Why Antonio Berardi turned down Lady Gaga to design her fashion label

[Leeroi]

McQueen referred to topshop as "chopshop" last year.
berardi had another interview in grazia today....

"And here’s what Mr Berardi had to say “Press coverage has appeared recently about comments I supposedly made about Lady Gaga. I have been seriously misquoted in these comments.”

Talking about Lady G’s Pokerface video, Berardi says “I am always thrilled when anyone chooses to wear my clothes and I thought that Lady Gaga looked amazing in her video wearing my parachute dress. “

The designer does admit “whilst musically I am more of a Black Angels man, I have a huge amount of respect for Lady Gaga and everything she has achieved.”

And as for that clothing collaboration, the designer says the real problem was their conflicting work schedules “creating a fashion collection is a lot of work and I was unable to collaborate with Lady Gaga on a collection because of commitments to my own label and for no other reason. It amazes me that a mistaken quote can travel so quickly on-line, cause so much damage and be so utterly wrong.”

So is this his way of retracting his meaningless comment or is he saying he never said it.

This is like when Lindsay said she was misquoted by Vanity Fair about her particular health issues and would sue, but never followed through with it because she obviously said them.

Berardi has lost it completely.

 

[chessmess]

Well ... I'm a HUGE Bjork fan too (and I mean HUGE... ) and I think it is odd to compare these two since they are completely different human beings doing completely different musics and they will safely NEVER venture into the territory of the other. BUT ... they are both known for as performance artists and for their 'weirdness' so I had to do it I suppose. To be honest, the exact match of Lady GaGa is in fact Madonna, but I think what Madonna has over Lady GaGa is this refined image and aesthetic. I don't know how to explain, but there is clearly a difference for me even if they are so very close.

I would not go as far to say her music is meaningless, but there is not much meaning to a song when it sound like a baby's first words ................. (Bad Romance).

You do however make an interesting point about Haus of GaGa comparable to The Factory. I can see that. Still however, something just does not make since with the music, the attitude, the gimmicks, the all ......

(I know I went off-topic)

She's not comparing themes in Bjork's and Gaga's music. She simply stating that bjork was not completely avant-garde either. Theyre all reinventions, no matter how much newness comes from someone some elements will always be borrowed. It's just interesting that Gaga is being criticized so dramatically. I really see an interesting future for her, with possible cult status like Grace of Bjork in 10 years.

Bad romance is by no means meaningless. In fact the meaning is quite blatant. You criticize harmonic aspects of the song by comparing them to babies words and completely ignore the lyrics themselves? it's obviously about an abusive relationship, about a masochist.

and i dont really understand what you mean when you say:
"You do however make an interesting point about Haus of GaGa comparable to The Factory. I can see that. Still however, something just does not make since with the music, the attitude, the gimmicks, the all ......"
Her image is completely centric... She is strong and outlandish in fashion, in her work in the widely WATERED DOWN pop music industry( her work may not be new wholely, but it is in the pop music sphere), and her inspirations and attitudes mesh with it also.

 

[chessmess]

so the guy is being berated because he has an opinion other than Gaga is the awesomest most originalest person in the world??? whatever.
he has a right to an opinion and to express. the media/fans can not make everyone like her.

the hipocracy exists in antionio design aesthetic though...
his work is not new either. it is sexy, body concious clothes. underwear as outerwear. wowowowowo so new. not really. how is he any different then gaga? He is seasoned in underpinings and construction, she is seasoned in creating a great op song and then matching it to jarring fashion choices and music videos.

if gaga's work wont be important in 20 years and then i need to say that berardi's wont either.

 

[Scott]

i find this whole argument about his relevance completely ridiculous. what does his status have to do with anything?! so in other words,he's not allowed his opinion unless he's mcqueen's status?

and yes i do consider her music meaningless and unoriginal. in fact what she does sounds EXACTLY like what MISS KITTIN has been doing for the last decade. so if you guys feel she's that revolutionary,so be it,but people are allowed their opinion of her no matter how contrary they are. she's not immortal,in case you forget. just an entertainer.

 

[SugarMe]

There's some irony in him refusing Lady Gaga on grounds of meaningfulness and longevity and yet being happy to have Megan Fox as a client...

Not really. Megan Fox wasn't offering to collaborate. She just wore his clothes.

 

[chessmess]

i find this whole argument about his relevance completely ridiculous. what does his status have to do with anything?! so in other words,he's not allowed his opinion unless he's mcqueen's status?

his status has EVERYTHING to do with this argument because he himself is criticizing lady gaga's status

and none of us have ONCE said he music was revolutionary. we just disagree completely that it's devoid of meaning. because to call someones personal work meaningless is to place yourself on a pedestal above them, and that is what we like to call arrogance.

