Lady Gaga is not only one of the most successful pop stars in the world, but also one of the most influential fashion icons. She has pushed the boundaries of expression with her spectacular outfits, which are often works of art in themselves, and has continued to surprise and inspire the fashion world. In this article, we take a look at some of her iconic looks and how she uses her fashion as a message.
Lady Gaga started her career in 2007 with a disco style influenced by artists like Madonna and Cher. She wore glittery bodysuits, platform shoes and futuristic sunglasses that gave her a glamorous and provocative look. Her 2008 debut album “The Fame” reflected this aesthetic, with songs like “Poker Face” and “Just Dance” becoming worldwide hits. Lady Gaga quickly became a phenomenon, celebrated for both her music and her fashion.
One of her first fashion highlights was her performance at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, where she wore a red lace dress by Alexander McQueen that covered her face. She changed outfits several times during the show, finally revealing a white dress with a bloody effect on the chest while singing her song “Paparazzi”. This dramatic moment was a reference to fame and its darker side, as well as a tribute to the late designer McQueen, with whom she had a close artistic relationship.
In 2010, Lady Gaga shocked the world with her famous meat dress that she wore at the MTV Video Music Awards. The dress was made of raw beef and was designed by Argentine artist Franc Fernandez. Lady Gaga later explained that the dress was a political statement to draw attention to gay rights. She said, “If we don’t stand up for what we believe in, and if we don’t fight for our rights, soon we’ll have as many rights as the meat on our bones.”
Lady Gaga continued to experiment with different styles and materials, such as latex, rubber, metal and plastic. She collaborated with renowned designers such as Armani Privé, Versace, Mugler and Valentino, but also with avant-garde artists such as Hussein Chalayan, Iris van Herpen and Marina Abramovic.
She wore outfits reminiscent of sculptures, like the white dress with pointed shoulders by Armani Privé at the 2010 Grammy Awards or the black dress with horns by Mugler at the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards. She also wore outfits reminiscent of animals, like the egg costume by Hussein Chalayan at the 2011 Grammy Awards or the swan dress by Valentino at the 2019 Golden Globe Awards.
Lady Gaga also used her fashion as a way to reinvent herself and show different facets of her personality. She alternated between different musical genres and visual concepts, such as the rock album “Born This Way” from 2011, the jazz album “Cheek to Cheek” from 2014 or the country album “Joanne” from 2016, sometimes showing herself glamorous, sometimes minimalist, sometimes extravagant or sometimes natural. About herself she once said, “I am not one person. I am many persons.”
