2023 MTV VMAs Fashion Review
I'm Asleep
Another award show, another red carpet so boring that I need to insert an IV drip of caffeine into my veins to even form a singular opinion.
This is the VMAs!! Where is the fun? Where is the ridiculous? Where is the so questionable and ugly that I actually think it’s brilliant?
Sure, there were some nice looks, but nice doesn’t make me feel much of anything.
So, I do like this dress. It’s simpler for Schiaparelli, but the way the black jersey is draped is quite intriguing in the way it makes you focus on where the dress actually is. I like the keyhole cutout in the center— it references Elsa’s surrealist work with Salvador Dalí. However, although I appreciate Anitta wearing all the accessories that were feature on the runway, I wish we’d made this look a bit more fun and exciting. Also, later in the night I saw that she wore a look by Alexander W*ng, and uhm, maybe lets not wear clothing made by sexual predators!
I’m not sure who Ashanti is wearing, but honestly, that’s fine. The dress fits okay, but other than that, it’s not that great. I really hate how dusty that mesh is in the center and the bust area doesn’t feel like it makes sense with the rest of the dress. Her clutch, on the other hand, has a photo of her and Nelly from the VMAs 10 years ago, when he first asked for her phone number— cute! I wish the dress matched the clutch more. Hell, wear a dress with the photo instead of a clutch. Do SOMETHING memorable.
Y’all know I love Dilara’s work, so this was a win for me. I believe this style originally came down the runway as a mini, and here it’s been turned into a beautifully fitted gown for Cardi. The dress is made out of hair clips, and my one gripe with it, is how it appears that some kind of pins have been added to the extended portion of the dress. I don’t understand why they weren’t also added to the top, or why they just didn’t forgo the idea completely. Regardless, I think Dilara does a fantastic job of shaping the body with things that are not easy to shape a body with.
I feel like I’ve talked about this dress on someone before, right? Anyway, I do think it’s cute! Would I wear it to the VMAs? No, but I enjoy the bell shaped skirt and the pleated detail sticking out from underneath. The strip of white up top feels like a nice background to let the sweet little bow be seen better— I’m not mad at it.
The exploration of denim in this collection was in reference to Roberto Cavalli’s start, so it was nice to see, but I don’t think this was the best look that could have been chosen. It’s very Cavalli in its asymmetry, but it’s just not at all compelling. Fits great!
This was Jeremy’s last collection for Moschino, and I do think it was a fun one. When I first saw it, I remember thinking that it had a lot of red carpet potential. While I stand by that, I don’t think the way this was styled allowed for it to have its true moment. The moto style two piece is fun, and while she is wearing the jewelry from the runway, I think the headpiece would have just made it so much better. It might have been a lot more edgy than ~glamorous~ but, like, worth it!
This would have been a fun way to add some intrigue to a simple gown had it fit better. I like the little extended hip, with the high slits on both sides that are half covered by some shimmery caging. That fold right at the plevis just completely takes me out of the experience.
Now we’re COOKING!!! Literally shut up, this is good. It’s sooo Dsqaured2 and incredibly on brand for Doechii. I love the way the undie is incorporated into this barely there dress instead of being a completely separate piece. The arm warmers and hat are so silly, and I mean, this is the VMAs after all, at least someone’s having fun with their outfit. She was also holding a cigarette as an accessory which was just, honestly, the icing on the cake.
While this isn't the most groundbreaking thing I’ve ever seen Doja wear, I do still like it. She’s been a little spooky lately and this knit looks like a spiderweb, so! Also, Monse is known for its deconstruction and reconstruction, so this barely there knit makes sense for the brand and I think there’s something really compelling about it. I probably won’t be thinking about it too hard by tomorrow, but I like it.
We don’t really see a lot of custom Coach looks on the red carpet, so it’s nice to see, but it’s also kind of boring. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely dress, I love the full sequin, and the way it’s completely open at the sides and the back, but so what? It would have been really wonderful to see Coach tie on some work from recent seasons, so that it at least felt relevant.
If I had access to vintage JPG, this is not what I would be pulling for the VMAs, or at all for that matter. Also, in what world would black underwear be the choice for this?
I am SICK of seeing Dolce on these red carpets. Dolce aside, I think this was the brand’s best look of the night. The lace is done well, and this fits her nicely. It was also an homage to the outfit Britney Spears for 10 years ago to the VMAs in 2003. I’m not obsessed with it, and think someone like Wiederhoeft could have done something a lot more sicking, but.
A lot of the girls wore fresh off the runway looks— they were NOT letting these clothes breathe! I feel like Mirror Palais if a TikTok girly brand, and the City Girls also make me think of TikTok so this feels right. I also feel like she’s wearing the Marc Jacob Kikis which is always a gold star in my book. I do think the bust area could be a little more impressive in terms of construction, but overall it’s essentially one elongated corset and I’m not mad at it. It’s very on brand for the brand.
