Katie Elle Hogan

GAGA: Where it all began

When Lady Gaga first burst onto the music scene with her chart-topping, smash hit Just Dance in 2008 she was well and truly on her way to becoming a pop singing superstar. But in today's hit and miss pop culture, no one expected her to be named as Time Magazine's most influential artist of 2010 in their Top 100 most influential people issue. In just two years, Lady Gaga has carved her own path in music history to become one of the most outrageous and prominent fashion icons of the 21st century.

Lady Gaga's first single "Just Dance"

Why "Lady Gaga" emerged as a Fashion Icon, Label and Trend

Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is impossible to ignore. Whether you love her or hate her, you know her. She is a pop culture icon known for her outlandish fashions, chart topping dance hits such as Pokerface and Bad Romance which have earned her royalty status. Her unique and sometimes shocking outfits pervade her many video clips, concerts and red carpet appearances. And they have been one of the major factors of Gaga's immediate success with the youth, fashion and gay cultures worldwide.

Lady Gaga wearing Alexander McQueen's Spring 2010 RTW in her Bad Romance music video

It is this media exposure that has seen her costumes start to be adapted into every day fashion and fashion trends. Gaga's ability to adapt the most fashionable runway trends into her own theatrical style and he interest in the latest fashions of haute couture labels and up-and-coming designers that keeps her ahead of the game and a muse for many leading designers.

2010 Grammy's - Lady Gaga arriving in Armani Prive designed especially for her

Above: Armani Prive sketches of Lady Gaga's 2010 Grammy's dress Below: Costumes for her 2010 Monster Ball Tour designed by Giorgio Armani

How Lady Gaga's look has been adapted into the current fashion scene

Lady gaga has gone on to appear in fashion spreads for American, French, British and Japanese Vogue and has been on the covers of countless youth, music and fashion magazines such as Elle, Vanity Fair, Cosmopolitan, GQ, Rolling Stone, 944, Flair, Style, Black Book, Billboard, and most recently, on the fall cover of V Magazine alongside Marc Jacobs. It is this kind of print media exposure that has also helped to align her image with the fashion industry and make the two entities almost synonymous.

Also drawing inspiration from current catwalk trends Gaga takes looks and up-and-coming trends seen on the runway and puts her own amazing Avant-Garde-esque spin on them. This usually results in an edgy, futuristic take on current fashion trends and turns these looks into interesting, artistic combinations of music artist meets fashion muse.

RUNWAY: Alexander Wang

THE LOOK: Sporty, white couture with cutouts

RUNWAY: Oscar de la Renta

THE LOOK: Black, lace-covered face

FASHION VS FAD - Current stage in Fashion Cycle

Lady Gaga is a fashion cameleon with the ability to alter and morph her signature style as quick as you can say "disco stick". There is not a single trend that has surpassed her or that she hasn't started herself. Whether it be fast passed fads, such as hair bows, bubble dresses and lobster hats or major fashion trends, like origami inspired outfits, shoulder volume and lace. If one thing is for certain, Gaga is always one step ahead of the crowd when it comes to finding the next fashion trend.

FASHION FADS: Hair bows, Bubble dresses and Lobster hair pieces

MAJOR FASHION TRENDS: Origami inspired dressing, Shoulder volume and Lace

The future of GAGA

No one could possibly predict the exact direction in which Lady Gaga's fashion trends will take us in the future. What we do know, however, is that whatever the trend may be it will be provocative, thought provoking and pushing fashion's boundaries to the limits. And no doubt will have us lining up ready to wear it too. For a woman who claims her main fashion inspirations as 80's glam rock legend David Bowie and Queen, as well as her songwriting, performances and fans, we know that anything is possible and she will make it a reality.