Lady Gaga Masters the Art of the Quick Change at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
We were riveted by the drama playing out between Bella Hadid and The Weeknd on the runway of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Wednesday night — the ultimate breakup fantasy, occurring in real time. But the other performers who took over the runway as models flounced back and forth in Victoria’s Secret’s most decadent designs presented their own statements: Bruno Mars was there, doing his thing in a fur coat, and Lady Gaga appeared in no fewer than five costume changes, from Alaïa to Saint Laurent to more Saint Laurent, to YolanCris and back to Alaïa again. The whole show was something of a reunion for the pop star, who walked the red carpet with former stylist Nicola Formichetti (now creative director of Diesel and Nicopanda, he collaborated with VS Pink on several runway looks) and wore variations on a theme by Alaïa, who previously dressed Gaga in a custom gown for the 2015 Oscars. Then, it was his first foray into dressing a celebrity for the Academy Awards; we can only assume this year marks his first venture into designing for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Lady Gaga in Azzedine Alaïa at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Paris, France, November 2016.
Who: Lady Gaga.
When: Wednesday, November 30.
Where: First, on the red carpet, and then on the runway of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at the Grand Palais in Paris, France.
What: A sleeveless black lace Azzedine Alaïa gown with plunging sides for the red carpet; a burgundy lace crop top with a high collar and half sleeves paired with a matching floor-length skirt, also by Azzedine Alaïa, for the runway.
Why: In two subtle riffs on a similar look, Gaga proves the Victoria’s Secret runway isn’t just for lingerie. Independent of their Victoria’s Secret context, both looks are quite daring in their own ways: a flash of side-boob here, a bare midriff there. But they’re also perfectly in line with Lady Gaga’s new rock-chic aesthetic of the Joanne era — edgy and dramatic, yet with a classic edge. There’s no stage the pop star can’t dominate.
See All the Looks from the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
Model Elsa Hosk opened the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Model Elsa Hosk opened the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Taylor Hill at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Maria Borges at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Maria Borges at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Maria Borges at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Joan Smalls at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Barbara Fialho at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Gigi Hadid at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
Gigi Hadid at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
Alessandra Ambrosio at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
Lady Gaga performing at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
The grand finale of the 2016 Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
Alanna Arrington at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
The grand finale at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
Lady Gaga performing at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
Bruno Mars performing at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
On the runway at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Lady Gaga performing at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
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