The Adventures of Lady Gaga's ArtRAVE Skirt!

[ChicaSkas 21,063]

The Adventures of Lady Gaga's ArtRAVE Skirt!

 

This is Lady Gaga's ArtRAVE Skirt.

ArtRAVE Skirt -->

Ever since this skirt was made, by some very talented person, it believed that it's sole purpose in life was a continual cycle of being put on and worn by Gaga, thrown on stage, picked up by dancers, and put away. Over and over again. Each night of the ArtRAVE tour.

 

Until...

 

Something unexpected happened.

In Los Angeles, on the second date of the tour, 7-22-2014, the dancers didn't pick up the skirt this time. Gaga cast it off on the catwalk during "Swine", and someone got a hold of it and dragged it down into the GA floor! This skirt was about to have an adventure!

 

That someone who plucked the skirt from the catwalk was a friend of Martin Dario Gonzalez. (Martin is shown here in the photo) Martin decided he wanted to give it to Krissy Norton, the pretty mermaid girl in the wheelchair. Krissy had been struggling to see the show from her chair for the whole evening, people around her had shoved and fallen on her, or simply blocked her from seeing anything by standing in her way. Martin felt bad for her, and here's what he said and did next:

 

"My friend Dom grabbed the skirt. At first, we were going to keep it. But, during the show, I just remember seeing Krissy, she was next to me. I felt bad that she went there for the concert but she didn't have a good view, because people kept blocking her. And so... I felt like she would benefit more than I would. I have the memory of the concert AND the skirt, and she would get BOTH, as well."

 

Krissy was overjoyed. Throughout the show, she'd had a rough time up to that point!

Someone had taken off their sweatsoaked shirt -- and tossed it on her body in the chaos. She was disgusted and tried to shake the wet thing off of her, but it was tough because she's got Muscular Dystrophy, and this partially paralyzed her. Martin's act of kindness thrilled her. People around her had not behaved in a very Born This Way manner, and she shared her thoughts with us:

"The show was amazing... but people are stupid. Some guy was like literally falling over onto my lap... I was pushing him off of me... (laughs) Or they were screaming in my ears or right in front of me blocking my view... but this is amazing."

 

Amazing almost doesn't do this piece of clothing true justice. Intricately handpainted, the skirt depicts all the colors and bright imagry that is ARTPOP --- and celebrates themes like the SeaShell Bikini, the Gaga Swan of the Applause music video, and the iconic cover art of the Koons ball on ARTPOP. Click the images below to enlarge:

 

 

After the show, Krissy draped the skirt over her lap and her friends Somer and Jaime escorted her out into the halls of Staples Center. While they were there, many fans stopped to admire the skirt and debate on how real it was. A few dared to try it on, and snap pictures wearing it and posing... Sure enough, it was the REAL deal, even down to an embroidered archival number on the inner linings. I met Krissy there, outside, by total chance, since one of her friends recognized me from the forums. She told me her story, and mentioned that she didn't really want to keep it, she'd rather meet Gaga to give it back to her.

 

What she recounted to me was incredible. I was intrigued by the sheer fact that a naughty but understandably tempting theft of a costume skirt had turned into an act of true generosity, very much a Gaga thing to do. Martin had been brave, compassionate and understanding of Krissy's plight in the wheelchair... and his act of giving her the skirt just might lead her to fulfilling her dream of meeting Gaga!

In the course of talking with Krissy, I had to ask her, "If you had something to say to Gaga, what would you want to say?"

She paused bashfully..."Umm...." A big smile brightened her face. "Just I love her! And i loved the show!"

I told her, hopefully, she could get the chance to tell Gaga that tonight, since Gaga had stopped at the intersection here just the night before. Krissy was excited at that prospect, and we all accompanied her to the parking lot exit, where about 30 or 40 other fans were patiently waiting in the cooling night air.

After a while, a small group of fans noticed Lacee Franks (Gaga's creative coordination specialist extraordinaire) was leaving. Somer, Krissy's friend, darted off to get Lacee's attention. When Lacee heard the the story, she wanted to see for herself, so Somer and Jaime wheeled Krissy down to the parking area where Lacee was.

Lacee greeted them warmly.

"Hi! Oh my god..... this is... her skirt!", she exclaimed in surprise. "What do I need to do to get it back?!? she laughingly teased.

 

"She wants to give to back personally." someone piped up.

Lacee leaned in to examine it. At first, she almost didn't believe it could be Gaga's.

"I can't believe it fell off down there! You know... it might not be real... " She turned it over.

A fan nearby pointed out that it had an archival mark on the inside. Lacee's tone changed. "You're right, it IS real! There is not a duplicate. Swine can't happen without this!" Lacee declared, to the whoops of the fans crowded around her.

 

Feeling sympathetic to Krissy's story, Lacee tried to call to Gaga's management team and tell them the situation. However, the spot in the parking lot we were all in was a cellphone deadzone... none of the phones could get a working signal from there because the chambers and dressing rooms and miles of hallways below Staples center are all underground. Even text messages weren't going through in that particular area. Lacee couldn't get through.