Karol G is such a star and did not deserve a pile of beige lace. There is nothing memorable about this and I will never be able to get behind a visible nude pasty. I understand we don’t all want our nips out, but then, like, don’t wear the look?
This was one of my favorite collection of NYFW this season, however it wasn’t one of my favorite looks from the collection. I love the layering of the lace, the headpiece is fun, and the corset fits well, but the draping of the skirt is a little clunky. One thing that I really commend Palomo Spain for is making femme clothing that actually fits men, instead of just putting a man in a dress for the sake of putting a man in a dress. Regardless, it’s cute, and at least it’s something.
Matthew Williams continues to give us custom Givenchy looks, and will never give us Givenchy Couture. Honestly, this dress makes me think he can keep it. The chiffon makes no sense with the silk, and neither does the neckline of the fitted bodice with the cowl. Also, it’s just too long.
I fell to my knees— they look so hot. I don’t remember the last time I didn’t see them in Gucci, and this Rick Owens switch of is perfection. All of them in a Kiss boot is most pleasing to me, and they literally all look good. Usually there’s one member or two whose look is a little off, but I have nothing bad to say. Starting on the right, we have Damiano in a skirt suit with a lovely little enforced shoulder— gorgeous! Then we have Ethan in an asymmetrical draped top and high waisted pant— gorgeous! Victoria is wearing a “dress” with an incredibly high slit and it’s done in that scrumptious Rick Owens matte sequin— gorgeous! Finally Thomas is in a perfectly cropped and fitted jacket with high waisted pants— gorgeous!
Megan looks like a hot girl and I love this for her. Brandon Blackwood is an accessories brand, but they’ve been dipping their toes into custom work recently, and honestly, whoever’s over there at the atelier deserves a kiss on the face. I have never seen them dress someone in a poorly fitted gown, and I think that’s so impressive for a brand that doesn’t even make clothes. It’s essentially a sheer body hugging gown that is completely boned. It’s tailored beautifully, and while I’m not a huge fan of having a band around the waist, it doesn’t make me like the look any less here. Megan loves showing off her body, and while this might not be anything crazy, it’s really lovely and something different from what we usually see her in.
Why did y’all do Nicki like this?! We just saw her in the most gorgeous Rabanne look for the release of her latest single, and now we get this. I like the idea of the pink lace and the veil, but the corset and undies do not fit well, and whatever the fuck is happening with the seams in that skirt is insane. I get it, Pink Friday Pt. 2 or whatever, but…
Sure, she looks pretty, the dress is nice, but literally convince me why I should care? I know Ludovic could have turned something OUT in that chainmail that would have suited her pop-pink princess vibe.
There were so many good looks in this collection, and the fact that this one was chosen is disappointing. Also, the styling makes no sense and feels like we didn’t have a lot of time to come up with something.
The draping of the tulle here is very dreamy and haunting which I enjoy, but the bodice underneath feels a bit out of place here. I know it’s on brand for Sabrina but I don’t care. I will say, I commend Jason Bolden for continuing to dress her in things that never make her look as short as she is.
The day before the VMAs I made a TikTok talking about how this collection had some strong red carpet potential, and here we are. I love this! Sure, it’s giving Flintstones, BUT I thinking shaping the bones in a non-specific way so that they don’t look like any one animal makes them look less costume and more Elsa Peretti, you know? I think the bone up top frames her face really nicely and the one in the center plays on the draping really well. This is fun and it makes me happy.
Shakira is wearing an oroton chainmail dress, which is a fabric that was developed by Gianni Versace, and while it fits her well and she looks nice, I’m bored. This woman won the Vanguard award, surely we could have given her something more memorable to wear?
So, I don’t hate this. Floral motifs have been a large part of Oscar de la Renta forever, and combining that with Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim’s exploration of naked style dress is a really smart idea. This color looks incredible on her, and the way the florals are embroidered with little bugle beads is stunning. However, I’m not obsessed with the “fringe” at the bottom of the dress and feel like it should have been more of a gradient degradé, or at least gone without the slit.
Sofia loves a pretty, pretty princess gown, so it’s nice to see her in something different, but that still makes sense with her very glamorous styling. However, this tunic up top is too long and makes it feel like it’s pulling her down. Had the tails been shorter, I think it would have look a lot cleaner. I do love those super large pailletes, though.
She obviously came because she knew she won a bunch of awards, so we could have went with something more interesting. The draping, the asymmetry, the black and gold— it’s all very Versace, but it’s all doing too much without actually doing anything at all. Also, the necklace makes no sense with that neckline.
I don’t love the look, but I do love the commitment. The tape on the vag!!! GIRL, lmao. This is so silly, and this is honestly what I needed more of at the VMAs. Maybe not exactly this, but I don’t even care, good for her.
So that was the VMAs! I’m bored, I’m tired, I gotta go. Best dressed goes to Doechii, Måneskin, and Megan Thee Stallion. Worst goes to mostly everyone else.
TTYL!!!
xx