Eduard Kitsenko personal biography. Stars obsessed with a healthy lifestyle. Business development and social life

22.04.2016 11:00

Polina Kitsenko, creative director of Podium Market Fashion Group, is not only one of the most influential people in the world of Russian fashion, but also an adherent of a healthy lifestyle. Finparty columnist Yulia Titel met her at the cozy Christian restaurant and learned how to make the day “rubber”, where the next charity run will take place and why Polina does not hide her age.

- Polina, sport is not the last place in your life. Do you train on your own?

With a coach, I need motivation. I don’t have any pressing problems like being overweight, so I can safely skip workouts if no one organizes me.

- How often do you train?

Six times a week.

- Sunday is a day off?

In fact, I have a floating day off, that week it was Saturday. Sometimes I train for seven days in a row. But that's not possible. Therefore, I have one day off compulsory.

- When did you start playing sports?

It was sports - ten years ago, and before that, for another ten years, I was just doing fitness. Started training with Andrey Zhukov. It was then that he developed the theme of outdoor sports. I became the first person who went with him to the ski marathon. And then - the first of the girls who signed up for the triathlon. This was nine years ago.

How long did it take you to prepare for the triathlon?

Since I had an exemption from physical education as a child and did not even know how to ride a bicycle and swim crawl, it took about a year to prepare.

- Did you measure your physical condition before and after?

Of course not. I didn't know there were tests like this. I did the first test only after about five years of regular training. If I had known about these things from the beginning, I would have approached the training process in a completely different way.

- And how does it feel? Have you become stronger, more enduring, more organized than before the transition to the training regimen?

Like any hobby, there are different stages. The first is crazy love, when you dive like a stone from a cliff, immerse yourself in all this, and you even experience a certain shift in values. Then begins the period of awareness, assimilation, stabilization. Now I am in the third stage - mature calm love. Yes, I continue to strive for new results, I want to break my personal records, but I talk about it much less.

This lifestyle has certainly helped me become more resilient and organized. By the way, he showed me that the day is “rubber”. I got a lot more done. I always say that those who have it do not have time. All busy people have time for family, work, travel and training, you just need to be able to competently organize your day.

- So you built your own system? What is her secret?

Whatever goal you choose, the path that you overcome every day to achieve this goal is the most important thing. Process! And the result is just a nice bonus. At every point along the way, you must be sure to have fun.

- In addition to sports, has something else influenced your lifestyle? Maybe she decided not to eat in the evenings anymore ...

By the way, I really do not eat in the evenings or eat a little. But for me this is not a necessary measure. After my second pregnancy, I decided to quickly get in shape. I chose a certain strategy, coordinated it with the doctors and stopped having dinner. Over time, I got so involved in it that today I have no discomfort from the fact that I don’t eat in the evening. Rather, the opposite is true. If I have dinner, I will feel bad, sleep badly and look bad in the morning.

I can have dinner a couple of times a week, but these are usually some kind of exceptional cases. For example, at a party, I consider it impolite to stick out my principles. Therefore, I will definitely find something to eat so as not to upset the hostess who tried. At a meeting with friends, I will also not sit with an empty plate so that they do not feel discomfort.

- What about the husband?

He also recently decided to eat little in the evenings. I just noticed how good it affects me, and gradually I came to this myself.

- What about children?

My eldest son Egor, who is 14 years old, does not eat after seven in the evening.

Is that also his personal decision?

It seems to me that when you grow up in a family, you somehow adopt its traditions and habits. There are situations when I forcefully try to feed him, but he refuses.

- Was there some kind of food cult in your parental family?

I am from a simple Soviet family. We lived modestly, like the majority of the population of our mighty country. Therefore, there was no cult. On the contrary, it was a holiday when parents got some food. It seems to me that at that stage we lived more correctly. Because there was no such abundance. And now we overconsume, we eat with our eyes. We combine products that are not very correct to combine with each other in one meal.

- Tell me, please, do you calmly talk about your age? How old are you?

Recently, I even began to be proud that my biological age is so much inconsistent with the actual one. I'm 39 and now I look even better than when I was 25. You can compare by photos.

- And this is all thanks to a properly organized life?

Yes. I can confidently say that the last two or three years are definitely the result of properly strung food habits. In the gym, it is very common to meet people who exercise regularly, but still cannot get the desired results. And all because 80% of success depends on proper nutrition and only 20% on physical activity. What we could afford when we were young often got away with good genetics, for example. I was also so lucky for a long time, but after the second pregnancy, which was also after 30 years, I have to control myself.

Did you turn to specialists to formulate the right eating habits for yourself, or was it your intuitive choice?

Firstly, I read a lot about it, plus I intuitively chose what was right for me. By feeling, I determine how I feel after a product. For example, oatmeal is not very suitable for me and pasta too. By the way, I take a lot of pictures. And I began to pay attention that there is some connection between what I eat and how I look in the photos. It looks much better in pictures than in a mirror. You look - and it’s immediately clear where you went over or ate something that doesn’t suit you. There is a direct connection.

Now, having come this way, I know for sure what specifically I should not eat or drink. For example, I have not drunk wine for almost ten years. I can occasionally drink half a glass in the company, so as not to attract attention to myself. In principle, alcohol in my life is becoming less and less. And this is not some kind of conscious choice, I just feel that I don’t want to. It is very dear to me when you wake up with a feeling of cheerfulness and freshness, and alcohol does not fit with this.

I would just like to emphasize that proper eating habits are a lifelong story. Once you make a decision, work it out for a long period until it finally takes hold.

Agree. It is proper nutrition every day, balanced and accepted as the norm of life, that gives the result. And not one-time, short-term attempts to lose weight. A strict diet will only make things worse. Firstly, it will be replaced by a psychological explosion, and secondly, the metabolism will slow down, a failure will occur.

Polina, you have become a real trendsetter. Many people read your posts on social networks and take an example from you. Tell our readers how you came to this?

It's just that I feel like I'm a real example of what many trainers and nutritionists talk about in their lectures. Because scientific stories are all wonderful, and people want to see a living person who could realize all this. In no way do I pretend to be a fitness guru, I just talk about my personal results. I'm not an expert, but just an advanced user.

- And how did you come to social projects, such as “adidas Running Hearts?

It's all thanks to Natalia Vodianova. Several times I ran half marathons with her in Paris. Natalya attracted associates, each of whom shouted on their social networks and acquaintances that there would be a race, that we would run not just like that, but with meaning, dedicating participation in this sporting event to the Naked Heart Foundation. So we raised money for the fund.

