Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez dazzled in Schiaparelli and Chanel respectively, as they performed at the inauguration ceremony for the  46th US president, Joseph R. Biden. Gaga and Lopez joined an esteemed lineup of artists that had previously performed at the distinguished ceremony, including Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Beyoncé and Bob Dylan.

Lady Gaga was a vision as she sang the American national anthem in a custom Haute Couture Schiaparelli gown, crafted by American designer Daniel Roseberry. The dress was complemented with a navy cashmere jacket, a voluminous skirt in washed red silk faille, and a gilded dove of peace brooch. The pin symbolised the united spirit of the occasion, while the silhouette of the dress – the suiting-inspired bodice bloomed outwards from beneath the hips – was a nod to Elsa Schiaparelli’s original designs. While relatively understated compared to Gaga’s typical exuberance, the gown struck the perfect balance between grandeur and minimalism: the fantastical design exuded an air of hope whilst its refined simplicity allowed onlookers to hone in on the message and tone of the occasion.

Photo: courtesy of Schiaparelli

Photo: courtesy of Schiaparelli

While Schiaparelli is a quintessential Parisian fashion house, creative director Daniel Roseberry is a proud American, hailing from Texas. “As an American living in Paris, this ensemble is a love letter to the country I miss so dearly and to a performer whose artistry I have so long admired.”

Roseberry also provided an exclusive quote to Vogue Hong Kong regarding discussions with Gaga and how the dress was realised.

A week before the inauguration we had a call from Gaga's amazing team. She wanted something iconic... Something emblematic of the moment. Something that meant something more than just a beautiful gown... I sat down on a Saturday morning and started sketching. In about one hour I had sketched 11 different ideas. In the end, she loved this one the best... and she was right.

Daniel Roseberry

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

For Jennifer Lopez’s performance, the Latina singer embodied grace in a white silk blouse and white sequinned pants from Chanel’s fall 2019 collection, paired with an ecru and white tweed coat from Chanel’s fall 2020 ready-to-wear collection. The pieces were selected by Lopez’s long-time stylist duo Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn, the suffragette-white ensemble paying homage to the early 20th century movement and the women who fought for the right to vote in public elections. Lopez’s symbolic look was finished with pearl CC earrings and a matching chain belt, with heels by Jimmy Choo.