The September Issue: Lady Gaga

So here it is in all of the 916 pages of glory. A new phone book for another decade of fashion. At first look I will admit that I loved this. Don’t ask me why, these are things I cannot explain. At second glance, well, I find it rather off-putting to say the least. It’s not so much Lady Gaga herself, but rather that the clashing color choices are just so…and the red ribbon…the magenta…I don’t know. I’m also going to put it out there that they could have chosen something a little better. Sure, Marc Jacobs is an acceptable choice for a milestone (120 years of Vogue), but I feel something would have been a better choice. Prada put out these wonderfully printed suits that would have been fabulous. You know what would also have been fabulous for the anniversary? A model. A newly formed supermodel-in-training. Karlie Kloss. Maybe a little less Rupaul, no? Dreams, right?

Vogue September 2012
Musician: Lady Gaga
Photographer: Mert & Marcus
Stylist: Grace Coddington

Thierry Mugler Fall 2011

Okay, Thierry Mugler, here we go.

Fun? Yes. Obnoxious? Yes. I could honestly go on for days about the Thierry Mugler Fall 2011 show. I love drama more than the next person, but at what point will those like Nicola realize that they are there to design fashion? I admit, getting Gaga is a wonderful ploy, but how far did that get the house for the menswear collection?  A lot of poor reviews questioning why it took three people to create that thoughtless and bland show, is what they got. Half of Gaga’s hellions doubtfully even know how to pronounce Thierry Mugler. Was the show put on well? Sure, although admittedly I thought whether the models were told to act as drunk as one possibly could. I found the apparel to be mostly basic, mediocre, unoriginal, and infinitely bland, not living up to the hype that was presented, actually seeing no semblance of inspiration from what the preview video displayed earlier in the week. Stop focusing on Lady Gaga and what she can bring to the fashion show. Focus on creating something worthwhile.

That’s all I have to say for now, except for Stam and Joan were flawless.

 

Vogue March 2011: Lady Gaga

Here we go ladies and gentlemen. The full HQ editorial and cover. It’s funny, seeing the cover now, I feel like I’m almost looking at Raquel Zimmermann, but undeniably this is Lady Gaga. The chosen pieces are stunning; of course the Ackermann and the Alexander McQueen is such an obvious choice with Lady Gaga, but I feel there should have been more styling. For instance, I feel like the Louis Vuitton is just thrown into the set and offered nothing but the draped effect. Luckily, I’m glad they included the leather jacket and her white platforms.

What truly bothers me is that something seems to be missing or lacking in this editorial. I don’t want to say that Testino’s photography is off, because I really think he captured some great shots, but her face is off and she seems a bit lifeless. Her expressions are terrible. This could have been better than it was, but there really was a great effort, just poor execution.

p.s.

What is up with the pink wig. Anyone getting flashbacks to Vogue September Issue 2007? You’d think there were more wigs to choose from her arsenal, right?

“Our Lady of Pop”
Ph: Mario Testino
Musician: Lady Gaga

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Sneak Peak: Lady Gaga on US Vogue

I hate to admit Lady Gaga’s Vogue cover isn’t that bad. I’m going to be honest here, her persona currently makes me a bit ill and her newly released lyrics make me roll my eyes and makes me consider to pour gasoline into them and light them on fire. If you’re going to say you have the best record ever, blah blah blah, back it up with more evidence than those lyrics.

Now, you might think I hate Lady Gaga. This is not true. We’re just in a fight and I find her act less mysterious and basically stale. I can still dance crazily in my room in my underwear to “Lovegame,” sing loud and off key to “Paparazzi,” and allow myself to think that I can actually hit every piece of choreography to “Bad Romance” on the dance floor of every bar and party I attend. Anyway, I’m off topic so let’s consider the following things, shall we:

1) She’s wearing a gloriously draped Haider Ackerman gown. Positive.

2) The text is off-putting and engulfing the page.  Negative.

3) Testino shot it, so expectations weren’t terribly high. Neutral.

4) No models here, but is complaining worth it at this point for US Voguee?

5) Is she wearing a variation of Britney’s crazy pink bob? Girl… Negative.

6) Her face is not immediately recognizable, although it may be obvious. Probably positive.

7) This is probably the most edgiest US Vogue will get in a long while, so eat it up and eat her out. Positive.

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Take a Bite of My Bad Girl Meat

While we wait on photos, just mute the video due to the annoying, cliché rock song.

Surprised? No. Amazing? Kind of. Annoyed? Yes. Hungry? A little.

The image of Gaga wearing a meat dress forever ingrained in my brain: Priceless.

I’m sorry that all of the endless starving children of the world must go hungry for one more day; Lady Gaga wore their meals on her back. I’m doubting she had a grill waiting on her in her dressing room, but who am I to judge?

Actually, with Cher presenting this award to Lady Gaga, it hopefully reminded the public that since the ’60s and ’70s, Cher has been doing it better every decade since. Also, Nicki Minaj frightens me slightly. While her costume options are slightly to highly tacky, girlfriend is nuts. Are entertainers purposely trying to compete to see who officially rules the Kingdom of Crazy? From one wackadoo to another, you all win.