At some point, she said to me: “Polina, why are we running in Paris? Let's do something different in Moscow." Thus, we came up with our race, which we called "Running Hearts". We held it for the first time a year ago in the Park of Culture. We had a limit on the number of participants set by the administration of the park, because the capacity of the embankment is not very large - only one and a half thousand people. The organization took two and a half months, and the registration of runners closed in three days. So quickly we sold out all the running slots. The demand was huge, thousands of people had to be turned away. And then we realized that we need to do something big to accommodate everyone.

This year we have a half marathon. We spent three months agreeing on the route. It wasn't easy. As a result, we will start in front of Moscow State University on the observation deck, blocking Kosygin Street, Universitetsky Prospekt, Michurinsky and so on. In total there will be three distances for three, ten and 21 kilometers.

- Are you all runners? Do you consider those who are fond of Nordic Walking?

We do not consider for safety reasons, but we suggest that they go the shortest distance or run it lightly. We have many Olympic champions going on foot - those who were injured and do not run.

"Very well, then I'll join you too."

Sport is a very unifying thing. The peculiarity of our race is that it is completely charitable. All funds that we receive from its implementation go to the fund. Only a small part is spent on organizing, creating infrastructure. Last year we raised about 200,000 euros. This is a record amount for a Russian charity run.

I am very grateful to Natalia Vodianova. With the help of this project, we not only reinforce the trend of a healthy lifestyle in society, but also show that charity is not the lot of rich people. You can help, even just by participating in the race. Charity is at arm's length, taken from the sneaker shelf. Completely different people - stars, businessmen from the Forbes list, actors, Olympic champions, you and me and others who wish - all unite under the auspices of a good deed. Well, to have a nice Sunday morning. We will have a big concert there for 10,000 people and a lot of interesting things.

- What restaurants do you like to visit in Moscow?

Lately I like what Sasha Rappoport is doing so much! He just returned my love for this kind of leisure. There was a moment when we all got enough of restaurants, hit the cookery, bought books, cooked ourselves. There is nothing better than getting together with friends at home and having dinner. It's perfect.

But if you go somewhere, then I like “Dr. Zhivago", some places on Patriky, for example Fresh. It's good that the city is changing. There are such restaurants "spontaneous", non-binding. I like to visit Uilliam's sometimes. But these are mostly business lunches. Because I really rarely have dinner.

- What is your daily routine?

I get up at 8:00, then training, then I work until 21:00-21:30 approximately.

- What do you prefer for breakfast? Or train on an empty stomach?

No, of course, on full. I prefer long carbs. However, I don't really like porridge. I more or less agreed with myself that I would eat quinoa and buckwheat. Sometimes I make a flaxseed tea, for example. Sometimes - chia with coconut milk, but chia is not nutritious enough for me.

- What time do you go to bed?

Late. Sometimes at two, sometimes at three in the morning. Besides, I get up at eight. My goal now is to rearrange my schedule to go to bed at 11:00 pm. I need nine hours of sleep, then I will feel good.

In general, all anti-aging at our age is in sleep. If we do not get it, nutritional correction and physical education will not help. This is immediately podrublennoe immunity collapsed state and so on.

- Do you do body checkups? How often?

I do. Cardiogram, ECHO, stress test, lactate analysis and other basic things, I do gastroscopy once a year. Plus sports testing two or three times a year.

- Do your children go in for sports?

My daughter is only two years old and hasn't been trained yet. And the son is engaged, yes. She runs ski marathons with me. Swims better than me. He is very strong. He competed in triathlon for the first time at the age of eight. I ran the first 30 kilometers on skis at nine. At the same time, he trains only once or twice a week. He now focuses on studies, but he knows a lot in terms of sports.

- Do you cook anything at home?

Yes, and I'm a very good cook. True, only on weekends. I was lucky, my close friends are generally recognized culinary gurus of our country. This is Veronika Belotserkovskaya, Alena Doletskaya. There is someone to contact for a prescription, if that. The only thing - I do not like to clean everything, cut. I am a life manager, and my management in the kitchen is built in such a way that I say in advance which products should be cleaned, boiled, cut, and so on. All this is laid out according to the judgments, and then, as in a professional kitchen, I take these blanks and create a culinary masterpiece. Of course, I can do all this myself, but I try to spend as much time as possible on weekends with my children, because I don’t see them much on weekdays.

- Do you have an active family?

Yes, nevertheless, my husband reads a lot, but for me to sit down for books has always been a separate story. But this had no effect on speech or writing.

- If we are talking about quiet leisure, then what is it?

We don't have quiet time. Our motto is a constant change of activity. Even the beach holiday we treat consumerism. We come, swim some distance, dry up and leave. If we go somewhere, we are always on the move. We do sports for half a day, then lunch, then either this little story on the beach, or immediately on excursions.

- And how do you feel about softer physical activities, such as Pilates, yoga, stretching?

I have been doing Pilates for ten years, and one fine day I was wildly tired of all this. Although yes, it's a great load. It perfectly develops internal stabilizers.

What advice would you give to our readers?

The main thing is to do what makes you happy. Pick what suits you. You don't have to motivate yourself if you love what you do.

About sport

I have been in fitness since the age of 18. But the desire to try myself in amateur sports manifested itself only after meeting the right coach. In the past, a skier, he offered outdoor training: running and cross-country skiing (fortunately, the ski-roller track in Odintsovo is not far from my house). I have never been in perfect health, but as soon as I started exercising outdoors, I forgot about my arthritis and chronically sore throat.

My first serious start was the ski marathon in St. Moritz, where for some reason I dragged myself after only a month of training, knowing only the style of skiing. As someone who couldn't even walk six kilometers without getting short of breath, I traveled 42 kilometers and never stopped. That's what adrenaline and the will to win do!

I understand that people who follow me on Instagram think that sport is everything for me. In fact, I spend most of my time in the office, which I usually leave at 21:00. And I only go in for sports in the morning for two hours.

About the will to win

In amateur sports, only personal achievements matter. You don't need to compare yourself to others. Everyone has different abilities: someone has a sports background, someone recovers better, sleeps more, and someone works hard and experiences more stress. When competing, it is important not to flirt, because our goal is not souvenir medals, but personal development and maintaining health and beauty.

About triathlon

The hardest part of triathlon for me is open water swimming. You start in a crowd of people with whom you have a contact fight. You never know whether the current will be strong, whether the water will get into the glasses, what the headwind will be. And the wave can also hit in the face or someone can plant a heel in your nose.

