IT’S hard to believe a little over a year ago, we didn’t know the name Lady Gaga. In 12 short months she has gone from pop wannabe to international icon and from writing songs for the likes of Britney Spears and The Pussycat Dolls to competing with Victoria Beckham for the title of world's most-photographed woman.

And in all that time, it’s safe to say she has never worn the same outfit twice.

Given that her face is in my face on a daily basis, I can’t tell you how many times I have thought about writing a column about Gaga. Yet I have always pulled back because… well, because Gaga’s style has got me gaga.

Mirrorballs, latex, lightbulbs, glass bubbles – her dresses are like architecture and she must get through more synthetic hair than Mattel.

I don’t know whether to pillory her for going out in her pants (or in no pants at all, who hasn’t seen that YouTube clip?) or applaud her creativity and individuality.

But after the 23-year-old's appearance at Sunday’s MTV VMA awards I decided the time has come to put pen to paper on Miss Poker Face.

The award ceremony may have been dedicated to Michael Jackson but with five costumes going from the bizarre to the utterly bonkers, the woman formerly known as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta made sure it was all about her.

Turning up in this Jean Paul Gaultier-designed Victorian/goth/undertaker vision in lace and leather, left, with Kermit the Frog as her date, she went from the good – a fabulous space-age Gaultier corset – to the very bad – a full red lace bodysuit that even covered her face and a bird’s nest hood teamed with a white flapper dress.

Oh, and just in case we considered that lot a bit pedestrian, she ended the performance of her smash hit Paparazzi by faking her own bloodstained death. Mind you that seemed tame compared to Kanye West’s temper tantrum later.

Some would argue that the crazy clothes serve to disguise a lack of talent but having seen her live, I know this girl has got that in abundance.