 

[Leeroi]

i find this whole argument about his relevance completely ridiculous. what does his status have to do with anything?! so in other words,he's not allowed his opinion unless he's mcqueen's status?

and yes i do consider her music meaningless and unoriginal. in fact what she does sounds EXACTLY like what MISS KITTIN has been doing for the last decade. so if you guys feel she's that revolutionary,so be it,but people are allowed their opinion of her no matter how contrary they are. she's not immortal,in case you forget. just an entertainer.

I don't think we're saying he can't have his opinions. I think the problem is, from the beginning of this whole thread, is the fact that he couldn't give a more formal way of reasoning as to why he chose not to collaborate with her. I think it was already stated that there's a difference between a harsh unnecessary insult and a constructive criticism; especially for public figures who should know better how to act during an interview.

But lucy92 just provided another article that kinda contradicts his statements from the first article. So I guess Berardi now doesn't think her work is meaningless.

 

[retailqueen]

the gaga stans needs to take a breather. I don't know why fans get so emotionally involved when one does not care for their favourite artists.
]he doesn't want to work with her cause in HIS opinion she is meaningless.
what is the big deal?????????

 

[chessmess]

this is a discussion...

 

[Leeroi]

the gaga stans needs to take a breather. I don't know why fans get so emotionally involved when one does not care for their favourite artists.
]he doesn't want to work with her cause in HIS opinion she is meaningless.
what is the big deal?????????

I think the same could be said with those who take personal issue with what she is doing. They are willing to stand against anything that is not in her favor no matter how disrespectful. And there's people in here who aren't fans of hers and still think Berardi went out of line.

Same with the whole Kanye/Taylor debacle. It was his opinion, and yet people pounced on him with no hesitation, calling him disrespectful even though it was rather obvious that Beyonce's video was indeed better than her's. Yet no one is complaining about how people are too harsh with him. It's the simple fact that people are so polarized when it comes to Lady Gaga like Kanye and the ones who are in the fence with her work are able to appreciate her without having to put her in the same pedestal with the likes of Whitney, Madonna, or Mariah.

PLEEEAAASSSEEEE!

 

[Salvatore]

She's not comparing themes in Bjork's and Gaga's music. She simply stating that bjork was not completely avant-garde either. Theyre all reinventions, no matter how much newness comes from someone some elements will always be borrowed. It's just interesting that Gaga is being criticized so dramatically. I really see an interesting future for her, with possible cult status like Grace of Bjork in 10 years.

Bad romance is by no means meaningless. In fact the meaning is quite blatant. You criticize harmonic aspects of the song by comparing them to babies words and completely ignore the lyrics themselves? it's obviously about an abusive relationship, about a masochist.

and i dont really understand what you mean when you say:
"You do however make an interesting point about Haus of GaGa comparable to The Factory. I can see that. Still however, something just does not make since with the music, the attitude, the gimmicks, the all ......"
Her image is completely centric... She is strong and outlandish in fashion, in her work in the widely WATERED DOWN pop music industry( her work may not be new wholely, but it is in the pop music sphere), and her inspirations and attitudes mesh with it also.

I did not say the entire song was meaningless ... the intro is meaningless. The chorus to the song is actually quite good if you ask me, but parts like the 'walk walk fashion baby' really does not make sense to me in a song about being in a disfunctional romance. It was just thrown in there, obviously, to capture the ears of a certain demographic in my opinion. That part and the intro are meaningless in context to the song (and the vocal sections I am referring to are NOT harmonic in anyway since harmony constitutes the use of chords). Now listen, I do not agree with calling her music meaningless (I am a musician and would hate to call my music meaningless), but I can understand where Berardi is coming from since GaGa's music has no meaning in his world. Many say Bjork's music is very meaningless and I can accept because it does not have meaning in their world. I'm not sure if that's what he meant, but that's the context I got.

What I mean about the music does not match the image. Her look is very eccentric. Her music is not. Her music is basically a looped drum beat with recycled synths that can be found in many of today's music. I would think that with this image of hers, her music would have been very detailed and interesting with something maybe a little deeper to say. Bjork's aesthetic is the EXACT same in all aspects of what she does - music, fashion, video, cover art, all. And it does not feel forced. And furthermore, who really makes music like her?

Like I said, the only problem I have had with her and her fans is that many have said she is so original and some type of pioneer when she is not.

Point is, Berardi does not want to work with her and does not feel the need to so that's that. She does not inspire him so that's a personal thing.

 

[Salvatore]

It's the simple fact that people are so polarized when it comes to Lady Gaga like Kanye and the ones who are in the fence with her work are able to appreciate her without having to put her in the same pedestal with the likes of Whitney, Madonna, or Mariah.

PLEEEAAASSSEEEE!

