The VMAs have never been about playing it safe, and the 2025 edition at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York understood the assignment. LL Cool J hosted, Lady Gaga led the nominations, and the carpet served everything from archival Chanel to a butter-yellow fringe moment that made history before the night was over. I sat with all of it, and these are the 15 looks that actually earned the real estate.
1. Sabrina Carpenter in Valentino
Embed from Getty ImagesSabrina ditched the minis and went full Hollywood bombshell in sheer scarlet Valentino by Alessandro Michele. Floral lace, sequins for days, a waist cinched into an hourglass, and a powder-lavender boa draped over her arms like she personally invented the showgirl. Tiffany diamonds, blonde bombshell waves, and three Moon People by the end of the night – including the first-ever Best Pop Artist.
2. Ariana Grande in Fendi
Embed from Getty ImagesFresh into her Glinda era and gearing up for Wicked: For Good, Ariana brought polka-dot whimsy in custom Fendi finished with Swarovski jewelry. Law Roach styled it, which means every detail was deliberate down to the sleek signature ponytail. Retro charm, modern polish, and that pin-up silhouette she’s perfected. It was elegant and a little theatrical and unmistakably an Ariana stamp.
3. Ciara in Schiaparelli
Embed from Getty ImagesCiara found her footing in a dramatic crimson Schiaparelli moment from the Spring/Summer 2025 collection: an oversized sweatshirt-style top paired with a coordinating mini, all clean lines and Sporty Spice attitude reimagined as high fashion. The high neck against the short skirt was the kind of proportion play that looks easy and is anything but. Bold, sculptural, and a genuine return to form.
4. Tyla in Chanel
Embed from Getty ImagesTyla said “put me in Chanel” and meant it. She pulled a Chanel Spring/Summer 1993 archival top and styled it like she was born in it. The runway original came with a long skirt; she swapped in barely-there shorts, layered on chained gold necklaces, and topped it with a braided bob that’s about to be everywhere. Styled by Ronnie Hart, this was archival dressing done with the confidence of someone who knows exactly how good she looks. You could see it in every frame.
5. Doja Cat in Balmain
Embed from Getty ImagesNobody mixes camp and couture like Doja and the harlequin pin-up moment was proof. The ’80s-inspired Balmain minidress in yellow and powder blue, offset with pink gemstones at the midsection and dripping in Chopard jewels, was styled by Brett Alan Nelson and finished with cornstarch-yellow platforms tall enough to need a permit. A swipe of vivid red lip sealed it. Playful maximalism executed by someone who actually knows the rules she’s breaking.
6. Lady Gaga in Marc Jacobs
Embed from Getty ImagesOnly Gaga could skip the red carpet, go straight to her seat, and still be one of the most talked-about looks of the night. The gothic Marc Jacobs Fall 2025 look – tiers of black rosettes crowned with a coordinating headpiece – looked like it floated in from Wednesday or her own Mayhem Ball tour. She wore it to collect Artist of the Year, styled by Hunter Clem. Theatrical, funereal, completely Gaga.
7. Jazmyn Smith in Mugler
Embed from Getty ImagesJazmyn wore the same Mugler look Beyoncé debuted earlier this year and held her own completely. Strong shoulders, futuristic print, a waist cinched to power-suit precision. Wearing a look with that kind of Bey-sized history stitched into it is a gamble, and she made it land. Big swing, clean finish.
8. Rosé in Oscar de la Renta
Embed from Getty ImagesRosé skipped the carpet entirely and somehow still won the night. The butter-yellow Oscar de la Renta Spring 2026 column gown, alive with sequins and fringe, was a soft departure from her usual Saint Laurent darkness, and she wore it to accept Song of the Year for “APT.” with Bruno Mars, becoming the first K-pop soloist to ever take that award. Tiffany Bird on a Rock jewels, styled by Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn. A dress that rose to meet a historic moment and matched it.
9. Sombr in Valentino
Embed from Getty ImagesAlessandro Michele found his dream frontman. Sombr hit the carpet in Valentino Spring/Summer 2026, a wide-lapel suit splashed with an embroidered floral motif that nodded straight to ’70s glam-rock. With his tousled cut and svelte frame, he looked like he’d wandered off a Studio 54 dance floor and onto the VMAs. Menswear at these things is usually a snooze. This was a thesis.
10. Symone in Keburia
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Drag Race champ never treats a carpet like an afterthought, and her Keburia FW25 moment proved it. But the real headline was the hair: a voluminous curly afro that channeled Diana Ross at her most untouchable. Reference-literate, sculptural, glamorous on a level most attendees didn’t reach. Symone came to make a statement and the statement was heard.
11. GloRilla in Helen Anthony
Embed from Getty ImagesBig Glo walked out in a plaid corset skirt suit from London label Helen Anthony in purple, green and blue, and then her stylist made it a whole moment. White frilly socks peeking over black Mary Janes, a hot-pink Versace bucket bag detonating against the tartan, glossy curls over one shoulder. Schoolgirl charm filtered through boss-babe tailoring. The styling did the heavy lifting and absolutely delivered.
12. Paris Hilton in The Blonds
Embed from Getty ImagesThe original 2000s It-girl does not miss at a costume-friendly carpet, and The Blonds built her a black-and-gold leather fantasy with flame detailing licking up the frame. Gloves, a choker, a ponytail launched into the stratosphere. It was camp, it was nostalgia, it was full diva energy distilled into one corseted look. Sliving, as ever.
13. Lenny Kravitz in Saint Laurent
Embed from Getty ImagesOf course Lenny Kravitz wore Saint Laurent and of course the shirt was optional. Anthony Vaccarello sent him out in a Prince of Wales plaid suit cut to perfection, worn open over nothing but abs and conviction. At 60-something he’s still the coolest man at any event he attends, and this was rockstar tailoring at its most effortless. Plaid was everywhere this year. He wore it best.
14. Olandria Carthen in Cheney Chan
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Love Island USA runner-up has quietly become one of the most reliable names on a carpet, and her ruby-red Cheney Chan moment is exactly why. Structured corset bodice, sheer red fabric pouring into a train, red opera gloves to finish the sentence. Styled by the Reismans, it had old-Hollywood drama with a modern girl’s swagger.
15. Ice Spice in vintage Ralph Lauren
Embed from Getty ImagesIce Spice raided the Ralph Lauren archive for Look 50 from Spring 2003 – a Victorian-inspired butter-yellow corset over an indigo patchwork maxi skirt, topped with a Pamela-Anderson-coded messy bun. Pure Y2K romance with a downtown edge. She wasn’t even nominated this year; she showed up to present and still out-dressed half the room. As she put it: corsets are the key to life.
That’s the night. From archival Chanel to a history-making fringe gown to whatever genius possessed Sabrina to add that feather boa, the 2025 VMAs reminded everyone why this carpet remains the most fun in the business. See you next year.