Lizzo, Lil Nas X, and Taylor Swift Rock the VMAs Red Carpet
Lizzo looked beautifully wrapped up in Gaultier, Taylor Swift sparkled in de la Renta, and Lil Nas X, in Harris Reed, showed his cool mastery of dress-up.

Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty
The first, and who knows maybe only, moment of profundity at MTV’s Video Music Awards came in what looked like a hastily glammed up parking lot of the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
“Award shows are so dystopian,” said the young music star Conan Grey, which may be true, but all the people who wanted to be there, or who were contractually obliged to, showed up in designer clothing (sometimes that not much of it), arranged by their stylists, ready to do their management's bidding and sell themselves.
So, on the red carpet at least, it was dystopian business as usual.

Lizzo in swathes of luxuriant Jean Paul Gaultier Couture.
Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty

Lil Nas X effortlessly hot and glamorous and having a ball... in Harris Reed.
Arturo Holmes/FilmMagic/Getty

Taylor Swift in completely cool, sparkly, fantabulous Oscar de la Renta.
Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty

Ashley Graham chic in black.
Arturo Holmes/FilmMagic/Getty

Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty

Kerri Colby sirens to the max.
Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty

Lili Reinhart in chic black Fendi.
Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty

Anitta in stunning Schiaparelli Couture. We advise no sudden movements.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Bebe Rexha in stunning gown.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Conan Gray in Harris Reed, who dressed him and Lil Nas X in great red carpet looks.
Cindy Ord/WireImage/Gettyd

Prince Derek Doll stunning, and wins shoulder detail of the night.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Red Hot Chili Peppers show excellent red carpet artistry. Adore them.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty

We heart Justina Valentine's heart-focused get-up.
Arturo Holmes/FilmMagic/Getty

Sabrina Carpenter in Moschino.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Avril Lavigne, in Versace, shows that Sk8er Boi what he's been missing all these years.
Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty

JID in the best wide leg pants at the VMAs, care of Saint Laurent.
Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty

Dove Cameron in Paco Rabanne, with attitude-busting choker.
Arturo Holmes/FilmMagic/Getty

Snoop Dogg shines on, but where's Martha?
Arturo Holmes/FilmMagic/Getty

Oh, look Melissa Gorga. When in New Jersey etc. But where is Joe? Where is Teresa? Where is Kim D? Please say this means Danielle Staub and Lori Michaels are gonna sing "Real Close."
Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Colton Haynes has limes if you need them.
Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty

Bob the Drag Queen is sheer elegance.
Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty

Billy Eichner shows the meeting of pec deck and a lifelong love of "Chicago."
Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Tate McRae made her MTV VMA debut as red carpet host.
ANDRES KUDACKI/AFP/Getty

Chloe Fineman in the world's best silver duvet.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Toosii in the best green ever, and also in a mask squarely aimed at the world's chicest bank robbers.
Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty

Jack Harlow in Hermès.
Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty

Betty Who in the slick suit of the night.
Arturo Holmes/FilmMagic/Getty

Dometi Pongo in a gorgeous, double-breasted powder blue suit.
Cindy Ord/WireImage/Getty
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.


