Designer Xtian de Medici Takes Us Into Lady Gaga's Land of Chromatica | Interview
Xtian de Medici Shared His Experience Designing Otherworldly Chromatica Artwork Helmet piece, and more, from a Highly-Exclusive Place
Lady Gaga captured in a dark, cosmic landscape nowhere on Earth for Chromatica / Photo credit via Instagram LadyGaga / Photograph shot by Norbert Schoerner
We highly doubt that you’ve all missed out on the otherwordly audible landscape ‘Chromatica’, a studio recorded album unleashed by the Iconic music/fashion powerhouse herself Lady Gaga in May of 2020. Cyclolore Magazine was honored with a deep and inspiring exclusive interview with Xtian de Medici that spawns 13 rounds of thought provoking questions and inspiring fashion design questions on his experiences designing Lady Gaga’s epic helmet in the Land of Chromatica.
The brilliant minded, Xtian de Medici aided in bringing an Iconic, legendary Haute Couture Chromatica helmet piece you see in this impeccably amazing album cover artwork shot by Norbert Schoerner featuring the the helmet, to life on billboards across the U.S. including around Times Square and all over the planet.
The Haute Couture custom brand goes by Xtian de Medici lead by Xtian himself and one of the immediate resonating frequencies from the optics as the roll-out of this Chromatica galactic dance/ pop album visuals proceeded was of the legendary French designer that Lady Gaga worked with alot named Thierry Mugler alien-esqe during the Born This Way album era and that is very deeply how I feel with this album Chromatica and its even better in ways and completely refreshening for Little Monsters that miss the Born this Way Lady Gaga.
Xtian de Medici hones in an array of immaculate details of all things ethereal and legendary for his brands Haute Couture pieces. Xtian de Medici custom designs bring advance, and perfect realizations of interstellar civilization figures to life, that must exist in some parallel universe that Xtian has some kind of occult access too if not in our very own universe bubble. The custom Haute Couture and designs that he comes up with when finished in their entirety, mirror real portal like surreal renditions or seem like they’d mandate some type of superposition machine to materialize and manifest.
For these reasons the interview with Xtian de Medici was all of neccessary to take a deep dive in to how such genius fashion designs could come to be, in such an imperfect world and a human brain. In my opinion, Lady Gaga’s best music album to date ‘Chromatica’ takes listeners even further than what the 48 minutes and 8 seconds does (as far as that is).
I’ll stake my claim on that, being in one proportion or another due to Xtian de Medici’s inclusion and the innovative ingenuity, that hard-work ethic, and determination he embroils from somewhere in the depths of his passion, his come up, his experiences and his intentions as a Haute Couture designing individual.
This Xtian de Medici interview/ & article is also covered & featured in our forthcoming Dossier Mining Issue. We hope to inspire you & that you enjoy this interview & take more than a handful of food for thought and to remember to always follow, and peruse your dreams because the Universe is always following your heart’s intent & passions.
CHROMATICA Interview - By: Christopher Benson
How are you feeling and how’d you spend your Quarantine?
Xtian de Medici: I'm having a blast and feeling especially inspired during the quarantine! I've always been a bit of a recluse so the isolation never bothers me. It helps me focus on what my mind comes up with, without any distractions or outside influences. I've been spending my time designing all these beautiful creations and bringing to life, Lady Gaga's visions of Chromatica. I mean, what designer is not inspired by Lady Gaga? She has no boundaries and as a designer, neither do I when it comes to textiles and imagination. I believe that clothing and costumes are the final components to fully immerse yourself into the character or identity you want people to see. I think clothing visually tells your story to the world!
How do you feel about the protests, chaos, & riots that’s inflamed America?
Xtian de Medici: I think it's about damn time, America is hit with so much at one time because this whole planet and especially America needs to wake the fuck up! America is supposed to be the land of the free and the home of the brave so I say to everyone, stand brave and fight for what you believe in. The government needs to understand that all men and women are created equal and that the government works for the people not the other way around. America was built on voting, protesting, riots and chaos and without them, we would not see change. Out of chaos comes wonder.
