Polina Kitsenko's husband. Beauty will last longer in cold water. Who is Polina Kitsenko's husband?

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The creative director of “Podium” Polina Kitsenko does not have best friend, but there is best friend, who is also Edik’s husband. It was he who came up with her legendary hairstyle, he knows how to give useful tips in her choice of clothes and simply supports her in everything. With such a man, no crisis is scary, although it’s 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.

This is a “swing”. Managing them is not easy, but her husband Edik definitely succeeds. For me, the Fields are not only the 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 strengths. It seems to me that in order to truly love Polina, you must always keep in mind this tenderness of hers, which is very difficult for an inattentive person to discern 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 there won’t be a word about sports in this interview, because everyone has known everything 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 any further! (Laughs.) In fact, 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 “Podiums” you, no matter how hard it is to believe today, worked in a bank in a serious position, credit cards. I also know that you have a very fast and very tenacious brain, you grasp everything instantly, 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, aren’t you bored of doing business in an area that is considered frivolous?

Not at all, not boring at all. In me, this female gene of absolute and endless joy that arises at the sight of a beautiful thing is probably ineradicable. Despite many years of work in fashion business This can still give me a kind of vitamin boost - the degree of my mood can jump wildly because I saw something beautiful, and it could be a sweater that costs a thousand, or a crazy outfit that costs tens of thousands, or even what -I don’t know, the shade of nail polish. I am very glad that beauty is part of my work.

What part of the job don't you like?

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 public, so I always tell my team: it’s pointless to put all your energy into purchasing, to work your ass off in showrooms for weeks without days off, because that our front line is where the buyer meets the hanger. No matter how awesome the collection is, no matter how temptingly it swings on the brackets, no matter how invitingly it asks to be in your closet, if there is an inept, uninspired salesperson standing next to you, nothing will work out, there will be no purchases.

What exactly separates a good salesperson from a bad one?

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

Explain with an example. Let's say I walk into Podium and ask you to take that blue coat to the fitting room. What does an ideal salesperson do?

Ksyusha, it’s quite easy with you. Many people think that you have a difficult character, in part this is true, but in part it is not so, 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 good buyer. You just need to very quickly put everything in bags and take it to the car so you can try it on at home. (Laughs.)

It always infuriates me when salespeople answer questions with memorized phrases that do not provide the buyer with any practical information. The coolest thing is when you begin to feel that they are not trying to sell you something, they are not trying to persuade you to leave money, but they are making an effort to win your trust, for example, they honestly say that this length shortens your legs or that this color is not flattering.

When the seller can say at least something, this is already happiness. (Laughs.) The ideal seller should have colossal enthusiasm and one hundred percent competence, that is, the ability to tell what kind of thing it is and what it is made of, what kind of collection it is, is it available in a different color or in a different “Podium”, if not, then when will there be, 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 no secret to you that behind your back your employees call you a tough, sometimes even excessively, leader. What can you answer them?

Nothing. My wealth of many years of experience shows that this is usually said by lazy people who are looking for an excuse for themselves. Few things irritate 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 that...”. I really don't like this! When I have Bad mood, I might even tell everyone that I don’t want the word “just” to be used at work at all. The word “simply” is prohibited here! (Laughs.)

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

It happened before when I was not as experienced as I am now. Last time This happened 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’s not. Literally a couple of times I apologized immediately after the incident if I saw that I had driven a person to hysterics, although it is impossible to pity me with tears. And then I’m not a 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 and unacceptable?

You know, the paradox is that, with all my supposed toughness, I have never fired anyone immediately in my life, I always gave a chance to improve, I never made the legal mistake of Maria Baibakova - in our country, Labor Code No one can be fired instantly. (Laughs.) But seriously, to be fired you need to get really hot. But there is also 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 let you down in a situation in which no one expected him to expected, this could be the last straw and the reason for separation. So, despite my increased reactivity at some points, in the long term I am very tolerant.

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

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

Don't say it.

We had absolute synergy with them. I immediately realized 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 them their contacts, and cooperation took place between us.

Did you immediately agree on exclusivity?

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

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

I can say that khaki and brown colors sell very poorly in Moscow.

