These 87 Outfits Prove That Lady Gaga Is Fashion’s Ultimate Shapeshifter
Ever the artist and entertainer, Lady Gaga has a slew of exciting projects coming up. This month, the singer and actor is Vogue’s new cover star, and she will also star in the Joker sequel alongside Joaquin Phoenix. We're waiting with bated breath to see her red carpet looks during the press tour; Gaga is, after all, one of the world’s most fashion-forward, risk-taking celebrities. (Cue memories of the meat dress.) In anticipation of her very busy 2024, Vogue is taking a look back at some of the star’s best ensembles over the years—87 of them, to be exact.
Since bursting onto the scene in 2008 with her critically-acclaimed album The Fame, Gaga’s fashion evolution has kept us guessing along the way. She’s the queen of transformation—drastically changing her look with each album release. When we were first introduced to Gaga, she was all about a futuristic disco look, wearing hooded bodysuits and architectural dresses. This is the year she also introduced The Haus of Gaga to the world—a small creative team that would be responsible for her costumes, props, and sets for many years to come.
In the 2010s, however, is when Lady Gaga emerged as the flamboyant red carpet dresser we know her as today. At the 2010 MTV VMAs, she paid tribute to Alexander McQueen in a custom bosch-print gown, gold feather mohawk, and staggering armadillo shoes (she loves a death-defying shoe). “I’ve always been inspired by Alexander McQueen—I think he’s potentially the greatest designer of all time,” Gaga shared in her Vogue “Life in Looks” video. That same night, she switched into her infamous meat dress, which was designed by Frank Fernandez but envisioned by Haus of Gaga—complete with a meat hat and meat purse, of course. (Fun fact: In her Life in Looks video, Gaga revealed that a corset was sewn underneath the meat, to give the garment some much-needed shape.)
Throughout the past decade, Gaga has only continued to experiment with different moods and fashion flavors. For her 2013 album Artpop, she went full on kooky-chic, wearing theatrical ensembles such as a giant feathered Louis Vuitton headpiece, and an inflatable spike dress designed by Central Saint Martins alumni Jack Irving. For her 2016 album Joanne, she went more country-western, often wearing denim cut-off shorts and accessorizing with the pink cowboy hat that she wears on the album cover.
In more recent times, however, Gaga has traded in her headline-worthy fits in favor of classic Old Hollywood gowns—a fitting move, given she’s turned into an A-list actor herself. After starring in films such as A Star Is Born and House of Gucci, Gaga has proven herself a true triple threat, and her fashion choices have gotten more elevated. During her press tour for 2018’s A Star Is Born, she wore one striking couture gown after the next; Her pink feathered Valentino gown, wore during the Venice Film Festival, was a notable standout. For her House of Gucci tour, she channeled "painful Italian glamour" in a purple gown by the label with giant, billowy sleeves—which she flung around in dramatic Gaga fashion.
Gaga has never failed to command the step and repeat throughout her impressive career. Whether she’s shocking with her meat dresses or aweing with her fresh off the runway gowns, there’s no denying it: She's one of this century’s best dressed stars.
Below, revisit 87 of Lady Gaga’s best outfits.