During my first start at the competitions in Strogino ten years ago, I left the race. For me it was a terrible tragedy. Due to a sharp drop in air and water temperature, I began to have tachycardia (it was hot outside, and the water was very cold), I was sure that I would suffocate. Now I know how to deal with it, but then I had no idea. It was funny and touching when my husband and my friend Ksenia Sobchak came to cheer for me at nine in the morning. They unfolded a poster with the words “Polina is a champion!”, and already five minutes after the start, when they saw that one of the “white caps” was delayed during the mass start and was not going to continue the competition, they rolled them up with the words: “It looks like this is our. We're turning." When I came out of the water, crying, the coach told me to get on the bike and continue the competition. This advice was very valuable, because I did not give up and reached the end.

The first triathlon was a personal challenge for me: at that time I swam the women's breaststroke with my head up, I didn't know how to ride a bike at all and I was just starting to run.

And the ultimate goal was to complete the Olympic distance: 1.5 km swimming, 40 km cycling and 10 km running. About three hours of continuous work. It took a year to prepare, and before that there was a real small mountain triathlon in Austria, which I completed completely. But all this was an eternity ago, when triathlon communities did not exist and people did not even know what the term “triathlon” meant.

About sports plans

To make it not boring to train, I make a sports schedule for the whole year. Triathlon in summer, cross-country skiing in winter. Now in my mind I'm already opening the ski season.

Most of my trips are a kind of "sports local history". By participating in competitions, I even discover familiar places from a new perspective. For example, in Paris I always run the annual half marathon in March, in October according to the We Run Paris plan. It's great when you go out to the Avenue Opera in the morning, run around the city that belongs only to you, fill with its energy, and then quickly change clothes in the hotel and start a full-time work day. For me, sport is like plugging a plug into the sky, so I recharge.

About sports in the family

In my family, sport is a kind of hygiene and an obligatory part of the day. With my husband and son, we regularly work out at home and on vacation, gradually involving our daughter in training. Lying aimlessly on the beach is not our thing.

I am against tanning, and because of frequent outdoor workouts, I already get a lot of photoload, so I hardly tan on vacation. 30 minutes is enough to equalize the result of cycling and regular jogging. Instead, the whole family swim, go on excursions or shopping, travel. In Tuscany, for example, we always ride road bikes. In the morning we drive 100 km on them, have lunch, take a guide or a car and travel around the cities. And, of course, we do not build our lives around breakfasts, lunches and dinners, although we also love tasty, but healthy food.

A day on vacation never starts with "Where are we going to have dinner?" We are simply not interested.

About #SlimBitchClub

The idea to create #SlimBitchClub (the hashtag is actually a joke) came up while relaxing on a yacht with a large group of friends. Well, what can you do there? Eat, sleep? I am not against such a rest, just like everyone else, sometimes I can lie on the sofa and even stretch my hand towards chips, which, thank God, can no longer be found where I am. But I need to push myself. And on the yacht, I went to train alone, and the girls wanted to join. We made the music louder and started pumping the buttocks and abs. And at some point I say to them: “Do you want to make a trip with a healthy bias?”

#SlimBitchClub is the story of how a group of friends decided to spend quality time together, taking a break from household chores and work responsibilities. When we get married and have children, an absolutely amazing truth is revealed: no matter how much we love our spouses and children, we can only have a good rest in the circle of friends. Therefore, everyone loves bachelorette parties so much, where you can either walk to the nines dressed up, or, conversely, not make up and wear trousers with stretched knees, paint your nails and wait for it to dry.

I just came up with a program to spend time both with feeling and with sense. We can also have time to swim, sunbathe, go shopping, visit museums together, but who prevents us from taking care of ourselves and eating right? All this is easier to do together, because in order to inspire others, you need to inspire yourself, and in order to inspire yourself, you need to be inspired by others.

About nutrition

I remember how ten years ago I showed Ksenia Sobchak a photograph of myself as a 16-year-old. She was terribly disappointed to see that my figure had not changed at all since that time. She thought that I made myself, made a jump over my head to become what I was not born to be.

In fact, I never had problems with the figure and I did not count calories. But I have some kind of shit-detector that stops me when I want to eat too much. Any food, even the most healthy, can be high in calories. Take at least salmon and avocado. The issue is always moderation.

For example, for breakfast and lunch, my menu always has slow carbohydrates that maintain normal blood sugar levels, which means that after three hours I will not fall for sweets. I try to get out of the office for lunch, I usually refuse dinner, having my last snack at 17:00. The only exception is a trip to visit in the evening, where I eat what the owners of the house have prepared, because I respect their work. But at events, I would rather refuse food.

If you eat right five times a week, then because on the sixth or seventh day you had dinner somewhere or ate a ban, nothing will happen, you will not gain weight. Consistency wins in any matter.

I inherited the instinctive power system from my dad. He was always very slender and, without limiting himself in the choice of products, ate small portions when he wanted. But I also have breakdowns: I can sneak to the refrigerator in the evening for Greek yogurt, and in a fit of “sugar madness” I can eat five Korovka sweets or half a can of salted caramel. I'm not a robot, after all.

I do not limit my children in food, but I try to keep healthy foods at home, such as yeast-free or whole grain bread. My son is a gourmet, but after seven he does not eat. Lately, my husband has also been refusing to eat dinner. It's great that they came to this on their own, just watching how I eat and seeing the result.

About dieting

A strict diet is a pre-lost battle with your body. The human diet should consist of 50-60% carbohydrates, 25% proteins and 15% fats. If there is more protein in the body, problems with the liver and kidneys may begin. Everything must be in balance. This is an elementary recommendation of the World Health Organization, and not just another newfangled approach.

I eat everything: white and red meat (I want the latter no more than once a month), fish, chicken. It is important to feel what food suits you and what does not. I stopped eating many foods, because after them it’s hard to train. I do not like pasta, flour, fruits, juices, I do not drink carbonated drinks. All my life I was indifferent to sweets, but now I fell in love with chocolate. But I will never eat dessert or fruit immediately after dinner - I can not stand this terrible state of satiety.

I tried different vitamins and supplements, but by trial and error I settled on spirulina and Omega-6. Every morning I drink six capsules of algae to get all the necessary trace elements.

About sports during pregnancy

Most of my second pregnancy came in the fall and winter. For the first 15 weeks, you can’t train, so my schedule was only walking. From the 15th week, I switched to FPP, but without the static load in the form of planks and push-ups, which increase intrauterine pressure. She also went swimming and cross-country skiing in the winter. Despite the fact that they are much safer than mountain ones, you are not immune from falling. Here it is important to have riding experience, balance and feel confident.

I refused to run: such a shock load is useless during pregnancy. Two weeks before the birth, she left for Munich and walked 10 km in the park every day.