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

You are an exception. Since fashion constantly rotates around its axis, designers return to military style from time to time. And so a dark blue or black “naval” jacket with gold buttons, as a rule, always becomes a super bestseller, while a brown jacket in the style of modern military uniform the chances of being sold are quite low. Although the park has become popular over the past two winter seasons, people have moved into the parks! And now, as an exception, khaki color is selling well in the form of parkas. At the same time, it is simply impossible to sell khaki in the form of a jacket or sweater. It’s 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 came back into fashion and it became fashionable to wear light colors in winter, we began to carefully purchase white, including white shoes, although earlier in the winter season this was absolutely excluded. And now we have begun to sell well, as I call them, “snow-covered looks” - skirts, dresses, coats white. People have matured, plus today everything more people can afford to drive to the threshold, to the door, jump out of the car and immediately go somewhere.

By the way, Ulyana Tseytlina was the first to wear white coats.

She intuitively understood that she needed to stand out. (Smiles.)

What's always at its peak? Can you name your all-time hits?

Everything changes. Over the last couple of seasons, for example, boots have been selling very well, but these are not very high heels, low or, let’s say, intermediate, without a vulgar note, moderately fishy. (Laughs.) Biker jackets, motorcycle jackets, and motorcycle boots always sell very well.

What sells better: skirts or dresses?

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

You know, when you and I were just starting to communicate, you were for me the embodiment of correct Moscow secularism...

Was? (Laughs.)

But as we got closer, I realized that you are actually very homely. Imagine my surprise when I found out that you cook for your husband yourself [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 housework coexist with your steely will and leadership acumen?

breakfasts, you always come home early in the evening to be with him!.. How does this craving for housework get along with your steely will and leadership acumen?

Yes, I am such a Chekhov's Darling. (Laughs.) I really love being at home more than anything in the world, for me it’s habitat habitat is a burden to me Savor, unless the outlets involve communicating with the 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 a real one Great love. Tell me, has it always been like this?

It seems to me that this is largely due to his merit, because he is very a 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 have in my life, certainly 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 contributed greatly to the development of my ability to dress. (Smiles.) For example, I had a long haircut for three or four years, and every few months he could casually say something like: “Listen, don’t you want to cut your hair? Somehow you’ve lost your style.” Not literally, of course, it was not offensive, but very apt, right to the point of trembling.

So he came up with your legendary hairstyle?

Certainly. But don't get me wrong: he's not obsessed with my appearance and he doesn’t endlessly reprimand me, no, with us everything goes in a very mild form, for example, when I sometimes start to be capricious, he can tell me completely calmly and soberingly: “Polechka, this doesn’t suit you, you yourself know that there are options , which work much better for you,” after which he turns away and continues reading 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 be playing bad and good cop - 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. (Smiles.)

What qualities do you value most in people?

You know, I am 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 lent you a shoulder when you climbed to the top. It often happens that while you were climbing and growing, the other person stood still and, accordingly, did not grow, which means that they must remain in the past. In the same way, we remain in the past of someone to whose level we were not able to grow in time.

You're both right and wrong, it's all quite subjective. Now I know for sure that a friend is someone who was able to retain humanity and adequacy in himself on the wave of success, 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 your, so to speak, school friend may think that she is all so chic, some kind of Chief Accountant, but you forgot your roots, became a star and therefore stopped calling her.

You gave 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 commonality of interests, but in this situation it cannot exist. In fact, I have come up with the following axiom for myself: I want to be there, with those and spend my time so that I feel good and comfortable.

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

I work in the service industry, and for me, anyone 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 one myself close friend. I have the most close friend– my husband, I have the sphere 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 on his neck is perceived by you as a micro-betrayal, and this is wrong, because all people are different, everyone has the right to make mistakes, so each person needs to leave little room for its shortcomings. You shouldn’t 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 get close to you. What is it connected with that makes you always keep your distance?

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

Around whom, besides your husband, can you take off your armor and show yourself vulnerable? Sit down next to her and admit your weakness, figuratively, that you, for example, are afraid of getting 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 the personal, intimate part of myself, I’m afraid of jinxing it and therefore I don’t want this information to be in the public space.

