This year’s MTV Video Music Awards saw swathes of celebrities descend on the red carpet in daring outfits that left little to the imagination.
The star-studded guest list included the likes of Madonna, Taylor Swift and Paris Hilton, with A-listers flocking to the red carpet in their droves ahead of the show at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre on Sunday night.
Dominating the unofficial dress code of risk-taking at this year’s awards was a distinctive trend of exposed hip bones – as low-rise and backless outfits took hold.
Taylor Swift commanded the red carpet in a figure-hugging Tamara Ralph Couture look which boasted a halterneck black top with a show-stopping sheer back, paired with a shimmering silver skirt.
However, other A-listers struggled to make a sartorial statement. Singer Tyla, 24, opted for a rare fashion misstep in a blue snakeskin print skirt and bra two-piece that left little to the imagination.
Charli XCX also divided opinion as she flashed her abbs in a daring crop top at the annual awards ceremony in a tiny black mesh crop top and matching long velvet skirt by Saint Laurent.
According to celebrity stylist Lisa Talbot, this year’s VMA red carpet looks showcase how ‘fashion is moving away from the idea that glamour has to mean being completely covered up’.
She told the Daily Mail: ‘The return of the exposed hip feels particularly connected to the revival of late-90s and early-2000s fashion. But there’s a modern difference: celebrities now have far more freedom to interpret a trend according to their own image rather than simply following a formula.’
Read on to discover which of these hip-exposed outfits were the perfect fit for a red carpet, and who majorly missed the mark…
Singer Tyla, 24, made a rare fashion misstep in a blue snakeskin print skirt and bra two-piece before adding a choker and pointed-toe heels in the same style
Ciara Miller, who stars in the reality show Summer House, paired her lace up, low rise trousers with a matching bra, while singer JoJo channeled the same trend in a sweeping maxi skirt
Even male attendees couldn’t resist getting in on the act. Model Dom Fenison bared his muscular chest under his suit jacket as he arrived with partner Chanel West Coast
TikTok influencer Jessica Golich channeled her inner Spice Girl in a leopard print ensemble
Tyla
Singer Tyla, 24, made a rare fashion misstep in a blue snakeskin print skirt and bra two-piece before adding a choker and pointed-toe heels in the same style.
Leaning into the low-rise trend, she selected the Mowalola Spring 2027 look which had been presented just 10 days prior at London Fashion Week and appeared reminiscent of the Y2K fashion of the early 2000s.
However, according to Lisa, this daring look partly failed to deliver on the red carpet.
‘Tyla has gone much further with the low-rise trend, and this is very deliberately a fashion look. The exposed hip and very low waist are the focal point, so there is very little for the eye to go to elsewhere,’ she said.
‘It’s a very confident look and Tyla clearly has the attitude to carry it, but for me the proportions make it feel more about the exposed body than the clothes themselves.
‘There’s a fine line between making a fashion statement and the fashion wearing you, and I think this look sits very close to that line.’
Charli XCX
Showcasing her abs on the red carpet, Charli XCX led the way in a tiny black mesh crop top and matching long velvet skirt by Saint Laurent
Showcasing her abs on the red carpet, Charli XCX led the way in a tiny black mesh crop top and matching long velvet skirt by Saint Laurent.
However, the bold look was not without risk, with the singer suffering an awkward nip slip at one point while posing for cameras on the red carpet.
However, she appeared to be unphased by the mishap, oozing confidence as she showed off her sultry look.
She accessorised with several chunky, silver rings and styled her dark locks in straight layers.
According to Lisa, this outfit is ‘much more understated in colour, but the low-rise skirt and exposed midriff still create a very strong silhouette’.
She added: ‘However, I think the very low waist combined with the crop top creates quite a long expanse of exposed skin, and for me that slightly disrupts the proportion of the outfit.
‘It’s deliberately provocative and very Charli, but I don’t think the styling is quite as balanced as Taylor’s.’
Emily Ratajkowski
Emily Ratajkowski sizzled in a very daring outfit for this year’s VMAS as she slipped into a racy red and black dress which featured a sideboob-baring, extreme cut-out at the sides
Emily Ratajkowski sizzled in a very daring outfit for this year’s VMAS as she slipped into a racy red and black dress which featured a sideboob-baring, extreme cut-out at the sides.
Emily skipped the red carpet on the night and instead decided to show off her barely-there ensemble in an Instagram post shared on Monday following the music event.
In an array of sultry snaps, Emily looked red hot as she posed up a storm in her dress, beneath which she went braless.
According to Lisa, ‘Emily is probably the person who can get away with this kind of look because she understands how to use the body as part of the overall design’.
She added: ‘The cut-outs at the hips are very deliberate, rather than simply lowering the waistline.
‘I actually think this works because the dress creates a strong vertical line and the ruching gives some structure around the exposed area.
‘There is a confidence to it that makes the revealing elements feel intentional rather than gratuitous.’
Ms Baxter added: ‘A sheer red-and-black knit dress combines a low-slung sensibility with enormous side cut-outs and an open back, creating a deliberately exposed silhouette which exposed way too much side boob.’
TAYLOR SWIFT
Taylor Swift made her hotly anticipated arrival at this year’s awards in a black sleeveless Tamara Ralph Couture dress with a mesh back to highlight her waist and a sparkly silver skirt that hung off her hips.
The already statuesque pop star added inches to her 5foot10 inch frame with sky-high heels decked out with rhinestones.
Swift appeared to debut shorter, wispier bangs, which she styled with sleek shoulder-length strands.
As for accessories, the acclaimed singer wore dangly earrings, her wedding band and her $550,000 engagement ring from Kelce, whom she wed in July after nearly three years of dating.
