Speaking to AnOther, Dilara Findikoglu opens up about the outfit she designed for Madonna, which was inspired by Joan of Arc and turn-of-the-century exotic dancers
On Saturday evening, with 200 million people looking on, Madonna took to the Eurovision stage in Tel Aviv, Israel to perform two songs, old and new: Like a Prayer, which turns 30 this year, and Future, released only a few days ago featuring Quavo. For the occasion, she donned an outfit by Istanbul-born, London-based designer Dilara Findikoglu: a monastic hooded cape embroidered with the letter ‘X’, in reference to her upcoming album Madame X. Earlier in the evening, she wore another of Findikoglu’s designs – a sun-embroidered corset with armour-like sleeves – to be interviewed by the evening’s presenter Assi Azar. (Her recently ubiquitous bejewelled eyepatch was worn throughout.)
“I was imagining Joan of Arc as a dark, romantic queen who was reincarnated in Madonna’s body,” Findikoglu tells AnOther, explaining how the two pieces came about. “For example, the corset we made is a talisman of female empowerment, as it’s embellished with coins featuring goddesses such as Athena. I wanted to combine the armour elements from Joan of Arc with a corset to emphasise Madonna’s powerful, womanly body.”
“I feel that myself and Madonna are both trying to be inspirational to women and girls and encourage them to speak up and be strong, independent people,” Findikoglu says. In this spirit, the Eurovision look – her first custom-made design for the artist – aimed to capture “the idea of an unconventional female warrior”. Other inspirations came from Milla Jovovich in The Messenger, and found photographs of turn-of-the century exotic dancers.
