Katy Perry's best performance outfits over the years

By Bryanne Salazar 8:05am PDT, Oct 23, 2019

Katy Perry, the queen of wild style, celebrates her 35th birthday on Oct. 25, 2019. In honor of her big day, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at the pop star's best fashion moments on stage over the years… starting with this amazing peacock-inspired look she wore, appropriately enough, during her performance of "Peacock" at the Rock in Rio music festival in 2011. Not only was Katy's vibrant teal, cobalt, indigo and plum get-up one of the most perfect literal representations of a song we've ever seen, but it was designed by none other than the Peacock brothers, Falguni and Shane Peacock. (We couldn't make this up if we tried.) Keep reading for more of Katy's amazing performance looks…

Katy Perry made our jaws drop with this over-the-top stage look in April 2019. She looked like music in its physical form in this latex piano gown with fluff-trimmed hot pink opera-length gloves and a black-and-pink treble clef hat at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival's 50th anniversary celebration. Later in the performance, Katy pulled off the skirt of her gown, revealing a skin-tight piano key jumpsuit.

Katy Perry burst out of her cocoon and onto the 2012 MuchMusic Video Awards stage as a bold and beautiful butterfly and we're still daydreaming about the look. Donning a rhinestone-embellished nude jumpsuit and gigantic, colorful butterfly wings, Katy looked like she was about to fly away while singing her hit song "Wide Awake."

At the 2017 Grammy Awards, Katy Perry turned a pantsuit into a political statement. Wearing a black-and-white Tom Ford suit over a black bustier with some serious rose-colored shades, a bleached-blonde Katy sang "Chained to the Rhythm" while also wearing an armband around her right bicep that read "Persist."

Katy Perry has a long history of working sweet treats into her on-stage costumes. Take this 2009 Grammys dress, for instance, which made Katy looked like a sparkling fruit salad. The sequined chartreuse and magenta dress was heavily adorned with layers of bananas, grapes, berries and a watermelon bust, giving Katy major snack appeal while she sang her hit single "I Kissed a Girl."

Well, howdy there, partner. Katy Perry went full-on lilac cowgirl at the 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year gala to honor country music's finest, Dolly Parton. Matching her satin bustier with a shimmery fringe skirt, knee-high button-up boots, a flowing cape, cowgirl hat and shiny opera-length gloves, Katy made us all want to saddle up and ride home on the range.

For Katy Perry's Nov. 7, 2017 concert on the Los Angeles leg of her "Witness" tour, the singer turned to designers Zaldy and Nguyen Cong Tri for all of her looks, including this over-the-top, hooded and jeweled red latex bodysuit covered in sparkling sheer fabric. Perhaps paying homage to Little Red Riding Hood, Katy dazzled in this look during her opening number.

At the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards, Katy Perry began her performance of "Unconditionally" dressed in yards of long, flowing multi-colored fabric, which her dancers slowly braided together before pulling them away to reveal this mirror-crusted jumpsuit. As soon as her reflective under-look was revealed, Katy — who was attached to a harness — flew up into the air, looking like a ray of prismatic light.

At the 2011 American Music Awards, Katy Perry went futuristic and pink in this geometric latex dress with a layered, sequined and wrapped chiffon skirt. Adding to the look she wore to perform a heartfelt rendition of "The One That Got Away"? Freshly sprayed pink hair and a matching pink guitar.

Call a taxi for this fabulous checkered look that Katy Perry wore in September 2018 to perform at the Kaaboo Del Mar Festival in California — thigh-high black-and-white checkered stiletto boots, a matching cut-out bodysuit, shades and a yin-and-yang hat.

For the October 2016 "Once Upon a Time" Gala benefit for Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Katy Perry evoked a fairy tale princess in this extravagant halter-style ballgown from Marchesa. The custom look featured a billowing skirt of ruffled, pastel-colored tulle with a matching sleeveless bodice, giving Katy a whimsical, belle-of-the-ball glow as she sang hits like "Roar," "Teenage Dream," "Dark Horse" and "Firework."

We love everything about the 2013 MTV VMAs look that Katy Perry wore for her closing performance under the Brooklyn Bridge. Wearing a tiger-striped cropped tank top, flame-tinged boxing shorts (with the title of the song she sang, "Roar" emblazoned across the waistband) knee-high varsity-striped socks and gold-and-red boxing shoes, Katy knocked the crowd out with her powerful performance.

