SuperCaliFashionistic

I know I've been posting old stuff lately, but this is too good to overlook. Throbbing techno and gothic minimalism set the stage for Nicola Formichetta's fall showing for Thierry Mugler. The clothing was relatively simple, but the atmosphere made it spectacular. The striking paradox of ornate (pillared runway, ostentatious poses) and simplicistic (sleek ponytails, austere ensembles) meshed seamlessly with Mugler's darkly modern aesthetic. The random appearance of Lady Gaga, surrounded by a halo of red light as she took a drag on her cigarette, was surprising (yet strangely symbolic). So, too, was her ability to strut in ten-inch heels on a slippery surface where even professionals seemed shaky (although I suppose she has a lot of practice from those Alexander McQueen shoes).

Gaga certainly stood out amongst Formichetti's elegant, shadowy wraiths, who glided down the catwalk with willowy arms beckoning amidst arching wood columns. These were no Christian-Dior-clad princesses or buxom Louis Vuitton housewives. Mugler's authoritative women walked with purpose (despite a few stumbles). Yet Formichetti didn't equate power with masculinity. These women owned their sexuality, flaunting pushed-up cleavage in low cut necklines and tight mesh shirts. No other collection so perfectly epitomized the modern-day urban woman - confident, street-savvy, and unapologetic in her femininity. A certain blonde, sailor-mouthed singer would wholeheartedly approve.

If she really cared, she wouldn't be looking like a browless alien with a hair transplant:

Lady Gaga's newest track debuted at the House of Mugler show last week in celebration of Nicola Formechetti's first menswear collection for Thierry Mugler. He also happens to be Lady Gaga's personal stylist (wait, who knew she had one?) and costume designer. She calls him "Fashion's Freedom." "I love him, my friend the genius, my collaborator, more more than any piece of clothing or closet I possess. But don't tell him I said that, he'll die. He picked them all out," she said in a statement at the show.

Shot by fashion photographer Mario Vivanco, the film is haunting, moody, and more than a little unnerving.

Like most of Lady Gaga's work, it's heavily techno-ey, pop-inflected, and practically incoherent. The music is a perfect runway soundtrack, but it's hard to say whether it'll transfer well to the mainstream market.

In case you're wondering who the creepy guy in the video is, he's Canadian model Rick Genest. Formichetti tracked him down through Facebook, where he goes under the alias "Zombie Boy." I'm guessing the tattoos are real.