Doesn't your closed nature bother you?

Yes, I don’t consider myself closed! (Laughs.)

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

This is rather a life experience, rather than a closed nature. Previously, you could call me more open. And then, Ksyushenka, don’t you think that we are alike? We are both Scorpios...

Not on this specifically, although we do agree on many things.

You are multi-bottomed, even when you seem to be open, you still have twenty-two unexplored bottoms inside you. I don’t hide anything, but there are people with whom I’m not interested in sharing anything, and I don’t share. In general, I would even call myself overly open, I can blurt out too much in my heart, and this openness of mine always gives rise to some kind of gossip. It seems to me that my so-called closedness is a matter of my choice, and it is not difficult for me to make it; this issue is resolved at the level of my subconscious. This is my kind of safety cushion, which gives me the opportunity to feel comfortable, and leaves room for people to take a wrong step, gives them an exclusion zone where they can stomp around and think.

Don't you think that real friendship manifests itself precisely in the ability to directly and promptly tell your friend that he is wrong?

I am always grateful to you for your comments, we have had situations when you were extremely honest with me, and I really appreciate it. But I myself, unless asked, will never make comments. If they ask, I'll tell you.

Can you call yourself a cautious person?

Yes, sure. I think it's character.

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

And experience too, character is only half natural, the other half is life experience, strung on a genetic thread.

Do you worry when you are criticized?

Only when it’s done by people whose opinions I’m interested in. As you grow older, you begin to filter out important criticism from noise that is irrelevant to you. By the way, social networks also teach this, and you are a good example for me in this regard, because I know that you can read to yourself all the craziest bullshit in the world, and it won’t ruin your mood one bit, but it will can be ruined by one negative word from a person whose opinion is really important to you.

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

And what always surprises me about our mutual acquaintances is the seriousness with which they sometimes discuss some critical comments addressed to them on Instagram or on Gossip. People are really incredibly upset by the opinions of anonymous people, let alone cases when some of their ex-girlfriend or a former employee speaks out publicly! It pisses people off, and it absolutely amazes me. I do not have that. But the opinions 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 she left Vogue, moreover, it seems to me that it has become even closer.

To be honest, the temperature has not changed.

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

No, absolutely. Firstly, her entire inner circle was with her and remains with her, but since there are no people from the stripes in it gossip columns, no one knows and did not know who was entering there. 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’m incredibly glad that I met her in this life! She is an incredible, wildly talented woman, a bright character, a real gem! 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 the gloss that accompanies it are the most vulnerable points. Have you thought through 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 finance. 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, don’t know it in the same way and cannot know. The only thing we all know for sure is that a very negative scenario is playing out.

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

This store is something that I am truly proud of, more proud than our other achievements. We created this niche in Moscow, we saw in time that it was not filled, and we filled it. I'll tell you this: on this moment we are following the general line that we have been adhering to for two years now last year: 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 clothing. And this plan was developed not in connection with the rising exchange rate, but rather 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 feelings are you experiencing?

Of course I'm terrified. We did not expect another crisis. I often think about how difficult it is, although 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 was laid off in the thousands - out of 6,000 employees of the bank where I worked, 5,500 were laid off, and I, naturally, was one of them. I remember the terrible year 1998 very well, I remember 2008 very well.

When was it worse?

It's scary every time. But you know, I have a feeling that we will swim 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 for 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 more gloomy mood due to the current situation: you or your husband?

Of course, the husband has more worries, because he manages the finances.

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

It’s 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 did not drown, but stepped over and moved on.

Good, then last question. Your dream?

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

Do you manage to combine work and business?

Polina Kitsenko is a Russian businesswoman who owns a chain of fashion boutiques and a popular healthy lifestyle activist. The woman started her business back in early 1994 and today ranks among the key figures in the Russian fashion business.

Childhood and youth

Polina skillfully hides her age, so her exact date of birth cannot be found on the Internet. According to some reports, Kitsenko was born on April 14, 1975, but Polina did not give official confirmation of this information.

