The Good, The Bad, and the Moonman
The Good, The Bad, and the Moonman
A fashion recap of Taylor's attendance at the MTV VMAs
By design, the MTV Video Music Awards are an award show that caters to a younger audience. Its conception in the ‘80s was to be the video alternative to the Grammys, bringing prestige to the music video genre and capitalizing on a younger audience that was moving towards consuming musical content through a new, exciting visual format.
As a result, the fashion at the VMAs is typically more outlandish, wacky, bold, and unexpected. It’s created an arena where musical artists can play and wear strange things with relative ease. It’s what Halloween is to Mean Girls: An opportunity to be outlandish, without drawing ire.
So I guess you could say that Taylor’s *ahem* experimental fashion (lovingly) at this particular awards show is just another example of her being a conscientious student and catering her wardrobe to the event in question. As I noted in my predictions post for this red carpet, her version of ‘out of the box’ may be another person’s tame, but this is undoubtedly an awards show where she’s more likely to take a sartorial risk than others.
The MTV VMAs are slated for tonight (Wednesday, September 11) and will be hosted at the UBS Arena in New York City. Taylor’s attendance isn’t confirmed, but she does headline the event as the act with the most nominations at an even dozen. Of that twelve, nine are for the Tortured Poets lead single “Fortnight”. Taylor typically has a strong appearance record at this awards ceremony. I’m currently betting that she will make an appearance.
So to prep, let’s take a look back at the times Taylor has previously attended the MTV VMAs - a total of 10 since 2008.
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🏆 Fashion History: You can read my red carpet prediction post (4 looks + a behind-the-scenes moodboard) below.
2008 in Kaufmanfranco
This outfit is just so sweet. A pastel fit/flare dress with a pleated skirt and some mirrored heels feel very signature Taylor. Those ringlets are also bouncy perfection. A great outing that’s cutesy and safe for a trial run at the VMAs red carpet.
2009 in Kaufmanfranco
Naturally, here is where we see shit hit the fan. This year marks the 15 year anniversary of Kanyegate. Incidentally, Taylor is actually up for an award - VMAs Most Iconic Performance - “honouring” the infamy of that night and her performance of “You Belong With Me” which saw her travel through a New York subway. The dress itself is a shimmering take on an asymmetrical Grecian gown. The nude and the sparkles feel very classic to Taylor - as is its pairing with a red lip. Plus that diamond wrist cuff gives me nostalgia for when bracelet stacking was her accessorising signature in the Fearless era. An underrated feature? The open back!
2010 in Dolce & Gabbana
The year following Kanyegate, Taylor skipped the red carpet and made her only ‘announcement’ of the evening through the debut performance of “Innocent” which, at the time, was an unreleased song off Speak Now. For 13 years, this was also the only live performance of “Innocent” - until November 2023 when she performed it as a surprise song on the Eras Tour in São Paulo, Brazil. I enjoyed the drama of the moment (the performance was set in a ‘saloon’ vibe) and Taylor’s commitment to theatricality and vulnerability by opting to go barefoot. It actually feels like a missed opportunity to not have styled this out with the butterfly brooch originally included in the brand’s styling as a nod to the lyrics optimistic thoughts on evolving and becoming a new person.
2012 in J. Mendel
In my original commentary I noted, “I might be one of few but I loved this look from Taylor.” It’s a nice reminder of consistency as I think I’d still easily put this look in my top three from this awards show. Following the furor and then the fallout from Kanyegate, this felt like Taylor’s way of wiping the slate clean and starting over. Or else, even a white flag of peace as if to say she was past the feud. My only course of correction would have been a more minimalist sandal, though I sort of like the subtle gladiator energy they have, as if to also say that the war might be over but she’d never forget (or quit fighting for her career to move forward).
2013 in Hervé Léger
Oh how quickly the turn tables. I simply don’t think I have very many kind things to say about this lewk. By this time in 2013 the bandage dress trend was waning (it hit its peak moment in the zeitgeist in the mid-late 00s). So to choose to wear something that looks like this that was no longer even at its peak trend anymore? Styled with that beauty and hair? At the time of originally posting, I kept my caption to facts noting that this was the second back to back award show for Taylor wearing Hervé Léger. If you can’t say something nice, just say objectively true words. - Ancient Fashion Blog Proverb.
2014 in Mary Katrantzou
🙂🙂🙂
2015 in Ashish
🥲🥲🥲
2019 in Versace
Sometimes righting the ship is a seven year long journey. While Taylor wore plenty of Stella McCartney during the Lover era (the partnership was marked by the release of co-designed fan merchandise), for multiple red carpet appearances (as well as in the music video for “The Man”), Taylor loved to lean on the exuberant and vivid prints from Versace as an extension of Lover’s bright and fun aesthetic. A few weeks prior to this VMA appearance, Taylor also wore another baroque Versace print to the Teen Choice Awards. Between the two, I preferred the colours and styling for her VMA effort. The contrasting bustier allowed the print element of the blazer to really shine vs the print overload at the TCAs. The thigh high boots were also an unexpected (and sexy!) styling moment that also tied in to the black elements of her blazer.
2022 in Oscar de la Renta
The night that Midnights came into our lives! When Taylor first appeared on the red carpet in this dripping diamond dress by OdlR (a longtime favourite designer of hers), many thought it was a reference to the diamond bathtub scene in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video. It caused many to predict we might get a surprise announcement for reputation (Taylor’s Version). I write this recap two years (and another reputation TV fake out) later and can only summon a good natured laugh. While my original commentary was written post-Midnights announcement, my thoughts were not with the fandom for a rep reckoning. To me, much like the 2024 Grammys moment, this felt distinctively different and a harbinger of a new era. At the time, my commentary noted, “... This look is likely a taster of a rich, luxe, almost showgirl glam style. A new, womanly version of the retro and vintage fashion she has favoured for more than a decade - but elevated. And with a fun, vampy sex appeal.” Given the 70s-infused smoky glam from the Midnights album photoshoot that would come as well as all her starry, celestial, showgirl-esque looks I feel like that was a 13/10 prognostication on my part.
2023 in Versace
Upon reflection of this look from last year’s VMAs, I still can’t help but feel the essence of reputation come through. The colourway and the mussed hair, of course. But as I noted in my original commentary, the asymmetrical details of the dress feel like such a thematic pull-through to the contrast and dichotomy inherent to reputation as an album. The gown itself feels sexy and slinky, a style that is signature to Versace and has been seen a lot but feels appropriate for the VMAs. The excessive styling with layers of jewels add an oozing, excessive drama to the look that I think ultimately works. Especially because she - thankfully - went slim and minimal in the shoe department as a contrast.
Taylor’s 2024 MTV VMA nominations
Video of the Year (“Fortnight” ft Post Malone)
Song of the Year (“Fortnight” ft Post Malone)
Artist of the Year
Best Collaboration (“Fortnight” ft Post Malone)
Best Pop
Song of Summer (“Fortnight” ft Post Malone)
VMAs Most Iconic Performance (“You Belong With Me”, 2009)
Best Visual Effects (“Fortnight” ft Post Malone)
Best Editing (“Fortnight” ft Post Malone, Chancler Haynes)
Best Direction (“Fortnight” ft Post Malone, Taylor Swift)
Best Art Direction (“Fortnight” ft Post Malone, Ethan Tobman)
Best Cinematography (“Fortnight” ft Post Malone, Rodrigo Prieto)
What were your favourite MTV VMA looks?