Fashion Designers And Their Muses Through The Decades

Nicola Formichetti and Lady Gaga

By far one of the most influential members of the "Haus of Gaga," Nicola Formichetti has upheld a years-long symbiotic style relationship with the pop star. The Italian-Japanese stylist and editor has served as Gaga's fashion director since May 2009, when he styled her for a V Magazine shoot and the two immediately connected. Since then, the pair have collaborated on a number of Gaga's definitive looks, from her music videos, to her Monster Ball, to that very controversial meat dress.

When Formichetti was named creative director of French house Mugler in 2010, he and his musical muse remained teamed up, as Gaga was assigned the role of musical director for his first menswear and womenswear shows, in addition to working the runway for the womenswear one. He is also now notorious for debuting new Gaga tracks at Mugler shows.

The two artists continue to inspire each other, sharing the same view of the future of fashion. As Gaga has stated in Vogue Hommes Japan (of which Formichetti is the fashion director),

"Nicola and I always joke around saying we want to make these tee shirts that say 'fuck fashion' on them because we love fashion so much but in another way we want to explode it, ruin it and recreate it, then ruin it again and recreate it because I don't want any status attached to fashion. I don't want any pretense attached to it because I want it to be something that my fans, and Nicola wants it to be something for his fans, something that everyone could have. Beautiful, tangible and something from the inside."

[Photo, Formichetti and Gaga via]