From tutus to medieval cosplay: Stars let loose on the VMAs red carpet

The VMAs red carpet – the looser, more brazen younger sister to more rigid, traditional award shows – has wrapped for another year. And while last year’s fashion veered more on the conservative side, this year’s offerings delivered in spades, with everything from swords to tutus, all against a slick black carpet.

Two of the biggest and most talked-about pop stars of the moment, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, appeared in starkly contrasting looks. The former in a gauzy maroon and white Y/Project dress with medieval accessories (sword included), and the latter in an old Hollywood sequinned gown from American designer Bob Mackie, originally designed for Madonna.

Styled with a diamond necklace and blonde curls, Carpenter’s look was a clear nod to Madonna’s homage to Marilyn Monroe at the 1991 Oscars.

Madonna at the 1991 Oscars and Sabrina Carpenter at the VMAs.Credit: Getty Images

Similar, but less overt nods to historical dress (we use the word historical very loosely here) were apparent in plenty of attendees’ looks, many of which took a gothic or medieval route. Chain mail, corsetry and veils were all on show from the likes of Camila Cabello, Lisa and Anitta.

Taylor Swift, arriving fashionably late, wore a tartan outfit from Dior that wouldn’t be out of place on a Hot Topic rack. Styled with a matching choker, leather fingerless gloves and thigh-high boots, the look felt like a superhero-esque rendition of Alicia Silverstone’s classic yellow plaid tartan set in Clueless.

Taylor Swift wears a Dior corset to the 2024 VMAs.Credit: Getty Images

Distressed glamour was another clear trend on the carpet, with Katy Perry donning a shredded denim two-piece from Who Decides War; Tyla a stringy, fringed neon yellow dress; and Tinashe a torn leather set straight out of Crocodile Dundee.

But Paris Hilton was the queen of derelict chic with a chewed-up version of the Glomesh mini she first wore in 2002. Paired with an over-the-top diamond choker and wet-look hair, it felt like a heavy-handed metaphor for everything the party girl has been through. But we’re probably reading too much into things.

Menswear, always a tricky beast to nail at these things, was a bit chaotic this year – from Tyler Posey in a Blink-182 tee and camo pants to DJ Khaled in pink Bottega leather. Obviously, Lenny Kravitz gave his best Lenny Kravitz impression, donning a leather jacket and matching leather tie with nothing underneath.

If we were handing out awards, Addison Rae would win the gong for nailing the brief as one of the few stars to truly have fun on the red carpet. The Diet Pepsi singer paired a white satin lingerie set with a tutu bustle, feathers and peep-toe heels. Some have criticised the bra top for being ill-fitting, but honestly, the look was just cartoonish enough to work in this setting. A little bit Showgirls, a little bit 1950s housewife, it was a look that didn’t take itself too seriously. And that’s what the VMAs are all about.

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