Businesswoman and socialite Polina Kitsenko

The family lived prosperously - the girl’s father worked in the prosecutor’s office. Polina comes from Aleksandrov, a city in the Vladimir region, but when the girl turned 11 years old, her parents moved to Moscow. In the capital, Polina graduated from school and, on the advice of her father, studied to become a lawyer, although as a child she wanted to become a geologist.

The girl studied well and graduated with honors. While a student, she entered a student exchange program and got the chance to study in the USA. America impressed Polina - the country was strikingly different from Russia during perestroika.

The future businesswoman was especially impressed by the local fashion - at home the only way dressing brightly and unconventionally was self-sewing. The girl brought with her from the States branded jeans and sneakers that were then rare for Russia.

Returning to Russia, Polina worked for 2.5 years in payment card departments in commercial banks. Fitness became the girl’s hobby during her studies, and thanks to sports, Polya met her future husband, Eduard Kitsenko. The couple met in the gym of a sports club that they both attended.

Business

Edward turned out to be a businessman; even then the man owned the Podium company. Inspired by her husband’s example, Polina in 1994 opened the first clothing store in her biography, which she named similarly – “Podium”. At first the business demanded large quantity effort and gave almost no return.

The girl literally had to do everything “from scratch” - follow fashion trends, look for ways to import things into the country. It often turned out that she had to go shopping for goods on her own.

However, the work brought results, the business gradually took off. This gave Kitsenko the opportunity to expand and make the boutique a chain store. The next step was the opening of Podium Market - a store designed for a wide range of customers, and not for celebrities. That's what it was main goal Polina's work in the fashion industry - to do fashionable clothes accessible to the common man.

In an interview, Kitsenko admitted that she is a tough and demanding boss, but not a tyrant. She demands a lot from her subordinates, but at the same time she is tolerant and is able to give a person a second chance, especially if he admits a mistake. But the businesswoman does not tolerate excuses.

Personal life

Polina for many years happy wife and mother. The woman never stops saying that Edward has always been a reliable support for her in everything - from everyday life to business.

The family has two children - the eldest son Egor and youngest daughter Antonina. Polina does not advertise that part of her personal life that concerns her family.

Kitsenko is a famous socialite. Among the entrepreneur's friends are Ksenia Sobchak and Ulyana Sergeeva. Polina participates in charity work and attends related events. The husband rarely accompanies the woman on such outings - Eduard is not attracted to public life.

According to the businesswoman, home is the most important thing in life, a place to which you constantly want to return. Moreover, the style and decoration of the house was not thought out by Polina herself, but by her husband. Edward is not a professional designer, but, according to his wife, he has good taste. This is also confirmed by the fact that the initiator of Polina’s famous hairstyle was her husband, who advised the woman to cut her hair a little shorter.

An important part of Polina’s life is health and everything connected with it. Kitsenko has a model height of 181 cm, and the woman’s weight does not exceed 60 kg. After the birth of two children, they help to maintain this shape proper nutrition and constant physical activity.

Polina Kitsenko now

A healthy lifestyle for Polina is the basis of her worldview. The woman continues to run a fashion business, but outside of this area her life is connected with sports and healthy eating. Kitsenko blogs at "Instagram", she has more than 500 thousand subscribers, most of the photos are somehow related to physical development.

Polina's main passion is running. The woman participates in marathons in different cities and countries, and in 2015, together with Natalia Vodianova, she organized her own. Polina organizes the “Running Hearts” charity race every year. The funds raised go to the Naked Heart Foundation, which helps children with special needs. Now the marathon has merged with a similar event of Sberbank and is held in 54 cities.

In 2018, Kitsenko launched new projects - her own sports studio and a tourist fitness program, where you can visit various countries. Polina herself humorously calls such tourism sports local history.

