IN CONVERSATION WITH LESSJA VERLINGIERI

interview NATALIE GAL

Lessja Verlingieri, the creative force behind LEVER COUTURE, has built an extraordinary career in an industry as unforgiving as it is competitive. Her designs have graced some of the world’s most iconic performers: Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Rita Ora, Cardi B, Megan Fox, Katy Perry, Gwen Stefani, Anya Taylor-Joy, Lisa of BLACKPINK, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Gigi Hadid, and that list could go on much longer.

Originally from Ukraine, Verlingieri carries with her not only a sense of artistic responsibility but also a mission for peace, expressed through her deeply personal project, Love Letter to Ukraine. In conversation, it quickly became clear that she is wise beyond her years, speaking with thoughtfulness about her inspirations, her journey, and her vision for what lies ahead.

How would you define the concept of couture to someone who isn’t familiar with the fashion world? What makes a piece truly couture?

Couture, to me, is the purest form of wearable art. It’s more than just clothing, it’s one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted work, built stitch by stitch for a specific person, at a specific time, and for a specific occasion.

Each creation carries the imprint of the maker’s hands, time, and imagination. That’s what makes something truly couture: not mass production, but a living, breathing collaboration between artistry, craftsmanship, and the individual who will wear it.

After your debut show in 2011, Lady Gaga’s stylist reached out to request some of your looks. What did that moment mean to you personally and professionally?

At first, I honestly thought someone was messing with me. I admire Lady Gaga so much for giving young designers a chance. She picks her outfits from the heart, and for me, her wearing one of my pieces completely changed my trajectory. It gave me wings and opened doors I couldn’t have imagined.

She came to Germany in 2011 to perform at Germany’s Next Topmodel finale by Heidi Klum, a huge show in Germany with 15,000 guests, and I had the opportunity to make her a custom gown and work closely with her for a major show. It was surreal. That moment gave me confidence very early in my career and confirmed for me the power of manifestation, if you dream it and work for it, it can happen.

Did it feel like a turning point for your career? How did it shape your vision or confidence moving forward?

Absolutely. That moment showed me that my work could stand next to the biggest names in the world and still feel authentic. It gave me permission to be even bolder in my sculptural vision and reassured me that I was on the right path.

You grew up in Europe, studied and developed your skills there, and later relocated Lever Couture to Los Angeles in 2018. What do you see as the biggest differences between Europe and America when it comes specifically to couture?

Europe has a unique sense of sophistication, it’s where couture was born, and the traditions, ateliers, and rituals are deeply rooted. America, by contrast, is shinier, faster, and full of opportunities. Everyone wants to come to Hollywood to make it. Moving to Los Angeles allowed me to bridge those worlds: European craftsmanship with American energy and spectacle.

You’ve dressed some of the greatest icons in film and music, including Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sydney Sweeney, Cardi B, and Ariana Grande. What does it take to work with this kind of clientele, and do you have any particularly memorable moments from those collaborations?

Working with these incredible women requires patience, flexibility, and trust. They’re powerful, busy, and constantly in the spotlight. You have to bring your very best to every fitting and be calm under pressure.

One of the most recent and extraordinary moments was designing a custom piece for Lisa from Blackpink. The internet went crazy, we were #1 in power rankings, ahead of brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Prada. For an independent house like ours, without the massive budgets or paid celebrity placements, it was incredibly special because it was their genuine choice.

Another moment that’s very close to my heart is working with Milla Jovovich. I admired her since childhood, and one day she was standing in my showroom. We became friends. She’s Ukrainian like me, always supportive, and such a beautiful soul.

Coming from Eastern Europe, do you feel the region’s folklore traditions, its colors, sculptural skirts, and delicate embroidery, have influenced your work?

Of course. Everything we see and experience leaves an imprint. Ukraine gave me opulence, Germany gave me discipline and structure, and America gave me the dream and the opportunities. My body is in America, my soul is in Germany, and my heart is in Ukraine.

You also launched the “Love Letter to Ukraine” project. Could you tell us more about it and how people can help or get involved?

“Love Letter to Ukraine” is a deeply personal initiative. I’m collecting notes, scribbles, and letters of hope and solidarity. We print them onto fabric squares and stitch them onto a dress. It’s a living piece of art that carries messages from around the world. My dream is to gift it to Ukraine when the war is over. People can participate by sending their words of support, sharing the project, and keeping Ukraine in their hearts.

Your work has been showcased not only on runways and by cultural icons, but also in exhibitions such as Palazzo Pitti (Uffizi Galleries) in Florence. Are there any great masters of art or fashion who inspire you?

Mugler has always been extraordinary to me. He was so far ahead of his time, and decades later his pieces still feel current. That’s what I aspire to: creating designs that will still be beautiful in fifty years.

I also love Jeff Koons, his art is joyful and playful. Wandering through museums and discovering new work keeps me inspired and reminds me that fashion, like art, can be both serious and fun at the same time.