UNDRESS MUSES | RŪTA MACIKĖ

Rūta is the mother of Upė and Vėjas, general manager of hotel PACAI, an entrepreneur, founder of the Instagram account Family Living a Dream, a wakeboarder, kitesurfer, and surfer. In short, she's a force of nature.
Jolita is a true UNDRESS ambassador. In the artist’s wardrobe, there are no fewer than ten UNDRESS dresses.
Rūta and UNDRESS have been friends for many years. She gladly accepted our invitation to take part in our analog photography project and answer a few questions—naturally, about dresses.

Rūta, what is your kind of dress?

A dress that is comfortable, allows me to move freely, and at the same time feels elegant.

Why dresses? When do you choose to wear one?

I love dresses because they make me feel feminine, elegant, and sometimes more formal—which is important when I'm representing the company I work for. Usually, the changing seasons inspire me to buy a new dress, but sometimes it's simply because I have an important event coming up.

How did you discover UNDRESS?

I remember a colleague saying, "There's this woman, Ana - she makes such beautiful, elegant dresses." I looked her up, discovered her designs many years ago, and since then I've bought a few new dresses every year. I still have every single one because they never go out of style. I must have at least ten UNDRESS dresses in my wardrobe - probably even more.

Which one do you love the most?

Naturally, the newest ones are the ones I wear most often, but I always find new occasions for all of them. If I had to choose one favorite, it would be the white denim ODE dress - it works for everyday wear, concerts, and any occasion when I want to dress up.

Which dress makes you feel most like yourself?

A long, flowing dress that accentuates the waist, isn't too fitted, definitely isn't short, and is made from a beautiful, comfortable fabric.

A dress as a personal statement or manifesto - what does it look like?

Clean, graceful lines and a solid color. Red, because it's energizing, draws attention, and simply suits me.

You're often on stage and in the spotlight. Which stage dress has stayed with you the most?

The one I remember most is a long black UNDRESS dress with feather details. I wore it when I accepted Hotel PACAI's first international award. The ceremony took place in Kyiv, where I not only walked on stage to receive the award but also gave a speech. I felt uplifted, and the dress suited me perfectly. It was in 2021.
Now, with the war in Ukraine, that memory carries even greater emotional weight. It feels like I was just there, standing on that stage, and today it may not even exist anymore.

A life-changing dress. What's its story?

The outfit that stands out most is actually a vintage pink suit I wore in 2012 when we opened the COMFORT Hotel after its renovation. I had to present the project to both the Norwegian owner of the hotel group and the Mayor of Vilnius. I wanted everything to be impeccable - including my appearance - so I turned to a stylist.
I looked professional and memorable, the presentation was a great success, and my career only continued to flourish from there.

A dress you've outgrown but never forgotten.

I grew up during the Soviet era, when everything was in short supply. I vividly remember a summery yellow dress with a slightly bohemian feel. I wanted it so badly. Even though it wasn't my size, I begged my mother to buy it for me. I wore it for several summers until I finally outgrew it.

A dress that reminds you of your grandmother, your mother, or another important woman.

The very first thing that comes to mind is the little black dress—and Coco Chanel.

Have you ever imagined your dream dress? What would it be like?

White, with clean, structured lines, yet light and fairly long - reaching the ankles - with a slit. A high neckline, long sleeves, and just a few decorative details. Very much like the dress worn by the Queen of Denmark.

The dress you paid the most for (not necessarily in money)?

I think the most expensive ones were silk dresses that cost a few hundred euros.