Some of the biggest names in music took center stage this past Sunday, September 7, at the MTV Video Music Awards. Hosted at the UBS Arena in New York, stars such as Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, and many more musical icons made an appearance at the lauded event.
The VMAs celebrate and honor artists for excellence in music videos and songs, with winners selected through fan votes and other criteria. The beloved annual award show has some big categories. The most notable are Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.
Known for its standout pop culture moments, from the beginning of the Taylor vs Kanye feud to the Britney/Madonna/Christina kiss, the VMAs have cemented themselves as prominent cultural events in the music industry. It’s a culmination of musical talent but also a playground for artists to experiment with fashion and make bold moves.
After all, several iconic looks have arisen from this award show. Think Lady Gaga’s meat dress, Britney Spears’ “I’m a Slave 4 U” performance outfit, and Miley Cyrus’s bear leotard during her Bangerz-era performance.
The MTV VMAs are a place for celebrities to explore their wild side, get experimental, and have fun with their music and looks. Here are the celebrities from the 2025 award season that best encapsulated the daring, playful nature of this iconic celebration.
1) Aye aye, Captain Conan
Fresh off the release of his new album Wishbone, Conan Gray took to the stage to perform his new single “Vodka Cranberry.” But first he graced the red carpet with a truly jaw-dropping look.
Gray was clearly inspired by the aesthetic of his new album. He wore a nautical full-denim gown designed by Erik Charlotte, a rising Gen Z avant-garde designer. The outfit is complete with staggeringly tall heeled boots and a custom-made hat emblazoned with “WB” as a nod to the album.
When talking about his inspiration for the look, Gray explained, “My latest album Wishbone is sailor themed. I’m wearing a sailor outfit [on the album cover], so I wanted to bring a little bit of that onto the carpet tonight.”
Gray is certainly not afraid to go bold, never falling victim to the basic black tux. Everything about this look is dramatic in the best way possible. From the exaggerated puffy sleeves to the cinched corset and layered ruffled skirt, he certainly brought a little bit of performance off the stage and onto the red carpet. Dare I say, best dressed?
2) Fairy godmother Sabrina
Sabrina Carpenter had a stellar night at the VMAs, on and off the carpet. The “Tears” singer took home three awards, including Best Pop Artist, Best Album for Short n’ Sweet, and Best Visual Effects for “Manchild.”
Carpenter opted for a full custom-made Valentino red lace dress. With her fuzzy purple scarf elegantly draped around her arms, the color combo served fairy godmother in the best way possible. The ensemble was sophisticated yet still embraced the playfulness of her personality and music with the sheer detailing and cinched waist. The singer accessorized with Tiffany & Co. jewelry, which perfectly complimented the sparkling sequins on her gown.
She left the crowd in awe during her performance of her latest single “Tears.” The performance seemed to be a clear homage to queen of the VMAs herself, Britney Spears.
A powerful statement on supporting trans rights, Carpenter included iconic queens from the show of Rupaul’s Drag Race as they held up signs advocating for the protection of trans lives. Her stunning fashion coupled with her outstanding stage presence made the singer one of the most talked about celebrities of the night.
3) Zara as the Island Princess
Nominated for Best Choreography for her song “Pretty Ugly,” Zara Larsson absolutely smashed the carpet this year. Her outfit was absolutely perfect for the VMAs, keeping it playful and exciting while flawlessly encapsulating the vibe of her latest album Midnight Sun. If Barbie had a VMAs doll, this would be the look.
Larsson sported a custom-made completely sheer turquoise mini dress designed by Sorcha O’Raghallaigh, an Irish designer known for her bespoke designs. Bejeweled tassels and hibiscus flowers adorn the dress, creating a fun, summery look that feels like an island escape. The ensemble is complete with a matching bedazzled hibiscus hair piece and ring.
“I wanted something to represent my album, Midnight Sun,” Larsson said about her outfit. “The whole symbol of my album is the hibiscus flower…And the whole album is just about a never-ending summer. I just wanted it to feel like a summer thing.”