The difference is that when these musicians that you mentioned came out on the music scene, they did not over-conceptualise their work and then it not really live up to that. They just let the music speak. Lady GaGa constantly insists she's an artist. Art speaks for itself.

 

[retailqueen]

I think the same could be said with those who take personal issue with what she is doing. They are willing to stand against anything that is not in her favor no matter how disrespectful. And there's people in here who aren't fans of hers and still think Berardi went out of line.

Same with the whole Kanye/Taylor debacle. It was his opinion, and yet people pounced on him with no hesitation, calling him disrespectful even though it was rather obvious that Beyonce's video was indeed better than her's. Yet no one is complaining about how people are too harsh with him. It's the simple fact that people are so polarized when it comes to Lady Gaga like Kanye and the ones who are in the fence with her work are able to appreciate her without having to put her in the same pedestal with the likes of Whitney, Madonna, or Mariah.

PLEEEAAASSSEEEE!

the whole Taylor incident was blown out of proportion just like this is being made into a big deal by gaga fans.

 

[wheneveriwakeup]

I can see both sides of this argument. Lady Gaga is someone who, imo, should definitely be taken with a grain of salt. She makes fun, commercialized pop music. I have always thought that her personal style did not reflect the music she produces because if she were dressing like say, Brittney Spears, her music would not be nearly as praised as it is. There would be no glossy, 'high fashion' cover to mask just how common, albeit fun, it truly is. Beraradi is entitled to his opinion and free to make any statements, positive or negative. I do, however, believe that his statement was incredibly tasteless. It was not something that needed to be said to the press. Him simply deciding not to work with her would have said a lot more honestly. Sometimes silence precedes all....

 

[chessmess]

I did not say the entire song was meaningless ... the intro is meaningless. The chorus to the song is actually quite good if you ask me, but parts like the 'walk walk fashion baby' really does not make sense to me in a song about being in a disfunctional romance. It was just thrown in there, obviously, to capture the ears of a certain demographic in my opinion. That part and the intro are meaningless in context to the song (and the vocal sections I am referring to are NOT harmonic in anyway since harmony constitutes the use of chords). Now listen, I do not agree with calling her music meaningless (I am a musician and would hate to call my music meaningless), but I can understand where Berardi is coming from since GaGa's music has no meaning in his world. Many say Bjork's music is very meaningless and I can accept because it does not have meaning in their world. I'm not sure if that's what he meant, but that's the context I got.

What I mean about the music does not match the image. Her look is very eccentric. Her music is not. Her music is basically a looped drum beat with recycled synths that can be found in many of today's music. I would think that with this image of hers, her music would have been very detailed and interesting with something maybe a little deeper to say. Bjork's aesthetic is the EXACT same in all aspects of what she does - music, fashion, video, cover art, all. And it does not feel forced. And furthermore, who really makes music like her?

Like I said, the only problem I have had with her and her fans is that many have said she is so original and some type of pioneer when she is not.

Point is, Berardi does not want to work with her and does not feel the need to so that's that. She does not inspire him so that's a personal thing.

I think gaga's image is shown through her lyrics though...
And like i said, her style may not be wholely new but it is somewhat new to the pop music realm of our generation, who are used to dubstep hip hop and rock/pop. the world of electro music is still quite new to our generation

 

[ponytrot]

Antonio you freaking rock!!!!!!!!!!!

unvoiced, untalented Ms Beckham

Oh come on! I think VB has always said she IS indeed untalented as a musician, however her forays into fashion have clearly been successful.

 

[SxyFashionQueen]

I don't believe Antonio Berardi has ever said such things. Don't believe everything you read.

 

[gb_32]

I knocked it back because I wasn't interested in someone whose music is meaningless," says Berardi.

I've come to have a lot of respect and appreciation for this man.
, Antonio!!
He spoke for me.

 

[moobear]

So apparently not many people like her here...

 

[Scott]

I can see both sides of this argument. Lady Gaga is someone who, imo, should definitely be taken with a grain of salt. She makes fun, commercialized pop music. I have always thought that her personal style did not reflect the music she produces because if she were dressing like say, Brittney Spears, her music would not be nearly as praised as it is. There would be no glossy, 'high fashion' cover to mask just how common, albeit fun, it truly is. Beraradi is entitled to his opinion and free to make any statements, positive or negative. I do, however, believe that his statement was incredibly tasteless. It was not something that needed to be said to the press. Him simply deciding not to work with her would have said a lot more honestly. Sometimes silence precedes all....

and that's how i feel too. take away the image and you just have your standard pop princess,really.

and you know reading that retraction irritates me a bit. why is it whenever people criticise in celeb/entertainment land suddenly have to retract their statements? if he had indeed made those exact statements,i'm a bit annoyed that he just can't be honest about it.