Last week, Porter magazine celebrated Lady Gaga’s 28th birthday in a big way: by confirming her as the cover star of Issue 2. Naturally, there was speculation aplenty as to how the star would be presented: Would Porter go over-the-top in true Artpop fashion? Or would the look be a little more natural, à la Gisele on Issue 1? We were pleased to see the latter was the case when Porter revealed the black-and-white cover on Instagram this morning. Lensed by Inez & Vinoodh, Gaga is shown with minimal makeup, soft waves, and messy bangs. It’s the icon as she is rarely seen, but it’s right in line with Porter‘s mission to focus on strong women and their stories—not costumes and unattainable perfection.
Debuting exclusively here on Style.com are two spreads from the story inside. The vibe is moody, sensual, and relaxed, depicting Gaga in comfortable boudoir attire (including a vintage robe that belonged to her grandmother). The idea was to capture her in a pared-down, “undone” state, channeling seventies female musicians. And while it isn’t what we’re used to seeing, Gaga told Porter‘s Christine Lennon that it spurred some nostalgia.
“I used to wear outfits like this! It brought me full circle, returning to my old style,” she said. Her favorite rock-and-rollers inspired her outfits when she was a teenager performing in Manhattan clubs. “I was a huge fan of The Beatles, Yoko Ono, Stevie Nicks, and Led Zeppelin,” she said. “I used to emulate that style, wear my mom’s old clothing, go to vintage shops, and I still had that look when I went to college and wore my little hippie outfits. Then when I was 19 on the Lower East Side, I started experimenting more with glam rock. So this shoot really spans my style from 17 to almost 20.” And after that, we all know what happened: “I started having a little more fun with futurism.”
The full interview can be found in Porter magazine, available on newsstands April 4, and on net-a-porter.com
