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It’s the day we’ve all been waiting for: If you’re a fashion lover, chances are you’ve been desperately refreshing social media feeds, waiting for the latest red carpet looks to drop. As of Sept. 12, your wishes have come to fruition.
The 40th annual MTV Video Music Awards were held on Tuesday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The star-studded event was emcee’d by Nicki Minaj and hosted some of the biggest names in music, including, to everyone’s surprise (but especially Taylor Swift’s), all five members of popular boy band *NSYNC. Their reunion after 10 years was certainly not the only thing turning heads, though. This year’s red carpet looks did not come to play. Attendees dressed in everything from black to bright pink, from classy to subversive. So, without further ado, here are some of the best looks from this year’s red carpet.
10. Chase Stokes
The 30-year-old “Outer Banks” actor showed up in a dashing, bright red blazer, draped over a black, semi unbuttoned shirt. White trousers broke up the look with a stark contrast, but his black belt and loafers served to compliment the shirt. While the look was a bit simpler than some of the others on the carpet, Stokes showed us that you don’t always have to push the boundaries to make your presence known. There’s nothing wrong with a classic, timeless look with a pop of color. Not to mention, the bold outwear had an adorable motive, too — he wore it to match the red dress worn by his partner, Kelsea Ballerini.
9. Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter looked absolutely stunning on the red carpet, donning a Cavanagh Baker gown. The dress had a sparkly silver bodice, draped in a translucent white, tulle-like fabric that made up the skirt. She completed the look with Jimmy Choo heels and gorgeous glowy makeup. The actress-turned-singer’s red carpet look was only the prelude to her performance of hits “Feather” and “Nonsense,” where she managed to deck out in even more sparkles.
8. Olivia Rodrigo
For such a young artist, Olivia Rodrigo has no problem tackling a red carpet like a pro. The singer, who just released her sophomore album “GUTS” on Sept. 8, came in a glittering silver dress designed by Ludovic de Saint Sernin, made from 150,000 Swarovski crystals. She paired the piece with metallic stilettos by Roger Vivier. The look was simple and elegant, with the glitter providing the touch of youthful fun that Rodrigo has come to be adored for. Rodrigo walked away with the award for Best Editing for her song “vampire” in addition to performing at the event, so it is definitely safe to say that we can look forward to seeing plenty more red carpet looks from her soon.
7. Nicki Minaj
Of course, it only makes sense to include the event’s host, Nicki Minaj. Tuesday marked Minaj’s second consecutive year as host, so she obviously had to come dressed to impress. Sporting a baby pink ensemble designed by Dolce & Gabbana, Minaj had the perfect look to compliment her widely known love of all things pink and Barbie-esque. The get-up featured a satin corset, a transparent skirt and a gorgeous pink veil, trimmed with lace and other intricate, feminine detailing.
6. Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s appearance on this list should be a shock to no one, considering her presence alone is enough to get fans excited. Swift showed up in a sophisticated black Versace dress, complete with an asymmetrical silhouette and a slit up the side. And of course, we can’t forget the Versace signature: gold hardware detailing. She accentuated the outfit with plenty of gold and silver jewelry, including a $12,000 ring by Van Cleef & Arpels, and a “cat eye sharp enough to kill a man,” as she would say. As expected, Swift dominated the ceremony, taking home nine awards (including Video of the Year, for “Anti-Hero”), and tying the record for most VMAs won in a single night.
5. Selena Gomez
It’s hard to talk about Taylor Swift without talking about her bestie, Selena Gomez. Thankfully, we don’t have to. Gomez arrived in a red Oscar de la Renta dress — it featured a floral-like design over a nude bodice, with a skirt made to look like hanging vines. The unique piece, accessorized with rings, earrings, and a bracelet (all by Pasquale Bruni), and Jimmy Choo shoes, had all eyes on her. Gomez dropped her latest song, “Single Soon,” on August 25, and if it’s anything like this look, it’s sure to blow everyone away!
4. Chloe Bailey
Chloe Bailey’s Roberto Cavalli ensemble turned heads in the best way possible. She wore a blue dress made of a multitude of fabrics, including a unique pairing of denim and velvet, and a matching scarf. The dress featured a slit up to her hip on one side, and a floor length skirt that pooled on the ground around her. Blue heels and mixed metal jewelry further bumped up the wow-factor of her look.
3. Megan Thee Stallion
Given that she’s not the first to appear on this list, it’s clear that female rappers know how to command a red carpet. Megan Thee Stallion served us the ultimate mix of classy and contemporary, with a sheer, strapless Brandon Blackwood gown. The black dress was adorned with vertical stripes, as well as a single horizontal stripe around her waist, to accentuate her figure. She donned glamorous jewelry, including a ring, a bracelet and a choker, as well as her trademark long nails. During the show, she took the stage with Cardi B to perform their new song “Bongos.”
2. Cardi B
Again, female rappers took the cake this year. Cardi B’s avant-garde look commanded the carpet. She donned a metallic silver structural dress with matching arm bands, but the pieces were created from an unusual material: hair clips. Yes, that’s right, Cardi B’s iconic outfit was made of hundreds of silver hair clips designed by Dilara Findikoglu. It was certainly one of the most unexpected, yet stunning looks of the night.
1. Måneskin
The Italian rock band, consisting of Damiano David, Victoria De Angelis, Thomas Raggi, and Ethan Torchio, stepped out in all black outfits by designer Rick Owens. All four members wore dark eye makeup to compliment their rockstar demeanor. While the group looked sleek and cohesive, their coolness-factor was still through the roof. Despite wearing the same color, Måneskin’s outfits differed in silhouette and fabrics used, allowing them to look just as incredible solo as they did altogether. Their Best Dressed title was rightfully earned.
The complete list of award winners is now available to view here.
