Lady Gaga in Schiaparelli
This is one of only two good angles for me on Gaga's frock. It made for a VERY dramatic entrance, which is what you want, after all. The Schiaparelli designer, Daniel Roseberry, said of this: "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."
The ENORMOUS gold Dove of Peace must have weighed a ton. At first I was a little disappointed in how it photographed from the waist up, because it looks so boring, and then I realized that's what the dove is for, in part -- it's to make sure there's SOMETHING of interest no matter how she was cropped. Otherwise it just looks like she's wearing a wetsuit.
Here you get a better shot of the dropped waist, which I truly almost never like. Her makeup really is super, though, and at least... she was probably warm?
The back, though. BIG YIKES ENERGY. It's like people forgot she might be viewed from all sides.
This is the OTHER good angle. Basically, this dress's best moments were a) when she was walking and hiked up the skirt, so you couldn't tell the waist is dropped, and b) from above. It ABSOLUTELY worked in this exact shot, and you certainly can't miss her. The skirt also does float like a waving flag, which when you're singing the anthem is appropriately symbolic.
She arrived in something we couldn't really see, and a great white coat and beautiful beaded mask.
J.Lo in Chanel
SPEAKING OF WHITE. I love the GLEAM on that coat and those pants. The blouse looks dusty. Am I wrong to wish it were a color? Imagine it in fuchsia. Or even red, since it's one of the flag colors. I am also sad that Chanel logos were all over this, because Coco Chanel was a Nazi sympathizer (so basically... a Nazi, period), and at this moment in history... no thank you.
I love you, J.Lo. This shot of her collecting herself in the moment is really pretty touching. Honestly, I don't ever credit J.Lo with having a very strong voice, but she surprised me. She KILLED IT. She sang her heart out, and when she said, "Una nación, bajo dios, indivisible, con libertad y justicia para todos," which is part of the Pledge of Allegiance, I was really touched.
In case you like to see things from the back.
I also love her excitement here to see Kamala. I cried a bunch before she was even sworn in, but the second she stood up, the floodgates opened again. J.Lo seems genuinely stoked.
Truly, I live for the day J.Lo turns around and towers over me with this level of excitement. I want someone to frame one of these photos for Vice-President Harris. BOTH OF THEM.
J.Lo in Chanel
I wish this wasn't such a dark photo. I love her for bringing a rehearsal outfit that would also give her dramatic photos around D.C. (She took a cute one with her team.)
She also took some selfies for people. Everyone seems to have been very enthusiastic about thanking and bolstering the troops who have been guarding the Capitol.
Lady Gaga
Gaga also did interact with them; we just didn't happen to have any pics available of it, so instead we get a shot of her beautiful cape. It MIGHT be Givenchy? Either this or her white coat from Inauguration Day was.
Garth Brooks
GARTH. He did a nice job on Amazing Grace -- I loved that he asked people to sing along; I wish someone had stood up and just BUSTED IT OUT with him -- but I also kind of wish he'd done an impromptu a capella performance of "We Shall Be Free."
The hat does a lot of work for Garth. Jessica was like, "Turns out I don't recognize him right away without it," and it IS true.
A.Rod
"Hey y'all! I thought I had a cool life before, but then I got engaged to J.Lo AND LOOK AT ME NOW."
"Mr. President, are you SURE you don't want a baseball team? Because the Mets need a GM REAL BADLY."