Top 20 Memorable Lady Gaga Outfits

Lady Gaga’s 2016 album “Joanne” was unlike anything we had heard from her before. With a stripped-back sound and country influences, the record changed the perception we had had of this enigmatic performer. On the cover, she wears a hat in a millennial pink hue that was all the rage back in 2016. It was created by Gladys Tamez who was inspired by the ‘70s for this piece, as well as others she made for Gaga’s “Joanne” tour. She also wears the hat in the video for “Million Reasons”, but it makes the cut on our list because it originated on the album.

2010 marked Lady Gaga’s first trip to the Grammys, where she set the stage for some of her future red carpet style. That night, she wore three outfits designed specially for her by Armani (more on that later) and the most otherworldly was this silver outfit which featured a matching headpiece. Giorgio Armani said of Gaga's music: “It is like a soundtrack of our times.” She was just as complimentary of his work, calling him a fashion legend, saying the pieces represented her “spirit and essence as an artist”.

In 2012, when Lady Gaga was spotted leaving the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Hong Kong, she was wearing a stunning outfit by Indian label Alpana Neeraj from their Fall/Winter 2012 collection. The crystal embroidered dress was form-fitting and sculptural, showing that Gaga always pulls out all the stops, even on a regular day. Her coordinating headpiece was Little Shilpa by Shilpa Chavan from the Disney Couture Fall/Winter 2012 collection. Her sunglasses represented a Gogosha Optique collaboration between Zoë Jordan and Andy Wolf. Her Pleaser boots were emblematic of the footwear she favored at the time.

In early 2019, Lady Gaga was the belle of the ball on the awards circuit. Her role in “A Star Is Born” and her work on the film’s soundtrack garnered her plenty of accolades, eventually including a Golden Globes win for Best Original Song. She was clearly ready for her princess moment in a stunning powder-blue gown by Valentino. Never one to lean into convention however, Gaga also dyed her hair in a matching blue hue. The dress’s voluminous skirt and substantial train made the starlet the inevitable center of attention on the red carpet.

#16: Her Masked Ensembles “37th MTV Video Music Awards” (2020)

Also in:

Top 10 Wildest Lady Gaga Music Video Looks

Awards shows looked a little different in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If there’s one celeb who had been gearing to wear apocalyptic fashion for her entire career however, it was Lady Gaga. She wore a collection of different looks at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, each sported with its own unique mask or face covering. With looks by Valentino Haute Couture, Christoper John Rogers, Iris van Herpen and more, she kept audiences entertained for the length of the show. Leave it to Gaga to take a global health crisis and make it fashion.

When Lady Gaga arrived on the Oscars red carpet in 2015, she turned heads in a white gown by Azzedine Alaïa. The dress itself was classically feminine, and reminiscent of many popular awards show dresses, but what set it apart was pairing it with dramatic red gloves. The outfit was created by 25 people over a period of several weeks. While many loved the look, some thought the gloves looked like something you might wear while doing the dishes, and Gaga found herself becoming a meme. Hey not everyone can appreciate a sartorial moment!

#14: The Living Dress The Monster Ball Tour (2010)

Also in:

Top 10 Memorable Lady Gaga Outfits

During her Monster Ball tour, Gaga debuted an ensemble dubbed “The Living Dress” because of its ability to morph and move while she performed. The headdress opened up, wings unfurled from behind her and the skirt expanded. Costume designer Vin Burnham conceived of the look with the help of animatronics expert Adam Wright, who helped bring it to life. Burnham is known for creating the batsuit that Michael Keaton wore as Batman. The construction of the dress includes motors and cables which are controlled by a combination of off-stage remotes, and Gaga herself.

When Gaga attended the 2010 Grammys, she wore multiple Giorgio Armani outfits, with this being the most memorable. When she walked the red carpet, she chose this stunning intergalactic look, by a designer who is known for creating much more traditional event fashion pieces. Clearly Gaga herself was a fan, saying, “The series of pieces Mr. Armani created for me are truly iconic; they represent not only beautiful fashion, but my spirit and essence as an artist.” As if the outfit wasn’t enough, her highlighter yellow hair added even more visual interest to the look.

Just before her debut studio album, “The Fame”, was released, Lady Gaga made an appearance backstage at “TRL” wearing a hooded red unitard with matching gloves and lacy tights. Though the outfit she actually wore on the show was less striking, this look was one of the first that made her recognizable as a fashion icon- before she was even truly famous. Her blunt blonde bangs and sunglasses, which would become part of her signature look, were on display on this occasion, giving many an intro to so many fashion moments to come.

Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual gala to benefit their Costume Institute has become fashion’s biggest night. The theme of the night was “Camp: Notes on Fashion” and Gaga didn’t miss an opportunity to wear something truly memorable. She arrived wearing a shocking pink gape style gown by frequent collaborator Brandon Maxwell, but of course she wasn’t going to limit her appearance to just one look. Treating the red carpet as a stage for performance art, Gaga transformed into a series of different outfits, including a corseted strapless dress and a burlesque-style lingerie ensemble.

What began as a simple costume change on tour, became an iconic outfit synonymous with the singer. The pant-less ensemble of plastic bubbles strategically placed on a skin tone leotard, was accompanied by fishnet stockings, heels and her short blonde bob wig. Now, while The Bubble Dress was created by the Haus of Gaga, it was originally seen on Hussein Chalayan’s 2007 runway show. But since that was “half-a-million dollars in a museum somewhere”, Gaga and her team got to work on a recreation. She wore the dress during her acoustic performances of “Poker Face”, sometimes “Paparazzi” and “Future Love” during The Fame Ball Tour, and accessorized with a bubble piano.

