Muto-Little Inc. is a costume shop for custom construction, alterations and tailoring, design and fabric consultation services located in Larchmont, Los Angeles. The main designers behind the company are Antoinette Muto and Kimberly "Kim" Little who met working at the Utah Shakespeare Festival and later, opened their own costume and tailoring shop for the entertainment industry in July of 1982.
Custom
Silk hoods & bodysuits, 2008
Gaga wore a variety of hooded silk scarf seen in black, white, red and one with the three colors. For the summer, she added a matching silk leotard in red, black, yellow and nude. The look was inspired by the works of Alaïa famously worn by Grace Jones in the early 1980s.
One-shoulder latex catsuit, 2008
The Black Crystal Catsuit is an outfit made after a design by Lady Gaga for the music video for "Poker Face". The suit is comprised of latex, and detachable crystal structures Gaga sports in earlier instances. The catsuit is paired with the Mirrored Mask, with a latex head scarf. Matched with the suit are black latex peek-toe heels and finger gloves. This costume projects glamor, the ideas of female sexuality, and it reflects upon the ideas of "masking ourselves", and the truth. In this case, ones' sexuality. In all, the outfit brings together icons of feminine fashion such as the heel and cat suit, images of female Japanese characters, as well as common theatrical materials, such as mirrors and glitter.
Cutout one-piece bodysuit, 2008
The Poker Face Suit is custom made outfit designed by Lady Gaga, for the music video for "Poker Face". The outfit was created in electric blue, gold, and black. Leading on from the Black Crystal Catsuit, the almost aqua latex one-piece, with darker fringing, is paired with matching peek-toe heels and finger gloves. This also appears alongside the iPod LCD Glasses. The gold version debuted at the album US release party, The Fame Ball for the meet and greet after the show on October 28, 2008. The black version of the suit was used on some of her live performance around October of 2008. After 12 years, Lady Gaga wore the suit again for her #HowToVote video in 2020.
Paparazzi Dress, 2009
Sculptural black mini dress with disco ball tile front panel worn for The Fame Ball in 2009 along with dates of the Doll Domination Tour (Oceania leg). The dress had hand rests built into the skirt, and two large glass covered triangular segments. Underneath the dress, Gaga wears a second black lace skirt. In the Book of Gaga (2009), Gaga referred to this section of the show as the ART/POP installation "Spider/Paparazzi Shutter Dress". The dress was potentially inspired by a similar dress by Thierry Mugler's from his Spring Summer collection L'Insects from 1997 and worn by Gaga on photoshoot with SLAM on Feb 24, 2009. That same photograph was also used as backdrop before The Fame Ball.
During the The Fame Ball tour, Gaga performed "Paparazzi" with the dress along with the Mirrored Mask surrounded by her dancers with mirror plates. For the festival dates, the dress was embellished with disco ball tiles all over starting on June 26, 2009. On July 4, 2009 [A], Gaga wore a completely black version of the dress for Take That Presents: The Circus Live. That version was only worn that one time.
A replica of this outfit was worn by Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) in Glee.
Bubble Dress & Jacket, 2009
The Bubble Dress is a design by the Haus of Gaga, and created by Muto-Little Costumes. The dress is inspired by a very similar one created by Chalayan for his Spring/Summer 2007 "One Hundred and Eleven" RTW Collection.
The dress was created around the time "Paparazzi" was released as a single. The dress has been seen during the performances of the acoustic version of "Poker Face", and "Future Love" on a bubble piano during The Fame Ball Tour. The dress is actually a fitted nude leotard with acrylic bubbles of various sizes attached to it.
Sometimes, the dress is referred to a "bubble sash"1 due to the outfit breaking down during the Australian Leg of the Doll Domination Tour on May 16-30, 2009. However, it was replaced by a Bubble Jacket for the European leg of the tour. The concept is the same but it's a jacket rather than a dress and is easier to remove for her festival performance.
