MTVās Video Music Awards (VMAs) were pushed back a day to avoid clashing with the US presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, so all eyes were on New Yorkās UBS Arena Wednesday night.
The annual award show has a reputation for outlandish style dating back to 1984, when Madonna wore a wedding dress to perform āLike a Virginā at the very first VMAs, almost 40 years ago to the day. And several attendees appeared to pay homage to the Queen of Pop on this yearās red carpet.
Addison Rae and Anitta both opted for bold takes on bridalwear, with the latterās Dolce & Gabbana look completed with a veil and stiletto heels. Artist of the Year nominee Sabrina Carpenter, meanwhile, arrived in a strapless vintage Bob Mackie gown originally worn by Madonna to the 1991 Oscars.
There were several other fashion throwbacks on a nostalgia-heavy night, from Halseyās archive Versace gown, which was last worn by Elizabeth Hurley in 1996, to GloRillaās Lisa āLeft Eyeā Lopes-inspired hairdo. Taylor Swift appeared to channel the iconic yellow plaid look worn by the character Cher Horowitz in ā90s hit āClueless,ā in an edgier iteration by Dior. Social media users meanwhile joked that Lil Nas Xās bold helmeted outfit was also a reference to another 1990s icon: the Pink Ranger.
This yearās red carpet was, in fact, black ā and many stars arrived in suitably dark shades and goth-inspired looks. Suki Waterhouse and Margaret Qualley, in Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel respectively, were among those opting for elegant (and, in their cases, feathery) black gowns. Singer Benson Boone wore a lacy, see-through black top with embellished footwear.
Elsewhere, award host Megan Thee Stallionās eye-catching take on the little black dress featured a corseted bodice and a skirt that flared out above and below the knee, rather than the waist. Chappell Roan, nominated as Best New Artist, went full goth-glam in a floor-length Y/Project gown with a cross pendant and long nails emerging from fingerless chainmail gloves.
See below for some of the red carpetās best looks.
Triple nominee Tyla wore a fringe corset top and mini skirt straight from Areaās runway show at New York Fashion Week. - Andrew Kelly/Reuters
Katy Perry, who was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, wore a one-shouldered crop top and floor-length skirt by US label Who Decides War. - Valerie Terranova/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Lil Scrappy arrived in a casual leather two-piece with Gucci sneakers. - Jamie McCarthy/WireImage/Getty Images
Award host Megan Thee Stallionās eye-catching gown featured a corseted bodice and flared out above and below the knee. - Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
GloRilla appeared to nod to TLCās Lisa āLeft Eyeā Lopes with her sculptural, gravity-defying hairdo. - Noam Galai/Getty Images
Lil Nas Xās bold pink outfit left social media users wondering whether he was channeling his inner Power Ranger. - Noam Galai/Getty Images
Taylor Swift wore an outfit from Dior's Cruise 2025 collection featuring a plaid taffeta bustier and skirt with black velvet shorts. - Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
Tinashe in a midriff bearing outfit with mermaid skirt. - Jamie McCarthy/WireImage/Getty Images
Shawn Mendes arrived ahead of his performance in a wool Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo with flared pants and a silk shirt. - Jamie McCarthy/WireImage/Getty Images
Suki Waterhouse looked elegant in a silk Dolce & Gabbana dress with feather bolero and satin heels. - Valerie Terranova/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles arrived on the red carpet just days after making her runway debut at New York Fashion Week. - Andrew H. Walker/Shutterstock
Margaret Qualley, posing with husband Jack Antonoff, wore a feathery black chiffon Chanel dress modeled on a look from the labelās Haute Couture Fall-Winter 1995/96 collection. - Andrew Kelly/Reuters
Halle Bailey. - Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Best New Artist nominee Shaboozey pulled off a denim look. - Noam Galai/Getty Images
Speaking to MTV about the inspiration behind her bridal look, Addison Rae said there was āa little bit of āDiet Pepsiā in there, and a little bit Madonna." - Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Doechii in a Thom Browne outfit bearing the designerās signature four-stripe motif. - Andrew Kelly/Reuters
Big Sean looked suave in a loose-fitting dark suit. - Jamie McCarthy/WireImage/Getty Images
Camila Cabello. - Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Paris Hilton, left, and Nicky Rothschild. - Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Halsey wore an archive Versace gown that she said was last worn by Elizabeth Hurley in 1996. - Andrew Kelly/Reuters
Rapper Quavo was one of the many stars to arrive wearing all-black. - Gilbert Flores/Billboard/Getty Images
Anitta in a custom Dolce & Gabbana bridal look paired with Suzanne Kalan jewelry. - Andrew Kelly/Reuters
K-pop group Le Sserafim arrived at their VMAs debut in complementary looks. - Andrew Kelly/Reuters
First-time VMAs nominee Sabrina Carpenter channeled old Hollywood glamour in a strapless vintage Bob Mackie gown originally worn by Madonna to the 1991 Oscars. - Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Chappell Roan paired her goth-inspired Y/Project gown with a cross pendant and dramatic nails emerging from chainmail fingerless gloves. - Jamie McCarthy/WireImage/Getty Images
Lenny Kravitz, who was awarded the Best Rock VMA on the red carpet, arrived in a shirtless all-black leather look, complete with matching necktie. - Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock
Summer Walker in a leopard print bustier dress. - Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Lisa of Blackpink wowed in a hooded custom Mugler corset gown. - Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Damiano David of M?neskin wore a jacquard three-piece suit, with wide-leg pants and peak lapels, by Italian label Etro. - Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Colombian singer Karol G flame print maxi-dress. - Gilbert Flores/Billboard/Getty Images
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