MTV VMAS

MTV VMAs 2017: Cardi B Really Embraces Sparkle For Her “Bodak Yellow” Performance

The rapper kicked off the pre-show in a glittering bodysuit and matching thigh-high boots, presumably by Saint Laurent.


2017 MTV Video Music Awards - Red Carpet
Christopher Polk

When you are a still on-the-rise rapper—albeit one on a meteoric ascent—how do you stand out in a crowd that includes musical superstars like Katy Perry, Lorde, Kendrick Lamar, and basically every other name currently on the Billboard charts?

If you are Cardi B, you sparkle—like, really sparkle. Tonight, the rapper did just that thanks to a diamonte bodysuit and matching boots, courtesy of (if Twitter and Anthony Vaccarello devotees are to be beloved) Saint Laurent. Though the brand has yet to issue an official release announcing the dressing, those who saw the house’s Fall 2017 fashion show—or checked Instagram during Paris Fashion week—would recognize those thigh-high stunners from about a mile away.

Immediately following the runway show, the boots, which retail for $10,000 and feature over 3,000 crystals, quickly amassed a waiting list at both Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, months and months ahead of when they’d even begin to land in stores. One person who didn’t have to wait, however? Rihanna, of course, who appeared at a dress rehearsal for her own Fenty x Puma fashion show during Paris Fashion Week mere days after the Saint Laurent show. And it would seem that Kim Kardashian finally got her hands on them herself; the reality star posted a Snapchat of herself wearing them earlier this morning.

Ironically, the singer opted for a pair of extremely recognizable shoes, but in the song she is performing, Cardi B shouts out another famous footwear brand. “These expensive, these is red bottoms, these is bloody shoes; Hit the store, I can get ’em both, I don’t wanna choose,” she raps early in the song, a reference to Christian Louboutin’s red soles.

Prior to here statement-making performance ensemble, the rapper showed up in very different, though equally dramatic ensemble: a complicated, halter-neck pantsuit-dress hybrid designed by Christian Siriano. For those keeping track: that is two outfits, and all before the show even has kicked off. Not bad for a VMAs rookie.

Related: Cardi B Shares Her Instagram Do’s and Don’ts, and Why You Should Post “Every Two Hours”

MTV VMAs 2017: Katy Perry, Lorde, Paris Jackson, and All the Rest of the Red Carpet Fashion

Katy Perry attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for MTV)

John Shearer

Lorde attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Millie Bobby Brown attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for MTV)

John Shearer

Nicki Minaj attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Kevin Mazur

Paris Jackson attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Nicole Tuck, DJ Khaled and Asahd Tuck Khaled attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Steve Granitz

Jared Leto attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Christopher Polk

Lil Yachty attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Carey Hart, Willow Sage Hart, and Pink attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Rich Fury

Demi Lovato attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Cardi B attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Shawn Mendes attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Vanessa Hudgens attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Kevin Mazur

Pete Davidson and Cazzie David attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Alberto E. Rodriguez

Yara Shahidi attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Christopher Polk

Hailee Steinfeld attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Kevin Mazur

Hailey Baldwin attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for MTV)

John Shearer

Olivia Munn attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Christopher Polk

Noah Cyrus attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Alberto E. Rodriguez

Dinah Jane, Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, and Lauren Jauregui of Fifth Harmony attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for MTV)

John Shearer

Jasmine Sanders attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Tomo Milicevic, Shannon Leto and Jared Leto attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

Jon Kopaloff

Julia Michaels attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Jack Lawless, Joe Jonas, JinJoo Lee and Cole Whittle of musical group DNCE attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Jack Antonoff attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Mel B and Heidi Klum attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for MTV)

John Shearer

Lil Mama attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Rich Fury

Lizzo attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Jeff Kravitz

Echosmith attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Eudoxie Mbouguiengue and Ludacris attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Frazer Harrison
1/30

Who Doesn’t Have a Crush on Rihanna?