The birth happened on Wednesday, and on Monday I was still walking my ten in the English Park. With this rhythm, I gained nine kilograms during pregnancy.

About nutrition during pregnancy

The biggest misconception is that during pregnancy you need to eat for two! We talked about this with Natalia Vodianova (she gave birth a month later than me). Already in position, I asked her how to keep fit during and after pregnancy, to which she said: “You understand, in fact, a child in the womb needs 40 g of carbohydrates per day, and this is just a couple of apples. That is, the fact that a pregnant woman should eat 3,000 calories, not deny herself anything and succumb to any hormonal desires is nonsense. The more you weigh, the higher the pressure, and this is difficult for both the child and the mother.

Pregnancy was a turning point for me, when for the first time I seriously thought about my diet and set a goal to leave the hospital in "pre-pregnancy" jeans.

About relaxing treatments

Once a week I go to the Russian bath. This is our family tradition. The massage is definitely not for me. I can go only if I need to relax a specific muscle and feel that I have driven myself. I envy those who love wraps. Such procedures are not at all my format, it is painful to lie and think that during this time of inactivity it was possible to move mountains. Yes, and there is no time for them. I even do my manicure at 11 pm at home, when the children are already asleep.

About self love

You need to understand that fashion and beauty assistants are just tools that make us better. The main secret lies in self-love. If you are at peace with yourself and radiate energetic comfort, you will attract people and make the right impression.

Coco Chanel said: "If a woman has not become beautiful by the age of 30, then she is a fool." I would rephrase this quote a little: if a woman by the age of 30 has not understood which products are suitable for her and which ones are better to refuse, then she is a fool. For example, I don't eat pasta or drink white wine, knowing that they make me look and feel worse.

About hair care

I meet with my hairdresser Yura Vavkulin from the salon of Irina Baranova on Tsvetnoy Boulevard once every two weeks. I don't like to waste time on long procedures, so I usually limit myself to updating the color. I don’t strive for experiments either: in my case, style is lost with long hair, and it’s hard to deal with them, they are very thick. Even before official events, I can style my hair myself.

About makeup

My everyday set is mascara, concealer and lipstick. Concealer Tom Ford or the new cream powder from La Mer does an excellent job of masking problem areas. In any weather, I protect my face from UV rays with Cellular Swiss UV Protection Veil SPF 50 from La Prairie. Recently, a couple of favorites have appeared in the Giorgio Armani line: matte lipstick and pencil. I complement the natural color of the lips with smoky eyes, and a bright red shade of lipstick with light eye makeup. Alternatively, I can apply Dior's Addict Lip Maximizer Collagen Active gloss, which cools the lips nicely.

Cellular Swiss UV Protection Veil SPF 50, La Prairie; concealer Concealing Pen, TOM FORD; lip gloss Addict Lip Maximizer Collagen Active, Dior.

I resort to the services of professionals only before events or filming. Make-up artists Andrey Shilkov, Savva Savelyev, Agnessa Ilyina from Chanel have no equal. But more often I paint myself because of lack of time.

About facial care

Regular outdoor workouts have a positive effect on complexion, but negatively on skin condition. Running and functional training are dehydrating, so I constantly monitor the water balance, drink plenty of water and coconut water. The latter, by the way, can always be found in my car. Coconut water is a natural isotonic that contains natural trace elements and salts, replenishes the salt balance. 300ml post-workout is my daily ritual.

I often talk about the importance of UV protection. All because I experienced all the "charms" of the appearance of pigmentation due to regular exposure to the sun. Now I wear high SPF protection in any weather. If these problems could not be avoided, you need to save yourself with ZO®Medical creams and serums from Zein Obagi. They perfectly align the face and avoid the laser. Keep in mind that these are very strong medications, so it is better to consult a dermatologist before using them.

Brightenex™ Corrective Cream 1.0% Retinol; Ossential ® C-Bright Serum 10% Vitamin C; Invisapeel™ Intensive Resurfacing Peel, all ZO®Medical by Zein Obagi.

In winter, I definitely use La Mer nourishing creams. Other favorites include Aesop's Bitter Orange Astringent Toner and Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Cream, Biologique Recherche's P50W Lotion and ADN Elastine Marine Collagène Marin. I am also a fan of La Prairie: Sérum Eclat Caviar Nacré and Cellular Radiance Perfecting Fluide Pure Gold are my favorites.

Bitter Orange Astringent Toner; Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Cream, all Aesop.

Lotion P50W Phase d "Initialisation, Biologique Recherche; ADN Elastine Marine Collagène Marin face cream, Biologique Recherche; Sérum Eclat Caviar Nacré cream, La Prairie; Cellular Radiance Perfecting Fluide Pure Gold fluid, La Prairie.

Skin problems are handled very well at the Rosh Medical Center, where I have been going for about 17 years. Lyubov Andreevna Khachaturyan is the queen of problem skin, it seems to me that she saved absolutely the whole of Moscow. The specialists of this center make creams themselves: sticky, unpleasantly smelling, but very effective.

Sometimes I look into the "White Garden" to Oksana Lavrentieva. The cosmetologist Natasha Rodina works there, who makes excellent massages. It is a pity that there is often not enough time for a course of such procedures. I would like to be able to visit her more often.

Interview: Margarita Lieva
Text: Julia Kozoliy

My transition to the fashion industry happened, one might say, for family reasons. I am a certified lawyer, I graduated from the Faculty of Law with honors and worked for two and a half years in commercial banks in the departments of payment cards. After marriage, I did not work for a short period of time, but gradually began to wedge into the company Podium, created by my husband. He was not eager to hire me, but I studied because I really wanted to work in this area, I spent a lot of time on self-education. I wanted to prove that I could do it, and the moment came when I began to give him such interesting advice and suggestions that he realized that I could really be useful. The most important thing, it seems to me, in any business is desire and enthusiasm. If a person has them, he can achieve everything he wants. And I had a great interest, enthusiasm and love for fashion. Although in the business that we are engaged in, in addition to fashion, there is a lot of mathematics, economics and every day jurisprudence. You always get any education at the workplace, and any university and university provides basic knowledge, develops the ability to learn and nothing more.

In addition to the powerful business component, Podium Market is also a story about style and beauty. Have you been a fashionista since childhood? Remember your first truly fashionable item?

In childhood and adolescence, I was probably the same fashionista as all ordinary Soviet girls - a fashionista with minimal opportunities. My parents didn't work abroad and I didn't get a chance to wear imported clothes. We lived quite modestly. We got out of the situation in the same way as most women in our country - "mother sewed." Of course, the bulk of my growing up took place during the transition period and the consequences of the fall of the Iron Curtain, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the already changing economic situation. But I remember how, for example, going to GUM and seeing a long line, we first occupied it, and then ran to the beginning, sometimes several hundred meters, in order to find out what they still sell there. Just in case, we occupied it. And then all of a sudden there are some boots "on the semolina", or, God forbid, the GDR coat. These memories are still fresh.

