For over three decades, Lady Gaga has served as both an artistic and stylistic inspiration to Little Monsters across the globe. Since Gaga’s debut in 2005—before which she went by her birth name, Stefani Germanotta—Mother Monster has been keeping us fed with her avant-garde performances, risqué looks, and overarching sense of chosen family as she built a community alongside her. From hoarding Chromatica Oreos to cheering Lady Gaga on for her Academy Award nominations, her dedicated fanbase has been supporting their fave every step of the way.
While Gaga’s performance art has been celebrated for breaking boundaries within mainstream music, especially for the queer community, one can’t deny the singer’s extravagant looks play as large of a role in her career as her body of work. With every Gaga red carpet appearance or press appearance arrives a carefully crafted outfit building upon her existing aesthetic—one visually forged by her albums, concerts, and peers.
As always, we can trust Lady Gaga to live in the moment, reflecting a fashion zeitgeist and supporting young designers every step of the way in her enormous career. And while it’s hard to chose our favorite Gaga looks of all time—here are our top twelve best Lady Gaga fashion moments in no particular order.
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The 2021 Presidential Inauguration
The star sung the United States’ national anthem while wearing a bulletproof Schiaparelli dress fastened with a large gold bird pin.
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The 2019 Met Gala
Although Mother Monster served not one, not two, but three (!!!) Brandon Maxwell looks on the 2019 Met Gala red carpet honoring Notes on “Camp” by Susan Sontag, her first look—a massive neon pink ballgown—remains a fan favorite.
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2010 Grammy Music Awards
Gaga swept her first Grammy appearance—both in winning her first two awards and with this iconic look. The Fame singer wore a Giorgio Armani Privé gown resembling out-of-this-galaxy couture.
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2011 MTV Video Music Awards
Who can forget the moment Jo Calderone was brought into the world? Gaga’s male alter-ego shocked fans, while Little Monsters rejoiced in the artist’s performance piece. Gaga walked the red carpet, performed, and accepted her award as Jo, wearing a casual, yet grungey, jacket and pair of pants.
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2019 Academy Awards
Gaga’s glamorous 2019 Oscars dress will definitely go down in history as one of the star’s most iconic looks. At first glance, the Brandon Maxwell dress paired with matching gloves and a Tiffany & Co. necklace seems simple—a bit too simple for Gaga, who’ legacy has been built on the avant-garde. But, at a closer glance, fans appreciated the dress for what it was: a regal, timeless look that seemed to pay homage to stars from the golden age of Hollywood.
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2010 MTV Video Music Awards
What is a Gaga fashion retrospective without the meat dress? Designed by Franc Fernandez, this dress was constructed of raw beef, with the star being sown into the garment moments before hitting the red carpet. To top it all off: a lean slice of beef on her head. Honestly, no one could do it better than her.
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2016 NRJ Radio Apperance in Paris
Days ahead of her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show performance in Paris, Gaga stepped out in this gorgeous cobalt Saint Laurent fur jacket complete with padded shoulders and sky-high Pleaser boots.
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Running Errands
Lady Gaga is just like us—running errands in big sunglasses, a white T-shirt, and a beat-up Kelly bag. All in a day’s work. The understated look is reminiscent of the star’s style evolution as she’s come to her own, embracing casual chic looks rather than using every moment she steps out of the house as a highly-coveted fashion opportunity. It’s real, relatable, and very her.
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2010 Brit Awards
Lady Gaga’s 2010 Brit Awards red carpet look remains one of the most recognizable throughout her career. The Marie Antoinette-inspired look, an all-white ruffled ballgown and pompadour wig three times the size of her head, were designed by Francesco Scognamiglio. Her lace mask, the Bad Romance singer’s go-to accessory of the night, was designed by Philip Treacy, a British royal family favorite.
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American Horror Story: Hotel Premiere
For the premiere of her largest television acting gig to date, Gaga wore a stunning one-shoulder cherry red gown by longtime collaborator Brandon Maxwell with a matching pair of sky-high red heels. The bleached eyebrows add an edgy touch, making the entire look feel more on-brand with Gaga’s personal style.
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Leaving the Mark Hotel
Gaga’s start in fashion was by referencing rock-inspired dominatrix looks, so it was a pleasant and welcome surprise when the singer stepped out in this leather Akà Prodiàshvili set complete with all-black accessories.
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Joanne Release Day
For Lady Gaga’s most emotional, stripped-down album, the singer decided to pay tribute to her late aunt in this all-pink ensemble—the same pink referenced on the cover of her Joanne album. Unlike some of Gaga’s earlier looks, the monochromatic ‘fit was a graceful and delicate nod, with an oversized, wide-brimmed hat and pastel pink pumps to match with the rest of the ensemble.
