Wmagazine
Wmagazine
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Video
SubscribeSubscribe
Nostalgia

MTV VMAs: See the 20 Most Outrageous Red Carpet Looks Of All Time

If you show up to the Video Music Awards in a simple ball gown, you're doing it all wrong. Unlike the Academy Awards or Met Gala, MTV's signature awards show is not the place for couture. Instead, it's a chance for music's biggest stars to let their freak flags fly, sartorially speaking. And fly they have. Over the years, we've seen Lady Gaga come in a dress made out of meat, Katy Perry pay homage to Britney Spears's denim gown circa 2001, and Pamela Anderson don a very, very fuzzy pink hat. Then, of course, there has also been plenty of skin, starting with Carmen Electra in 1997, leading all the way up to Miley Cyrus's metallic moment in 2015 that left little to the imagination. Ahead of Monday's awards, we take a look back at the 20 most memorable and outrageous red carpet looks of all time.
Lauren McCarthy
August 18, 2018 3:00 pm
Facebook
Twitter
Email
WhatsApp
2015 MTV Video Music Awards - Arrivals
facebook dialog
Pinterest
C Flanigan
1/20

Miley Cyrus arrives to the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Evan Agostini
2/20

Britney Spears arrives at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. August 29, 2002.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Frank Micelotta Archive
3/20

Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson arrive at the 1999 MTV Music Video Awards held at the Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center in New York City on September 9, 1999.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Jim Spellman
4/20

Christina Aguilera at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Ron Galella
5/20

Lil' Kim during The 1999 MTV Video Music Awards at Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, New York, United States.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
KMazur
6/20

Destiny's Child during 2001 MTV Video Music Awards at The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York City, New York,

facebook dialog
Pinterest
SGranitz
7/20

Jennifer Lopez during 2004 MTV Video Music Awards - Arrivals at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, United States.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Victor Malafronte
8/20

Carmen Electra posing outdoors on a red carpet in a long black sheath dress with cutaway sides at the MTV Video Music Awards, Radio City Music Hall, New York City.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Jason Merritt
9/20

Fergie of Black Eyed Peas during 2006 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, United States.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Ron Galella
10/20

Rose McGowan and Marilyn Manson during 15th Annual MTV Video Music Awards at Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles, California.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Steve Granitz
11/20

Nicki Minaj arrives at the The 28th Annual MTV Video Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on August 28, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Jim Spellman
12/20

Avril Lavigne and Kelly Osbourne during 2003 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, United States.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
RJ Capak
13/20

Macy Gray during 2001 MTV Video Music Awards at The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York City, New York, United States.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Gregg DeGuire
14/20

Jessie J arrives at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on August 28, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Ron Galella
15/20

Gwen Stefani attends the 15th Annual MTV Video Music Awards on September 10, 1998 at Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Gregg DeGuire
16/20

Lady Gaga poses in the press room at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre on September 13, 2010 in Los Angeles, CA.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Steve Granitz
17/20

Charli XCX attends the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Steve Granitz
18/20

Riff Raff and Katy Perry arrives at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Jeffrey Mayer
19/20

Blac Chyna and Amber Rose arrive at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

facebook dialog
Pinterest
Frazer Harrison
20/20
Facebook
Twitter
Email
WhatsApp

Keywords

Mtv VmasRed CarpetLady GagaMiley Cyrus

Subscribe to
W Magazine

Subscribe

Follow
Us

Stay connected.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Google+
Contact usAccessibility HelpSitemapSubscription ServicesCareersCondé Nast StoreReprints and PermissionsW Magazine Media Kit
Conde Nast
  • Allure
  • Ars Technica
  • Backchannel
  • Bon Appétit
  • Brides
  • Condé Nast Traveler
  • Epicurious
  • Glamour
  • Golf Digest
  • Golf World
  • GQ
  • GQ Style
  • Pitchfork
  • Self
  • Style
  • Teen Vogue
  • The New Yorker
  • The Scene
  • Vanity Fair
  • Vogue
  • W
  • Wired

© 2019 Condé Nast. All rights reserved

Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 5/25/18) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 5/25/18).

W Magazine may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers.Your California Privacy Rights

The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast.

Ad Choices