MTV VMAs: Best and worst dressed
From left: Taylor Swift, Ciara and Z LaLa attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
(Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images (left and center), Jason Merrit / Getty Images (right))Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards had fashion hits and misses. Critic Booth Moore picks her best and worst looks on the rainbow carpet.
Taylor Swift. Swift brought the athleisure trend to a costumey place, wearing sparkly houndstooth jogger pants and a long-sleeved crop top by Ashish. If anyone owns the crop, it’s her.
(Paul Buck / EPA)Jeremy Scott. Looking like the master of fashion ceremonies that he was, Scott wore a rainbow-striped tuxedo from his own Moschino collection.
(Jordan Strauss/Invision/Associated Press)Vanessa Hudgens. With layered jewelry and pearls in her hair, Hudgens’ blush pink Naeem Khan gown was a boho dream. The matching pink cast (not visible in the photo) on her broken right hand was a sweet touch too.
(Jordan Strauss/Invision/Associated Press)Selena Gomez. In a long-sleeve, sparkly black knit gown by Calvin Klein, Gomez proves that covered-up can be sexy.
(Paul Buck / EPA)Jussie Smollett. The “Empire” star looked different in a good way in a graphic black-and-white patterned Calvin Klein suit, white tee and black fedora — even if some social media commentators likened the suit to a composition notebook.
(Jason Merritt/Getty Images)Serayah. Fringe is in, and this Herve Leger by Max Azria rendition (worn over a bra and briefs) was the way to wear it at the creative and costumey VMAs.
(Paul Buck / EPA)Hailee Steinfeld. We’ve seen a lot of jumpsuits on red carpets, but this one in ivory crepe with a cape top proves why Stella McCartney is a master of the medium.
(Paul Buck / EPA)Gigi Hadid. Only at the VMAs (or on a fashion runway) could you get away with this gold jacquard superhero gown with matching briefs. It was a powerful color and statement.
(Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)Ciara. Also looking fringe-tastic, Ciara chose a black Alexandre Vauthier gown with gold bullet beading.
(Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)Frankie Grande. Proving that going nearly nude on the red carpet wasn’t just for the gals, Grande went shirtless, gilding his chest and wearing a crystal-embroidered shorts suit on top. He was one of the few men to make an effort.
(Paul Buck / EPA)Cara Delevingne. Model perfect for starry Saint Laurent.
(Paul Buck / EPA)Amber Rose. If you’ve got a platform, why not use it for something good? Rose covered herself in slut-shaming graffiti spelling out the words “golddigger,” “whore,” “stripper” and more to raise awareness for the fight for gender equality, specifically the Oct. 3 SlutWalk event being organized by her foundation in Los Angeles.
(AFP/Getty Images)Z LaLA. Did she want people to mistake her for Lady Gaga? In this gold sequin gown with sleeves puffed up like Mylar party balloons, a conehead hairdo and spiky eyelashes, it certainly seemed like it. It read as desperation.
(Jordan Strauss/Invision/Associated Press)Kanye West. When your pregnant wife stuffs herself into a Balmain gown, you should make an effort to wear something more than sweats, even if they are sweats from your Adidas collaboration. Not fair, not fair. Kim Kardashian. Stepping out on the red carpet while pregnant? Kardashian is fearless. It’s a shame this military-inspired Balmain gown didn’t inspire more. It’s no wonder the Internet memes came fast and furious, comparing her look to a paper bag.
( Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Nicki Minaj. Certainly, there are more inspiring designs to show off your amazing assets than this dull LaBourjoisie gown. Though we must say, Minaj grinding with stripper cop Rebel Wilson was one of our favorite moments of the show.
(Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)FKA Twigs. We’ve seen this Atelier Versace-meets-S&M look before. How about a more interesting way to show off a nearly nude bod?
( Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Britney Spears. If anyone needs a new look, it’s Brit. She’s been on a showgirl shtick for far too long.
(Paul Buck / EPA)Nick Jonas: Not sure how he could breathe in this head-to-toe brown leather Versace get-up, which was more biker than Jonas brother.
(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)Miley Cyrus. Part loin cloth, part chandelier and all Versace, this look is like Xena Warrior Princess-on-acid. It’s a costume, we get it, but it could have been more inventive. We’ve seen all these design elements before, including on Nicki Minaj at the 2014 VMAs. It may have shocked but it didn’t awe.
(Christopher Polk / Getty Images)