Since it’s a big date— Lady Gaga’s birthday—we’re jumping the gun and celebrating her Glamour Style Icon of the Week honor a couple of days early. The music star has enjoyed a pretty busy few months: covering the December issue of Glamour, receiving one of the Women of the Year awards in 2013, and recently releasing a pretty cray (in a good Gaga way) video, “G.U.Y.” (Housewives! Michael Jackson Lego impersonator!). Plus, we’re always up for a Lady Gaga fashion moment, anytime, anyplace. While she will always be remembered for making raw meat de rigueur as a dress and opting for a hard-boiled egg shell as statement outerwear, the Mother Monster has always unabashedly showed off her love affair with museum-quality, top-designer, ultra-high fashion. So without further ado, let’s pay tribute to the singer/songwriter/statement maker—go!
Gaga burst onto the scene in 2008 with her debut album, The Fame, which, well, shot her to mega fame. (Seriously, how many times did we all play “Just Dance” on repeat?) She toured with New Kids on the Block that year, outfitted by longtime stylist Nicola Formichetti and her creative team known as the Haus. They created this iceberg-esque origami dress (and matching mic, awesome) that was inspired by a look from the fall-winter 1991 Thierry Mugler collection. Incidentally, Nicola, who recently parted ways with Gaga (but will be besties forever) was the artistic director of the House of Thierry Mugler from 2010 to 2013. Oh, and for kicks, check out Chelsea Handler’s own version of the origami dress, complete with breakfast sausage links and “prosciutto in her ears.” (Just watch it.)
OK, this royal moment in 2009 is just too good to ignore. To greet the Queen of England, Lady Gaga wore an impeccably crafted red latex Elizabethan era-inspired gown complete with matching sparkly eye mask makeup. Her majesty seems to be into it.
For the 2010 Grammy Awards ceremony, Lady Gaga hit the red carpet in this sparkly lilac outer-space-y custom Armani Privé dress with spikey cosmic hand (?) accessory. Later on a Gaga-themed episode of Glee, Quinn fashioned herself a pink version of the look.
For the holiday season that year, Gaga collaborated with the legendary Barneys luxury department store on a special pop-up shop called “Gaga’s Workshop.” She celebrated the opening with ribbon cutting ceremony and a dramatic Karl Lagerfeld-custom created Chanel gown. Think those scissors really work?
Looks like Queen Elizabeth wasn’t the only public figure enamored with her Ladyness. Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg could hardly contain himself after Gaga’s New Year’s Eve performance ushering in 2012. Or maybe he’s just really into her silvery Versace gown and bling-y face-obscuring headpiece.
Lady Gaga loves her self some Versace—she even gave Donatella a shout-out in a song on her new album. For the Grammys in 2012, the fashion house created this custom patent corseted, sheer polka-dot outfit and gilded scepter (which seems to be attached to the train of her ensemble) for the nominated singer-songwriter. Country star Blake Shelton seems particularly flummoxed by the inventive accessory that also doubles as a walking stick. #photobomb
Gaga went all out leading up to the release of ARTPOP last November with the most dramatic, statement making, in-your-face high fashion. Here she sported an off-the-spring-2014 runway look from Marc Jacobs’ last collection for Louis Vuitton. Of course she got first dibs on the Cher-throwback look complete with feathered headpiece by Stephen Jones x Louis Vuitton. Wonder how she maneuvered into the limo with the full outfit on…
And just a full-on Alexander McQueen outfit and Philip Treacy mask-fascinator for a light stroll in London.
Lady Gaga made a surprise visit to the 2014 Oscars ceremony (although she snuck out partway through the ceremony to hang with Donatella Versace at the Elton John party). She looked refined and somewhat sedate (for her) in a blush pink Versace mermaid gown.