For the fashionable Russian elite, the name Polina Kitsenko is far from an empty phrase. The owner of the Podium boutique chain has remained a trendsetter for several years and is among the most influential people in Russian fashion. Such “stylish things” as Ksenia Sobchak, Miroslava Duma, Daria Zhukova, Olga Slutsker and many others are proud to know her personally. At one time, it was Polina Kitsenko who taught all Moscow young ladies, and after them the whole country, to wear leggings in combination with mini-dresses.
The niche that the Podium brand occupies in the capital's clothing market can roughly be called “clothing for very rich people.” For the first time in Moscow, these luxury stores opened in 1994 and since then have become a real Mecca for the “cream of society.” The official website of the Podium Fashion Group company says that it marked the beginning of the development of the fashion industry in Russia. The assortment of boutiques includes almost all leading fashion brands, specializing in the production of clothing, shoes and accessories of the highest price category. Polina Kitsenko herself has said more than once that the people who dress in her salons are mainly those clients for whom buying outfits at the price of small cars is a common thing. Podium does not adhere to any particular style concept; it offers clothing collections both in the spirit of the mainstream and in the spirit of the avant-garde. Next to things from Alexander McQueen, Pucci, Baldessarini, Balensiaga there are new items from Celine, Chloe, Antonio Berardi, Emilio Gardem, Hugo Boss, Jean Dsquared2. Podium boutiques also offer expensive niche perfumes and cosmetics, Jewelry and interior items. Profitable business Polina Kitsenko's boutiques are open in a number of regional centers of Russia, in particular in St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, Samara and some others. The company is not inclined to advertise information about its turnover; Moreover, at the peak of the crisis, the owner of Podium did not lag behind the general fashion of expressing dissatisfaction with economic trends in the country and complained about the decline in interest from buyers in dresses from Balmain worth 425 thousand rubles. But according to experts, the volume of investment in opening one Podium store can reach twenty million euros, and its net annual profit will be approximately twenty-five million rubles. But Madame Kitsenko’s success in business can be judged by how she spends her leisure time. Polina with her husband Edward and children often visits the fashionable ski resort in Courchevel: going there for the New Year holidays has become a family tradition. In addition, the Kitsenko spouses opened one of their famous boutiques there. It presents jewelry from the brands Loree Rodkin, Garrard, Palmiero, costing from 15-20 thousand euros. Kitsenko’s Courchevel project called Podium Jewelery is aimed at wealthy tourists from Russia, countries of Muslim Asia and Latin America, primarily Argentina.
One of Polina Kitsenko’s most high-profile purchases was the purchase of an unusual lot at a charity auction organized by Natalia Vodianova. The “style icon” paid ninety thousand euros for a personal serenade performed by singer Bryan Adams, turning a deaf ear to Andrei Malakhov’s comments that “we have the Factory singing for that kind of money.” A fan of ironic style. But, probably, like most women with the most at different levels income, Polina prefers to invest the lion's share of investments in her personal wardrobe, since her financial possibilities for this are almost unlimited. She often wears clothes from Azzedine Alaia, Phillip Lim, Givenchy, Chapurin Couture. The owner of Podium considers it her professional duty to be present at all world-class fashion events, including all famous Fashion Weeks and other iconic shows. You can see her everywhere in the front rows of spectators: Polina enthusiastically selects interesting models for yourself and your stores. Fashion experts define Polina Kitsenko's style as a balanced mix of luxury and rising, but not yet particularly popular, brands. The images in which she appears in public often combine eclecticism and spontaneity, bordering on deliberate negligence.
They say this shows the ironic attitude of the metropolitan fashion trendsetter towards herself. “I am against mental torment on the topic “What shoes should I choose for this handbag?” My mind doesn’t work that way at all,” admits Polina.
She is used to turning her car into a mobile wardrobe. In the back seat or trunk, Polina Kitsenko always has a bag with several pairs of shoes, a couple of clutches or bags and several outfits. She experiences incomparable pleasure when she creates images from a limited number of things. For her, this is a kind of exciting game. Svetlana Usankova.www.luxury.net

Date of birth: November 11.
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 her perfectionism: as a strict leader, she places the main demands on herself first and foremost!

Polina schedules interviews and filming at one of her favorite creations, the Podium Concept Store. “I’m usually at work late, so for our meeting to take place, I had to get up three hours earlier,” admits Kitsenko.

She has a clearly laid out 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 be involved in fashion, even when I was studying to become a lawyer. I just knew that's all. Although, on the other hand, this work found me on its own, because a whole million circumstances worked out properly.”

