The 2023 VMAs Pink Carpet: (Almost) Everyone Looked…Incredible

Including the celebs who made use of horse tails, spiderwebs, and Flintstones' bones.

By Lauren Tousignant | September 13, 2023 | 12:12am

Style

If you can even believe it, the 2023 MTV VMAs are tonight. The 2023 MTV Movie and TV Awards before them consisted of a weird and unfortunate pre-taped ceremony, since the WGA writers went on strike days before. (It felt like watching what AI might imagine an awards show to be, and it was awful. Writers are important!) But since most musicians aren’t affected by the WGA and now SAG-AFTRA strikes, we’re being treated to performances and, most importantly, red carpet looks.

And the looks are...incredible?! Maybe it’s because summer just ended or maybe it’s just because the VMAs usually give us some...outlandish...ensembles, but (in my opinion!) everyone’s arriving in looks that are sleek, chic, and pretty jaw-dropping. It’s not the most out-of-this-world carpet we’ve ever seen, but it’s definitely stunning. Happy for all the wealthy musicians using their wealth to make them look wealthy <3 Beyond looks, Nicki Minaj is hosting; we’re getting an all-star celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop; Shakira’s getting the MTV Video Vanguard Award; Sean “Diddy” Combs is getting the Global Icon Award (and performing for the first time since 2005); Taylor Swift already has the most nominations of the night; and Olivia Rodrigo, Fall Out Boy, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Lil Wayne, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, and a bunch of others are scheduled to perform. Lots of fun stuff!

But first, the ~~red~~ pink carpet looks.

Rita Ora in Rodarte

Found my Halloween costume: a Hot, Glam, Disco Witch.

Ashanti

Are those sea turtles?! What a fun and whimsical way to cover your breasts.

Taylor Swift in Versace

Yes, Taylor! Announce your 300th studio album!!!!

Emily Ratajkowski in Lanvin

Yes, everyone looks incredible, and Emily Ratajkowski looks like...this. (Respectfully.) But it’d be boring if everyone showed up dressed perfectly, so I appreciate this interesting choice.

Sabrina Carpenter

I think this is exactly what I envisioned wearing to an awards show when I was 15! (No shade, I love it.)

Nicki Minaj in Dolce & Gabbana

Stunning! And exactly the type of outlandish look we love to see.

Nelly Furtado

Oh my god. If you’re a bird, I’m a bird, Nelly!

Tinashe

This is the naked dress to end all naked dresses. 100 out of 10.

Billy Porter

A lot going on here. And yet, it all works.

Reneé Rapp

There’s definitely been a lot of black tonight, but I’m not still not mad about this weird, frayed, duvet-cover-esque drapey-thing with a belly button cutout. Whatever you feel your best in!

Chloe Bailey in Roberto Cavalli

A slinky, denim siren. Hot.

Sofia Carson

Purchasing a blue-sequined, bell-bottomed jumpsuit that swallows my body as we speak.

Dixie and Charli D’Amelio

Cute!

Jared Leto in Rick Owens

I can’t help but think this is exactly what Jared Leto should be used for, for the rest of his career. Just have all the award shows let him walk a carpet in whatever he thinks is edgy at the moment.

Dove Cameron in Coach

Sleek! Chic! Jaw-Dropping!

Nicky Hilton

As far as I can tell, Paris Hilton does not seem to have earned any nominations from her career as a DJ sooooo, not sure why Nicky is here, but I hope she has a nice night.

Cardi B in Dilara Findikoglu

I doubt Cardi B is going for any type of Lady Gaga tribute, but this metal-adorned look is giving me major Lady-Gaga-at-the-VMAs-in-her-“Just Dance”-and-Chromatica-era. In the best way.

Saweetie in Area

I am deeply obsessed with this and will be adding comically large dinosaur bones to my outfits for the foreseeable future. (I will not be recreating the manicure.)

Tiffany Haddish in Jason Wu

Give me a bleached head with a black, sheer, adorned slip dress any. Damn. Day. Haddish looks fucking phenomenal.

Karol G

I barely even noticed this dress was a naked dress because I was too busy being in awe that anyone is able to pull off this Miss-Havisham-rotting-in-her-wedding-dress color—and pull it off well. Truly, how is this scientifically possible?

Doja Cat in Oscar de la Renta

Maybe I’m blinded by the fact that this tattered baby blanket getup is Oscar de la Renta and not actually a tattered baby blanket...but it’s very much working for me.

Demi Lovato

I feel like Demi typically goes for some type of hot vampiress look. And I think she finally nailed it with those structural shoulder.

Megan Thee Stallion in Brandon Blackwood

I’ve never seen anyone look this incredible in my entire life.

Anitta in Schiaparelli Haute Couture

Unfortunately, I am deeply offended by the color of this bustier. Would have loved black, cotton-candy pink, vomit green...literally anything but this needlessly light-peach velvet. Earrings make up for it though. Phew.

Olivia Rodrigo in Versace

OK, all-american bitch!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bebe Rexha

Are we adding horsetails to all our outfits now? I’m very in!

Moonman

Slay.

Kelsea Ballerini

Is hers the most daring ensemble I’ve ever seen at an awards show? Let alone the VMAs? No. But is Kelsea Ballerini wearing the absolute shit out of this red gown? One trillion percent.

Shakira in Versace

Shakira will always be wearing this dress, huh? Ah well—what works, works.

Selena Gomez in Oscar de la Renta

This is Selena’s first time at the VMAs since 2015. Solid dress to return in.