Rubin Singer Reaches Opera Pinacle With Anna Netrebko Couture

Russian Forces: Rubin Singer (r), whose grandfather dressed 
Joseph Stalin, stands in the Saks Fifth Avenue showroom with 
Anna Netrebko to discuss a gown he will custom make for 
the soprano. (Photo: Instagram)

Rubin Singer is known in the popular music world for design clients such as Beyoncé, Shakira, Fergie, and Alicia Keys. He was introduced into the realm of opera by creating gowns for soprano Ailyn Pérez. She has worn his works for such high-profile events such as The Richard Tucker Gala and her most recent debut in Carmen at The Metropolitan Opera. Now he has reached the everest by designing a couture gown for Anna Netrebko. The two met on Friday, February 20, 2015, at the Saks Fifth Avenue in New York to discuss he creation for the world-famous singer. "Coming from a family of couturiers, Rubin Singer was exposed from a young age to refined technique and elegant design. Rubin is a third-generation couturier, his father Alik created costumes for the Bolshoi Ballet and Stanislavski Theater. His grandfather, for whom he is named, was one of the most celebrated designers in the Soviet Union, dressing Russian royalty, Soviet political figures, and the social

Singer Extravaganza: (left to right) Rubin Singer, Ailyn Pérez, Isabel Leonard, and Susan Graham,
at The Richard Tucker Gala at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City.

elite. His family heritage in fashion shaped who he is today, not only in having the genetic makeup of precise touch and creativity, but there is a certain sensibility and level of refinement necessary in order to make beautiful clothing that he was in tune with from a young age. Steeped in this heritage, Rubin saw a stark yet beautiful contrast between traditional craftsmanship and

Ailyn Pérez wearing one of Rubin Singer's gowns in concert

contemporary aesthetics. Rubin’s career reached new heights after moving to New York, as he became an Associate Designer at Oscar de la Renta. It was during his tenure at Oscar that brand identity became real and powerful to him, and he began to understand the integrity and unique character required to be the head of an iconic fashion brand. He would move on from Oscar to become Head Designer of three Bill Blass licensees, and later the Head Designer of Kai Milla, a company started by and named for Stevie Wonder’s wife Kai. All the while, the creative direction for his personal collection was blossoming. The
Rubin Singer brand, since its inception in 2007, has been founded on the principles of edgy and sophisticated design that shaped the designer’s aesthetic approach and creative vision from a young age. He is not in the business of making clothes, but curating how someone is to look and

Ailyn Pérez, the evening of her MET debut,
wearing a Rubin Singer creation

live in the world. Rubin believes very strongly in technique and gravitates toward unique proportions. He constantly grapples with notions of cut, flow, and structured versus unstructured. Any creative inspiration or inventive approach is always grounded in these guidelines of technique and core beliefs in couture. With inspiration stemming from his Russian Couture roots, retailers and editors worldwide have heralded Singer’s work. Part of his mission is to take the unfamiliar and the unexpected, and make it familiar to women who are ready for a confident and empowered aesthetic. A piece from a Rubin collection is not for the faint of heart. These are aggressive and seductive styles, and the woman who dons them can conquer all in her beauty. Rubin provides us not with a new dress or a new style, but with a new way to think about luxury fashion design. Rubin’s designs are worn by celebrities such as Glenn Close, Beyonce, Heidi Klum, Lucy Liu, and Alicia Keys. They have adorned the pages of Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, L’Officiel, New York Magazine, The New York Times, and The LA Times, and they have been sold in fine specialty stores throughout the world. For spring 2011, Rubin Singer created an exclusive line of couture eveningwear for Neiman Marcus nation-wide, and for Spring and Summer 2012 he will do a national tour for Neiman Marcus. The Rubin Singer Autumn/Winter

World Traveler: Rubin Singer atop
the W Hotel in Bangkok

2012 Collection, titled La Conquistadora, will launch inspired by Spanish Art, History, and Culture. When asked about the next collections that he is to design, Rubin “has not lived them yet”, and so all that we know is they will contain the same integrity and attention to detail as collections past. As more of the world starts to encounter the Rubin Singer brand, the aesthetic experience will be new and yet consistent with the original collections. Uniqueness will never die for Rubin, but nor will the essential values of precision, cut, and powerful style. As the designer brand grows, Rubin’s focus is to maintain the refinement, beauty, and personal attention to detail that has led to his success thus far. Rubin posits himself as a leader in global fashion in the years to come, and part of his project will be to connect with the widest range of people while maintaining the same standards for beauty and elegance. A

Sunrise Coigney, with husband Mark Ruffalo, at the 2015
 Academy Awards wearing a Rubin Singer gown.

countless number of people stand to gain beauty and confidence, for a piece of clothing can make a strong statement at any price point or style. Rubin is designing his future, and it is as bold, bright, and striking as his collections. Be ever-evolving and unique always. The more that he experiences and the farther that he travels, the more he learns and evolves. He brings his experiences with him to each collection, and in this the direction of future collections is unclear because the future has not yet shed its light upon us. He realizes that mistakes will come, and embraces them. Mistakes are how we learn, and sometimes mistakes yield the most beautiful outcomes. Rubin is always his own critic, and believes in taking a step outside of his own self to examine his work with a truly critical eye. Only then can he realize all that he can do and understand where he wants to be." [Source, Source, Source]