The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet rewarded fashion with a point of view: Sabrina Carpenter’s lace-forward Valentino, Ariana Grande’s coordinated polka dots and Swarovski sparkle, and Doja Cat’s vivid harlequin pattern each made a strong case for maximalism. This is an editorial selection, not an official award or universal ranking, based on silhouette, pattern, accessories, theatricality, and how each look was sourced.
The VMAs took place at UBS Arena in New York on September 7, 2025. Coverage by ELLE, Vogue, Marie Claire, and Harper’s Bazaar supplies the designer and outfit details below; the choices here weigh those details as fashion rather than treating a red-carpet list as an objective scorecard.
The standout looks
Sabrina Carpenter: Valentino lace and transparency
Carpenter’s sheer, lace-forward look made transparency the central design feature. ELLE identifies the look as Valentino; Marie Claire describes it as a custom Valentino naked dress and credits stylist Jared Ellner. Harper’s Bazaar attributes it to Valentino by Alessandro Michele and notes Tiffany & Co. jewelry. Its impact comes from committing to a delicate, revealing texture while keeping the overall impression polished.
Ariana Grande: playful Fendi, carefully coordinated
Grande’s Fendi look used polka dots to give a playful character to a formal red-carpet silhouette. Marie Claire describes a custom design embellished with Swarovski crystals and a matching hair bow, and credits stylist Law Roach. Harper’s Bazaar also identifies Swarovski jewelry. The coordinated details make the look feel deliberately composed rather than simply decorated.
Doja Cat: graphic Balmain maximalism
Doja Cat’s Balmain mini brought a bold harlequin pattern into the spotlight. Marie Claire identifies it as a piece from the label’s Pre-Fall 2024 collection and notes Chopard Haute Joaillerie gemstones; Vogue also identifies Balmain. The checkerboard effect, vivid jewelry, and retro styling create a look whose pattern and accessories compete for attention by design.
Tyla: vintage Chanel with a modern contrast
Tyla wore vintage Chanel, not a current retail dress. Marie Claire traces the garment to a 1993 Chanel runway; Harper’s Bazaar specifies the spring/summer 1993 collection. Both publications note Pandora gold jewelry. The contrast between an archival runway piece and contemporary styling gives the look its appeal, while the provenance makes it a distinct example of vintage dressing rather than a newly released Chanel design.
Latto: archival Versace at dramatic scale
Marie Claire describes Latto’s gown as vintage archival Gianni Versace, sourced with Timeless Vixen, and identifies it as Look 53 from the Fall 1994 runway. The look stands out for its dramatic proportions and for bringing a specific runway-era garment back into a contemporary event setting.
Ice Spice: a vintage Ralph Lauren runway look
Ice Spice’s Ralph Lauren look offers another strong vintage example. Vogue identifies the designer; Marie Claire calls the piece a vintage Ralph Lauren runway look sourced from Raffe Vintage, and Harper’s Bazaar dates it to spring 2003. Its appeal lies partly in that older runway provenance: it is a found archival piece, not evidence of a currently available Ralph Lauren outfit.
Rank #3
Ciara: an unexpected sweatshirt silhouette
Ciara’s Schiaparelli look played with proportion: Marie Claire describes a knit mini shaped like an exaggerated quarter-zip sweatshirt, finished with an asymmetric train. Vogue identifies the label and an Alexis Bittar cuff. The sweatshirt reference keeps the look from reading as conventional eveningwear, while the train supplies the red-carpet drama.
KATSEYE: six looks, one shared language
Vogue identifies KATSEYE in Dolce & Gabbana. Rather than treating the group as one outfit, Marie Claire describes coordinated looks for all six members, with individual details unified by a common palette. That balance—recognizable differences within a shared visual scheme—makes the group styling itself the achievement.
Other red-carpet names worth noting
ELLE’s fashion list also includes Lenny Kravitz, Gunna, and Sombr, extending its coverage to men’s fashion as well as women’s looks. Vogue’s gallery includes Tate McRae in Ludovic de Saint Sernin. Lady Gaga appears in Vogue’s gallery in Marc Jacobs, but Marie Claire reports that she skipped the red carpet and went directly to her seat and acceptance appearance; she should not be described as a red-carpet arrival.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What makes these looks stand out
- Silhouette and proportion: Ciara’s exaggerated sweatshirt shape and train, Latto’s dramatic gown, and KATSEYE’s coordinated individual outfits show different ways of controlling proportion.
- Pattern and color: Grande’s polka dots and Doja Cat’s harlequin pattern use print as the first thing the eye notices.
- Embellishment and accessories: Carpenter’s Tiffany & Co. jewelry, Grande’s Swarovski details, and Doja Cat’s Chopard gemstones show how accessories can reinforce a look’s main idea.
- Theatricality and restraint: The selections lean toward expressive fashion, but their impact comes from a clear visual decision—lace, print, shape, coordination, or provenance—not simply from adding more.
- Provenance: Carpenter’s custom Valentino and Grande’s custom Fendi differ from Tyla’s 1993 Chanel and Latto’s 1994 Versace runway piece. Vintage and archival clothing is not necessarily available to buy again.
These are editorial judgments, not official results. Another list could reasonably favor different arrivals; the choices here recognize looks with a distinct silhouette, styling idea, or fashion history that can be explained from the published coverage.
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