Isabella Blow (the top two photos on the right), Anna Piaggi, Grace Jones, Moi René and Leigh Bowery (the bottom photos)
Beyoncé winning six Grammys seems to be the big story of the night (congrats girl!) But it’s Lady Gaga’s now trademark habit of making multiple awards show outfit changes that we are talking about in the office this morning. Perhaps its because I’m often surrounded by gay men and artists (how else would I know about the diva Moi René?), but it’s hard for me to look at Gaga without seeing all of the eccentrics who came before her. On the red carpet last night, she literally looked like a mash-up of the last three decades worth of avant-garde fashion. It’s like the collective spirit of all the wild and crazy divas was hovering over her that night, like a big old glittery cloud. The ice queen headpiece, and just about every other hat that she has worn up until now, screams Isabella Blow to me. The Day-Glo yellow hair and bold pink lips, bring to mind Karl Lagerfeld’s old muse Anna Piaggi and the legendary ’80s New York drag queen, Moi René. The sparkly face paint and platform shoes? Sooooo Leigh Bowery. But Lady Gaga has never made a secret about how the Australian performance artist who scared the hell out of London’s club scene in the ’80s and ’90s (he was known for his over-the-top, practically masochistic costumes) influenced her work. The exaggerated silhouettes of her custom-made Giorgio Armani Privé dresses, meanwhile, had Grace Jones‘ name written all over them. Gaga’s look is not as original as so many people give her credit for being. But she’s clearly looking to all the right people for inspiration. Love that.
I have a very strong appreciation for Lady Gaga. I feel she has inspired the girls and guys in showbiz to take there fashion sense to the next level. I see lots of the girls now thinking couture. However I must comment on Gaga. I know her inspiration is Grace Jones but Gaga to me just puts on the garment and the garment wears her. When I look at Grace Jones, Anna Piaggi and Isabella Blow it’s there LIFESTYLE, they are wearing the garment the garment isn’t wearing them.
Gaga do your thang girl this is all positive just an observation
Is that her vajayjay in the bottom photo?
Thank you for a very clear and helpful post. I am definitely a violator of many of these rules. I often find myself conflicted when writing a blog post because I see myself writing more than people want to read, but I feel that I have to do the subject matter justice by thoroughly covering it. I feel that by following some of these rules I end up cutting out important aspects to the discussion. I guess you have to find a balance.
Lady Gaga is amazing and doesn’t deserve any of the abuse she gets. There will usually be pretenders but Lady Gaga will be around forever