Origins of CAMP Culture: Why Lady Gaga is the Perfect Example

The word camp is essential vocabulary for the queer community and almost anyone who believes in the importance of EXTRA. The word “camp” is thought to have originated from a French-derived word that means "to pose in an exaggerated fashion."

The way I feel the word or action ‘camp’ is used, especially in my generation, is to describe something of extreme exaggeration or spontaneity, but in the best and largest way. CAMP in queer dialect is a way in which we express our admiration of one’s fashion, style, attitude, personality, etc. Being called camp or described as “campy” is nothing less than a compliment. Knowing this information, I’m sure you can draw your own conclusions on how and why Lady Gaga is justifiably a perfect example of ‘Camp’ and what camp culture represents. 

Lady Gaga is a queer icon and is inevitably recognized by millions of people worldwide. Yes, her music is very fun and lyrically beautiful. Still, she has gained most of her recognition for defying the limits of stage presence, show quality, and iconic fashion statements never seen or worn by anyone before. 

Gaga’s ability to push boundaries has paved the way for creativity for hundreds to thousands of other artists and people in general. Gaga is unafraid of difference and if anything embraces it. A community such as the LGBTQ+ that was established on our people being labeled “different” and “not normal”, we thrive in someone such as Gaga. We have found comfort in her developed chaos and why she had adopted the name of MOTHER. She gave us the approval that we needed to be the extravagant, spontaneous, “campy” people we know we all want to be. 

In the early stages of Gaga’s career, she really used the ideologies of ‘CAMP’ to her advantage to help build her success. She adopted camp culture to help create some of the most iconic songs, music videos, stage performances, and fashion styles. In Gaga’s probably most well-known music video, Telephone ft. Beyonce, she showcases some of the most legendary and most unique outfits that the music industry had seen at that time. From the diet coke cans as curlers in her hair, to a bodysuit made entirely of yellow yielded caution tape, to sunglasses made from lit cigarettes, she built the foundation of what it meant for an artist to showcase ‘CAMP’. 

Gaga found this loophole in fashion that everyone knew existed, but never actually acted upon it to highlight one’s creative abilities. She used items that could have been seen as trash or disposable and converted them into top-tier fashion in a way that presented extravagance. This is quite literally what “camp” is. 

The ability to use what you have and artistically create something new, upscale, extra, different, weird is “camp” and camp culture. Lady Gaga knew what she was doing and did it well. Now, our society cannot think of “camp” or being “campy” without thinking of Gaga, the queen of camp herself. 

Written by KateLynn Herrera

Directed by K Pereira @kaleb.pereira922

Photography by Mark Bluemle @barks.mindd

Styled by Margaret Wells @margymarg_

MUA: Alex Venus @alexv3nus

PA: Amanda Manson @_.amanddaaa

Talent: Alexia Hill @aaalexia23

Talent: Kira James @kiraystalmeth

Talent: Zuri Palmer @zuri.palmer

Red Carpet Realness: A Reflection on Iconic Red Carpet Looks

From meat dresses to matching denim ensembles, red carpet looks have always been a cultural staple, good and bad. For a long time, people have been comparing and contrasting these looks, like the infamous G Hannelius and Beyoncé striped dress fiasco. 

But I think it’s really important to look at the early 2000s and how these looks hold up today and how our attitudes towards red carpet fashion has shifted.

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of red carpet looks from the Y2K era is Ashley Tisdale and her iconic pink boa outfit. This perfectly encapsulates the time period and how a look ten years ago we would’ve considered ugly has now grown into something that we now deem culturally significant. And this is the truth for a lot of the looks from that era. When you describe them using words, they sound bizarre, but when you see the outfits in action, you can see that there was real vision behind these looks.

One of the most iconic looks from this era is the matching denim ensembles worn by Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake to the 2001 American Music Awards. This look has been copied and costumed for the past 24 years, which really shows a testament to how long-lasting this moment was. Although it appears to be just denim outfits, it’s the coupling of a denim gown with a full denim tuxedo that makes the impact of these outfits even more iconic.

Another pop diva of the time that continuously stunned on the red carpet was Christina Aguilera. Each time she came out onto the carpet, she embodied sex appeal. From cutouts to croptops and mini skirts, Xtina always had a way of catching the camera’s eye the moment she stepped foot onto the red carpet.

Avril Lavigne, the Canadian singer/songwriter, also brought her own spin to red carpet fashion. Unlike her contemporaries in the industry, Lavigne continued to bring her pop-punk aesthetic onto the red carpets. She routinely sported combat boots, fishnet gloves, and baggy jeans. And she would accessorize with neckties and studded bracelets that really emphasized her rocker charm. All of the things she wore now seem pedestrian, but when putting her outfits into the context of the time, she stood out for her more relaxed aura.

Missy Elliott is another red carpet demolisher. When looking back at photos, it was very clear that Missy had a vision and an understanding of what worked for her. On every single red carpet, Missy Elliot walked out in some version of a two piece set, whether it was a track suit, jersey or baggy tux, she always found a way to accersorize and shine on the carpet. One of her best looks was a denim tuxedo with a matching newsboy cap that she wore to the 2006 Grammy’s. It perfectly showcased her individual style while still being timely, she was able to fully encompass fashion in a winning moment.

It wasn’t only women who were able to shine on the red carpet, but there were a few men who were able to showcase that they also had style. Ginuwine is one of the best examples of that. His signature look was a twist on the standard tuxedo. Only this time, it was cropped, showing off his abs in the process. The only accessory he had was a cross necklace that he wore regularly. 

