" Theatricality " was originally intended to air on June 1 , 2010 , but was switched in the schedule with the episode " Funk " . The impetus for the Lady Gaga tribute comes from Tina 's conflict , with Ushkowitz explaining that the storyline reflects Tina " slowly coming out of her box . Making her way out of her shell . " As well as allowing '' Glee '' the rights to her songs , Lady Gaga also loaned the series her costume designer to recreate her signature looks . Series creator Ryan Murphy , who also directed the episode , stated that , because of the elaborate staging and costuming , the performance of " Bad Romance " was the show 's most expensive number to date . " Bad Romance " took six hours to film , with Murphy describing it as " big and athletic and hard . " Michele damaged her knee from exertion during the performance . In a statement released to '' Entertainment Weekly '' , Gaga eagerly anticipated the covers of her songs : " I love '' Glee '' . I love the cast and the creativity of the writers . I went to a musical theatre school , and used to dream that someday the students would be singing my songs . Ca n’t wait for " Bad Romance " " Poker Face " in '' Glee '' fashion ! " '' Glee '' costume designer Lou Eyrich deemed the episode a tribute to Lady Gaga 's " genius " , explaining that the costumes the characters wear are not exact replicas of Gaga 's , giving the impression the glee club members made them themselves . Rachel wears two dresses , the first inspired by Gaga 's Kermit the Frog dress and the second based on Gaga 's silver mirrored triangle dress . Murphy selected Tina to wear the Hussein Chalayan – inspired bubble dress , which Eyrich adapted into a vest to make it easier to take on and off . Kurt 's costume is inspired by the Alexander McQueen outfit Gaga wears in the " Bad Romance " video , described by Colfer as " George Washington meets an Oceanic whale disco ball type thing " . Eyrich strove for authenticity in replicating McQueen 's ten-inch ' Armadillo ' platforms . She was unable to buy a pair to fit Colfer , as they were not made in large enough sizes . Quinn wears the Armani Privé orbit dress Gaga wore to the 52nd Grammy Awards , fitted around her pregnant stomach . The most complicated costume was the Philip Treacy lobster hat , worn by Brittany ( Heather Morris ) , as to get it to stay in place during the " Bad Romance " dance , Eyrich had to build a Buckram orb which could be safety – pinned on her head , then solder steel tentacles onto the sphere . It took 45 minutes to get the hat on and off Morris each day , and restricted her vision to what was directly in front of her . In solidarity with Kurt , Finn wears a vinyl floor – length red dress , based on the latex Atsuko Kudo dress Gaga wore to meet Elizabeth II . Mercedes wears a glittery bodysuit and a purple hair bow and wig , and Santana wears the Jeffrey Bryant lace bodysuit , and black rose Charlie Le Mindu hat , with lace airbrushed onto her face . As mentioned in the episode , members of Vocal Adrenaline wear red Chantilly lace full-body outfits and headpieces ( as well as blonde wigs ) inspired by the Fall 1998 Alexander McQueen dress Gaga wore whilst accepting her award for Best New Artist at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards
2009 MTV Video Music Awards
2009 MTV Video Music Awards
Theatricality