Similars bubble-based outfits were also created later: For a Rolling Stone photoshoot, a custom glass bubbles bodysuit was created by Michael Schmidt Studios. In 2013, TechHaus with Studio XO created Anemone, the Bubble Dress 2.0 which included its own electric automated soap bubble machine. A nod to Gaga who blew soap bubbles while wearing the bubble dress at The Fame Ball in 2009. The Bubble Dress was last seen on a mannequin during a skit from Saturday Night Live.
Reference in popular culture
During Lady Gaga's episode on Saturday Night Live, there was a skit featuring Andy Samberg. The plotline is Samberg realizing that he is wearing the same Bubble Dress (for the SNL after-party) as Gaga, leading to an uncomfortable exchange. At the end of the skit, we find that Lorne Michaels has also encountered the same problem, wearing a tie with bubble attachments. 4 years later, the Bubble Dress was seen on a mannequin during a skit in 2013 starring Gaga and Kenan Thompson.
It was also used in Glee where character Tina re-creates it for the day so that she can find a new look.
Live Performances & Appearances
2009-2010
- Leather studded corset and gloves. Concept by the Haus. It was worn with a pyro bra by Tom Talmon Studio and boots by Ellie. The corset was stolen after the performance.
- Nude bodysuit worn with bones pieces by Gary Card x Tom Talmon Studio, bra underneath by Atsuko Kudo.
- White organza structured hunchback blazer with tail and contrast black lapels with eye patches by Zaldy and a dress by Rachael Barrett.
- Leopard hooded catsuit, officer hat, gloves and platform boots.
- Purple jacket with oversized shoulders from the Monster Ball (2010-2011). Lady Gaga also wore the jacket at the Born This Way Ball in Barcelona during "Bad Kids".
2013-2024
- Mirrored bodysuit by Natali Germanotta, using Pleaser heels and Swarovski Elements. Styled by Brandon Maxwell. The pins were only intended to hold the mirror pieces while the glue dried but the Haus loved it and they ended up being part of the bodysuit.
- The oversized jacket was a new version of a jacket they made for the Monster Ball in 2010
- Kimono-sleeve jumpsuit in collaboration with Perry Meek at Haus of Gaga
- White quilted silk satin jacket, embellished with feathers, pearls and crystals, and matching silk trousers. Based on the original stage outfit worn by Elton John during his London concerts back in 1974. Styling by Tom Eerebout, Sandra Amador and Kayla Manjarrez.
- Vinyl jacket with neon green ruffle trim and her initials on the back, a matching organza cloak, a strappy vinyl bodysuit with corset lacing on the side by Natali Germanotta.
- Asymmetrical stretch jersey bodysuit and low-rise trousers, both featuring PVC panels. Design by Topo Studio NY (Natali Germanotta). Fabrication by Muto-Little Costumes. Muto-Little Costumes wrote about the creation of this outfit on their Instagram on July 19th, 2022: "Initially, we receive a sketch from the designer (Natali Germanotta) and discuss fabric choices for each piece of the bodysuit and low-rise pant. Muto-Little then creates patterns for the garment, creates a mock-up, and moves into final fabrics. What was fun about this bodysuit and pant set is that we sent it mostly finished—and were excited to see what changed when we saw it on stage during the Chromatica Tour!"
- Vintage-inspired checkered sequin mini dress, pink silk cravat blouse and cuffs.
- Vintage-inspired floral print dress with white guipure lace collar.
- Green floral fabric from Mood Fabrics.
- The sketch was drawn by Lady Gaga personally.
TV Series & Film
- White gown with heavy, ruched shoulders and the braided waistband with red tassel ends and a matching twisted turban. Designed by Lou Eyrich.
- Green one-shoulder silk satin dress with single long sleeve and concealed zipper on the side and a matching pleated turban. The dress was crafted out of deadstock Oscar de la Renta fabric. Designed by Lou Eyrich.
- Marigold-colored silk gown with pleated sleeve details, gold-tone buttons, and floor-length skirt. Designed by Lou Eyrich.
- Designed by Erin Benach.