*Noteworthy but off topic: Florence Welch wore Givenchy Fall 2010 Haute Couture, not to mention Ciara in Givenchy as well. Stunning.

[photo via MTV.com]

Vogue Hommes: Lady Gaga

O_o

Following in the footsteps of the Beatles, The Undertones, a Steven Klein shot editorial, America’s Next Top Model and others, Terry Richardson photographs Gaga clad in…meat. Neither of you change. Never.

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V Magazine September 2010

At first glance I asked myself:

1) Oh, what is Aubrey O’Day doing on a magazine cover with Marc Jacobs?

2) Are those used condoms?

3) Why is the humor of this screaming as ill-conceived and a poorly shot cover?

I later saw this blown up image and took a closer look at the nonsense to see Lady Gaga. While I still love sometimes love her, she doesn’t look fashionable, not even crazy, but just a hot, trashy mess. Also, what is with her face? If anyone could answer me why she appears to be wondering about her decision of to show up like Lady Liberty on welfare, by all means explain. I know what Louis Vuitton gown she’s wearing, and it was so soft and beautiful going down the runway. Talk about a 360, trainwreck and explosion.

The logo is actually made up of chewed gum, so there’s that. I’m not feeling the cover at all. Major fail, V.

BUT, I don’t hate the editorial. Liya looks stunning and the Riccardo Tisci’s gold crown of thorns for Givenchy is wonderful to see in any editorial. I’m not fully judging you for this now, Testino. It’s still pretty much a mess, though. I see V spiraling down into obscurity if this continues.

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Don’t Call Me Gaga…Joe Calderone

So here are the covers to Vogue Hommes Japan with Lady Ga…er, Joe Calderone as the model. This is a Nicola Formichetti and Nick Knight shoot. We don’t get the gender-bending, greasy rabbit look either. Nothing about Gaga surprises me anymore short of her pulling a fetus holding sparklers out of a sequined hat on stage, so maybe this is her Sasha Fierce or just a creative experiment. Now, for the short interview by Jo-Ann Furniss:

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Palermo, Sicily

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO / YOUR

OCCUPATION?

Mechanic for my dad’s business. This is the first time I’ve had my picture

taken.

WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER YOU WANTED TO TO THIS?

Well, I always helped my dad at work, since I was a kid. I thought it would be

fun to have my picture taken.

WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS?

I’d love to own my own car shop, I have a bunch of my own ‘muscle’ cars.

Maybe if I take some more pictures I can afford it.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO LADY GAGA?

I met her at a shoot Nick Knight was doing. She’s fuckin beautiful, and funny,

and interesting. I was a little nervous for Nick to start shooting. She said,

“Don’t be baby, you were “born this way.” I took her out after. The rest is

private

Carry on, people.

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i-D: Then, Now, Next – Kate, Naomi…and Gaga

Who did this i-D logo? It’s silly. Anyway, i-D is celebrating 30 years and there will be three covers: THEN Pre-Fall on sale August 12th, NOW Fall on sale September 23rd, NEXT Winter on sale November 11th. In the issue will feature The XX, Phoebe Philo, Sir Paul Smith, Florence Welch, Vivienne Westwood, Lara Stone, Pink, Gareth Pugh, and of course the cover models Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Lady Gaga.

“30 years – whoosh, more than an instant in i-D’s lifeline – it’s a generation. Three decades to be celebrated and contained in this special issue. The whole issue was created by Nick Knight 200 portraits that SHOWstudio made at the close of 2009 in Somerset House – once the home of British passports, now the central location for British Fashion Week. Nick’s celebration of identity was also a commemorative project inspired by the 5th birthday issue of i-D, where 100 portraits were featured in The Grown Up Issue. 25 years on, the gallery selection grew to 200. Happy birthday!” Terry Jones, Editor-in-Chief, i-D

I like all three covers, I really do. Kate and Naomi are absolutely, and I hate to use this term, quite fierce. Lady Gaga’s is fine, but I’m wondering how she got a cover. Nick Knight might have made that happen, but let’s be honest here. Kate and Naomi are icons, Kate being one of the best and most profitable models of all time that have influenced the fashion world greatly. I feel instead of Lady Gaga they could have chosen Lara, Karlie, Sasha, or even Natasha. That’s just my opinion, though.

I’m personally purchasing Kate’s cover and will pray to her altar every night, etc. Which one will you choose?

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SHOWstudio.com: Nick Knight shoots Lady Gaga for Vanity Fair

A glimpse of the behind-the-scenes. As different as she displays herself, she appears to be having fun and quite normal. You can’t help but love that flowing Alexander McQueen gown and that custom Armani is interesting. The issue hits stands outside of NYC and LA on August 10th. If you can’t wait, the entire editorial is lurking the internet, thanks to ONTD!. The images are far better than I expected, especially Nick’s camera work, but I wanted more clothes than costumes. Win some you lose some.