Lady Gaga and her style squad had a clear sartorial vision for the 2019 Academy Awards red carpet—glamour to the trillionth degree.
“We wanted to create something timeless and iconic to wrap a bow on this epic journey with A Star Is Born,” her stylist Tom Eerebout, who creates her elegant looks with Sandra Amador, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive story about the Oscar winner’s triumphant style in this week’s issue. After all, it was a defining night for Gaga—she was nominated in two categories, Best Actress and Best Original Song, the latter of which she won.
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“It was vital that the look celebrated the importance of the evening,” Eerebout tells PEOPLE.
To achieve their goal of making her look “like a movie star—elegant, beautiful and memorable,” Amador says, they turned to some of their most trusted fashion and jewelry collaborators.
For the dress, they teamed up with Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton to create a custom striking strapless gown and edgy leather gloves, and specifically asked for it to be made in black. “We had steered away from black all season and saved it specially for the Oscars,” says Amador.
For her shoes, they worked with Giuseppe Zanotti to customize a pair of black booties, and the footwear gave her a serious boost—the stiletto measured seven inches tall.
For the final touch, they wanted statement bling, so they turned to Tiffany & Co., the company Gaga has worked with throughout much of award season.
Not only did she choose diamond drop earrings by the famed jeweler, Gaga and her stylists also dipped into the archives to source one of the most famous pieces Tiffany has ever created, the Tiffany Diamond.
The yellow diamond stone totals 128.54 carats and is said to be priceless. It was first discovered in South Africa over 140 years ago by Tiffany & Co. founder Charles Lewis Tiffany, who found it in 1877 and acquired one year later.
In honor of Tiffany’s 175th anniversary in 2012, the one-of-a-kind gem was reset into the eye-catching necklace featuring over 100 carats of white diamonds, which is the style Gaga wore.
Gaga is the first celebrity to wear the Tiffany Diamond since Audrey Hepburn, who wore the massive yellow stone in publicity photos for her famous 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
“The history of the diamond resonated with her on many levels,” says Amador. “Lady Gaga has always idolized [Hepburn] and respected her immensely, so that connection in itself felt so serendipitous and perfect,” adds Eerebout.
The stylists also note that Gaga “wasn’t nervous” to wear the priceless piece. “She was proud to wear the pieces and connect with their legacy,” says Amador.
Her confidence on the red carpet is clear—and she had her trusted style squad every step of the way, including seamstress Susie Kourinian, sister Natali Germanotta, manager Bobby Campbell and stylists Tom Eerebout and Sandra Amador (pictured above).
Later, to perform her award-winning song “Shallow” with co-star and director Bradley Cooper, she changed into a halter gown by Brandon Maxwell (which is available to buy through Moda Operandi) —and kept the diamond necklace around her neck.
Says Amador, “It was the culmination of such a special season.”
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