Illustration by Ciarán Butler.

Originally published in print September 2020.

 

The Cambridge English dictionary defines an icon as “a very famous person or thing considered as representing a set of beliefs or a way of life”. For many in terms of music and fashion, Gaga could be used as a substitute. Fashion at its best takes risks, tells a story and really is walking, wearable art. Lady Gaga, from the start of her career to present day, embodies the idea of fashion and has more than earned her spot as a fashion icon.

 

Her early career saw her do what no one else was doing at the time, especially in terms of what she was wearing. “The Fame” was her first studio album, and featured “Just Dance”, “Paparazzi” and, of course, “Poker Face”. Gaga, in each of these music videos, wore some LOOKS. Gaga was always mad for a pop culture reference and her David Bowie obsession showed, with the lightning bolt on her face as an homage featuring in both videos. The fashion was  —in a lack of better words— , bat-sh*t crazy, but it was why we all gagged over it. The “Paparazzi” music video was a mini movie in itself, but it was the bejewelled neck brace and spiked crutches paired with metallic armour that did it for me. It was an era of risks and shock. Gaga began to do interviews, attend award shows and the looks gave us just as much drama and fashion as she was serving in her music videos. The Kermit the Frog coat was so camp yet elegant and was truly a look that still holds up to this day. I could so see someone selling this on depop or even in a bralette version. Then came the VMAs performance of Paparazzi in the bejewelled white leotard with the huge asymmetrical mutton sleeve. The performance was live art, a commentary of how the media treats those in the spotlight, ending in the death of Gaga, blood bleeding from her abdomen, using special effects, onto her stark white gown. The entire thing was a conglobation of music and fashion to create art.

 

Gaga didn’t stop here, and at the last ever McQueen runway show “Plato’s Atlantis”, Gaga debuted her latest single “Bad Romance” which featured the now iconic armadillo shoes. It was again a combination of fashion and music to create art and launched Gaga into a new era “The Fame Monster”. “Telephone” was birthed by Gaga in this era and the monsters were fed with a 9 minute and 33 second music video filled with my favourite Gaga looks ever. “Telephone” is the best collaboration of any two music artists ever (I said what I said and meant it!) The black and white latex dress. The sunglasses with lit cigarettes and huge chain layered over a black dress. The victory rolls held up with coke cans and the studded leather jacket. When I mean every single outfit was literal perfection, I mean it. The entire video is so strange, but it all works and highlights that Gaga can pull off anything. My personal favourite of the mix was the caution tape costume, where it wrapped tight around her and held together by seemingly nothing else. It was so high fashion and glamourous, it was Gaga. Then we have Beyoncé in that yellow latex dress with a matching cowboy hat—are you for REAL. The product placements and odes to Kill Bill in the video, alongside everything else, make it something so special and so fashion that I don’t think it will ever be replicated by anyone else — sorry not sorry.

 

It would be a crime if I didn’t mention my favourite Gaga era —Artpop. Artpop holds a place in my heart because it came out in a very weird place in my life and I was obsessed. The album didn’t gain as much traction as it should have, despite it being a masterpiece and giving us such amazing fashion moments, such as the pirouette clown from the album’s lead single “Applause”. “GUY” is my all-time favourite Gaga song and video. It is truly stunning;  it features the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and she truly does it for the girls and the gays, that’s it. The long platinum blonde wig combined with a basic swimsuit was such a serve that we didn’t deserve. The platinum blonde is a constant in the video and just gives me LIFE. The look she wears to storm the office alongside Lisa Vanderpump and Kyle Richards (both icons!) is jaw-dropping. The juxtaposition of the black feathered headpiece and white wig, the leather bodysuit and the huge fur coat is stuff of dreams. Artpop was and is so underappreciated cause it was truly ahead of its time.

 

Chromatica—Lady Gaga’s sixth and latest studio album, is supplying us with hits such as “Rain on Me” (when she said “rain on me tsunami”, I felt that) and “Stupid Love”. This new era has ushered in a new vision  of Gaga, more edgy and punk, but still with a Gaga twist. Everything so far has been kind of iconic, from the “Rain on Me” purple looks (the white eye liner simply stunning) to the  oil spill pink latex moment, both of which just further push the idea that Gaga can simply do no wrong when it comes to fashion. 

To sum up, fashion is Gaga and Gaga is fashion. I would love to write more but I’m over my word count as is. Long live Gaga!