7 of Riccardo Tisci's Greatest Hits for Givenchy
Designers come and go from major design houses — especially these days — but watching Riccardo Tisci leave Givenchy after 12 years will be especially difficult. After all, the Italian fashion designer had a talent for deftly mixing ultra-elevated and innovative high fashion with pop culture to create one gorgeous and obsession-worthy package. As we await Tisci's next step (Versace, maybe?), let's bask in some nostalgia and revisit seven of his greatest hits for Givenchy.
Lea T Stars in the 2010 Ad Campaign
The campaign broke barriers in diversity by featuring Brazilian transgender model Lea T, who actually started her fashion career as Tisci's assistant (no one can say Tisci doesn't look out for his people). From there, Lea T. became Redken's first trans spokesmodel and graced eight magazine covers, including Love and Elle Brasil.
Kim Kardashian's 2013 Met Gala Gown
Tisci made headlines (and received a bit of flack) for custom designing a head-to-toe floral confection (complete with gloved hands and a mock turtleneck!) which spawned a million Mrs. Doubtfire and grandma's couch memes. He defended the dress to WWD afterward, saying, "People can say what they want. To me, pregnancy is the most beautiful thing in the world, and when you celebrate something, you give people flowers. I think she looked amazing. She was the most beautiful pregnant woman I dressed in my career."
Major Runway Makeup Moments with Pat McGrath
In collaboration with master makeup artist Pat McGrath, Tisci's Givenchy runway is no stranger to fashionably shocking face embellishments — and each season tops the last. After making headlines with bedazzled face masks for his spring 2014 womenswear collection, he sent a shell-bearded lady down the runway for fall 2015 men's. The show also featured a silver glitter skeleton in a suit.
Beyonces Out-Nakeds Everyone at the Met Gala
In 2015 the theme for the Met Gala ball was China: Through The Looking Glass. Tisci designed an almost entirely sheer gown with very strategically gem and crystal embellishments for the star to wear for the evening. After hours of waiting, Queen B arrived and out-naked everyone proving she was well worth the delay.
Lady Models Storm the Spring 2016 Men's Runway Show
Oh, yes! About that time Kendall Jenner, Joan Smalls, Candice Swanepoel, and Naomi Campbell, pretty much stole the spring 2016 men's runway show in Paris. The original supe closed the show and schooled the boys on how a blazer jacket really should be worn.
Tisci Remembers September 11
For the Givenchy spring 2016, Tisci paid tribute to New York City with a powerful show set on the Hudson River, offering unobstructed views of the Freedom Tower. Staged on September 11th, the show featured a set design and performance designed by Marina Abramovic, 88 looks, and space for 1,200 members of the public.
Madonna's Booty-Baring Gown
Known for making a statement at the Met Gala (see moments two and five), Tisci also crafted a strategically sheer-paneled cut-out ensemble for his date Madonna in 2016. The then 57-year-old superstar said, via Instagram, that her look was more of a political, rather than fashion statement. "The fact that people actually believe a woman is not allowed to express her sexuality and be adventurous past a certain age is proof that we still live in an age-ist and sexist society," she wrote. How prescient Tisci's sartorial message truly was.
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