Lady Gaga's Stylist Captured 'Swagga' For 'Judas' Video

'Nicola Formichetti is the most brilliant man in fashion,' gushes Gaga's creative director, Laurieann Gibson.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias


Laurieann Gibson
Photo: MTV News

On Thursday, after her "Judas" video premiered, Lady Gaga laughed off any controversy she might receive from the Biblical-themed clip. "In my opinion, the only controversial thing about this video is that I'm wearing Christian Lacroix and Chanel in the same frame," she joked with E! News.

The fashions featured in the "Judas" clip are certainly far from controversial. They are over-the-top, romantic, tough and truly couture. Gaga wears fanciful dresses, biker jackets, crowns, heavy crosses, flowing capes and Victorian-cut silhouettes, as seen in the video's final scene, where she dons a big, white wedding gown.

The designs were all styled by Gaga's longtime friend and Mugler creative director, Nicola Formichetti, who seamlessly combines old-fashioned garb and modern styling for a look that is truly unique to the world in which Gaga's Mary Magdalene character, her two loves (Jesus and Judas) and her apostles live.

The style credits for the video include designers at the top of any fashionista's list. With vintage Christian Lacroix (barroom outfit, wedding dress), Mugler (purple catsuit, gloves), Alexander McQueen (boots) and, yes, even the Haus of Gaga (cape, velvet undergarments), Gaga is really paying homage to the apostles of the fashion bible with her, at times, very literal (there are lots of crosses) take on Biblical fashion.

Laurieann Gibson, who co-directed "Judas" with Gaga, explains that Formichetti perfectly captured the look the two had envisioned for the video.

"Nicola Formichetti is the most brilliant man in fashion and I must tell you I love him and adore him," Gibsonshe told MTV News. "And, my God, the clothing! The idea when we spoke [we told him], 'Nicola, it's a metal gospel.' You know, for me, Nicola is just brilliant at executing what it looks like in the clothing and the swagga to make everyone look so cool, he did a great job."

When the "Born This Way" video dropped earlier this year, Gibson expressed similar warm, fuzzy feelings for one of the most vital members of the Haus of Gaga. "We found Nicola and he just got it. So when we're on set, the Haus is such a collaboration, and Nicola is inspired and loves the passion of the dance," she said. "He is fashion, and him and Gaga together are magic. To see them push and pull, it's just a real process. It's like the Factory. It's very [Andy] Warhol how we operate."

What do you think of the fashions Nicola Formichetti created for Gaga's "Judas" video? Share your opinions in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663428/lady-gaga-judas-nicola-ormichetti-laurieann-gibson.jhtml

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Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Slash Light Up Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show

Foursome is joined by special guests and tons of lights for smash-hit medley.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Black Eyed Peas perform during the Super Bowl XLV halftime show
Photo: Getty Images

The Black Eyed Peas promised a party at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday (February 6), and the pop supernovas definitely delivered, with a performance teeming with lights, dancers and surprise appearances from celebrity pals.

Following a Chatter.com commercial that showed animated versions of the Peas showing off their social-media skills, the group kicked things off with their 2009 smash "I Gotta Feeling," descending from the ceiling on illuminated platforms onto a stage surrounded by a cluster of dancers clad in white bodysuits. The foursome led the team of fist-pumping troops in "Tron"-like getups, with Taboo sporting an outfit covered in flashing lights, will.i.am rocking a shiny hairpiece, Apl.de.ap wearing huge bright studs and Fergie vamping it up in bling-laden shoulder pads.

When the speaker-busting bass of "Boom Boom Pow" dropped, the dancers dispersed across the field to create arrow-shaped formations as the glow-in-the-dark lights on their suits illuminated the stadium. Then rumored surprise guest Slash of Guns N' Roses rose from below the stage for a "Sweet Child O' Mine" duet with Fergie. The GNR great rocked a finger-searing solo in a studded version of his signature black top hat as more angular platforms and dancers moved across the gridiron. The platforms were bearing scores of marching-band musicians who blasted their horns and pounded away on their drums as the Peas went into "Pump It" and blue lights splashed across the production.

Quick streams of fog heralded the arrival of the Peas' second surprise guest, Usher, who swooped in on a long chain to bust out his will.i.am-assisted joint "OMG." Rocking a sparkly collar on an otherwise all-white ensemble, the R&B hitmaker cranked out several counts of energetic choreography, enlivening moves from his "OMG" video and at one point jumping over Will and landing in a split.

A spray of pyro ushered in the collective's breakout 2003 hit "Where Is the Love?" as the oddly shaped platforms spelled out the word "Love" in bright-red letters. The team of dancers, which appeared to have multiplied to over 100, formed hearts across the field as will updated the lyrics of the smash with lines like, "Obama, let's get these educated."

Then the group jumped ahead to their most recent single, 2010's "The Time (Dirty Bit)," as several back up hoofers rocking cubed helmets joined the Peas onstage and dancers lined up along the gridiron to simultaneously bust out the Running Man, a move which drew cheers from the crowd.

The platinum-selling Peas wrapped up the performance with a reprise of "I Gotta Feeling," as the quartet triumphantly signed off amid of blitz of fog, firepower and flashing lights.

Ripping the halftime show was clearly a touching moment for will, who tweeted beforehand, "Me and apl started the peas when we were 16 yesterday we were dreamin now were livin it. Wow. I'm not crying out of sadness or nervousness its joy and pride and memories and the journey."

And once the crew left the stage, the frontman was not only proud, but pumped. "That was so freakin sick," he wrote. "Wow...!!!"

What did you think of the Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl performance? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657356/black-eyed-peas-usher-slash-super-bowl.jhtml

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