We love this goofy, holiday-inspired look Katy Perry wore during her performance at the Q102 Jingle Ball concert in New Jersey in 2008. Katy invoked the season by wearing a glittering, fully decorated Christmas tree over a shiny, tiny elf-inspired green satin bodysuit that featured candy-cane stripes on the straps.

For years, Katy Perry has performed at the David Lynch Foundation's annual "Silence the Violence" benefit in Washington, D.C., and has worn amazing looks each and every time. Her October 2019 performance was no exception as she took the stage to sing "Chained to the Rhythm," "Wide Awake" and "Roar" in a breathtaking strapless black-and-white polka-dot gown with a subtle pink underskirt from Carolina Herrera's Spring 2020 line. Check out her incredible pearl-encrusted headband too!

During the Cologne, Germany, stop on her "Witness" tour in 2018, Katy Perry dazzled in this gold robot-meets-gladiator costume. The look featured an asymmetrical bodice with matching full-length disconnected sleeves and shimmering thigh-high boots. Mix in Katy's futuristic lavender hair, and she looked like she'd traveled back in time to entertain the world.

Katy Perry channeled Jessica Rabbit during her December 2010 performance at the "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" event in Southern California. The curve-hugging strapless red gown with a thigh-high split, matching satin evening gloves and crimson heels gave Katy an Old Hollywood glam vibe that we're sure the troops thoroughly enjoyed.

With the help of her 2014 "Prismatic" world tour costume designer, Marina Toybina, Katy Perry delivered a host of stunning looks on stage. One of our favorites was this custom couture gown that Marina and Katy sourced from Paris fashion house Valentino. The butterfly bodice gave way to a flowing, sheer and embellished skirt that perfectly complemented Katy's pastel-hued hair.

Katy Perry and designer Jeremy Scott incorporated sugary sweetness into her stage outfits for her 2011 "California Dreams" tour. This sparkly cotton-candy pink tutu and striped bodice look featuring a giant, glittery red heart made Katy look like a sexy candy striper. We especially love how the look was accessorized with shiny polka-dot gloves and sparkly tights!

Speaking of glitter… Check out the sparkle-tastic tinsel look that Katy Perry donned during a May 2016 performance at amfAR's 23rd Cinema Against AIDS Gala in France. Mixing white- and yellow-gold fringe, the dress perfectly popped against the silvery background during the star-studded event.

We got major mermaid vibes from Katy Perry's under the sea-inspired dress at the May 2009 Life Ball in Vienna. Wearing a stunning iridescent sequined white gown with a starfish, pearl and shell-encrusted bodice, Katy sang songs from her album "One of the Boys" as she descended from a giant clam shell.

Designing twin sisters Claire and Shawn Buitendorp are responsible for this playful look that Katy Perry wore in June 2012 while performing at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Featuring film reels on her bust and a bodice of exposed film negatives that gave way to an upside-down box of movie theater buttered popcorn, Katy's dress — and on-brand candy-embellished shades — celebrated all things cinema.

Katy Perry donned a lavender bodice, corset and deliciously puffy bustle for her November 2010 performance at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York City. The night-sky inspired look, which was accessorized with a wild swirling headpiece, was custom made for Katy by the show's head designer, Todd Thomas.

Katy Perry performed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during her "Prismatic" world tour in May 2014 and brought with her a slew of unusual but inspired looks courtesy of her costume designer, Marina Toybina. One of the most eye-catching was this giant black-and-white yin-and-yang dress that, along with Katy's neon green hair, gave her an Alice in Wonderland feel.

During Katy Perry's May 2008 performance at the Guys Choice Awards in Culver City, California, she wore a surprisingly simple costume that was tame compared to the future looks she'd soon be sporting on stage. But her sleeveless magenta mini with a ruffled tulle underskirt was still the perfect sexy-and-sweet look for her risque (at the time) song "I Kissed a Girl."

Who would have thought a sunflower dress could be so controversial? During an April 2015 performance in Guangzhou, China, during her "Prismatic" world tour, Katy Perry's sequined neon green gown adorned with life-sized sunflowers sparked speculation that she was making a political statement in support of Taiwanese anti-China protesters, who'd adopted the sunflower as their symbol. It didn't help that during the performance, Katy also draped a Taiwanese flag over her shoulder. While the dress itself was stunning, it reportedly led Chinese officials to ban Katy from entering the country again.

Rex USA