"No one's picking up... it's not getting a signal." She looked down at her smartphone and kept trying, but to no avail.

Somer and Jaime told her again that Krissy really wanted to meet Gaga to give it to her, and Lacee understood, and was very kind about it.

"I appreciate you guys giving it back. This IS her skirt, and there isn't two of them, so... maybe give me your information, and I'll see. I'll go let everybody know that you guys are all out here. Thank you so much again. I've got to go, but I'll let them know the people who found the skirt are out here!" Lacee walked back to the parking structure, safely clutching the wayward skirt.

We were all really impressed how nice it was Lacee was going to do that for Krissy, and we hoped it would work out!

Fingers crossed, we all waited with Krissy at the intersection. Security came out several times to ensure we were being well behaved and not blocking the sidewalks or driveways.

A huge impressive burly man, walking with the air of someone in charge, came out to address the crowd of Little Monsters at the corner. He stopped at the end of the line. "You do NOT run. You do NOT rush the car. If you rush the car, it's over. She will not stop here ever again. And I have the power to ENSURE she never stops here again. Do you understand?" He spoke firmly and solidly. We all understood.

When you think about it, Gaga is better than no Gaga. So we got it! Yes sir, sir!

A pretty darkhaired female guard came up to Krissy and her friends. "So, you found a dancer's costume?"

We corrected her, and explained succinctly that we absolutely found Gaga's actual skirt, and that Krissy wanted to be the one to tell her hello and that she gave it back to Lacee.

The woman nodded, said she got it, and walked back to the security gaurd's area, where she began talking with the burly fellow and speaking into a walkietalkie.

We all held our breath.

A black SUV appeared.

And it drove toward us. The windows rolled down....

And Gaga leaned out, waving at all of us.

I shouted as loudly as I could, "This is the girl that returned your skirt!"

Someone heard her say, 'Stop!', to her driver. The guy either didn't hear, or didn't care, or knew to continue on anyway.... and sadly, he didn't stop. For the most part, we had all obeyed security and stood where we were, not rushing the car... but he didn't stop.

It all happened in seconds... Krissy seemed a little in shock as Gaga drove away, even dazed at how quickly everything had happened... and perhaps we all were.

But we tried to comfort her with the idea that we knew she did the right thing in returning the skirt, and that maybe, with a little luck (as Fate or God or a higher power had seemed to have already given her tonight) maybe, Gaga might hear of her story and say hi to Krissy and acknowledge her desire to return the missing Swine rave skirt.

Regardless of the letdown, Krissy was really happy that everyone who helped her to get to see Gaga had enjoyed themselves and had a good time. She had encouraged everyone around her to take a picture of the skirt, to touch it, and even pressed some of us to try it on! Everyone enjoyed hearing her and Martin's story.

Krissy's words about the evening put it all into perspective:

"I'm really glad it made everyone smile."

And that it did. The skirt sure had an ADVENTURE beyond its wildest little skirt dreams that night! Just look at a few of the places (and waists) the skirt found itself:

 

So if you think @Krissyjoann's story should be heard, why not tweet it to Gaga?

Use the hashtag #FoundArtRAVEskirt and tweet this picture with @Krissyjoann mentioned in it, and that ought to do the trick!

 

 

Miracles can happen! Let's hope @Krissyjoann's can come true!

[Hecturr 1,921]

omg such a nice read, sad to see gags didn't stop but I guess she had her reasons 

[Mariann 301]

I was waiting for a happy ending. 

[FRANK1991 3,308]

what an adventure! love it!

[monsterdreams 1,529]

This really moved me

What a jerk not to stop so she could give it back

Hope gaga sees this

[Henry 2,374]

I ACTUALLY READ THIS OMFG. Really nice story but I wanted a happier ending  :cry:

[Dodo 313]

well that was depressing  

[ChicaSkas 21,063]

I was waiting for a happy ending. 

That's why we are posting it her and putting it on Twitter so people see it!

If you have a Little Monsters account, feel free to put it there too!

well that was depressing

Hence our putting it here for Gaga to see :) :party:

[SEVDALIZA 1,274]

Wow, it sucks that the car didn't stop :( Hope this will reach Gaga and they will meet

The skirt did have a long night, tho

[faux 2,190]

THIS IS AMAZING. Sad that she didn't get to meet Gaga, though, but we definitely should spread the message!

[Mariann 301]

That's why we are posting it her and putting it on Twitter so people see it!

If you have a Little Monsters account, feel free to put it there too!

Hence our putting it here for Gaga to see :)

 

It's time for monsters to unite and make it happen.  

[feelitinmybones 0]

well that was depressing

Ikr most fans would of kept the skirt tbh. And not even in just this fan base but in every fan base.

I really hope she gets to meet gaga and good on her for doing the right thing.

[LetsGetHigh 52,683]

Wait. Did Lacee take it or is it still with the fan?

[Benji 20,113]

That's such a sweet.. then sad story

 

I'll tweet and message her

[Dodo 313]

I would have held that freakin' skirt till I met gaga tbh