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When Lady Gaga skips the red carpet to make her first appearance on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards to collect her artist of the year trophy, it’s a sign: the red carpet is losing its relevance.
Ariana Grande’s outfits from Fendi and Tamara Ralph failed to impress as much as her first video of the year win, for Brighter Days Ahead. Mariah Carey’s gold leotard and go-go boots couldn’t reach the dizzying heights of her top notes during a medley of her greatest hits, acknowledging her first VMA for video vanguard.
It’s a style slide down the charts for the ceremony that memorably gave us Madonna in a white lace bustier, Boy belt and tutu in 1984 and Gaga’s meat dress in 2010.
This year’s most rock’n’roll red carpet moment was Doja Cat eating her make-up and Yungblud’s Lenny Kravitz poses during a worthy tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. Surely, there’s more to awards show dressing than leather pants and lipstick.
Fortunately, some winning duets between designers and divas offered fashion credibility.
1. Lady Gaga: Every day is Wednesday
It’s always Wednesday for the singer-actor, who made an appearance in the Addams Family spin-off on Netflix. Her purple lace and black-ruffled gown from Marc Jacobs’ acclaimed autumn 2025 collection gave the right kind of chills.
2. Tyla: Product placement
For a look inspired by Chanel’s spring 1993 collection, worn on the runway by Claudia Schiffer, the winner for best afrobeats video, for Push 2 Start, left the black pants in the archive, wearing the top as a dress.
When asked about her look, Tyla replied succinctly: “I said, ‘Put me in Chanel.’” It’s a nice piece of marketing – Tyla’s next single is called Chanel.
3. Ice Spice: Deep cut
Rapper Ice Spice is a plaid devotee, having championed Vivienne Westwood in the past, but even with the chequered patchwork denim skirt, her dive into the Ralph Lauren archive was an unlikely mash-up. The vintage look from 2003 stands the test of time, and Ice Spice’s attitude added flavour to Lauren’s WASP-y aesthetic.
4. Sabrina Carpenter: All grown up
Manchild singer Carpenter skipped away from her usual retro camp styling by donning a fitted red lace gown from Valentino. The high-necked silhouette may seem stitched up, but the sheer fabric offered sex appeal without the usual splash of irony.
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5. Doja Cat: Lip service
Performer Doja Cat’s outfit was a country music cocktail.
The ’80s blonde wig was pure Dolly Parton, while the harlequin mini dress in baby blue and lemon from Balmain’s pre-fall 2024 collection, would have looked equally at home on destiny’s favourite child, Beyoncé, in her Cowboy Carter era.
Biting into her lipstick on the red carpet was 100 per cent Doja Cat.
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