A Style Icon is Born: Lady Gaga’s Style Evolution

2008 brought Lady Gaga onto the scene, and she introduced us to both her “poker face” and off-beat red-carpet style. With exaggerated proportions and futuristic details, the rising pop star made sure fans knew she was all about setting her own trends. Check out some of the most unforgettable red carpet beauty looks of all-time.

In 2009, the reigning queen of pop Lady Gaga met the Queen of England, and, not surprisingly, wore the most bizarre getup possible. In head-to-toe red latex, the bold pop star made her introductions with the most famous royal in the world, who didn’t seem phased by Gaga’s ensemble — or the intense glitter makeup surrounding the star’s eyes. Of course, the royal family isn't unfamiliar with ridiculous scandal — so there's that.

In cooperation with ‘Monster Cable’ at an IFA event in Berlin in 2009, Lady Gaga stepped out with an exaggerated blonde bob, black sunglasses and an ensemble that was a little outside of her usual wheelhouse. Wearing a black-and-white dress that was almost conservative by her usual standards, Lady Gaga accessorized with neon-pink stocking-style boots and scaled-back makeup. This was one of the first times fans got a glimpse of a more mature, accessible Gaga, and it’s one of our favourite looks from the singer that year.

2010 was the year of iconic red-carpet fashion for Lady Gaga. It was also the year of her “Telephone” song collaboration with powerful woman Beyonce, so with that gem in mind, we can forgive red carpet misses like this one.

The hemline of all hemlines and a whirling galaxy surrounding her, Lady Gaga’s Armani Prive outfit was definitely out of this world. While it was more art-couture than haute-couture, we loved the softer tones of the gown and bombshell hair. All things considered, this one was a win for Gaga. Ouch! These are some of the most uncomfortable-looking outfits spotted on stars.

Yes, this is that dress. Every pop star has that one style moment that will forever go down as their most iconic look of all time — ahem, J.Lo and that green Versace dress — and this was definitely that moment for Lady Gaga. Stepping out for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in a “meat dress” that would go on to evoke the wrath of the wrath of animal activist groups everywhere and the honor of Time’s “top fashion statement of 2010”.

A true diva on the rise, Lady Gaga changed outfits several times over the course of the evening for the MTV Video Music Awards in 2010. While the infamous “meat dress” may have made headlines the next day, it was her stunning tribute to her friend and late fashion designer Alexander McQueen which earned her the most fashion points for the evening. Looking ethereal in a McQueen gown and Philip Treacy headpiece, the popstar once again proved that she is a master of transformation. Speaking of McQueen, never forget that time Meghan Markle slayed maternity fashion with the designer's blazer.

Lady Gaga made waves at the 2011 CFDA Awards, where she not only took home the honour of Fashion Icon from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, but also survived a pretty scandalous wardrobe malfunction (nip slip, anyone?) and rocked the red carpet in sky-high 24-inch platform shoes! It’s not all about full-glam all the time, these celebrities are still stunning — without any makeup.

One of the few celebrities who takes the catwalk fashion from the red-carpet to the every-day, Lady Gaga worked a head-to-toe houndstooth look for a 2011 appearance on The View. This was another one of those subdued (at least by Gaga’s standards) ensembles that hinted at the more mature styling to come from the eccentric pop star.

2012 was a year of hits and misses — at least in the fashion sense — for Lady Gaga. This — we’re not even sure what to call it — definitely files under the “misses” of that year. At this point in the superstar’s style journey, there wasn’t much fans felt the star could surprise them with – and yet, here she is, wearing a floral helmet. These red carpet trends are ready for retirement.

Accompanied by the queen of Versace herself, the iconic Donatella, Lady Gaga stepped out in a firey-red bandage dress from the fashion house’s archives in 2012 while in Milan’s Palazzo Versace. Of all the fashion collaborations Lady Gaga has done over the years, this is one of our favourites, as the pop star looks right at home in the bold and figure-hugging styles synonymous with the Versace brand.

