Nicola Formichetti was born in 1977 to Japanese and Italian parents and spent his childhood between Rome and Tokyo. In 1997 he moved to London to study architecture, but changed course when he found his interests lay elsewhere. "I went to London to escape from everything and I became very involved in the London club scene which is where I met all my friends," says Formichetti who was one of the instigators with Yuko Yabiku of London's The Pineal Eye which opened in June 1998
in Soho. The edgy, avantgarde shop was the first to mix one-off pieces from designers with vintage Comme des Garçons, new names, cult accessories and magazines. Formichetti was the store's buyer and art director. After a few years, he was approached by Katy England and Alastair Mackie who invited him to join them on the team of the legendary English style magazine Dazed & Confused for which he first edited the Eye Spy column and is now a contributing editor. He is also
Fashion Director of Vogue Hommes Japan and a contributing fashion editor of V Magazine and VMAN in the U.S. From there he became a photo stylist for other magazines and on advertising campaigns for Uniqlo where he is now Fashion Director, Dolce & Gabbana and many others. Formichetti met pop sensation Lady Gaga at a 2009 photo shoot for V magazine and recalls it was "instant love." He's now responsible for all aspects of her wardrobe (videos, tours, on and off stage style),
a kaleidoscopic array of tongue in cheek, optical illusions and fantasy glamour which has become a pop style sensation. In September 2010, Thierry Mugler S.A.S has named Nicola Formichetti Creative Director of its men's and women's ready-to-wear beginning with the Fall/Winter 2011/12 collections.