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The Best & Worst Dressed at the 2021 VMAs

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SJSU chapter.

There is no “F” for “fashion” in the VMAs acronym, but there might as well be. As we all know, fashion is a MAJOR part of the whole event; this invisible “F” clearly knows to make an appearance, just like those who attend this event. Or at least, most of them. Now that the 2021 MTV VMAs have wrapped up, I thought there is no better way to honor the fashion frenzy than by doing a rundown of the best and worst-dressed celebrities, of course, all in my opinion. On this week’s episode of Dirty Laundry… 

Madison Beer in Dolce & Gabbana 

Beer is dressed in a Dolce and Gabbana dress with one side left unlaced to show off her toned legs. Paired with Gianvito Rossi Stark heels and Kat Kim Duét Pear ring and pearl earrings. Glowy, glossy, and glimmery makeup. This is Madison Beer’s take on Dolce & Gabbana’s Powder Pink Lace-Up Dress, which was first worn by Beyonce on The Late Show With David Letterman in 2003, followed by Kat Graham at the MTV Movie Awards in 2016. This just goes to show what a classic this piece is. Who wore it best? 

Chloe Bailey in Marni

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Miss Chloe served and left no crumbs during her performance of “Have Mercy,” unlike the spoon she wore on the red carpet. The spoon apparently happened to be a part of the actual dress and not just an additional accessory. There were many theories stirred up by fans (can you see that I’m having a little too much fun with these puns) on the statement that she might have been trying to make, however, according to the creative director of Marni, the dress simply represents the pre-pandemic joy of sharing meals together. A very simple statement that could’ve possibly been done differently. 

Lil Nas X in Versace

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How can you possibly hate on custom Versace? Especially when it’s sparkly, flowy, and the prettiest shade of lavender ever to exist. Well, we can ask red carpet interviewer Jamila Mustafa that, whose response to Lil Nas X was a little more than candid. When he asked her, “Do you think I look good?” She responded with “Listen, I’m not gonna say I’m hatin’ on the ‘fit, but let’s move on, okay.” Ouch. Though he seemed to have taken that diss a little more easygoing than one would expect, fans came to his defense on Twitter. I don’t agree with Jamila at all – this outfit is literally beautiful. I love the “half-pantsuit, half-ball gown” concept. So unique. And the shoes paired with the outfit is a match made in fashion heaven. 

Billie Eilish

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Billie Eilish was probably the most comfortably dressed person at the 2021 VMAs, adorned in a chunky black cable-knit sweater and skirt, paired with silver jewelry by David Yurman and Mejuri. This woman is clearly ready for the season of pumpkin-spice lattes! She stayed true to her signature style of baggy clothing, minus the funky neon hair and nails. I personally liked her other looks much better and I don’t think I’m a big fan of this look, as it feels very bleak. 

Megan Fox in Mugler + Machine Gun Kelly in Dolce & Gabbana 

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So sexy, I almost passed out. I think that they deserve an award for the hottest couple to exist. Megan Fox looks incredibly breathtaking in her sheer Mugler dress, sparkling with crystals and revealing a nude corset bra and thong, that gave the illusion that Fox just came back from a little dip. MGK’s dazzling red suit not only perfectly compliments Megan’s outfit, but is such a stunning piece on its own. According to Megan herself, the inspiration behind wearing this bold and daring design was actually MGK, who ended up wearing an outfit that coordinated with hers, though that wasn’t the original plan. 

Normani in Patrycja Pagas

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Here, we can see Normani in a white two-piece set by Patrycja Pagas, a London-based designer. Now, I absolutely adore Normani, but girl, what is that skirt? Or shorts? Or whatever that is? However, the jacket is over-the-top stunning and if I could, I would marry it. Normani completed the look with silver jewelry, a sleek ponytail, and metallic nails. I really dig the finger rings! This would’ve been a solid outfit if only there were different bottoms, maybe a pant-suit? 

SAINt JHN in Chanel 

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SAINt JHN understood the assignment. His entire look is such a vibe and I think he was definitely one of the best-dressed men of the entire event. His pink tweed suit stays true to the 90s Chanel runway tweed looks, the jewelry and the black shades make the perfect accent, and the “mismatched” Chanel shoes are IMMACULATE. I think this was such an underrated outfit, but truly one of my favorites.

What did you think about this year’s VMAs fashion choices? Let us know @HerCampusSJSU!  

hi i'm sruthi! i'm a business administration major at san jose state university. i love art, fashion, beauty, film, traveling, & self-care. i also happen to love writing about all of these things. you can find me on instagram @sruthisingamsetty ♡