Riccardo Tisci Edits Visionaire #60 | Topic Is Religion

Note | Nudity Visionaire is considered the most thought-provoking idea book in the fashion industry. I am pleased to see that the brilliant Riccardo Tisci as guest editor is making religion’s relationship with women and fashion the centerpiece of its new issue.

Tisci commissioned all of the work in the issue with the exception of one never-before-published photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe. Tisci stipulated that no Givenchy credits are allowed in the issue. Style.com reports:

Among the contributions, Karl Lagerfeld photographed Carine Roitfeld, Paolo Canevari envisioned Franca Sozzani as a saint, and Givaudan perfumer Yann Vasnier created a Religion scent. Tisci’s proudest achievements: convincing Helmut Lang to participate—”he’s my god,” says the designer—and working on a project with the performance artist Marina Abramović, whom he calls his mother.

“Any religion, it’s like a family,” he said. And he means it.

The limited-edition issue is a leather-wrapped 228-page hardbound book complete with a case inspired by a church altarpiece. It will be released in June and retail for $425 at select bookstores worldwide and at Givenchy flagship stores.

We share many new images from Visionaire #60 and my earlier commentary:

Jewelry by Jane How

Carine Roitfeld by Karl Lagerfeld

Lara Stone by Mert & MarcusLara Stone by Mert & Marcus 

Mariacarla Boscono by Hanna Liden

Marina Abramovic and Riccardo Tisci by Dusan ReljinMarina Abramovic’ and Riccardo Tisci by Dusan Reljinared Buckhiester by Danko Steiner and Ana Steiner

Christina Ricci by Daniele + Iango with Luigi Murenu

I have called upon designers, photographers, and all the creative people in fashion to understand the battle that women are fighting worldwide, and here in America. In almost every country religion is fighting for control of women’s bodies.

For 3-4 years I have tracked New Eroticism, which replaced 365 Super Sexy — the Victoria’s Secret vision of female sexuality.  For the last two years the trend I announced yesterday Fashion Monasticism has dogged my mind.

As a sensual, beautiful, high libido woman who is both respectable and socially responsible, I want to know why so many designers in the fashion industry moved to embrace a rail thin body with no breasts or hips.  From my view, the trend has disempowered women of our sexuality with the trend I call Fashion Monasticism. 

The move to recast Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell body types as ‘plus size’ and reflecting an undisciplined and out of control woman haunts me, as it should make us all wonder.

I’m thrilled that Visionaire is exploring the impact of religion on women’s lives. Visionaire is more conceptual than a literary treatise, but it will be interesting to know if it probes the fashion industry’s own role in forging an alliance with Rome.

As I wrote yesterday — not knowing I would post this information today — there are two popes. One is in Rome, and the other lives in Paris. Above and below we see Arizona Muse, grappling with the crux of women’s modern identity crisis, caught between the powerful forces of religion and fashion. Anne

Lea T by Giovanna Battaglia (stylist) & Pierpaolo Ferrari (photographer

Arizona Muse with her son by Mario SorrentiPerformance artist Kembra Pfahler by Matthu Placek