For most people, one blue paper telephone hat would be enough. Then again, isn鈥檛 most people.
Back in 2011, while attending his first Lady Gaga concert in Toronto, the and costumer faced a dilemma: should he recreate the angular headpiece from the 鈥淭elephone鈥 music video, or the prosthetic horns Gaga wore on her Born This Way album cover? In the end, it wasn鈥檛 really a choice at all. 鈥淚 absolutely wore both,鈥 he enthuses 鈥 fittingly, over the phone. 鈥淭hey looked a little tragic, but it was all part of the journey. And look where I am now!鈥
Adrian Arnieri modelling his look for the Lady Gaga Mayhem Ball in Toronto. Photo: Adrian Arnieri
Indeed, Arnieri has come a long way since those papier m芒ch茅 days. Now equipped with a full studio, a decade-old clothing label and a costuming credit on Star Trek: Brave New Worlds, the Mississauga-based designer showed off his sartorial prowess this past Wednesday at the Lady Gaga Mayhem Ball at Toronto鈥檚 Scotiabank Arena. Wearing a sculptural leather corset, grommeted cargo pants, studded mask and latex gloves, the look was, he says, partially inspired by Gaga鈥檚 most recent performance 鈥 originally designed by Montreal-born brand And while he looked stunning (and really, he did!), for the guy who goes gaga for, well, Gaga, his love of costuming goes far beyond your average fan tribute.
It all began in 2011, when he was about 15 and 鈥淭elephone鈥 and 鈥淎lejandro鈥 ruled the radios. 鈥淚 became captivated by her visual artistry,鈥 he says. 鈥淕aga is so intentional. Each music video is like its own little movie, complete with a transformative look, but she鈥檚 always true to herself.鈥
Lady Gaga performs onstage during The MAYHEM Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden on August 22, 2025 in New York City. Photo: Getty Images
To Arnieri 鈥 and really, to Little Monsters everywhere 鈥 that unapologetic authenticity was electrifying. And Gaga encouraged it, using her concerts to build communities centred on self-expression, acceptance and pure creative chaos. 鈥淎t a Gaga show, people dress up in studded underwear and fishnets. Men can wear heels. It鈥檚 all just welcome,鈥 he explains. 鈥淭hat really resonated with someone who was in the closet at the time.鈥
But during this season of Gaga-enlightenment, Arnieri鈥檚 home life was very much in the dark.
In 2011, his mother passed away after a three-year battle with colon cancer. Grieving and still exploring his identity, he likens Gaga鈥檚 impact to “The Wizard of Oz” 鈥 his world in black and white until a giant ruby red dropped from the sky and brought all the colour. 鈥淲henever we went to a show, my family and I would all dress up to match the theme,鈥 he recalls, smiling. 鈥淎nd to this day, that鈥檚 why I love and going to concerts so much 鈥 it feels like a connection to my mom.鈥
Adrian Arnieri at his first Lady Gaga concert in 2011. Photo: Adrian Arnieri
More than a decade later, Arnieri has designed looks for 15 performances, ranging from to a bee bodysuit for Still, Gaga remains firmly atop the pop star pyramid, with Arnieri attending five different shows over the years 鈥 each time debuting a new look. With a portfolio that includes a “Chromatica”-inspired ball gown, a hand-painted “Artpop” robe and, of course, the original blue paper telephone hat, he admits the pressure to outdo himself is real.
So, for Lady Gaga鈥檚 September shows (he鈥檚 attending two of the three ), he started designing in August. Drawing inspiration from the 2025 album and Gaga鈥檚 Coachella performance, Arnieri played with stark contrasts 鈥 white, black and red. 鈥淭he storyline is that she鈥檚 battling two sides of herself 鈥 the light and the dark,鈥 he explains. 鈥淚 can definitely relate to that.鈥
Adrian Arnieri glueing sequins and Swarovski crystals onto the corset. Photo: Adrian Arnieri
The final look took over 100 hours to make and cost exactly zero dollars. The secret? Scraps. White and black croc PVC from previous projects. remnants for accent details. Spare sequins and Swarovski crystals for a gleaming cross. An old pair of cargo pants, now dramatically grommeted. And on the back, a miniature caricature of Gaga herself, collaged with multimedia elements.
But a particular point of pride is the base layer of the corset, which was made by fusing 110 pieces of leftover fabric together. 鈥淚 think of these outfits as a different way to challenge myself,鈥 he explains. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fun way to test my own creativity and skills.鈥 It also presents an opportunity to do a trial-run of sorts for his upcoming collection.
US singer Lady Gaga performs during a rehearsal at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 2, 2025. Photo: Getty Images
鈥淟ady Gaga puts her artistry and message out there not because it鈥檚 what people want, but because she鈥檚 expressing herself,鈥 shares Arnieri. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 what I do. I鈥檓 not designing for what鈥檚 trendy 鈥 I鈥檓 designing how I鈥檓 feeling, what I鈥檓 thinking.鈥
Although he hasn鈥檛 released a new collection since 2019, fans will have to wait a little longer 鈥 the next Arnieri drop is still TBD. He does tease, however, that it鈥檚 been in the works since 2020 and that it鈥檚 his 鈥渕ost personal yet.鈥 Until then, he鈥檒l keep designing for moments like these.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what鈥檚 so great about this experience. I get to bring my own personal style, merge it with the album, and just throw all my favourite things together,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 show up feeling like the most iconic, amazing version of myself.鈥
Blue telephone hat not required.
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation