15 years later, Lady Gaga's meat dress remains one of pop culture's most unforgettable&mdash;and divisive&mdash;fashion moments.&nbsp;

L&rsquo;HISTOIRE explores fashion history moments you should know, from what actors wore on a red carpet to celebrities who made cameos on the runway. Some are unsung, and some are better known. Each is part of the fabric of today&rsquo;s fashion world, be it barrier breakers or culture makers.
On September 12, 2010, Lady Gaga stepped onto the red carpet at the VMAs wearing one of the most iconic looks in pop culture history: a dress made from approximately 50 pounds of raw flank steak. The look, designed by Franc Fernandez and styled by Nicola Formichetti, was more than just a bold fashion choice&ndash;it was a political statement.&nbsp;
Gaga later explained that the dress symbolized her protest against the U.S. military&rsquo;s &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t Ask, Don&rsquo;t Tell&rdquo; policy, which prohibited openly LGBTQ+ individuals from serving. Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres shortly after the VMAs, she said, &ldquo;If we don&rsquo;t stand up for what we believe in, we&rsquo;re going to have as much rights as the meat on our bones.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Lady Gaga accepts the Video of the Year award during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Getty Images.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the reaction to Gaga&rsquo;s dress was both instantaneous and intense. Animal rights organizations condemned the look, while critics debated whether it was a brilliant act of fashion rebellion or created for pure shock value. Meanwhile, fans simply couldn&rsquo;t stop talking about it. The dress went viral on social media overnight. One thing was clear&mdash;Gaga had changed the course of red carpet history.&nbsp;
The meat dress permanently altered the idea of what a 'celebrity look' could be. In the years since, numerous celebrities have taken to the red carpet wearing garments that make powerful protest statements. At the 2020 Oscars, Natalie Portman wore a custom Dior cape embroidered with the names of female directors who had not been recognized for their achievements by the Academy, and at the 2021 Met Gala, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez memorably wore a white Brother Vellies gown with &ldquo;Tax the Rich&rdquo; painted across the back in bold red lettering.&nbsp;

Natalie Portman at the 2020 Oscars. Getty Images.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the 2021 Met Gala. Getty Images.

Fifteen years later, the dress remains one of the most talked about red carpet moments of all time. While some still dismiss it as a gimmick, others see it as emblematic of what Lady Gaga has always represented&ndash;fearless artistry. In an era of carefully polished and cultivated celebrity looks, Gaga&rsquo;s raw, unapologetic choice remains a standout.
Love it or hate it, the meat dress did exactly what great fashion is meant to do: make us think, feel, and, most importantly, never forget.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lady Gaga attending the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Getty Images.

L'HISTOIRE: Lady Gaga’s Infamous Meat Dress at the 2010 VMAs 

L'HISTOIRE: Lady Gaga’s Infamous Meat Dress at the 2010 VMAs

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