This trend of mainly women and girls being the primary moments of iconic red carpet looks still rings true today. But I believe it has shifted with the changes in fashion. Comparing today to the early 2000s, there seems to be a huge drop in personal style on the red carpet. Where looks like the iconic JLo Versace dress that created Google images doesn’t seem to happen anymore. This loss of personal style has then created a rush of men just wearing black tuxes on every red carpet with little to no difference. Of course, there is the occasional skirt addition or maybe the suit is a different color, but that doesn’t make up for all the effort that is put into the women's outfits.

Of course, not all red carpet looks recently are terrible. A prime example is all the looks that are put together by Law Roach for Zendaya. She has been one of the celebrities to pioneer method dressing, where celebrities are styled for red carpets in correlation to the character they played and the project they are working on. The way the two of them have been working on her outfits has really shown that there is still a lot of care for personal style but also the fashion and effort that needs to be put into these looks.

One thing the Y2K era got right about red carpet looks was style. Although many trends were prominent throughout all the looks, the celebrities' styles and images played a huge factor in their outfits. A halter top worn by Beyoncé wasn’t going to be worn the same way by Jessica Alba; their stylist were able to take these trends and adjust them to make them unique for the artist they were styling for. 

But there is hope; as we begin to see the rise of method dressing, we continue to see a shift in red carpet looks. Men are beginning to take more risks, and style is becoming a greater part of styling again.

Written by Clark Gérôme

Directed by K Pereira @kaleb.pereira922

Photography by Roberto Meadows @_.rubbertoe

Styled by K Pereira & Margaret Wells @margymarg_

Pulled from: Luxe Treasures and Boutique @luxetreasures.277

Production: Chloe Kaleah Stewart @chloe.kaleah, Amanda Manson @_.amanddaaa, Mark Bluemle @barks.mindd

Talent: Rayna @im.rayna

Talent: T’L @swishmontanaa

Talent: Kosi @gettingkosi

Talent: Christiana Mercedes @tia.mercedess

Talent: Arlo @_carlantonino_

What's Hot: A Look at NYFW from Those You Should Know

It’s one thing to see some of the hottest events of the year with fresh eyes and new navigation, but when you're a vet, you're graced with a new title and a new sense of what’s in fashion. Whether it’s your first or your last, knowing what’s hot is an important skill many vets have come to master, that's why we spoke with those on the up and up, finding the gems of this year's NYFW.

Fashion Journalist and Content Creator, Chloé Solnicki, shares her experience from her second NYFW. Chloé attended nine shows, among them Melke, Alvin Valler, Alexis Bittar, but the Cucculelli Shaheen runway show stood out to her the most. “Cucculelli definitely caught my heart with this collection, definitely something more than memorable,” says Solnicki. “I didn’t know the brand before the event but I have to admit that I fell in love with all the designs, as well as the show. They found the perfect bridge and managed to combine feminine high fashion dresses with a punk touch, doing their runway show in a music house with a live rock band playing,” Solnicki Continued.

Chloé Solnicki at Cucculelli Shaheen runway show 

LEFT: Solnicki at Melke Presentation. RIGHT: Chloé Solnicki in between shows

Photographer Liuna Fekravar graduated from Harvard in 2023, but Boston's fashion scene is much different from NYC; that didn't stop her stride, attending some of the hottest shows like Lauren Altman, the Time to be Happy Gallery in Lower Manhattan, and One Night In Bangkok at Ideal Glass Studios in Soho. ”My favorite show was Frederick Anderson’s Fall 2025 Ready to Wear runway show at the Edition Hotel,” she commented, “The show took place at the Paradise Club at the Edition Hotel and was romantically curated with velvet floor-length curtains, an almost mist-like smoke, and opened by opera singer (and Grammy Winner) J’Nai Bridges,” added Fekravar. “From a photography perspective, I loved the juxtaposition and found myself able to take more creative runway photos than usual.”  

Frederick Anderson’s runway show. 

Anna Delvey walking for One Night in Bangkok fashion presentation.

That’s not the only show that caught her attention though, “I have long been an advocate for a focus on sustainability in fashion, and it was incredible to see a collection that personifies this so well,” Fekravar said about Lauren Altman. “She transforms into one-of-a-kind wearable pieces of art,” she continued, “I had the opportunity to shoot BTS as well as (the) runway at her show, which allowed me to really focus in on her artistic craft and the incredible detail behind each one of her pieces.” 

Pictures by Liuna Fekravar for Lauren Altman NYFW AW 25/26

We also caught up with Michelle Paradis who’s work (or camera) you mightve seen taking stunning pictures all through the week.

On the streets of NYC, Paradis captures the beautiful chaos of NYFW

Paradis attended Runway shows at the 1896, and enjoyed all the show had to offer, “Backstage is where the magic truly happens, and it's always my favorite part. The atmosphere is electric and chaotic, with models slipping into their outfits, waiting to be styled, often taking hours to prepare for the grand finale. In those spontaneous moments, anything can happen, and capturing that energy is exciting.”

Backstage captured by Michelle Paradis

Backstage captured by Michelle Paradis

Backstage captured by Michelle Paradis

Backstage captured by Michelle Paradis

In the show, Twiggy Moore and Evan Walker showcased their collections alongside other various talented designers, and in Paradis eyes, they’re designers you should keep an eye out for. 

“Twiggy Moore and Evan Walker are the rising stars of this Fashion Week,” said Paradis. “Twiggy and Evan pushing are the boundaries, refreshing what fashion can be for this new generation,” she added 

Twiggy Moore designs backstage NYFW ‘25

“Stepping into their world felt like entering a whimsical realm reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland-theatrical and unconventional with Twiggy's textured silhouettes and the utilitarian and earthy vibes of Evan Walker that perfectly capture the rebellious contrast of these designers,” Paradis stated.

Written by Toni Desiree