What are the current trends in the Russian capital? What items and accessories do Muscovites sell out the fastest?

Muscovites are now very advanced. Today they are no different from, for example, world girls, they quickly pick up everything that is fashionable, and I cannot say that we are behind or ahead. Still, globalization is doing its job, so Muscovites now want to wear about the same thing as Parisians or representatives of other world capitals. Of course, we cannot exclude the absence of street style and street shopping as such. Plus, everything is multiplied by climatic features. In winter, warm clothes are well bought, in summer - bright ones. We are starving for the sun, its rays and joyful mood, such a slight Scandinavian syndrome... But basically everything that is sold abroad is quickly sold out. Flares have come into fashion - flares are sold out, parkas have come into fashion - for the third or fourth season everyone is willing to take them. I can say that traditionally sold poorly is brown and all its shades.

How is the current crisis affecting your business?

When we created the Podium market, we foresaw that the global economy would be unstable, and we knew that there would not be as much room for luxury as it used to be. In general, a global trend of high “overconsumption” has been outlined in the world: everything, whatever. We saw a large economically interesting niche for ourselves in the creation of a fashion segment in which everything is fashionable and inexpensive, in which the luxury of consumer goods becomes more affordable.

Polina, what, besides work and business, does your day consist of?

Sports play an important role in my daily routine. This is the same mandatory part as brushing your teeth or combing. This is my physical culture, my contribution to myself and my health. The day starts with training, breakfast and getting yourself in order. Leo Tolstoy also said that “you must definitely shake yourself up physically in order to be morally healthy.” So I firmly believe that people who are engaged in physical culture are less prone to stress. In addition, sport is a good psychological relaxation, exercise, recharge, reboot ... Therefore, every morning I recharge my tired hard drive for a new program for the next day.

Polina, why, in your opinion, has a healthy lifestyle gained such popularity in the world over the past couple of years? Why are jogging, going to the gym, eating right to replace parties and going to bars?

Today, I would designate the fashionable concept of a healthy lifestyle with the term physical culture, which has set us on edge since childhood, which, unfortunately, we did not understand before, and these activities were associated with a nondescript physical education teacher, requiring us to jump over a goat. In fact, physical education is a healthy lifestyle. This is a culture of taking care of yourself, a culture of being healthy and fit. None of the most expensive and classy things will sit well on a flaccid or neglected body. Everything revolves around the same thing - things for us, not we for things. In all ages, mankind has been interested in the search for the elixir of immortality, people wanted to live long, happily and not grow old. And at the beginning of the third millennium, people realized that the elixir of immortality had not been invented, and it was replaced by a combination of a healthy diet and a culture of taking care of yourself. People who take care of themselves and treat themselves as a valuable vessel develop themselves both spiritually and physically, stay healthy and beautiful longer, and, I would even say, interesting to everyone. This is what physical culture is.

In one of the interviews, you said that you love being at home more than anything in the world, that for you this is a natural habitat. Did you furnish your home yourself?

Home is truly the most desirable environment for me and the most important point on the map of my daily journey. This is the place where I want to be every minute. Our house was furnished by my husband. He is not a professional designer, it's just a hobby, but he has great taste, so he decorates our property in his spare time. In his work, with large strokes, I only bring my small touches.

What, in addition to design ideas that are responsible for comfort, helps to create the right and healthy atmosphere in the house? Do you have any secrets on how to clean the air in the house where you and your family live?

Since I lead a healthy lifestyle, I love that everything in my arrangement during the day should be designed to improve my health and the inhabitants of my house. I'm obsessed with things like humidifying the air. To maintain youthful skin in winter and summer, I use an air purifier with a professional Philips filtration and humidification system. This is the best prevention of all respiratory viral infections, especially in the rainy long winter of our harsh climate.

And where do you prefer to go on vacation to breathe clean air?

I love nature very much, I prefer to relax in the mountains, in the fields and on the rivers ... I don’t like the heat. The older I get, the more I understand that I like the sea, but not the heat. And even more I like mountain lakes. In the cold, beauty is better preserved.

Latest news

No time for the whole text?
READ

The creative director of "Podium" Polina Kitsenko does not have a best friend, but there is a best friend, who is also husband Edik. It was he who came up with her legendary hairstyle, knows how to give useful advice on choosing clothes and simply supports her in everything. With such a man, no crisis is terrible, although it is still a little scary ...

Polina Kitsenko is vulnerable and formidable at the same time. Mixing these two seemingly opposite colors gives an amazing effect. Read the interview with Ksenia Sobchak.

These are such "swings". It is not easy to manage them, but her husband Edik definitely succeeds. For me, Fields are not only Fields without Edik. Their union is an example of how people can make each other stronger and better, leveling out all the shortcomings and enhancing the virtues. It seems to me that in order to truly love Polina, one must always keep in mind this tenderness of hers, which is very difficult for an inattentive person to see behind a thick layer of defense. Therefore, this interview turned out to be personal, not a word about sports - only work and family are on the agenda!

I want to say right away: I hope this interview will not contain a word about sports, because everything has been known about this part of your life for a long time. (Laughs.)

(Smiles.) Then I immediately warn everyone who is waiting for advice on how to do a hundred push-ups without outside help: you don’t have to read further! (Laughs) Actually, I am very grateful to you for this, because for several years now all journalists have been asking me the same questions.

But I always wanted to ask you about work. I know that before the "Podiums" you, as hard as it is to believe today, worked in a bank in a serious position, dealt with credit cards. I also know that you have a very fast and very tenacious brain, you instantly grasp everything, among all my friends you are the only one who managed to learn Italian in just six months, you are very gifted and, of course, very smart. Tell me, are you bored doing business in a field that is considered frivolous?

No, it's not boring at all. In me, this female gene of absolute and endless joy, which arises at the sight of a beautiful thing, is probably indestructible. Despite many years of working in the fashion business, this can still happen to me as if fortifying - the degree of my mood can jump wildly from the fact that I saw something beautiful, while it can be both a sweater for a thousand, and crazy outfit for tens of thousands or even some, I don't know, shade of nail polish. I am very glad that beauty is part of my work.

What part of the job do you dislike?

