Lady Gaga was caught without her patented criss-crossed nipple tape last night, and of course there’s only one way we could know that. While strutting the red purple carpet at last night’s CFDA Awards in her super-elevated platform boots and an elaborately trained black miniskirt, gravity decided to be a little monster by pulling Lady Gaga’s dress down and exposing her pepe-peperonis.

(My apologies for the crassness of that reference, but there was NO WAY I wasn’t going to use that line! Referring to them as her monster balls was a distant second option.)

Ironically, Lady Gaga was in attendance at the 2011 Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards to receive their coveted Fashion Icon Award. Their choice stirred up quite a bit of controversy in the world of fashion as folks debated whether or not Lady Gaga’s outrageous attire merited her being deemed a “fashion icon” like the slightly more conservative previous winners of the Award – a list that includes Kate Moss, Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicole Kidman and Iman

I say “Hooey on that!” Lady Gaga has kindled a passion for avant garde fashion and fashion as art in millions of people around the globe, and she’s done it with class and a subtle joyousness. I’ve always yawned at the wacky stuff that walks down the runway at fashion shows, but I eagerly await each and every new photo of Lady Gaga, never knowing what to expect and rarely being disappointed. Heck, add “Lady Gaga’s nipples popping out” to my list of not disappointed!

So what are the CFDA Awards? Here’s a little snippet from their website:

“The annual event recognizes the outstanding contributions made to American fashion by individuals from all areas of the industry and related arts, with awards being given for design excellence in womenswear, menswear and accessories as well as extraordinary accomplishments in journalism, creative vision and lifetime achievement.

This year’s nominees and honorees reflect the depth of accomplishment of American fashion and acknowledge the pervasive influence that a new generation of talent is having on the industry while also celebrating the masters of design.”

Oh wait – I forgot to mention she had turquoise-colored hair. It completely slipped my mind for some reason.