No one does statement shoes quite like Lady Gaga. Where the average person would stop at 5-inch heel or 3-inch platform, Gaga prefers footwear that defies logic. At just 5’1”, the petite star uses supersize heels to literally elevate her looks, and can move better in towering boots than most do in sneakers. Her lavish and ornate outfits often take the bulk of attention, but Gaga’s shoes deserve a museum exhibit all their own.
Instead of simply picking what shows up on the runway, Gaga has always been inventive when it comes to her footwear choices. Apt to wear glossy heels straight from the local fetish boutique, or custom Giuseppe Zanotti pumps, she mixes it up depending on the event. Her most iconic looks often include shoes to match—yes there were meat boots to go with that infamous dress—and whether the moment is casual or broadcast for millions, she isn’t one to wear flats. A trip to the MTV Video Music Awards back in 2010 required McQueen’s famous armadillo platforms, while date night in Manhattan with fiancé Christian Carino back in May called for 10-inch black booties by Pleaser—meaning that within the span of nearly a decade, her love of extreme heights hasn’t changed.
Wild footwear may be the one constant within Gaga’s expansive wardrobe, and over the years she’s appeared in hundreds of jaw-dropping pairs, each one higher than the last. A look back at her best and boldest shows the impact shoes can have, and the diva will always have a leg up on the competition.
