Celebrity Style
The 13 Best ’90s-Inspired VMAs Outfits, From Hailey Bieber To Lizzo
Lace catsuits, latex, and more.
Although Fashion Week is coming right up, another style-studded event is also on the horizon to kick off the fall fashion calendar. The 2022 MTV Video Music Awards are on Sunday, Aug. 28, and for the first time, three artists are splitting hosting duties — LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj, and Jack Harlow. As the recipient of the 2022 Video Vanguard award, Nicki Minaj will perform a medley of her hits from her nearly two-decade career, and Lizzo, BLACKPINK, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are also slated to perform.
But while music will be the main focus, fans always get excited over the night’s OTT red carpet looks — and when it comes to the VMAs, the bolder the better. After all, past years have brought us iconic moments like Lady Gaga’s meat dress and Destiny’s Child’s coordinated outfits — and who could forget Lil’ Kim’s purple one-shoulder jumpsuit and pasty?
This year, expect ’90s trends to be alive and well, thanks to the resurgence of everything from slip dresses to edgy clogs. While you wait, take a trip down memory lane and celebrate some past looks that dabbled in the retro decade as well. Ahead, 13 of the best ’90s-inspired VMAs red carpet outfits of all time.
Taylor Swift, 2015
Taylor Swift embraced ’90s activewear trends and elevated the look for after-hours, choosing a crop top and allover embellished look for the 2015 VMAs.
Hailey Bieber, 2017
The ’90s were all about sheer pieces and jumpsuits, which Hailey Bieber rocked at the 2017 MTV VMAs in a lacy black slim-fit number.
Nicki Minaj, 2017
In the ’90s, futuristic materials like pleather, latex, and PVC were all the rage. Nicki Minaj chose a pink latex one-piece for the 2017 MTV VMAs, and chance are you’ll see the style again on the red carpet soon.
Ariana Grande, 2018
Ariana Grande is a ’90s queen, both on the red carpet and off. For the 2018 VMAs, she slipped into an iconic retro little black dress that she paired with thigh-high boots.
Lizzo, 2019
Lizzo went for a sporty ’90s look while onstage in 2019, pairing her bright yellow bodysuit with a pair of matching high-top kicks.
Gigi Hadid, 2019
Gigi Hadid went for a structured look when it came to her 1990s-inspired outfit, going for head-to-toe neutrals with a satin bustier top and low-slung pants in 2019.
Lady Gaga, 2020
There are few looks as nostalgic as the T-shirt worn as a dress, which Lady Gaga sported like a pro in 2020. She even chose a vintage MTV tee for the occasion.
Bella Hadid, 2020
Bella Hadid went for a slouchy, low-slung style for the 2020 MTV VMAs, choosing an all-black look with a sheer top to balance out the menswear-inspired pants.
Madison Beer, 2020
Madison Beer opted for for a ’90s version of the LBD at the 2020 VMAs, slipping into a barely-there minidress with a sheer overlay, off-the-shoulder accents, and a cutout mock-turtleneck top.
Miley Cyrus, 2020
Miley Cyrus often gravitates toward ’90s trends, from cutoff denim to slip dresses. At the 2020 VMAs, she went for a little bit of everything: a sheer strapless dress featuring allover embellishment that also showed off her bandeau and briefs underneath.
Lil Nas X, 2021
Lil Nas X paid homage to Lil’ Kim’s pasty look from 1999, making it his own by adding a cape and a subtle off-the-shoulder moment.
Avril Lavigne, 2021
Pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne brought her usual plaid uniform in 2021. It’s giving Cher Horowitz from Clueless!
Kim Petras, 2021
Kim Petras channeled club kid and anti-fashion icon Leigh Bowery in 2021, donning a latex face mask and floral babydoll dress with intricate beadwork.
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