Franc Fernandez American artist and fashion designer Country: USA

1. Biography of Frank Fernandez
2. Early Life and Education
3. Early Career
4. Collaboration with Lady Gaga
5. Reception and Impact

Biography of Frank Fernandez

Frank Fernandez is an American artist and fashion designer of Argentine origin who currently resides and works in Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his iconic "meat dress" worn by Lady Gaga.

Early Life and Education

Fernandez was born in Argentina, but his family relocated to the outskirts of Los Angeles when he was eight years old. He attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena during his high school years, but eventually dropped out. He also briefly studied architecture and art, but discontinued his studies in both fields. As an apprentice milliner, Fernandez spent some time in London. He considers himself self-taught and focuses more on his personal preferences and instincts rather than formal education.

Early Career

Fernandez began experimenting with clothing design during his high school years, combining shirts with sweaters and altering their labels to be visible on the outside. He gained attention in the fashion industry through his unique hats and started receiving orders from renowned stylists who worked with wealthy and influential clients. His career took off when he collaborated with Italo-Japanese designer Nicola Formichetti. Fernandez has worked with various contemporary musicians, including Lady Gaga, Sam Sparro, the Scissor Sisters, and Beyoncé Knowles. He designed costumes for the Scissor Sisters' British tour and directed Sam Sparro's music video for the song "Pink Cloud," utilizing technology and the Internet to create a clip best viewed on an iPhone.

Collaboration with Lady Gaga

Fernandez worked on several projects with Lady Gaga, including designing her "diamond gown" for the music video of "Bad Romance" and creating outfits for her appearances at award ceremonies and concerts. In 2010, Lady Gaga's stylist, Nicola Formichetti, contacted Fernandez to discuss the creation of a dress made from raw beef for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Fernandez agreed and consulted with a butcher from whom his family purchased meat to determine the best cuts for such an unconventional project. The butcher suggested sewing the dress using steak slices from the barrel of beef. Fernandez purchased 40 pounds of these steaks and, with the assistance of a colleague, designed the dress by determining which parts of the meat suited specific areas of the dress. Within two days, the now-famous dress was completed, with the final stitching done directly on Lady Gaga backstage.

Reception and Impact

Lady Gaga's photographs in the meat dress made headlines worldwide. The reaction to the dress ranged from anger expressed by animal rights activists, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), to admiration from some of the singer's colleagues, such as Cher. The press raised numerous questions, such as the smell of the dress and whether it leaked blood. Fernandez was not surprised by the intense reaction to his design, as he anticipated that the dress would generate controversy from the beginning. However, he received an overwhelming amount of hate and love letters through the internet, and the meat dress remained a topic of discussion on Twitter for several days. Fernandez was pleased with the impact his creation made, as it established him as both an artist and a designer.