Sitting down in 2013 to answer questions at Sirius XM’s Town Hall, Lady Gaga opted for an elegant and monochromatic cream-coloured ensemble, scaled back makeup and soft blonde locks. While it may not have been one of her more famous fashion moments, it definitely ranks as one of our favourites, proving that even a pared-down Gaga is still every bit the stunning superstar. Talk about a style evolution! Check out these celebrities’ past and present style on the Grammy’s red carpet through the years.

From her chic look at Sirius XM to this frightening display in Berlin, Lady Gaga keeps fans guessing as she refuses to give up her statement-making red carpet outfits. Promoting her latest album, Artpop, in Berlin in 2013, Lady Gaga was unrecognizable in a bizarre face-covering headpiece and fur-detailed sleeves that we can only hope with faux.

Hitting all the right notes with this stunning Versace number, Lady Gaga wowed in the elegant gown at the 86th Academy Awards in 2014. With a soft updo and minimal accessories, the metallic strapless gown took centre stage on the red carpet, and Gaga let the world know that she was more than capable of understated glam. While 2014 was one of Gaga’s most eccentric years as far as off-beat styling, we think it was fashion moments like this one that proved most indicative of the more glamorous Gaga to come. From Lady Gaga’s red carpet win to the worst of all time, these are the Oscar fashion fails we’re still not over.

In a musical matchup that only the genius mind of Lady Gaga could concoct, 2014 was the year that the pop singer paired up with legendary crooner Tony Bennett for the collaborative album Cheek to Cheek. During her promotion of the album, Lady Gaga wholeheartedly embraced the soulful and classic theme of the album, debuting a more subdued and (albeit, Gaga-updated) retro-glam style than fans were used to seeing.

No one tells Lady Gaga how to do glam. While the pop star’s fashion sense had definitely been on a more mature upswing in 2015, it was her funky red-carpet accessorizing of this custom Azzedine Alaïa gown (one of four creations designed specifically for her by the Tunisian-born designer) that stole the show. Donning elbow-length red rubber gloves, Lady Gaga made sure to remind fans that she would always put her own spin on red-carpet style. These unusual celebrity trends will leave you scratching your head.

In one of her most subdued fashion moments to date, Lady Gaga turned heads for all the right reasons when she graced the 2015 Emmy’s red carpet looking absolutely stunning in this black one-shoulder gown by Brandon Maxwell.

Looking every bit the updated Monroe-esque bombshell, Lady Gaga was a vision in a white strapless jumpsuit, complete with a train by Brandon Maxwell. As for the inspiration behind this look, designer Brandon Maxwell told Billboard, “It starts with a discussion, she tells me how she sees herself looking on the red carpet, and then we go back and forth on the design and fits.”

Reminding fans that she’s still Gaga, the pop star took to the red carpet in 2017 for the 59th Grammy Awards wearing — well, not much. A spiky barely-there cropped cape, vinyl short-shorts, fishnet stockings and thigh-high vinyl platform boots had the singer channeling serious rock-glam vibes on the red carpet. Love it or hate it, you have to respect her commitment to her show-stopping style roots — all hail, Lady G.

At the Venice premiere of A Star is Born, she pulled out all the stops in a pink feathered gown. The look was elegant and refined, but the feathers still gave it a playful touch.

2019 has already been a year of major fashion moments for Lady Gaga, who kept the ball gown trend going strong with this gorgeous powdery blue number by Valentino, complete with a massive train and matching her hair to the dress’ pretty hue. The dress was said to be an homage to Judy Garland, who wore a similar gown in the 1954 version of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s film, A Star is Born. These are the best and worst dressed celebrities from the 2019 Golden Globe Awards.

With no shortage of major fashion moments from this year so far, we just couldn’t neglect Lady Gaga’s most recent “major moment” from the 2019 Met Gala red carpet. One of the most talked-about performances that evening, Lady Gaga took to the red carpet and stripped down from one artistic ensemble to the next — starting off in this shocking-pink ensemble and finishing it off in her lingerie. Needless to say, it was one for the books.

Although she didn't land an Oscar nod for her turn as Patrizia Reggiani in the film House of Gucci, Gaga won in our book with her look for the film's premiere. In this stunning purple gown — by Gucci, of course — she stole the show and worked edgy fishnets with a bold cape and diamond jewelry.