Icon of the Week: Lady Gaga
The general conception of a style icon is normally fixated on something that's been well known to pioneer, influence and drive popular culture through their fashion sensibility. Considering Lady Gaga famously broke out into the global scene only a year ago, some might find my labeling her as an icon premature and undeserved. If you rebuke, let me persuade you otherwise. If you agree with me, read on all the same! :)
Born in 1986 as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, Lady Gaga had been well familiar with the music scene, having lent her knack for songwriting to Fergie, Pussycat Dolls and Britney Spears. She then went on to be signed by Interscope in January 2008.
Wanting to differentiate her sound from current mainstream, she found her niche incorporating pop with glam-rock electronica. Her personal style in turn, is a complete reflection of her music.
Like her music, her style is influenced by and can be much compared to glam rockers like Queen, Michael Jackson, Madonna and David Bowie circa the 80s. Music and fashion comes part and parcel to her individual image, making Lady Gaga immediately distinct and iconic. She doesn't follow fashion trends, but instead encapsulates her image into every sector of her public persona as a whole.
While her music might not exactly be groundbreaking, mark my words, Lady Gaga has already imprinted herself in pop-culture for singlehandedly bringing back a strong sense of superstar imagery for the general public.
You may not like her, but you'd still be able to tell, "That's so Lady Gaga" from a mile away. The Beatles had their bowl haircuts, Michael Jackson had his white socks with black shoes. A generation from today, Lady Gaga will have her platinum blonde hair bow.
Her personal branding of superstar has been heavily embedded so rapidly, probably because she refuses to break character even in daily life.
She's interesting to observe as she matures as an artiste in complete individualistic transparency. When going green became a global trend, she was in London bringing a teacup wherever she went.
And just when you think she couldn't get any more outlandish, you see published pictures of her onstage.
Despite her infantile stardom, she's already spawned celebrity look-a-likes. While Christina Aguilera claimed she had never heard of Lady Gaga when comparisons were made last December, the fact that Aguilera was accused of being a newcomer's copycat is quite the feat. She has become peerless in comparison - everyone who comes close is just a Gaga lookalike.
Lady Gaga / Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera / Lady Gaga
Love her or hate her, you've got to admit that Lady Gaga is already a style icon - all that's left is for her to continue inspiring different trends as the eras go by.
Since we're on the topic of Lady Gaga, I'm sure by now you've heard that she'll be making her way down to our side of the globe. Word on the street is that Junk Magazine is offering a special Tours package for her Singapore show that includes a concert ticket, priority admission, an afterparty pass, and an overnight stay at G4 Station for a total of SGD103! For more information, click here.
I've already got my ticket, so I guess I'll see you there? Be gentle in the mosh pit. :)
[Photo Credits: tmz, fashionable people, lady gaga music blog, my style, dr funken berry, disco baronettes, celebrishion, metro, hush-hush, wall of styles, horiwood, show hype, msn, mtv, nitrolicious, last, star pulse, celebrity smack down, bougles]