When did you first learn you had a passion as Haute Couture Fashion Designer and what can you significantly correlate about your experiences as a young kid/teen that brought you to the love you have for designing the Haute Couture pieces of the Xian De Medici Brand?
Xtian de Medici: I was born a painter! lol but my childhood was filled with music and MTV. The first time I saw Madonna, Grace Jones, Blondie's Debby Harry, Patty Labelle and Cher, it was the first time I made the connection that clothing had a power, a real power of its own kind! The power to mesmerize the viewer and to transform the wearer!
At 12, I was signed to a modeling agency in NYC and I spent my time in front of a camera learning how to sell the "look" so to speak. I got a first hand experience with the lines of the clothing, the cut, what was flattering, how clothing and fabric lays on the body and what kind of feelings were to be invoked to get "the shot". So there began my fascination with all things Haute Couture.
You told me in our meeting, after I suggested you being possibly an upcoming Nicola Formichetti, that basically that he played a huge part in your CHROMATICA inclusion, can you share anything you feel comfortable talking about from that experience while sharing what it was like ‘emotionally’ to be hand-picked by Lady Gaga’s team to fashion design on the legendary, iconic popstar’s CHROMATICA Album Artwork?
Xtian de Medici: Nicola Formichetti is the man! It's quite obvious all the hard work, dedication and attention to detail he gives to all his clients. I feel blessed to have been asked to be a part of the design process for his client, Lady Gaga. It was Marta del Rio ( Head of Styling & Wardrobe Director ), from Nicola's team who contacted me January 14th of this year. She introduced herself and Nicola saying "We are very big fans of your work." I of course was like what? No way! The Nicola? So I called around to check with other designers I knew who did pieces for Lady Gaga and all of them said a lovely person by the name of Marta should have contacted you.... she did, she did.... it was her!
After the initial disbelief, now the excitement started rolling in! They were particularly interested in my futuristic headgear/ helmet/ visor designs and needed something for the Stupid Love video shoot that was being shot on the 25th. Ugggg.... there was only one problem! Lady Gaga's shoot was the same day I had to be in Vegas to dress another client. My team and I were finishing up on a one-of-a-kind gown called the "C3P-HO" for adult film star, Adriana Chechik to be worn for the AVN Porn Award's Red Carpet event and her acceptance speech.
I told my team that we needed to get LG's head measurements to start construction on it and we would worry about how we would be in two places at the same time, another day. With only 7 days to complete the headpiece, finish and pack up the other gown, make flight arrangements and get a helmet to.
(cont…) The Stupid Love set, we still didn't hear back from Marta regarding the measurements. Long story short...
We abandoned the build and we were heartbroken. Marta contacted me a week later and apologized for our emails winding up in her spam folder but also in her email came another request that would more than make up for the Stupid Love debockle. This time their request was for an alien headpiece that was to be shot for the Chromatica album cover artwork! I was ecstatic and the excitement rolled back in again! This time with measurements in hand and as soon as i got the email I went to work on it. I worked throughout the night and by 4:00 am I had completed the helmet! I slept a couple of hours and was back up photographing it and sent them to Marta immediately! She got back to me about an hour later and the whole time the anticipation was killing me. Does she like it? Does she hate it? Then I get the text that she loves it and wanted to know if I could add pink to it. That was the longest hour of my life and yes, I can add pink lol. That afternoon the all black helmet was being transformed once again but this time pink was added in an ombre gradient pattern. It's hard to ombre pink and black together, you know?
What’s your interpretation of the the fan’s perception of your Couture pieces and does that differ from what you intend?
Xtian de Medici: That's a tricky question. Well, I can't speak for the fans of my work but I do get a lot of emails and letters from them describing my design style as "otherworldly", "alien", magical and often "futuristic". I have to say they are dead on with how they describe my esthetic, a look and style of this world but of another world somewhere out there in the vast universe. One foot in the world of Gods and the other in the world of mortals.
Do you come through any challenges during the idea and production process of your Xian De Medici designs?
Xtian de Medici: The only challenge I usually face is how do I scale a concept or design back far enough that my clients feel the real power of transformation that the clothing can give them but not lose themselves completely. Unless of course that is what you want or if you're an entertainer and your goal is to immerse yourself and your audience in your full experience. The client must be able to wear the clothes and not let the clothing wear them.
