Naked and costume-y: a recap of the VMAs red carpet

By Meli.

Jen and I sometimes feel that all hope is lost when it comes to the MTV Video Music Awards, but still, we wait for a miracle every year. And, surprisingly, we got it in the form of a well-dressed Kardashian. Who knew?!

But not all is good news, as our worst-dressed list is particularly costume-y and naked this year. Here is our selection of the memorable looks on this year’s awards ceremony.

Best dressed

Cardi B in Nicolas Jebran

We never expected to see her on this list, much less in the first place, but apparently she had an epiphany and looked stunning on the red carpet. The dress achieved the perfect balance between sensuality and elegance, and the haircut adds 100 points of beauty and class.

Blake Lively in Ralph & Russo

It is a little sad that an actress is one of the best dressed in an award ceremony for the music industry, but it is not surprising, especially considering the winning streak that the actress has being enjoying during the promotion of her most recent film. We love EVERYTHING about this suit.

Kylie Jenner in Tom Ford

Like Cardi B, she had a moment of clarity. We had never seen the youngest of the Kardashian/Jenner clan look this impeccable and, dare I say, elegant? And all without losing sensuality? This has to be a miracle.

Maluma in Dolce & Gabbana

He’s not here because he’s Colombian, he’s here because he looked like a million dollars. This is the right way to dress up to attend for the first time to such an important award ceremony in the music industry. The absence of a shirt and the red shoes from Yves Saint Laurent gave him the necessary touch to be in tune with the occasion.

Millie Bobby Brown in Rosie Assoulin

This is how we love to see her: full of style and attitude but age-appropriate. The look, despite being total black, is fun, interesting and overall cool. We pray for more of this Millie on red carpets.

Worst dressed

(a.k.a. The Naked Gang)

Nicki Minaj in Off White

What she wore can hardly be considered clothes. Best case scenario, it is a swimsuit with a –quite useless– cover up. She didn’t know if she was going to an award ceremony or to a pool party, and as usual, she exposed her behind completely. Maybe Nicki thought that was enough to divert attention from the fact that she has terrible taste in clothing.

Rita Ora in Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture

Perfect example to understand that there are pieces of high fashion that should stay on the catwalk and never get to the real world, where they lose all grace and meaning. If we are being nice, we can say that it looks ridiculous; if we are being blunt, we can say that she showed up in her underwear and what appeared to be doodles drawn on a piece of cheap black tulle.

Amber Rose in sexy devil costume

At least Nicki and Rita are singers and have actual reasons to be at the VMAs, not like Amber Rose, who goes for nudity or costumes at any red carpet. In this case, she did both, and made the most out of last year’s Halloween outfit.

Blac Chyna in a sexy warrior costume

Another one that, having no real motive to be in a ceremony that celebrates music, uses it as an excuse to let her attributes run wild. The outfit seems recycled from her days as an exotic dancer, and she probably wore it to a Saint-Seiya-themed stripper party.

Camila Cabello in Oscar de la Renta

Well, she doesn’t belong to The Naked Gang, but she earned her place on this list by taking a dress that is theoretically a winner but that does not work for her at all. Clearly it is too much dress for her, it seems that she is drowning in it, but also, she chose the saddest hairstyle on the face of the earth. We don’t know if it looks more like a sailor-themed quinceañera or an actress auditioning for the new version of The Beauty and the Beast.

Special mentions

Jennifer Lopez in Atelier Versace

Although it was nothing outside of her comfort zone (tight, sexy and shiny), at least it made her stand out enough without leaving too much exposed skin. However, the extra-long extensions, Virgin Mary style, are a huge no. As for her wardrobe during the award ceremony, she had both hits and misses, but everything stood out.

Sofia Carson in Carolina Herrera

We love this girl because she finds a way to take chances with her style without going too far, calculated risks that result in this kind of outcome: a dress that is striking and out of the ordinary but beautifully constructed.

Chloe x Halle in Iris Van Herpen

We didn’t know anything about this R&B duo, but if they were smart enough to choose a pair of haute couture dresses from a designer as renowned and brilliant as Iris Van Herpen, we already like them.

Winnie Harlow in Zuhair Murad Haute Couture

The model is without a doubt one of the best dressed every time she makes a public appearance, and she has clearly mastered the art transparency without looking vulgar. We love her.