MTV VMAs Fashion Plays It Too Safe: Where’s the Meat?
WrapStyle: Plus, The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures gets into the spirit of the spooky season with "The Horror Show" exhibit The post MTV VMAs Fashion Plays It Too Safe: Where’s the Meat? appeared first on TheWrap .
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) showcased a notably subdued fashion scene, lacking the boldness and creativity that once defined the event. Despite the absence of major fashion statements, the awards drew a record-breaking 8.43 million viewers across CBS and MTV, marking the show's biggest audience since 2015. Taylor Swift, the night's inaugural Artist Director Honors recipient, wore a demure black velvet and crystal-mesh halter gown by Tamara Ralph.
Artists like Lil' Kim, Lil Nas X, and Lady Gaga delivered standout looks, with Lady Gaga's meat dress becoming a legendary moment in VMAs history. Sombr, a global Valentino ambassador, took a daring approach by wearing a provocative glam-rock coat and flared leather pants, paying homage to Madonna's iconic 'Sex' era. While the VMAs may have moved away from the outrageous fashion of the past, there remains an opportunity for designers to inject more excitement and creativity into future award shows.
Written by urgent.news from TheWrap's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.