There are similarities between myself and Lea T, and we're placed in the same category, but our look is very different. Lea has been extremely brave in being very honest about her journey — but I don't really see myself as being here to challenge transgender stereotypes. I'm just myself. It's taken a while to be taken seriously, but I hope to prove that I'm very versatile and that I'll still be here after the phenomenon has passed.
”He told Vogue UK
Image via The Cut
You wouldn't be alone if you have noticed the year on year increase in the price of magazines but none quite compare to the latest issue of Visionaire. Guest-edited by Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci, the next issue of the magazine comes in at a whopping $495.
Price aside, the latest issue is a treat. Catholic-borm Tisci chose religion as theme and mamaged to persuade Carine Roitfeld appear in a shoot lensed by Karl Lagerfeld and Giovanna Battaglia was brought on board to style a shoot with Tisci's former assistant, Lea T. 'If you don’t believe that fashion is a religious sect unto itself—and a fast-growing one at that—well, maybe you should pray a little harder,' the press release reads. 'Need you be reminded that today’s most awe-inspiring transfigurations are achieved by supermodels, not saints?'
Can't get enough of Katie Grand's LOVE? Download the magazine's new free iPad app, which will offer fashion stories on film, exclusive making-of movies and special projects beyond what you'll see in the print version. See Duran Duran in action by Alasdair McLellan, New York club kids posing for Patrick Demarchelier, a special project on the Louis Vuitton Fall '11 presentation, and behind-the-scenes footage of Grand and Marc Jacobs.
Expect a fantastic soundtrack, plus exclusive audio interviews with Marisa Berenson and LOVE cover star Lea T. Can't wait to check it out? You can download the app right here.
Vivienne Westwood is launching a jewelry line this season: [WWD]
Justin Bieber is launching a store dedicated to merchandise with his face all over it: [Racked]
Alber Elbaz is helping out on Prince Albert of Monaco's wedding to Charlene Wittstock: [Vogue UK]
Lea T and Kate Moss' Love cover is out: [Daily Mail]
Liya Kebede's feature in movie 'Into The Woods' has been released: [Racked]
Love is doing another multi-cover for their fifth issue. You'll be able to choose from Kate Moss, Justin Bieber or Lea T. to cover your copy of the 'androgyny issue', the Telegraph confirms.
As Fashionologie points out, Iris Stubegger and Freja Beha Erichsen would have been better choices than Moss and Beiber considering the androgynous theme but nonetheless, we're sure Katie Grand won't fail to impress come February 7. when the issue hits newsstands.
Riccardo Tisci isn't afraid to do something different when it comes to his ad campaigns at Givenchy. Last season his campaign for the house hit the headline when he cast his former assistant, tansgender model, Lea T to feature in the campaign. This season Tisci made another statement booking albino model, Stephen Thompson, to appear in this black and white campaign shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot.
The model features alongside the usual faces - Iris Stubegger, Daphne Groeneveld and Mariacarla Boscono all make appearaces. According to WWD the spring/summer campaign will have its debut in the January issue of L'Uomo Vogue and French Vogue.
This week, news broke that Lea T has landed a spot on one of the last episodes of Oprah - when the model is set to tell her story. But the news didn't come as a surprise. The Imagist hinted at the move last month, revealing that the star has booked "an upcoming appearance on the biggest talk show in America."
Since Ricardo Tisci included her in the Givenchy Fall ad campaign, the transgender model - who was formerly Tisci's assistant - has dominated magazines and campaigns and most notably appeared in a nude shoot for French Vogue. According to WWD, Tisci saw the model as embodying “the masculine-feminine dichotomy that has become one of his design signatures and follows coed casting for his Paris runway last March.”
One can't help but think that Lea's success is what Tyra Banks had evisonned for America's Next Top Model contestant Isis King.
Unfortunately we still have a while to wait to see the interview in full. According to ELLE.com, the segment hasn't been taped yet but is set to air in February.
Riccardo Tisci with Serbian artist Marina Abramovic
When asked to think of the origins of luxurious French house Givenchy, no doubt the relationship between founding designer Hubert Givenchy and elegant Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn spring to mind. Hubert retired back in 1995 from his eponymous label, and now the house finds itself shining under the creative direction of Italian youth, Riccardo Tisci.
Just like Hubert, Tisci has his muses for the house as it stands today, as he revealed his modern day Audreys in the redesign debut of W magazine. Unlike Givenchy, however, Tisci has a list of muses, explaining, "I have what Hubert used to have Audrey. Mariacarla [Boscono], Lea [T], Marina [Abramovic], Courtney [Love], Antony [Hegarty] of Antony And The Johnsons - they're my Audrey".
So in total, Tisci's equation for inspiration equals one Italian model, an in-house transgender model who began working as Tisci's PA, a Serbian artist who's friendship with the designer began after she destroyed one of his exclusively made dresses making it into art, an American rock legend and an androgynous lead singer.
