Over the past year or so Lady Gaga has sometimes shocked but no doubt inspired us with her original and inventive fashion sense.

Her all in one red lace dress that went over her face and into Bart Simpson type spikes stunned everyone at the MTV VMA’s in 2009.  It went on to feature in white for her ‘Bad Romance’ video.  But this time it was in PVC play suit form.  Gaga has girls sporting her trademark lightening bolt, and her hair bow that she wore in the Poker Face video.

Even celebrities are trying to duplicate Gaga’s fashion.  Leona Lewis wore a black lace patch around her eye, a huge black ruffle around her neck, black bra top and black trousers to Perez Hilton’s party.

It seems that Rihanna has taken a leaf out of Gaga’s book also.  At her New Years eve gig she donned an out fit that screamed Gaga.  She wore a black head piece that looked like it was taken from Gaga’s wardrobe.  Her outfit was a bronze jacket and tights resembling women’s suspenders.

The world is slowly turning Gaga and I’m alright with that.  The world needs something new and fresh instead of the fashion industry regurgitating past trends that aren’t going to get much better than what they are today.  We’re running out of ideas and Gaga is our Messiah, so let’s not crucify her for her brilliant artistic take on fashion.

She has said recently that within the coming months she would love to get to work on her own fashion line and believes that celebrities should never look casual.  She wants them ‘to be who they really are all the time’.

It’s time for a renaissance.  Create your own style.  Go Gaga for fashion!

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The last time I wore a bum-bag was actually only last year… as part of a Tomb Raider Halloween costume, I had a leather bum-bag to give the look of a utility vibe.  And it was actually the best thing ever… it reminded me how annoying handbags, clutches and purses are.  I didn’t have to worry about losing my phone, money, make-up or keys… all were compactly and safely secured to my body!  It left my hands and arms free to dance (badly) throughout the night.

So why is there such a faux-pas stigma against these little gems?  Well for years now, they have always been associated with naff tourists on holidays, in grotesque prints and overly neon-bright colours.  I have flashbacks of my Mum having a bright yellow one with black exposed zips and my sister with an luminous Simpson’s version.

No longer just made in tacky polyester… designers have given the bum-bag a whole new sophisticated chic.  Over at Louis Vuitton, designed by Marc Jacobs, the bum bag has taken a luxe turn (above).  In embossed leather complete with tassels and fur trimmings… even uber cool fashion follower Rihanna has been seen sporting this design out!  Brit bag designer Angel Jackson, who has her bags for sale on fashion website ASOS, has brought out a gorgeous python skin bum-bag, which surprisingly enough I am lusting after (top)!  And newcomer to the design world Ashish sent his models down the catwalk at London Fashion Week with his sexier bum-bag versions, with studded detailing teamed with cut-away body-con dresses (below).

Surprisingly enough, the High Street has taken this trend on… and there are cool versions popping up everywhere. Marks & Spencer will launch a studded leather-effect version in May, while American Apparel offers extreme ‘80s’ shiny gold and blue versions.  River Island has the most wearable version, in my opinion, with grungy black leather adorned with triangular-shaped studs coming into stores this Spring, while Penneys currently have their versions in stock… actually ahead of the fashion pack for once, in leather-look black and white options.

Well this ‘90s’ icon has come back with a bang this season, and although there was a mini-revival of the bum-bag by Louis Vuitton a few years back, it never really caught on despite SATC’s ‘Carrie Bradshaw’ endorsing it.  It proves that not everything she touches turns to gold, which leads me to think that this new revival may also be short-lived.  Above French Connection, below Urban Outfitters.

I cannot deny their convenience and I may even invest in a cheap one for the festivals this summer – it’s certainly here for the short term on a crazy fashion whim so why not indulge this spring and make like Mr. Motivator.

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Young British fashion label Lipsy have become a regular must have amongst celebrities but in particular our XFactor favourites.  Let’s not forget we’ve also seen the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Kimberley Stewart, Alesha Dixon, Kimberly Wyatt (Pussycat Dolls), Duffy, Lady Gaga, The Saturdays, Tulisa (from N-Dubz), Paris Hilton and Lily Allen all donning the label. Enough about them, let’s get back to the people we miss most in our lives!

Stacey Solomon, 20 year old single mum from Dagenham, Essex and our favourite ditzy girl is the biggest Lipsy fan of all the contestants and we here at wow.ie reckon it’s a label that definitely suits her.  Just look how far she has come since she first auditioned for the show!  Even when she is dressed down she still looks great.

18 year old ‘nice girl’ Lucie Jones from Pentrych in Wales, has since been signed up to Select Model Management who have helped launch the careers of top models such as Agyness Deyn and Stella Tennant. Lucie’s confidence grew during her time on the show and she’s gone from country girl to rocking the rock chic look.

What’s Rachel Adedeji doing now? We’re not sure what she is doing now or if we are even interested!  She did say she wasn’t interested in working with Rihanna as “We’re too similar there’s not enough room for the both of us..”!  Apparently there are people interested in working with her so the best of luck to her. This was definitely Rachel looking her absolute best on the show in a great little Lipsy animal print dress.

Should you want in on the Lipsy look we had a look at the selection available at BT2 and it’s definitely worth checking out. They’ve covered most of the trends with Lipsy including a white boudoir chic dress, sequins black and white animal print figure hugging dress and a favourite was their white bally doll cocktail dress.  They’ve also covered the retro, wrap and 80′s inspired trends so if you have a big night out looming and are on a budget they are worth a look.

L-R Lipsy at BT2: €70, €65, €65.

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