The hardest thing is working with staff, with employees. We work in the service sector, everything we do is based solely on the principle, relatively speaking, of providing services to the population, so I always tell my team: it’s pointless to invest all your efforts in the purchase, work for weeks without days off in showrooms, because that our front line is where the customer meets the hanger. No matter how awesome the collection is, no matter how tempting it swings on the brackets, no matter how invitingly it asks to be in your closet, if an inept, uninspired seller is standing nearby, nothing will work out, there will be no purchases.

What exactly separates a good seller from a bad one?

A person must love his job, must really be drawn to the fact that he can be useful to a particular person, must feel how to communicate with this or that client, adapt to him.

Explain with an example. Let's say I go into the Runway and ask them to take that blue coat over there to the fitting room. What makes an ideal seller?

Ksyusha, it's easy enough with you. Many people think that you have a difficult character, in part this is true, but in part it is not, because you are a very specific person, you always clearly know what you want, you are very constructive in spending your time, and this makes you a good buyer. You just need to put everything extremely quickly into bags and take it to the car so that you try everything at home. (Laughs.)

It always infuriates me terribly when sellers answer questions with memorized phrases that do not carry any practical information to the buyer. The coolest thing is when you start to feel that you are not being sucked in by a thing, not being persuaded to leave money, but are making efforts to win your trust, for example, they honestly say that such a length shortens the legs or that this color is not to face.

When the seller can say at least something, this is already happiness. (Laughs.) The ideal seller should have tremendous enthusiasm and absolute competence, that is, the ability to tell what kind of thing and what it is made of, what kind of collection, whether it is in a different color or in another “Podium”, if not, then when will and will there be at all, what to wear it with and what not to wear it with.

You know, you and I, among other things, have one thing in common: I think it’s not a secret for you that behind your back your employees call you a tough, sometimes even excessive, leader. What can you answer them?

Nothing. My rich long-term experience shows that lazy people who are looking for an excuse usually say this. Few things annoy me more than trying to make excuses for a mistake. Apologize, offer options for solving the problem, whatever - just don’t make excuses, especially with the phrase “It’s just like this ...”. Terrible I don't like it! When I'm in a bad mood, I can even tell everyone that I don't want the word "just" to be used at all at work. The word "simple" is forbidden here! (Laughs.)

Because it's just like that. (Laughs.) Have you ever brought a person to tears, but then apologized?

It used to be when I wasn't as experienced as it is now. The last time this happened was a few years ago, when I was sometimes, let's say, more emotional. I never get personal, but nevertheless, it used to be in some figurative form, but now it is not. Literally a couple of times I apologized immediately after the incident if I saw that I had driven a person to hysteria, although it is impossible to pity me with tears. And then I'm not a petty tyrant, I know this for sure, I never give impossible tasks.

Can you talk about a specific case of instant dismissal when a person did something outrageous, unacceptable?

You know, the paradox is that, for all my alleged rigidity, I have never fired anyone right away in my life, I have always given a chance to improve, I have never made a legal mistake for Maria Baibakova - in our country, according to the Labor Code, you can’t fire anyone instantly . (Laughs.) But seriously, in order to be fired, you need to burn out directly. But there is something good in any employee, otherwise he would not work with me, so at first I forgive, but even small mistakes have a cumulative effect, and therefore if a person failed in a situation in which no one from him expected, then this could be the last straw and the reason for parting. So despite my increased reactivity at some points in the long run, I am very tolerant.

One of your great personal merits is your contribution to the success of the Maison Bohemique brand. There is a joke around the city that guys, like Lannisters, always pay their debts: you helped them at the very beginning, but now they, refusing everyone, are sold on principle only in the "Podium" and they send everyone who wants to order an outfit from them directly to the extra charge you took it for yourself, they don’t dress anyone according to individual standards, although it would be more correct for them from the point of view of profit, but it’s impossible to get this right, only Anya Chipovskaya, Vika Isakova and you have it. How did you manage to build such a relationship?

Ksyushenka, I want to say right away: I can’t pronounce the names of these designers. This is their philosophy and their condition.

Don't speak.

We have an absolute synergy with them. I knew right away that this was a hit story! I saw a dress on our friend Ulyana that I really liked, she introduced me to its authors, said that they were very talented artists, introduced us, gave their contacts, and a cooperation took place between us.

Did you immediately agree on exclusivity?

Yes. What is important, the guys themselves understand that such a serious product as theirs - expensive, hand-made, really couture - cannot be sold in several places, they do not have a production facility where they could stamp their outfits. Plus, they do not want to communicate with unnecessary people, so it is profitable for them to work for our clients.

Let's talk about the rules of a successful purchase. I know for sure that in St. Petersburg, for example, for obvious climatic reasons, in the autumn-winter season, all sales records are broken by minimalistic black coats, but Chloe coral capes, which were sold out in all capitals of the world in a day and on a waiting list, no one even noticed and they still hang in a couple of stores, although they were ordered in a single copy. Also, St. Petersburg buyers on an industrial scale buy high boots with stable heels and such a kind of platform, because St. Petersburg women simply adore them, and also designer umbrellas. Can you voice the hit list of Muscovites? What consistently sells well?

I can say that in Moscow it sells very poorly: khaki and brown.

Nobody wants to dress like a poop? (Laughs.) And I love them so much!

You are an exception. Since fashion constantly revolves around its axis, designers return to the military style from time to time. And so a dark blue or black “navy” tunic with gold buttons, as a rule, always becomes a super bestseller, while a brown jacket in the style of a modern military uniform has a rather low chance of being sold. Although the last two winter seasons have become popular with the park, people have moved into the parks! And now, as an exception, khaki is selling well in the form of parkas. At the same time, khakis in the form of a jacket or sweater are simply impossible to sell. It is very difficult - at least in our stores - with leopard and other animal prints, although I really like them on those who know how to wear it and who it suits. The last two or three winters, when pastel colors returned to fashion and it became fashionable to wear light colors in winter, we began to carefully buy white, including white shoes, although earlier in the winter season this was absolutely out of the question. And now we have begun to sell well, as I call them, "snowy bows" - skirts, dresses, white coats. People have matured, plus today more and more people can afford to drive to the threshold, to the door, jump out of the car and immediately go somewhere.

By the way, Uliana Zeitlina was the first to wear white coats.

She intuitively knew that she needed to stand out. (Smiling.)

What is always on top? Can you name the constant hits?

Everything is changing. For the last couple of seasons, for example, over the knee boots have been selling very well, such with not very high heels, with low or, let's say, medium intermediate, without a vulgar note, moderately fishing. (Laughs.) Leather jackets, motorcycle jackets, motorcycle boots always sell very well.

What sells better: skirts or dresses?

