There are some artists we appreciate for their subtlety and nuance, their quiet elegance, and their timeless taste in clothing. Yeah, that's not what we're into when it comes to the one and only Katy Perry! We love, love, love that Katy has a super playful and over-the-top sense of fashion, especially when it comes to the outfits she wears for her performances. She recently launched her Las Vegas residency, and we are so into the outrageous outfits she's rocking onstage.
The thing about Katy is that she can sing (she's got the pipes to really wail on karaoke classics "Firework" and "Unconditional"), and her clothes aren't meant to distract from a lack of talent. Instead, her performance fashion is meant to tell a story, just like some of her most iconic red carpet and Met Gala looks.
To be honest, it was a little hard to narrow down the 15 most outrageous outfits for Katy. We could almost do a story on just outfits where she dressed like food, after all. But we feel like we've found the 15 looks that are the most fun, most whimsical, and most instantly iconic. And yes, there just might be an outfit that is a shout-out to toilet paper. Intrigued? Read on …
Light It Up
What would it look like if Lumière from Beauty and the Beast was someone's fashion inspiration? Well, probably something like this epic 2019 Met Gala ensemble. The theme that year was Notes on Camp, and it's pretty clear that Katy understood — and totally nailed — the assignment.
Toilet Paper Queen
OK, by itself this outfit might not seem that outrageous, but the toliet paper-inspired turban and cute white dress are on another level when paired with the largest toilet we've ever seen! And really, who doesn't wear fringed opera gloves when hanging out with a giant orange commode?
Sexy Mushroom
This fiery red number is giving sexy mushroom meets latex meets sexy car wash rollers vibes. Could anyone besides Katy Perry (and maybe Lady Gaga?) pull this off and actually have it make sense? Probably not, but when Katy wore it on stage alongside a gigantic snail, it totally worked.
Is It Halloween?
Here is the fun thing about Katy's wacky and over-the-top style: We could say this is a Halloween costume and it would be believable. We could also say this was a performance outfit and THAT would also be believable. Heck, we could say she wore this to get tampons at the grocery store and it wouldn't seem totally impossible, would it?
(This is a Halloween costume, FWIW, and we love the pro-vaccine vibe.)
Queen of Our Hearts
This white, red, and pink nod to love and Valentine's Day is a big look for most folks, but we'd call it a subtle one by Katy's standards. This Alice in Wonderland vibe — from a taping of American Idol in 2021 — is clear evidence of the fact that celebrities have a much bigger budget for dry cleaning white clothes than us mere mortals do.
Matchy-Matchy Cow Magic
When most celebs decide to rock some animal print, they don't usually choose cow print. And they definitely don't go for head-to-toe, hat-to-heels in cow print. This custom number from designer and Project Runway star Christian Siriano was likely to cause massive milkshake cravings!
A Very 2020 Vibe
It is weird to think there was a moment in time when it made total sense that one of our biggest pop icons was filming a reality competition show from her own home, while dressed as a bottle of hand sanitizer, but then 2020 happened. It all makes perfect sense on Katy.
Festive AF
Gold sparkle antlers? Check! A dress that looks like it was made out of a Christmas tree skirt? Check! Giant sleeves with hanging ornaments? Why not? This Christmas look is a festive AF and manages to hit that Katy Perry sweet spot of sexy and whimsical.
A Bow Moment
When we look at this picture of Katy, taken before a performance in Dubai, we have a couple of questions. First, what is that bow actually made out of? Leather? Plastic? Something else entirely? Second, is the fringe on the gloves made of the same material? Third, can we get a pair? Because school drop-off would be way more fashionable if we could.
A Whole Lot of Look
Yes, it's another Christmas outfit, but we can't skip this one. It is very "I'll Be Home for the Holidays" meets Gone With the Wind meets boob foliage. Is boob foliage a thing? We think it just might be. If not, Katy is going to make it a thing.
So Shiny
Here is the thing we want to know: What is Katy's annual budget for sequins? Because this combination of turban, turtleneck, and big-ass bow would surely break the sequin budget for a mere mortal, but we suspect that it's just a drop in the shiny, shiny bucket for Ms. Perry.
A Delicious Reunion
For years, there were rumors of a long simmering feud between Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, which makes her appearance in Taylor's You Need To Calm Down video a major moment. That the duo had that reunion while dressed as fast food is just a bonus!
Bubble Girl
A strapless gown in a sweet pale pink with a silver streak on the bodice doesn't sound outrageous on paper, but this Balmain outfit has a bit of a twist. The bubble shape in the middle is a whole new shape, but at least it seems like Katy wouldn't have to suck it in all night at the Grammys.
Totally Angelic
Another classic Met Gala look was this angelic vibe from 2018. In addition to the mega angel wings, this nod to the theme of Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination also featured thigh-high gold boots and a metallic minidress.
Beer Cans, But Make It Fashion
A bra that actually pours real beer and beer cans built into the bottom of the dress are a look that only Katy could pull off! This is another costume from her Las Vegas show, and the dress can be paired with a garbage bag cape because, well, why not?
