Lady Gaga’s 9 Face Masks Won Her Best-Dressed At The VMAs

Given that the MTV Video Music Awards take place roughly a month prior to the Emmys, the first major award show of the season, it acts as a pre-show of sorts, giving viewers a sneak peek at what the forthcoming award season will look like. And this year is no different. On Sunday night, stars took to multiple stages around New York City’s five boroughs to walk the red carpet, perform their hit singles, and both give out and receive VMAs. And, as has been the case since she first attended the award show back in 2009, Lady Gaga set a precedent that will be hard to follow as the season progresses — most notably, in the face mask department.

In addition to her three standout performances, one of which was a duet with “Rain On Me” co-singer Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga sent quite the message at last night’s VMAs: “Wear a mask.” For the event, the singer, who took home five awards, including one for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, wore nine looks — five more than at the 2019 Met Gala — each of which included its very own face covering.

With the help of her longtime stylist Nicola Formichetti, Gaga kept the pandemic and the safety of everyone at last night’s event at the forefront, while also maintaining her reputation as one of fashion’s most daring dressers — especially at award shows. (After all, it’s Lady Gaga who showed up to the VMAs wearing a dress made of meat 10 years ago.) The masks showcased last night included a horn style that she wore alongside a straight-off-the-runway Christopher John Rogers gown, a fish-bowl-esque face covering that paired with her fall ‘20 futuristic mini dress by Area, and a number of other can't-miss masks that the singer used during performances.

Check out all of Lady Gaga’s looks (and masks) from the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, by clicking through the slideshow ahead.

For her first look of the night, Lady Gaga walked the VMAs red carpet in an intergalactic ensemble that channeled the Moon Person VMAs trophy. To go with the metallic coat dress courtesy of New York-based label Area, she chose a fishbowl-like face shield by Conrad Muscarella.

Lady Gaga is wearing an Area jacket, Conrad Muscarella headpiece, Pleaser shoes, and Dena Kemp jewelry.

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

Once the show began, Gaga swapped out her metallic coat for a rainbow, feathered mini dress by Iris van Herpen. With it, she wore a bubblegum pink, patent leather face mask that strapped around her silver locks.

Lady Gaga is wearing an Iris van Herpen dress and Pleaser shoes.Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

For her second trip to the stage, Gaga appeared in a bright green gown by New York-based CFDA-winning designer Christopher John Rogers. The feminine silhouette clashed perfectly with the dark style of her Lance Victor Moore horn-embellished face mask.

Lady Gaga is wearing a Christopher John Rogers dress and a mask by Lance Victor Moore. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

For her performance of "Rain On Me" alongside Ariana Grande, Gaga stripped down into a purple bra-and-underwear set by Dead Fetish Couture, which she paired with Vex clothing sleeves and gloves. Her face covering lit up as she sang the emotional track.

Lady Gaga is wearing Dead Fetish Couture lingerie, Vex Clothing sleeves and gloves, Andre 1 shoes, and a Smooth Technology digital mask.Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

Gaga continued harnessing her power during her next performance, only this time, she chose a mint-colored lingerie set. Again, she wore a digital mask, which we're betting will be a regular occurrence on stages this award season for performers.

Lady Gaga is wearing Vex Clothing, a Smooth Technology digital mask, and Andre 1 shoes.Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

For her third and final performance of the night, Gaga put on her first of two catsuits, this one by BCALLA. With it, she wore another digital face mask by Smooth Technology, created in collaboration with visual artist Diego Montoya.

Lady Gaga is wearing a BCALLA catsuit, Saint Laurent shoes, and a Smooth Technology x Diego Montoya digital mask.

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

Continuing on in the metallic trend from the red carpet, Gaga received another award wearing a Valentino Haute Couture catsuit and feathered cape, as well as a Maison Met crystal face mask. If this is the future of fashion, we're all for it.

Lady Gaga is wearing a Valentino Haute Couture catsuit and cape, Pleaser shoes, a Maison Met mask, and Dena Kemp jewelry.Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

For once, Gaga didn't do a complete outfit change for this look. Instead, she kept on her Valentino catsuit, and just swapped out her feathered cape for a Candace Cuoco ice-like jacket and an avant-garde headpiece that could also double as a social distancing tool.

Lady Gaga is wearing a Candace Cuoco jacket, a Valentino catsuit, a Manuel Albarran choker and bra, Lance Victor Moore face armor, and Pleaser shoes.


Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

Post-show, Gaga posed with her five VMAs in an oversized T-shirt by Haus of Gaga. Her mask, which was designed by Michael Ngo, gave the look an edgier touch.

Lady Gaga is wearing an MTV VMAs x Chromatica T-shirt by Haus of Gaga, a Michael Ngo mask, and Pleaser shoes.

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

from refinery29