The Many Bags of Lady Gaga

Oh, Lady Gaga. She’s just irrepressible, isn’t she? I used to be a major Gaga fangirl back in her early days (I went to see her for the first time long before she was playing arenas, I swear), but now she’s just kind of…tiring. And I like Katy Perry’s new single better. (Yeah, I said it.) Still, Gaga’s consistently one of the most interesting real-life fashion installations we have to gawk at, and gawk we shall, now that Gaga’s recovered from a hip injury and back to shepherd her Little Monsters into the last half of 2013.

We’ll start at the beginning, back when “Just Dance” was everywhere and Gaga could still make sartorial waves with a simple latex ensemble. The first bag we could find her with is the now-discontinued Yves Saint Laurent Easy Tote. Shop Saint Laurent via Saks.

It wasn’t long before Gaga was a fashion-industry darling – she made a big splash by arriving late to a Marc Jacobs’ show (carrying a Marc Jacobs Thrash Clutch, natch). Shop Marc Jacobs via Net-a-Porter.

Before long, other designers came calling for some Gaga-centric publicity. When standing next to Donatella Versace, it’s important to be carrying a Versace Medusa Clutch, one would expect. Shop Versace via Net-a-Porter.

Gaga’s entire outfit in this photo is Versace, so although we don’t have a for-sure bag ID, Versace would be my educated guess. With that giant, spiked gold cross, it certainly seems plausible. Shop Versace via Net-a-Porter.

Gaga likes to dress head-to-toe in a single designer quite a bit, of course, and it’s often in the designer’s most distinct runway looks, like this houndstooth Ferragamo situation. It’s topped off with a matching Salvatore Ferragamo Houndstooth Clutch. Shop Ferragamo via Neiman Marcus.

When going to a private Alaia event, what does one wear other than Alaia? Gaga chose an Alaia Cutout Clutch as well. Pick up a similar Alaia clutch for $1,870 via Net-a-Porter.

Despite the ubiquitousness of this photo of Gaga coming out of Armani in a freshly purchased hot pink fur coat that perfectly matched the rest of her outfit, I’ve never been able to find any confirmation of whether she wore the rest of the pink clothes into the store and bought the coat because it was such a perfect fit, or if she bought the entire outfit, including the perfectly matched bag, along with the coat. Why won’t the Internet tell me everything I want to know?

For a while, Gaga carried and wore a ton of Chanel, including this custom-made Chanel Camellia Evening Bag that the brand provided for the launch of her Barneys pop-up shop.

On the complete opposite end of the size spectrum, here we have Gaga with the biggest Chanel Cerf Tote I’ve ever seen. Shop pre-owned and vintage Chanel via Portero.

Not too big, not too small, but juuuuust right – Gaga’s Chanel Mademoiselle Bag, that is.

Then we’ve got the classics, like this Chanel Mini Flap Bag, which worked perfectly for the two weeks that Gaga only wore black and gold.

Of course, no celebrity Chanel collection would be complete without the Chanel Classic Flap Bag in black.

I had it in my head that this bag was Mugler, designed by Gaga’s stylist and friend Nicola Formichetti, but now I can’t confirm that. Thoughts?

Also in the realm of the unidentified: Gaga hasn’t been carrying many bags at all lately, but we did catch her with this little black clutch during her recent promotional tour for “Applause.”

Gaga also had a stint where she carried a teacup and saucer instead of a bag. Remember that? Why are things so strange?

And then, of course, there’s the Hermes. No one gets as rich and fashion-obsessed as Gaga without accumulating some Hermes, and Gaga’s most famous handbag moments have definitely been from the venerable French brand. Here, a relatively subtle vintage Hermes Kelly Bag.

Where things really got weird for Gaga’s handbags were the Hermes Birkins. First, an orange version carried by her body guard.

And then Gaga had a Japanese message to her fans written in Sharpie on the visage of her white Hermes Birkin.

Lastly, a DIY studded Hermes Birkin, enough to make any H fan’s blood boil. As intended, I’m sure.