2008 was an eventful year for Gaga - it was THE year of Gaga. Her reign on the industry started here, and her debut album 'The Fame' would hit shelves on August 19th of that year. Gaga's style continued to evolve into some of her most iconic looks and style moments that took place during the album rollout.
In January of that year, she met RedOne in the studio and wrote her smash hit 'Just Dance' in only ten minutes. She was still hungover from a goodbye party held the night before, and she had flown out to Los Angeles that day. In only a week, her and RedOne also wrote 'Poker Face' and 'LoveGame'. After the creation of these songs, she signed a recording deal with Interscope Records, and work on her official debut album began to take place and the album took shape little by little.
Gaga is pictured with Colby O'Donis in January 2008. The photo was taken in a recording studio, and Gaga is wearing what can be described as a "very Gaga look", her fashion was becoming more and more bold, and it would continue to get even more bold as her career went on - and it's still changing to this day. Each era of her career can be marked by her personal style, one of many interesting things about her - it really adds to her artistry and her music.
Gaga would go on to write and work with many big names in the industry, writing songs for Britney Spears and working in the studio with Akon. All before her debut album even hit the shelves. She was also enlisted to write for New Kids on the Block and The Pussycat Dolls.
In February, she did her first promotional shoot for Interscope Records, which would become the first set of promotional photos for 'The Fame' era. She was photographed by New York based photographer Warwick Saint, who commonly photographs fashion, celebrities, and advertising images. Seven looks were photographed throughout this shoot, the most iconic of which being Gaga in a blue and white outfit, which would be used for the 'Just Dance' single cover art.
'Just Dance' would come out later in the year, but the photos marked a new beginning in Gaga's career - she was truly becoming her new persona and turning into the artist and woman she is today.
Look one is the most iconic from the shoot, and it marks a defining era in one of the most incredible careers in music. There are many different alternate takes and shots featuring the outfit - but the one of Gaga on her back was the most widely used from the shoot.
Look two feels almost like a Britney Spears meets Gaga crossover look. It reminds me ever so slightly of Britney's iconic 'Toxic' outfit, but with an extra level of risqué, something Gaga has never shied away from. This look is even more daring than look one, and it is one that was not as heavily promoted/used. It was used in the booklet for 'The Fame' CD when it hit the shelves.
Look three feels more rockstar-esque and is a bit more "out there", even compared to the previous two looks. I feel as if look three really captures the essence of the overall feel of 'The Fame' and the era surrounding it. It feels bold, it's daring, and it's something you wouldn't see from any other popstar. It goes back more to Gaga's 80s influence, which was seen in her pre-fame stage shows and fashion.
The blue mixed with the usage of reflective clothing and lighting led to a bright, high voltage photoshoot. These blue shades feel very much linked to the album, and the bright lighting in some shots feels like paparazzi flashes - a big part of fame and living the life of a celebrity, the main, central theme present on 'The Fame'.
Look four of seven was mostly used for a few shots focusing more heavily on Gaga's face. Photos like these ones help to make her image as she has such an iconic profile and facial features.
A more "incomplete" feeling look with an open back and a flare to it that only someone like Gaga could pull off, look five is an incredibly impressive piece that led the way for the sixth look that followed.
Five and six are incredibly similar looks in nature, but six feels more aligned with Gaga's style at the time, and it seems like it has more of the rock edge that would be seen more in Gaga's 'Born This Way' era.
The final look in the catalogue is also quite similar to the previous two. It features more leather and more of that rockstar aesthetic and persona that Gaga would further incorporate in her looks as her career went on.
Look seven was used for some more unconventional photos that feel wonderfully unique to Gaga, using sequins and a loose t-shirt to make a discoball-esque feel with a laid back edge.
Thanks to Warwick Saint and the rest of the helping hands behind this shoot, we got seven unique, early Gaga looks that would help to further establish her and her style before the release of her debut album, 'The Fame'.
February 2008 (and more) will be continued in PART II...
Love it! 2008 was an eventful year for me too! 😘
In my eyes you're just as iconic as Gaga.🥳🙌
Xoxo