Depends on the age group. But in general, in recent years, the demand for dresses has been growing, because the dress makes it possible not to rack your brains - you put it on, think of accessories in three minutes, and you are ready.

You know, when we were just starting to communicate, you were for me the embodiment of the right Moscow secularity ...

Was? (Laughs.)

But when we got closer, I realized that in fact you are very homely. Imagine my surprise when I found out that you yourself cook for your husband [Eduard Kitsenko, co-owner of the Podium Market group of companies. - Approx. SNC] breakfasts, you always come home early in the evening to be with him!.. How does this craving for the household fit in with your steely will, leadership acumen?

breakfasts, you always come home early in the evening to be with him!.. How does this craving for the household get along with your steel will, leadership grip?

Yes, I am such a Chekhov Darling. (Laughs) I really love being at home more than anything in the world, for me this is a natural habitat, social life is a burden to me, unless the exits are associated with communication with people I love.

Your couple can serve as a role model for many in Moscow - you both treat each other very respectfully, you don’t have loud conflicts, I always cite your story as an example of true great love. Tell me, has it always been like this?

It seems to me that to a greater extent this is his merit, because he is a very kind person, tolerant and patient. At the same time, he creates conditions for me in which I can grow and develop, supports me in many ways, teaches me a lot, still watches over me ... I adopted a million things that I know and that I have in my life, definitely he has.

I know that you consult with him about what to wear, and that his assessment is very important to you.

Yes, I always listen to him, we can say that he greatly contributed to the development of my ability to dress. (Smiles.) For example, for three or four years I went with an elongated haircut, and every few months he could casually say something like: “Listen, do you want to cut your hair? You've lost your style somehow." Not verbatim, of course, it was not offensive, but very well-aimed, right to the point of trembling.

So he came up with your legendary hairstyle?

Certainly. But understand me correctly: he is not obsessed with my appearance and does not make endless remarks to me, no, everything goes on with us in a very easy form, for example, when I sometimes start to act up, he can say to me quite calmly and soberingly: “Polenka, you it doesn’t paint, you yourself know that there are options that work much better for you, ”after which he turns away and continues to read his book. His comments are always casual, unobtrusive, but always hit the mark.

You know, from the outside it sometimes seems that you and your husband have some kind of unspoken agreement, in public you both seem to play good and bad police - he is soft, and you are tough, and you complement each other perfectly.

In fact, everything is simpler: he is wiser, and I am more emotional. (Smiling.)

What qualities do you value most in people?

You know, I was convinced that friends are known not in grief, but in joy, in the ability to share your success, and especially in the ability to share your success. In friendship, it is very important to be able to share your success with those who were there from the very beginning, who gave you a shoulder when you climbed up. It often happens that while you were climbing and growing, the other person stood still and, accordingly, did not grow, which means that he should remain in the past. Similarly, we remain in the past of someone to whose level we failed to grow in time.

You are both right and wrong, it's all quite subjective. Now I know for sure that a friend is someone who, on the wave of success, was able to maintain humanity and adequacy in himself, who did not break away from his roots, if, of course, he had them. If one person "grows" out of another, then he no longer needs roots. For example, it may seem to you that one of your acquaintances has forgotten their roots, and it may seem to your, conditionally, school friend, that she is all so chic, some kind of chief accountant, but you forgot your roots, starred and that's why I stopped calling her.

You cited as an example a situation where two people belong to different social worlds and there are no common interests between them. And I believe that, first of all, people are united by a common interest, but in this situation it cannot be. In fact, I have deduced such an axiom for myself: I want to be there, with those and spend my time so that I feel good and comfortable.

Are there specific people who haven't done anything wrong to you, but with whom you just feel uncomfortable?

I work in the service industry, and for me, any person is a potential client, so as a professional, I must be polite to everyone.

Who is your closest friend?

I don't have and probably never even had a close friend. I have the closest friend - my husband, I have the area closest to my heart - my family, my home, this is my kind of cocoon. In general, many years ago I decided to stop labeling people, because any step towards a person with a label around his neck is perceived by you as a microbetrayal, and this is wrong, because all people are different, everyone has the right to make mistakes, so each person needs to be left little clearance for his shortcomings. You should not create an idol for yourself, you just need to appreciate those with whom you feel good and who feel good with you.

You know, I'm not just asking you this. You are a very private person and don't let anyone close to you. What is it that makes you always keep your distance?

In fact, I am very amorous, I often fall in love with some characters, with girlfriends, and therefore I am somewhat vulnerable. But the older I get, the more clearly I understand that with no one person can be always and everywhere equally good.

Next to whom, besides your husband, can you take off your armor and show yourself vulnerable? Sit next to me and admit your weakness, figuratively, that you, for example, are afraid of growing old or feel ugly, I don’t know, it could be anything. Do you have such people?

Of course there are, and you know them, you are one of them. But I don’t want to publicly expose my personal, innermost part of myself, I’m afraid to jinx it, and therefore I don’t want this information to be in the public space.

Does your closeness bother you?

Yes, I do not consider myself closed! (Laughs.)

Look, I'm your friend, and I know for sure that in order for you to start talking about yourself, an earthquake must happen.

It's more of a life experience than a closed one. Before, you could call me more open. And then, Ksyushenka, don't you think that we are alike? We are both Scorpios...

Not specifically on this, although we do agree on a lot of things.

You are full of bottoms, even when you seem to be open, you still have twenty-two unexplored bottoms inside you. I do not hide anything, but there are people with whom I am not interested in sharing anything, and I do not share. In general, I would even call myself overly open, I can blurt out too much in my hearts, and this openness of mine always gives rise to some kind of gossip. It seems to me that my so-called closeness is a matter of my choice, and it is not difficult for me to do it, this issue is already decided at the level of my subconscious. This is my kind of airbag, which makes me feel comfortable, and leaves people space for a wrong step, gives them an exclusion zone where they can trample and think.

Don't you think that true friendship is manifested precisely in the ability to tell your friend directly and in time that he is wrong?

I am always grateful to you for your comments, we had situations when you were extremely honest with me, and I really appreciate it. But I myself, if you do not ask me, will never make comments. If asked, I'll tell you.

Can you call yourself a cautious person?

Oh sure. I think it's character.

That is, these are not spiritual burns, but an innate quality?

And experience, too, character - it's only half natural, the other half - life experience, strung on a genetic thread.

Do you worry when you are criticized?

Only when it's done by people whose opinion I'm interested in. In the process of growing up, you begin to weed out important criticism from noise that is irrelevant to you. By the way, this is also taught by social networks, and you are a good example for me in this regard, because I know that you can read all the worst bullshit in the world to yourself, and it won’t spoil your mood in the least, but it can spoil one negative word of a person whose opinion is really important to you.

