No popstar does kitsch better than Katy Perry. The performer, who turns 33 today, has a long history of wearing tongue-in-cheek creations. From her days sporting whipped cream bras to her lengthy collaboration with kindred spirit Jeremy Scott, Perry has turned her affinity for kooky clothes into an art form. Though she switched to a more sophisticated high fashion aesthetic this year with the release of her album, Witness, Perry hasn’t abandoned the sweetness she’s become known for.

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Onstage, Perry’s get-ups are outlandish as ever. In custom looks by designers Nguyen Cong Tri and Zaldy, she treats fans to over the top performances accented by chainmail headdresses, ruffles covered in polka dots, and futuristic gold armor. Equal parts vampy and eccentric, the costumes help to bring songs such as “Firework” and “Bon Appeтιт” to life. Granted, Perry could choose to sing in jeans or the tracksuits she wears during rehearsals, but where’s the fun in that? Bringing the jovial spirit of her show wardrobe into every day outfits, Perry is the first to step out in statement pieces. The marabou feathered Vivetta and flame-covered Moschino resort ensembles she wore while filming American Idol in New Orleans last week are just a couple of examples.

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Overall, Perry has used this year to ᴀssert her newly evolved style, a combination of elegance and attention-grabbing. Whether that meant sitting front row at Chanel in astronaut-printed culottes, or pulling out pleat-covered Masaki Matsuka for press dates in London, she’s managed to upgrade her look without losing her personality. Though she’s become a red carpet risk-taker with a wardrobe full of designer goods, Perry hasn’t lost her unconventional touch and continues to seek out quirky fashion wherever she can find it. At a meet-and-greet in Louisville, Kentucky earlier this month, she spotted a fan in a custom bedazzled dress featuring Witness’s eye-logo and ordered two on the spot: one for her and another for her dog, Nugget.