A New Kind of Power Couple: Lady Gaga and Nicola Formichetti
In an industry where it constantly rains design, ripples are endless. Every now and again, however, a wave is made which affects the entire motion of the fashion collective. With his bold and unusual references, design innovation, and prolific output, the latest creative director of Thierry Mugler, Nicola Formichetti, can be said to be one of these waves. Starting out as stylist before hitching his star to culture-emitting zeitgeist Lady Gaga, the young Japanese-Italian can be said to have quite a ride to his current position. With the fearlessness and energy of Hokusai’s Great Wave off Kanagawa, Formichetti has swept into a top creative position and he wants you to take notice.
From the outset of his acceptance as Mugler’s creative director Formichetti has been unafraid to look at things differently. Just by looking at his choice of model for the AW11 menswear collection you can see that the designer is nothing if not controversial. The featuring of heavily tattooed model Rico has set a precedent for the kind of artistically provocative vision Formichetti does so well.
This clever and unconventional approach has been instrumental not only in his own rise, but in the iconic success of pop star Lady Gaga. Drama has always been the hallmark of both her and Formichetti’s visions, but it is in the unexpected choices and sources of subject that Nicola has excelled in promoting both himself and the formidable singer to crazy levels of widespread hype and devotion.
Since meeting the pop star on the set of a 2009 shoot for V Magazine, Formichetti has been integral in the change and refinement of Gaga’s look and the honing of his own skills as designer and stylist. Their many subsequent collaborations have only served to strengthen and intensify his vision and ambition. Whilst this partnership is certainly not the first between fashion and music (or celebrity in a wider sense), it has certainly served to redefine the output which can be gained from such a coupling through the unique intensity and natural fit of the two parties.
In the wake of meeting her creative other half, Gaga’s work has gone from strength to strength. But perhaps more excitingly, Mugler has gained a fresh and unprecedented creative talent which is sure to put this fashion house well ahead of the curve trend-wise.
There are few who interpret and feed the zeitgeist as well as Formichetti. In tandem with his creative lover, he is the architect for a startling and unprecedented new type of relationship between fashion and music, style and performance which is vastly appealing and seemingly inexhaustible. We can’t wait to see what he produces next- there are sure to be many more refreshing, dramatic and achingly cool ideas up his sleeve just for starters. This newcomer has all the makings of a high priest of the same undeniable and achingly cutting-edge cool which has led Gaga to so much success.