Down to the pink and orange streaks in her long blonde hair, this whole look screams early 2000s. It was such a breath of fresh air and a perfect way to promote her album and upcoming tour.
4) Don’t sleep on Nuna
If you don’t know her already, Audrey Nuna is one of the stars of hit new movie KPop Demon Hunters, now Netflix’s most-watched title of all time. Making up one-third of fictional K-pop girl-group HUNTR/X, the singer was nominated for Song of the Summer alongside her two co-stars for their hit song “Golden” from the movie.
The singer channeled her character Mira for this fit, referencing a scene in which she wears a black sleeping bag to the Met Gala. Nuna did the ultimate fan service by bringing the look to life on the VMAs red carpet.
She sported the brand NOOON, founded by designer Jose Peon who is known for his exaggerated silhouettes. She looked stunning in a dramatic, over-sized black puffer coat with matching boots. Nuna paired the look with huge bow-like structured braids. Her effortlessly cool accessories, such as her Gentle Monster glasses and MMDW geometrical ring, gave the look an edgy touch.
When talking about the global success of the movie and K-pop in general, Nuna said “It’s insane. It’s been a crazy progression I feel like, right, over the past many years of seeing K-pop grow. But I think this is just another echelon, another level of global dominance.”
Safe to say Nuna dominated the carpet herself. She created a fun moment for fans and maybe even gained some new ones in the process. Who else could wear a sleeping bag to the VMAs?
5) Feathered fantasy Tate
The pop girlies were not here to play, and Tate McCrae was no exception. Presenting a standout performance of her single “Sports Car”—with an iconic dance break at the end—the star took home two awards for her song “Just Keep Watching”: Song of the Summer and Best Editing.
Looking angelic on the carpet, McCrae wore custom Ludovic de Saint Sernin. The gorgeously braided bodice falls into a delicately draped skirt with an extended train. The shear gown, created with white silk chiffon, took 134 hours to make.
The white perfectly contrasts with McCrae’s tanned skin, no accessories needed. Her long hair has hand-glued ostrich feathers scattered throughout to add just that extra touch of drama. The look was truly breathtaking with lots of flow and movement, reminiscent of her own performance style. It perfectly encapsulated McCrae as an artist and had all eyes on her from the beginning to the end of the carpet.
6) Twigs tunes in
FKA Twigs bared her toned midriff—Christina Aguilera style—in a striking red carpet ensemble. Nominated for Best Choreography for her song “Eusexua“, Twigs made heads turn with her look that was as bold as the artist herself.
Dressed in custom Matières Fécales, a Parisian label known for its unconventionality, the singer wore a burgundy avant-garde look. From top to bottom, the outfit was perfectly contoured to her body. It consisted of extremely low rise pants and a geometrical top with exaggerated shoulders and corset detailing down the back.
Her accessories consisted of chunky, stacked bracelets and sky-high Louboutin heels. Despite all of these exceedingly cool elements, Twigs’ hair was the star of the show.
Hair stylist Louis Souvestre made intricately woven braids and shaped them into mini headphones, creating an accessory in the process. Twigs captioned her VMAs Instagram post “i’m listening to afterglow,” using her hair to reference her newly announced album of the same name set to arrive sometime this month.
The VMAs effect: more than music
The VMAs have always been more than just an award show. They’re a cultural stage where music and fashion collide. Unlike the Grammys, which tend to favor elegance and tradition, the VMAs thrive on experimentation.
This celebration has given artists the space to take risks, to blur the line between performance and fashion, and to leave behind moments that live on in pop culture long after the night ends. The looks arising from this show have become representations of various eras, shaping how we think about both music and style.
This year was no exception. The night proved once again that the VMAs are where creativity reigns. It’s the rare event where fashion doesn’t just complement the music. It becomes part of the performance. And that’s exactly why the VMAs continue to matter: they remind us that music is as much about what we see as what we hear.
