Katy’s Past Style

Pop-diva Katy Perry captivates fans with her songs, live performances, and stylish looks. Perry's dress choices have always piqued the interest of both fans and fashion lovers, from her early days as a quirky pop princess to her present era as a style icon. She has experimented with bright colors, bold shapes, and wild accessories to develop a unique and unforgettable personal style. Although her world-famous live performance, music videos, and red carpet outfits are iconic, her recent street style and American Idol outfits have fashion critics turning heads. But she didn't just all of a sudden start dressing differently, Perry recently did a "Life in Looks" video with Vogue where she revisited her style progression over 15 years in the music industry. From her iconic hamburger outfit from the Met Gala after party to being a judge for American Idol, she wore chic outfits styled by Tatiana Waterford. This stylist has played a significant role in Perry's fashion and style evolution. As seen on Perry's Instagram, she wears more high-end fashion labels and designers, which has helped elevate her fashion game to more sophisticated and polished. Through Waterford's stylist choices, Perry has maintained a cohesive aesthetic in the past couple of years.

Latest Outfit Choices

As Perry appears on American Idol as a judge, she posts her outfits for each show displaying Waterford's stylistic choices. Perry recently wore a striking Rick Owens strapless denim gown with an asymmetrical hemline and a green metallic finish. The dress featured a unique cutout on the front which she styled with a pair of Amina Muaddi Lupita iridescent leather heeled sandals, which gave the outfit a dramatic and edgy look. This pairing of shoes and dress created a bold contrast that showcased Perry's signature electric style. 

Perry was spotted leaving “Good Morning America” on March 28 of this year, wearing an off-duty street-style look styled by Waterford. The look consisted of a yellow cropped leather Balenciaga jacket, low-rise R13 Denim jeans, and a white baby-tee underneath. Waterford accessorized the outfit with numerous rings, cat-eye black sunglasses, and pointy black heels that peeked out of the bottom of her distressed low-waisted jeans. Also seen in New York were Perry’s many edgy looks with a hint of Western style. In February, she was seen wearing a Rotate Jodie snake-effect vegan leather coat with matching leather pants and a Rotate Emili snakeskin faux leather crop-top in a lime green color. Perry deepended the Western look and paired the leather ensemble with a pair of brown and pink boots from Paco Rabanne and a Saint Laurent bolo tie necklace. Perry fearlessly experiments with trendy styles while remaining an air of sophistication and composure. 

Evolution of Carpet Looks

Perry appeared strikingly at the 2017 Met Gala as cochair, with a fashion-forward outfit that captured everyone's attention. The pop star wore a custom Maison Margiela "Artisanal" gown, designed by John Galliano, complete with a red tulle veil and a headpiece adorned with chains and jewels, ready for the carpet. In the recent Vogue video series "Life in Looks," Perry expressed how she finally felt she fit into the fashion world with this outfit. The theme of "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between" was reflected by Perry, whose bold sense of style and willingness to take risks captured the media's attention. The dress featured a crystal headdress, intricate embroidery, and crystals sewn into the dress. The look represented Galliano's design aesthetic, which played with volume by utilizing the red tulle and headpiece. The final look caused Perry to stand out as one of the best-dressed celebrities at the event while finally allowing her to feel a part of the fashion world. 

Perry has consistently fascinated us with her red-carpet outings, but perhaps no event had a more significant impact than the unforgettable chandelier look at the 2019 Met Gala. The theme was Camp: Notes on Fashion, where she wore a chandelier dress created by Jeremy Scott, a designer at Moschino. The internet decided that night that her chandelier look was one of the most outdone of her career.

Perry’s recent outing in January at the 2023 G’Day USA Arts Gala allowed her to present Miranda Kerr with the Excellence in the Arts award. The Grammy Award-winning musician wanted to honor an Australian designer since the Gala honored Australian excellence, so she geared towards Zimmermann, an Australian designer. Zimmermann styled her in a gold metallic crop top bralette with a matching maxi skirt from the designer’s ready-to-wear 2023 spring collection. Perry’s designer, Waterford, styled the outfit with gold jewelry and matching heels hidden underneath the gold-dipped gown. Perry never misses an opportunity to make a fashion statement.  

Katy Perry's style has undoubtedly evolved over the years, as she has experimented with various fashion statements and aesthetics. From her candy-colored pop star days to her current more mature and sophisticated style, she has proven to transform her style while staying true to herself. Despite these changes, however, Perry has managed to maintain her own unique aesthetic, which is characterized by bold colors, eclectic prints, and rhinestones. Whether she's rocking a glamorous gown or a fascination hat at King Charles III’s Coronation, her fashion choices always exude confidence, making her a true style icon for fans around the globe. Overall, Katy Perry's fashion journey shows us that true style is all about evolution, experimentation and staying true to oneself.

Written by Camryn Bacon, Design: Izzy Kaarto, Social Media: Sahiti Vemuri