Lady Gaga Kicks Off the VMAs in Social Distancing-Appropriate Couture

If there’s one performer who can be counted on to bring fashion credibility to MTV’s Video Music Awards, it’s Lady Gaga. A regular attendee since 2009, Gaga continuously raises the bar for outlandish fashion. Sure, everyone remembers the preserved Prosciutto of the Franc Fernandez meat dress she made famous in 2010, but it’s far from her only jaw-dropping VMAs look. Whether she was stomping into Los Angeles’s Nokia Center in Renaissance-referencing Alexander McQueen complete with outsized Armadillo boots or going understated in 2011 as her Saint Laurent clad alter-ego, Jo Calderon, she has managed to surprise her fans repeatedly. Still, in an award’s show marked by social distancing, virtual red carpets, and mandatory masks, dressing up isn’t solely about spectacle.

In keeping with 2020’s chief concerns, Gaga and her team of stylist, Nicola Formichetti, makeup artist Sarah Tanno, and hairstylist, Frederic Aspiras, devised a series of outfits that protected her face while delivering wow factor. First up, the metallic anorak dress from Area's fall/winter 2020 collectsion that she wore to walk the awards show’s white carpet. Silver with textured pleats and a giant bustle, the high drama piece was a Gaga-worthy take on outerwear that received a sci-fi boost with the addition of a hat shaped like a clear bubble. Face shields have never been more popular, but her playful final touch added some fun to the facial covering concept.

A quick change into an ombré fringed custom piece from Iris van Herpen made her win for Best Collaboration even more eventful. The spirit of “Rain on Me,” her upbeat hit with Ariana Grande, was embodied in the fringed coils that dripped off her body like raindrops—accessorized with a hot pink latex mask that wrapped around her entire face.

The epic emerald ballgown from Christopher John Roger’s fall/winter 2020 collectsion could have registered as classic, but Gaga’s tusk-covered face mask gave the look a touch of weirdness. The princess moment was contrasted by the barely-there lavender latex she changed into shortly after to hit the stage for a rousing performance of “Rain on Me,” which picked up the trophy for song of the year.

With nine nominations and a performance with Grande scheduled later this evening, Gaga is sure to grace the stage several times over. While it’s safe to assume she has even more high fashion surprises in store, with two striking looks down in the first 15 minutes, she’s already off to a great start.