Is there any visions you imagine manifesting about where you could progress Xtian de Medici in the future?
Xtian de Medici: For me it's kind of backwards... Most designers imagine themselves one day designing for the stars but for me I imagine myself designing for the rest of the people of the world. Giving them the same opportunity to express themselves and to tell their story visually in the same way stars do, through their clothing. Think about it, if you wear a suit it makes you feel a certain way and you'll probably get that job you've been wanting. All branches of the military wear uniforms that represent who they are and to a degree that uniform empowers and emboldens the wearer. The preacher, the doctor, the judge or the pope wear nothing more than a costume to instill, invoke or evoke a power to the wearer and a feeling or an emotion to the observer. I know that "fast fashion" will soon die out because everyone has their own story to tell. Everyone is unique in their own way that the same 10 styles to choose from that fast fashion offers, will not be enough! One size does not fit all and 10 styles is definitely going to get boring, real quick!
What you prefer to do during your time off and how does your creativity manifest itself in other hobbies of yours?
Xtian de Medici: Absolutely nothing lol.... I rarely have off and when I'm not constructing a garment or an accessory, I'm still designing in my head. In my mind I am always trying to figure out how to make materials bend or move, how can I make a dress or a jacket fit better, what colors, what direction am I taking for my latest collection, what is the inspiration for my collection next year, the year after, five years from now? It never ends and I've never known what it would be like without all of that going on in my head but when I do get a day off, I try to do the things i did as a kid..... watch hours of movies, talk on the phone, hangout with friends or go to the beach, you know mindless stuff. Painting has always been my hobby but when I paint, I paint imaginary worlds and in those worlds, I paint the amazing clothing they would be wearing so you see even my hobby means that I'm still designing.
What was it like to hold on to the secrets of the visual aesthetic of Lady Gaga’s CHROMATICA album artwork?
Xtian de Medici: Ahhhhhhhhh, the inspo and mood boards are the top secrets of this industry, for both the client and the designer. It was so exciting to be asked to be part of it! I mean this is Lady Gaga we are talking about! It's every designer's dream to work with her. Secrets like that take great responsibility and trust. It's awkward in the beginning when you are establishing a partnership of some kind. Just as I am careful who I show my design sketches to or to whom I share my ideas with, a singer and their team have to be careful who they bring into their family and share their ideas with. Sometimes a client's ideas or concepts may have taken them months to a year to realize and manifest. Believe me, stylists like Marta del Rio know what they are looking for and whom they are going to seek out to design it. Part of their job is to marry the exact designer(s) to that particular aesthetic they are looking for. As time goes on, both parties gain more trust with each other and with more trust comes more requests for different pieces.
What do you think about Lady Gaga’s new hardcore dance album CHROMATICA and what’s your favorite songs from it?
Xtian de Medici: OMG, I love her new album! The concept, feel and the sound of it feels whole. Hmmmmmm…. that’s a hard one! At the moment I think “Rain On Me” and i’m not just saying that because I was commissioned to do rain jackets for both Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, which btw got cut from the video because of time constraints but yeah, Rain On Me is so fun!
Did you ever see yourself or imagine working with Mother Monster developing your passion and beginning Xtian De Medici?
Xtian de Medici: Not out loud but when I started designing and dressing the stars, friends and fans of my work would say “you should be designing for Lady Gaga, she would love your work!”, I would get that a lot but underneath the surface I always knew, that someday the stars would align.
Also our magazine issue “DOSSIER Mining is available now along with our previous issues!
DOSSIER Mining releases in retrograde 'In the Land of Chromatica' with Lady Gaga's Designer Xtian de Medici, Keren Wolf, FX Pose's Naomi Cruz honoring the life of Grandfather Hector of House of Xtravaganza as our 1st cover story & Award Winning Anna Schollerova from Nora K's Whisper Naked Shadow TV mini-series and much much more!! The DOSSIER Mining compared to 'The Aftermath' issue, & others before it, is elevated reaching a better and truer essence of the Cyclolore Brand from many aspects & will so moving forward.
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