Nicola Formichetti Has Come a Long Way From Lady Gaga's 'Meat Dress'

Diesel creative director on how to grab attention and reboot a global brand

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You might not know the name Nicola Formichetti, and yet even the least fashion-savvy among us is sure to have seen his work.

The 37-year-old Japanese-Italian designer got his start as a columnist for Britain's Dazed & Confused magazine, becoming creative director there in 2008. The following year, he styled then-newcomer Lady Gaga for V magazine, leading to a partnership that helped establish the singer as an international fashion icon. (Formichetti was responsible for looks like the instantly iconic "meat dress" she wore to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.)

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