#9: The Elizabethan Gown Royal Variety Performance (2009)

Also in:

Lady Gaga's Style Evolution

Ordinary simply won’t do, not even for the Queen of England. Designed by Atsuko Kudo and inspired by Elizabeth I, Gaga wore a red latex dress complete with intricate ruffles and matching eye makeup and lipstick to entertain Her Majesty and Prince Philip. The singer was ready to take the crowd by storm with her performance of “Speechless” 30 feet in the air at a Salvador Dali-inspired piano at the Royal Variety Show. Her humble performance was also an emotional one as her father – who she'd written the song for – sat in the audience. Her elegant attire showed off her regal side, all the while staying true to herself.

#8: “88 Pearls” Outfit amfAR New York Gala (2010)

Also in:

Top 20 Memorable Zendaya Outfits

It was a star studded evening at The Foundation for AIDS Research amFAR benefits gala in New York City on February 10 2010, and Lady Gaga knew just how to turn heads. Mother Monster arrived in a monochromatic look with her skin powder-painted white with pearls glued to her face and body, all complementing her pearl encrusted bikini, biker jacket, hat and platform boots. The only splash of color in the outfit is her bright pink lipstick designed by MAC, created in the singer’s name to raise money for AIDS research. Her white ensemble is further accessorized by her white piano, which she used when she took to the stage to perform “Future Love”.

#7: Jo Calderone “28th MTV Video Music Awards” (2011)

Also in:

Top 10 Best Taylor Swift Red Carpet Outfits

Lady Gaga’s public persona is consistently shocking, but even she needs to get creative to make a statement. In 2010, Jo Calderone made his debut in Japanese Vogue, and people were quick to point out his resemblance to the songstress. The following year, Calderone appeared in the music video for “Yoü and I.” But it was at the 2011 MTV VMAs when the world was truly introduced to her male alter ego. Met with both confusion and excitement, Calderone spoke about his relationship with Lady Gaga before performing “Yoü and I” live. The “Calderone” persona proved to people everywhere that Gaga had formidable acting chops to match her singing skills.

Lady Gaga knew just how to literally get the crowd fired up at the MMVAs on June 21, 2009. Gaga showed off her taut figure in a studded bodysuit designed by Muto-Little Costumes for Haus of Gaga, and sported customized Ellie boots by Pink Cobra. Her medley of “LoveGame” and “Poker Face” went off without a hitch, and had a finale no one could’ve expected. As her dancers gathered around her, Gaga emerged wearing her Pyro-Bra, a remote controlled device she used to shoot sparks from her breasts. The singer belted the final notes of her nominated song as sparks grazed her face, showing off both her incredible pipes and flawless wardrobe.

All eyes were on Miss Gaga when she arrived at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on September 12, 2010. The superstar used the event as an opportunity to pay tribute to her friend, designer Alexander McQueen, who had passed away in February of that year. Gaga was beautiful in her regal Renaissance-inspired McQueen gown and armadillo shoes, a gold feather headpiece from Philip Tracey, and grey-to-blue/green ombre hair. Lady Gaga’s dates for the evening – multiple servicemen and women - completed her outfit, and allowed her to raise awareness to the military's “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Who wouldn’t want to wear their favorite childhood character for a top? Designer Jean Charles de Castelbajac created an entire line of Kermit clothing, one item of which Lady Gaga wore on German Television. The singer had Kermies draped all over her, with a matching headpiece to complete her ensemble. Gaga explained her outfit and aesthetic, saying that she dresses “this way all the time because it inspires [her] life”. She went on to explain that because her whole life is art and her whole life is performance, she dresses the way she does to exemplify that. Gaga proves yet again that her aesthetic is unique and memorable.

#3: Egg-Like Cocoon “53rd Annual Grammy Awards” Red Carpet (2011)

Also in:

Another Top 10 Shocking Red Carpet Outfits

Lady Gaga proves yet again that her red carpet game is strong when she arrived at The Recording Academy’s biggest night in music. No one could look away as she made her entrance in a giant egg-like cocoon carried by attendants clad in latex from head to toe. Gaga remained in confinement until she was hatched onstage when she wowed the crowd with her performance of “Born This Way”. Later, Gaga explained that she was in the “vessel” for 72 hours and that this experience allowed her “to prepare and really think about the meaning” of the song she would be performing.

After arriving with Kermit the Frog on her arm, Lady Gaga took to the red carpet to show off a Victorian-style black floor-length dress designed by Jean Paul Gauthier. The feathered ensemble was just a taste of the outfits to come, as Gaga went on to change four more times that evening. One of the most memorable of those was the one she sported when accepting her Moonman for Best New Artist. Her monochromatic red look was achieved by Alexander McQueen’s red lace gown and was complete with a Haus of Gaga matching mask and crown. Some may be terrified by the outfit, like Eminem seemed to be, but nonetheless, she proves she’s quite the chameleon. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Red Fishnet Lace Body Stocking Marc Jacobs Spring 2010 After-Party (2009) Lobster Headpiece London After-Show (2010) The Opera Cape “30th BRIT Awards” (2010) Lace Floral Dress “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show” (2016)

With thirteen nominations, the most received by an artist in a single year, Lady Gaga was ready to own the 2010 MTV VMAs. After her Alexander McQueen outfit was introduced on the red carpet, the superstar had two more outfits up her sleeve. Upon accepting her award for Video of the Year, Gaga shocked everyone in her final outfit of the night, walking onstage wearing meat from head to toe. After Gaga’s stylist contacted him, Franc Fernandez designed the dress out of 50 pounds of matambre meat. It took almost 3 days to make, and represented the idea that people shouldn’t be treated like a piece of meat.