Lady Gaga's Armani Stops Traffic on Fifth Avenue

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You would be so proud of us, we were darting around tourists like freaking ninjas to get a picture of Lady Gaga's crystal-studded, hoop-surrounded Grammy outfit in the window of Armani last night, when the "Red Carpet Retrospective" opened with a private party at the Armani 5th Avenue flagship. Even without Gaga inside it, that dress stopped foot traffic along 5th Avenue.

Opening in time for the Oscars, the retrospective is devoted to the Armani gowns worn on the red carpet by celebrities including Halle Berry, Penelope Cruz, Victoria Beckham, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Avril Levigne and others. Lady Gaga's is the show-stopper, of course, but don't forget to check out the bead embroidery on Anne Hathaway's strapless blue dress.

We highly recommend everybody pay the store a visit, because these dresses are way more impressive in person than any photo. Fergie's black zipper-trimmed strapless dress, for example, is covered entirely with triangular sequins fixed with crystals, each one of which was affixed with a tiny bead. The most impressive dresses are displayed in the windows, but inside you can see dresses worn by January Jones and Elizabeth Banks up close and personal. The retrospective starts today and will be up through March 21.
· Giorgio Armani's Red Carpet Retrospective from March 5-21 [RNA]
· Giorgio Armani [Official Site]