Rita Melssen, the stylist behind some of Madonna’s most distinctive recent appearances, is in Athens to style Anna Vissi for her major concert at OAKA, on Sept 26, taking charge of the singer’s overall look.
Melssen has built a close creative relationship with Madonna, focusing not only on the clothes but on the history, references and accessories that frame each appearance. At the Met Gala, Madonna wore a Saint Laurent creation by Anthony Vaccarello, inspired by Leonora Carrington’s painting “The Temptation of Saint Anthony.” The look was completed with a Philip Treacy hat from Isabella Blow’s archive, a choice tied to Blow’s memory, and a falcon-shaped jewel. Melssen has said she was given the freedom to build the image around the references she had chosen.
Her stage work was on display at the FIFA World Cup halftime show, where she handled styling and costume design for Madonna, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. Madonna wore Saint Laurent and Swarovski, while the two footballers appeared in custom tracksuits. Her portfolio also includes Madonna’s Coachella appearance and “Confessions II Film.”
Melssen also worked with Eyob Yohannes on the wardrobe for “The Celebration Tour,” reinterpreting iconic images from Madonna’s career. The pair collaborated with Jean Paul Gaultier, Donatella Versace, Miu Miu and Dilara Fındıkoğlu, and drew on pieces from Madonna’s personal archive.
The approach treats each garment as part of a larger picture that brings together designers, accessories, historical references, archival pieces and the artist’s personality.
Vissi already has a strong, recognizable stage identity and a long relationship with fashion. The aim is to keep the elements that make her instantly identifiable while adding a different styling direction.