According to Lisa, her outfit exuded class – with the singer showcasing her hip bones in a ‘much more sophisticated way’.
She said: ‘There is a lot going on with the sparkle and the asymmetry of the skirt, but the look still feels controlled. She’s revealing skin without the skin becoming the whole story.
‘That’s the difference for me between a risqué look that feels elegant and one that feels like it is simply trying to shock.
‘The proportion of the outfit works because the more revealing area is balanced by the more covered, structured elements above it. It feels considered rather than accidental.’
Fashion expert Caroline Baxter added: ‘The most polished interpretation. A structured black halter bodice gives way to a liquid-metallic skirt that sits and drapes from the hips, creating an elongated, sculptural silhouette.’
Taylor Swift made her hotly anticipated arrival at this year’s awards in a black sleeveless Tamara Ralph Couture dress with a mesh back to highlight her waist and a sparkly silver skirt that hung off her hips
Brooke Schofield
Mixing elegance with risk, Brooke Schofield arrived at the awards ceremony in an unusual beige one-piece ensemble by Nicola Bacchilega
Mixing elegance with risk, Brooke Schofield arrived at the awards ceremony in an unusual beige one-piece ensemble by Nicola Bacchilega.
The podcast host and social media star dared to bare with the unique number that boasted a ribbed see-through corset.
However, in a unique twist on the daring look, oodles of extra material on the skirt flashed a glimpse of her underwear, while leaving her legs partly covered.
Lisa said: ‘Brooke has really embraced the exposed-hip trend, and this is a much more youthful interpretation of it.
‘There’s no attempt to disguise the fact that the hip is the focal point, which makes it feel very much in keeping with the anything-goes attitude of the VMAs.
‘For me, though, this is where proportion becomes important. When you have such a low waist and so much skin exposed through the hip area, the eye is immediately drawn there. I would have liked to see something elsewhere in the look to create a little more balance.’
Meanwhile, Ms Baxter shared: ‘The sheer corset gown takes the idea into eveningwear, the dress doesn’t know what it’s trying to be.’
Rei Ami
South Korean star Rei Ami, 31, also embraced the boldest of outfit choices as she arrived at the red carpet event in Los Angeles on Sunday
South Korean star Rei Ami, 31, also embraced the boldest of outfit choices as she arrived at the red carpet event in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Rei opted for a daring black macrame-style sheer outfit featuring an intricate star-shaped pattern weave.
To finish off the look, Rei selected a simple updo and dark eye makeup, while her silver jewellery and a chain choker turned heads.
According to Lisa, this look is an ‘experimental’ play on the bold looks showcased at this year’s awards.
She explained: ‘This isn’t really about traditional red-carpet glamour l, it’s about creating an image, and that is very appropriate for the VMAs.
‘The exposed areas work because everything else about the look is deliberately exaggerated. It doesn’t feel as though she has simply put on a tiny outfit; there is a strong fashion concept behind it. It’s bold, theatrical and very much about making an entrance.’
Savannah Demers
Internet sensation Savannah Demers also embraced the bolder fashion looks, but chose to boast slightly less skin with a short flowing skirt
Internet sensation Savannah Demers also embraced the bolder fashion looks that dominated this year’s red carpet, but chose to boast slightly less skin with a short flowing skirt.
The 26-year-old opted for a $1,880 halter mini by Ema Savahl which boasted dimensional flowers in full bloom.
With cut outs at either side to showcase her hip bones, Savannah’s dress was also backless – leaving little to the imagination.
‘Savanna’s look is a good example of how a revealing silhouette can still feel playful rather than overly serious. The exposed hip is very much part of the look, but the overall styling keeps it feeling youthful and fun,’ Lisa said.
‘I think the important thing here is that the rest of the outfit isn’t fighting for attention. When you have one very revealing or dramatic element, sometimes the best styling decision is to let that element do the talking.’
Ms Baxter said: ‘The sheer corset gown takes the idea into eveningwear, the dress doesn’t know what it’s trying to be, ruched bra top meets corset meets but the fabric looks cheap, and looks as if it was bought on a market stall.’
Chloe Bailey
Chloe Bailey offered a tantalizing glimpse of her derriere as she posed in an ultra-sheer dress at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday
Chloe Bailey offered a tantalizing glimpse of her derriere as she posed in an ultra-sheer dress at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday.
The 28-year-old songstress, who shot to fame with her sister Halle as the double-act Chloe x Halle, sizzled up a storm at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Before the ceremony began, she stole the show on the red carpet in a peekaboo gown with splashy mirror work over its translucent fabric.
When she wheeled around to let the cameras capture the ensemble from behind, her barely-there underwear helped her make a memorable impression.
Her backless number featured cutouts at the sides to showcase her chiseled midriff, as well as one a tad higher to flaunt her ample cleavage.
Accessorizing with a smattering of glittering rings, she wore her hair in an elegant updo that brought back memories of the 1960s.
According to Lisa, Chloe has ‘gone for a very body-conscious silhouette, and there is no question that the exposed hip is intended to be part of the drama of the look.
‘She has a very glamorous, feminine style, so this feels consistent with the way she often uses her body as part of her fashion image.
For me, though, the success of a look like this comes down to fit. When you’re working with lingerie-inspired elements, cut-outs and exposed skin, the garment needs to sit absolutely perfectly.
‘Otherwise the eye starts looking at the construction of the clothes rather than the overall look. There are some beautiful elements here, but I think a little more precision in the fit would have made the whole thing feel more polished.’
Ms Baxter, meanwhile, noted: ‘This is Crystal embellishment meets strategic cut-outs, creating a glamorous version of the same idea and decoration draws the eye to the body rather than covering it. Fashion drama delivered.
‘It understood the VMAs brief: dramatic, sexy and unapologetically theatrical.’