Only if it's a public word. I love and appreciate criticism and am always surprised that other people are not like me in this sense. It always hurts me terribly when my best intentions are misunderstood when people refuse to hear the truth about themselves.

And in our mutual acquaintances, I am always surprised by the seriousness with which they sometimes discuss some critical comments addressed to them on Instagram or on Gossip. People are really insanely upset by the opinions of anonymous people, what can we say about cases when some of their ex-girlfriend or ex-employee speaks out publicly! It pisses people off insanely, and it amazes me wildly. I do not have that. But the opinion of people whom I love and respect can even bring me to tears or make me think deeply.

Everyone knows that you are one of the few who continued close communication with Alena Doletskaya after her departure from Vogue, moreover, it seems to me that it has become even denser.

To be honest, the degree has not changed.

Were you surprised at how impressive a number of people disappeared from her life?

No, absolutely. Firstly, her entire inner circle remained with her as it was, and remained with her, but since there are no people from the gossip columns in it, no one knows and did not know who enters it. And secondly, unfortunately, the laws of life are such that most of the people who surround us are, let's say, choruses who like to be in the rays of the image that we broadcast, and this must be understood and always remembered. Be that as it may, any relationship between people is always an exchange of energy, and energy can be different, and perhaps there were people around Alena who liked not the energy of her personality, but the energy of her influence. I appreciate her for something else, I am extremely glad that I met her in this life! She is an incredible, wildly talented woman, the brightest character, a real nugget! Agree.

I agree. I want to end the interview on a business note. How is your company going to adapt to the crisis? In today's coordinate system, fashion and its accompanying gloss are the most vulnerable points. Have you thought of a survival algorithm?

You know, I’ll probably disappoint you now, but I won’t be able to sincerely answer this question, primarily because I work as a creative director, that is, my position is more related to creativity than to finances. I understand that everything will be bad, but I don’t know how bad, and I think 99% of the people who will assure you that they know, in fact, they don’t know it and cannot know it either. The only thing we all know for sure is that a very negative scenario is playing out.

In this situation, a strategy for the development of democratic projects can work; an emphasis on Podium Markets can be life-saving for your business.

This store is what I'm really proud of, more proud than our other merits. We formed this niche in Moscow, we saw in time that it was not filled, and we filled it. I will tell you this: at the moment we are following the general line that we have been adhering to for the past two years: we have stopped our expansion in the luxury segment and are no longer developing the luxury direction, but are developing within the segment of inexpensive fashionable clothes. And this plan was developed not in connection with the rising exchange rate, but quite a long time ago. In general, plans change every day, because every day something simply unimaginable happens, and the proverb “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans” is more relevant than ever in our time. I don't know what will happen even in a week.

Tell me honestly, are you horrified by what is happening? What are your feelings?

Of course I'm horrified. We did not expect another crisis. I often think about how hard, but also good, to live in an era of change. This is the third serious economic crisis in our lifetime! You know, during the default, I fell under many thousands of layoffs - out of 6,000 employees of the bank where I worked, 5,500 were fired, and, naturally, I was among them. I remember the terrible year 1998 very well, I remember 2008 very well.

When was the worst?

It's scary every time. But you know, I have a feeling that we will sail out in spite of everything, that everything will be fine. I believe in metaphysics, I love to visualize and I always believe that everything will happen exactly as I pictured to myself, I believe that everything happens the way we want in the depths of our souls, that we build our destiny with our own hands. I think that we will somehow drift, I don’t know how, but everything will be fine, because it simply cannot be otherwise.

Which of the two of you is in a gloomier mood due to the current situation: you or your husband?

Of course, the husband, he has more worries, because he is in charge of finances.

Finally, I can not help but ask you one not very pleasant question. I know your husband's breakup with his first Runway partner was painful, there were high-profile court cases...

Not true, the parting was quite calm and quiet. I would not like to comment on this story, I do not want to return to it. That person left the business with the amount that he himself announced, the rest is just emotions, probably caused by the fact that without him we not only didn’t drown, but stepped over and moved on.

Okay, last question then. Your dream?

I have many dreams, but there is only one global one: for all my ideas to be realized at least by 90%.

Do you manage to combine work and business?

Date of birth: 11 November.
Creative Director of Podium Market Fashion Group.
Education: International University in Moscow, Faculty of Law.
Married, has a son

The secret of our heroine's success is in her perfectionism: as a strict leader, she makes the main demands on herself first of all!

Polina arranges interviews and shoots in one of her favorite brainchildren - the Podium Concept Store. “Usually I’m at work until late, in order for our meeting to take place, I had to get up three hours earlier,” admits Kitsenko.

She has a clear schedule, it seems that these are the people who are called natural leaders: they understand what they want and how to achieve it. “I don’t know why, but I always knew that I would do fashion, even when I was studying to be a lawyer. I just knew everything. Although, on the other hand, this work itself found me, because a whole million circumstances have developed properly.

The turning point personally and professionally for Polina was the wedding. Her future husband Eduard was the owner of the only Podium multi-brand store in the capital at that time. Over time, Polina also entered the business, and together they managed to create a whole network. “When we started, there was practically nothing here. I think the hardest part was always staying relevant. No matter how much they laugh at the fact that our women put on all the best at once, in fact, they always want to be at the forefront. If something has appeared in Europe, then in Moscow it is needed tomorrow!”

Despite the fact that Polina works together with her husband, they rarely have disagreements. “Oddly enough, we hardly see each other in the office. We have a clear division of responsibilities, although of course there are certain decisions that I cannot make without him. And at home we try not to talk about work at all. ”

Polina will soon become a mother for the second time, but this is not a reason for her to slow down the rhythm. According to Kitsenko, she does not know what a decree is, and when her employees take it, she is always very surprised - after all, our heroine herself cannot afford it. “Most of all, I love my job for the same thing that makes me the most tired of it: you can never relax and lose your grip.”

Kitsenko does not leave the race even during rest: she devotes at least two hours a day to sports and went cross-country skiing until the ninth month of pregnancy! “I am a perfectionist, I want to do everything for five plus. All my life I've been trying to learn how to let go somewhere, but I haven't learned yet. I am a demanding person. And I make the highest demands on myself!”

PHOTO: NIKOLAI ZVERKOV. MAKEUP AND HAIR: GALINA PANTELEEVA@THE AGENT FOR ORIBE. THANKS TO PODIUM CONCEPT STORE (14, KUZNETSKY MOST STREET) FOR HELP IN ORGANIZING THE SHOOTING