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

Soon Polina will become a mother for the second time, but this is not a reason for her to slow down. According to Kitsenko, she does not know what maternity leave is, and when her employees take it, she is always very surprised - after all, our heroine herself cannot afford it. “The thing I love most about my job is the same thing that makes me tired of it the most: 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 until the ninth month of pregnancy she was cross-country skiing! “I’m a perfectionist, I want to do everything with an A plus. All my life I’ve been trying to learn to let go somewhere, but I haven’t learned yet. I am a demanding person. And I place the highest demands on myself!”

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

What woman doesn’t dream of doing fashion and getting paid for it? But making a career in the fashion industry is not as easy as it seems. Polina Kitsenko began building her business at the end of the last century, when the fashion industry was just beginning to develop in Russia. Today she is the owner of a network of luxury boutiques, a philanthropist and simply happy woman.

Biography of Polina Kitsenko

It is unknown how old our heroine is. This information is carefully hidden from the press. According to some sources, she was born on April 14, 1975. But you can hardly give Polina Kitsenko more than 35 years old. The girl has a model height (181 cm) and controls her weight within 60 kg.

The biography of Polina Kitsenko begins in the Vladimirov region. It was there that Polina lived with her family. The girl's father was a prosecutor, so the family lived in abundance.

When the daughter was eleven years old, her father was offered a position in Moscow and the family moved to the capital. Here the biography of Polina Kitsenko is connected with an elite special school and International University. On the advice of her father, the girl studied to become a lawyer. The specialty did not arouse much interest in the fashionista, but she studied diligently, thanks to which she came to America as an exchange student. It was a different, previously unknown world. The splash of colors and riot of fashionable outfits amazed the girl. She bought herself fashionable jeans and branded sneakers and was incredibly happy about it.

After graduating from university, the girl worked in a bank. But Polina Kitsenko reluctantly remembers this short period of her biography. And after meeting her husband Eduard Kitsenko, she made her dream come true and opened a fashion boutique.

First steps in the fashion business

Together with her husband, who at that time owned the Podium company, Polina Kitsenko, whose age is carefully hidden in her biography, opened the first store with the same name - “Podium” in 1994. The woman was actively engaged in self-education, studied fashion trends, and followed new products. She supplied products from well-known brands and brands to her salon. Kitsenko's dream was to make fashionable clothes accessible to everyone Russian citizens. Our heroine stood at the origins of the domestic fashion industry.

At first, the salon brought in little profit; on the contrary, it required colossal financial investments and effort from our heroine. But the biography of Polina Kitsenko proves that nothing is impossible. The woman independently looked for ways to import clothes, tracked each shipment, and personally went for the goods.

As a result, from the mid-90s of the last century, her business began to gain momentum.

Business development and social life

Today our heroine is the owner of an entire fashion empire “Podium Fashion Group” and famous person. Her company is always one of the first to grasp new fashion trends. Polina collaborates with the stars of the domestic show business and is a regular visitor to all fashion parties.

The woman managed to achieve her goal - she spread fashion to the people. Outfits from Polina Kitsenko, whose biography is no less interesting than her brainchild, are now chosen by ordinary citizens. This is exactly what she dreamed of at the beginning of her business career.

Polina Kitsenko is a socialite who boasts online about her friendship with Ksenia Sobchak, Natalia Vodianova, and Ulyana Sergienko. Girls can often be seen in the same company at a party. Polina recently vacationed on Lake Baikal with Ksyusha Sobchak and Ulyana Sergeeva. She immediately posted a report about the train on Instagram.

Polina Kitsenko and her husband are also involved in charitable activities.

Personal life

The biography of Polina Kitsenko is closely connected with her husband Eduard. It is he, as the businesswoman admits, who is her support and support in everything. Eduard Kitsenko also successful businessman, it was he who helped his wife build her fashion empire.

Our heroine speaks reluctantly to journalists about her personal life. But she claims that she is a very happy woman, because he always protects her loving husband. And wonderful children are waiting at home - a son, Yegor, and a little daughter, whose name is not yet known to the press.

Regular exercise helps Polina keep herself in excellent physical shape. Kitsenko loves to take family bike rides and go on trips with the whole family. Polina regularly engages in fitness, goes for morning jogs and leads healthy image life.