In Part 2 of the exclusive interview with ITS Arcademy founder Barbara Franchin about the transformative power of fashion. How top celebrities use style to make an impact on their global images.
GLAM Of It All
Why do people only want to see the “glam” of the fashion industry but ignore the work behind the scene?
I guess it’s because people tend to focus only on the aesthetic aspects of fashion, on the symbolism of what it represents, which is what fashion historically represents. Ignoring the work behind the scenes isn’t just about fashion, there’s countless examples in so many different fields. When people experience professional performances at the highest level – say a ballet dancer, an amazing musician, or a painter – they’re entranced by how simple it looks. They try to replicate it only to realize it’s not simple at all. That’s when it clicks, when they figure out how much training, how much dedication it took to get there. The amount of hours and work behind that performance that was needed to achieve it.
What makes fashion different, why it’s harder to think about what lies beneath the surface, is the fact that clothes represent a mask meant to show society what we want them to perceive about us. So we’re very focused on how that mask looks (forgetting how society often shapes it for us since “glam” isn’t our personal creation, it’s society telling us “you’re cool if you look like this”) and we’re less interested in how it’s made, provided it suits our needs and, most importantly, projects our own dream of who we’d want to be.
Transform
Talley believed in the power of fashion transforming a person, would you agree?
I totally agree. This has always been what fashion is all about: shaping how we are perceived by society and at the same time, being shaped by what society demands from us. The relationship between garment and body has been at the center of our exhibitions because it’s one of the most fascinating, intimate relationships in human history.
Humans began wearing clothes solely for functional purposes, but it wasn’t long when we realized that what we would lay on our skin could turn into a symbol of power, respect, of our role in society. Of our status, of who we are, of who we want people to think we are. We used to look up to aristocracy, mesmerized by their clothes, we do the same today with celebrities. Fashion is ancestral in its ability to radically change how we perceive another human being. At the same time, fashion is the first thing we wear on our skin when we are born, and the last when we die. How could that not transform us?
Moving into styling, why is this important for a celebrity?
EXPOSURE – The Power of Being Seen, from Harry Styles to Lady Gaga, our latest exhibition that will be on until January 2027, is the perfect answer to this question. Curator Tom Eeerebout – stylist to Lady Gaga, Austin Butler, Rebecca Ferguson and more – explores the art of styling diving into the reasons why celebrities need stylists, into why styling is relevant.
Styling is important for a celebrity because it goes far beyond dressing someone well. It’s about creating a visual identity that matches their personalities as well as the context of where they appear, telling a story that people immediately recognize. A stylist doesn’t simply choose clothes; they translate an artist’s personality, career, and creative vision into images that communicate something meaningful. Every appearance becomes part of a larger narrative, whether it’s on stage, in a campaign, or on the red carpet. Stylists are architects of the image.
Today, especially with social media, those moments have become incredibly powerful. A red carpet appearance can travel around the world in seconds and often has a greater cultural impact than the runway where the look was first shown. When the right person wears the right garment, they give it a new life and a new meaning. They don’t just wear the clothes, they embody them.
Lady Gaga is a perfect example of that. Her looks are never just fashion statements; they become part of her artistic identity and often turn into iconic cultural images. At the same time, they give incredible visibility to both established fashion houses and emerging designers. Ultimately, great styling creates images that people remember for years. It’s not just about looking beautiful in the moment, it’s about building an identity and leaving a lasting impression.
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