Gone are the days when pasties were considered “pushing the envelope” in women’s fashion. Try having a penis. Taking the idea of a coed fashion to the next level, Givenchy artistic director Riccardo Tisci has made the move to showcase his personal assistant, Lea T., as the face of the French brand’s Fall/Winter campaign. Formerly Leo, Brazilian native Lea T. is no stranger to the House of Givenchy.
As long-time fit model and personal assistant to Tisci, Lea T. is making her debut in the July issue of L’Uomo Vogue. Though Tisci put models of both genders on the catwalk during Paris Fashion Week 2 weeks ago, this blurring of gender lines is taken to a new level with the incorporation of Lea T. Photographed in Paris by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, she appears alongside nine other models, including Joan Smalls, Malgosia Bela, and Mariacarla Boscono. While some may feel that Tisci is just trying to increase the shock-value, he explains that including a transgender individual exemplifies the male-female dichotomy that has become one of Givenchy’s signatures.
Can you spot her?
NEXT PAGE: LEA T. BARES ALL
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‘She’s always been very feminine: super fragile, very aristocratic,’ Tisci told Women’s Wear Daily. “She’s part of the family,” he said, noting that she is also transitioning into a new career, veterinary medicine, in Milan.
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The times are clearly a-changing. Ten years ago, the idea of a plus-size model was completely preposterous. Now, we’ve taken things a step further, recognizing that not only do body types differ, but so does our anatomy. People need to educate themselves on the difference between sex and gender, as well as appreciate humanity in general, rather than focusing on assigning, delineating, and categorizing.
Lea T. is pictured here in front, among other models, clad in a straight-leg pants, and a blazer cinched at the waist, crimson lips, and a collection of gold bangles.
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Lea T. is not the first to forge a successful career in high fashion. Actress Patricia Araujo brought the audience to their feet at the close of fashion week in Rio de Janeiro last year. As Complexo B designer Beto Neves commented, the purpose of fashion in itself is always to shock and not stick to preset standards, or a brand can easily fall into the insipid.
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