her as a “portrait of bravery.”

Featured Image via Odesa Film Studio

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