On Wednesday (July 16) night at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena (technically in Paradise, Nevada), Lady Gaga ushered in a new touring era, officially kicking off the Mayhem Ball (in support of her Billboard 200-topping album Mayhem, naturally) to a sold-out crowd.

Most of the first act remained consistent with the earlier Mayhem shows, with Gaga taking the stage atop a three-story dress, though it opted for a more operatic version of Born T

Lady Gaga's "Mayhem Ball" tour is loaded with armor, ball gowns, latex and latex again - but it's the footwear that quietly ties together her most elaborate stage personas. For her return to the stage,