Vogue's gone Gaga

MANILA, Philippines - When images of Lady Gaga in the December issue of Vogue (starring Cate Blanchett on the cover in a gold Donna Karan dress) leaked online (the scans here are courtesy of The Fashion Spot), the Internet went all atwitter. Some heaved a sigh of relief that Anna Wintour and her sharp-heeled minions were once again making a stab at relevance, having opted to shoot a young, controversial pop figure instead of the usual socialite or tennis star in preppy apparel, while others cried in disgust — at the subject (“Gaga? Gross!” noted one particularly eloquent commenter on a fashion site), at the photographer (“Annie Liebovitz is a has-been,” someone griped, “just because she’s broke doesn’t mean Vogue should keep using her.”) and at the magazine in general (“What a snore. The editorial looks as lifeless as Anna Wintour.”). Ouch. Anonymous commenters can be a cruel bunch.

But we at YStyle, being the pro-Gaga group that we are, can’t help but laud the magazine for celebrating a figure so provocative she garners reactions from people simply for what she’s wearing — whether it’s a lace body suit sans underwear or a 10-foot hat with taxidermic birds pinned to the side.

Love it or hate it, we’re just glad it’s not another socialite with a penchant for designer bags. — Bea Ledesma