Artists came dressed to the nines, ready to bag the gilded astronaut: Best looks from the 2023 VMAs

The 2023 MTV VMAs took place on September 12 and saw many of the biggest names in music like Taylor Swift, Jungkook, Nicki Minaj, BLACKPINK, Olivia Rodrigo, and Doja Cat take home the coveted silver gilded astronaut trophy.

While the VMAs have long been hailed as one of music’s biggest nights, it also has a long history of producing some of the most memorable red-carpet fashion moments. The red carpet, or shall we say pink carpet, this year was graced by the presence of many artists decked out in the latest couture imported straight off the runways of Paris, New York, and London.

Here are 4 looks that had the paparazzi’s camera flashes going haywire as soon as they were unveiled on the pink carpet.

Styled by her incredible partner in fashion Erin Walsh, Selena Gomez set the red carpet ablaze in a red custom-made dress by Oscar de la Renta. The scarlet number was crafted all over with red flower motifs that were seamlessly stitched together to create a continuous network of shining red foliage. The flowers, their petals, and attached vines were fully embellished with red bugle beads. With a corseted bodice, the dress hugged the Single Soon singer in all the right places and lengthened downwards into a floral tendril skirt composed of trails of the same flowers and connecting vines. Featuring a plunging, halter neckline that was held up by thin straps in the shape of a whimsical tracing of the flowers and adjoining vines, this dress was one of the more bold and risqué fashion choices that Selena has made over her illustrious career. The Calm Down crooner accesorised the botanical-themed dress with matching flower-shaped silver earrings, bracelet, and ring.

Olivia Rodrigo had her moment to shine on stage as her track Vampire won the VMA for “Best Editing”, but she also had her moment to bask in the flashing lights of the cameras as she stepped out on the red carpet in a fully-sequined, silver gown. The floor-length dress was embroidered all over with reflective silver sequins. The Driver’s License singer chose to go accessory-free as she wore her hair down—completely straight and sleek—allowing her silver-chromatic look to be the center of attention. A scooping neckline and open back added an extra element of sultriness to the dress.

One of the most widely anticipated performers of the night, Shakira, proved that her hips truly don’t lie when she stepped on stage and delivered a stellar performance but also when she sauntered onto to the red carpet in a signature Versace chainmail gown. The gold outfit featured a bustier-style bodice and long, narrowing torso that extended into a floor-length skirt. The upper-half of the dress was held in place by three thin straps across the otherwise open back. The Waka Waka singer styled the look with her iconic, lustrous beachy waves that ran down the length of her back.

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion looked breathtaking in a monotoned black gown and stunning diamond jewellery adorning her neck, ears, and wrist. The sheer column gown featured a strapless bustier-corseted top with what appeared to be the faux boning of the corset bodice trailing all the way down the skirt in a parallel-line pattern. The Savage singer employed the simple formula of a black evening gown and introduced modern style elements like sheer fabric and faux boning to add intrigue to a classic dress choice.