The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet kicked off at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, on Tuesday, Sept. 12. With preshow appearances from Saweetie in an Area design fresh off the runway and Sabrina Carpenter in a rhinestone bustier dress, the fashion was nothing short of statement-making. And there’s good reason for that. The MTV VMAs have given rise to some of the most memorable, outrageous red carpet looks throughout history, from Lady Gaga’s infamous meat dress in 2010 to Miley Cyrus’s Atelier Versace harness in 2015.
This year’s list of nominees put a Versace-clad Taylor Swift in the spotlight with eight nods and also recognized artists including SZA, Cyrus, Minaj, Doja Cat, Kim Petras, and Sam Smith. Olivia Rodrigo, who arrived in a gleaming Ludovic de Saint Sernin sheath stitched with Swarovski crystals, performed music from her second studio album, “Guts,” which meant we could expect ’90s style references on stage after the red carpet wrapped.
Back in 2022, Lizzo made the case for edge in a voluminous Jean Paul Gaultier number, Swift arrived in a tiny chain-mail Oscar de la Renta minidress, Lil Nas X showed his affinity for Harris Reed’s couture garments in a dramatic feather-tiered skirt and matching headpiece, and Carpenter tapped into the hip-cleavage trend in a colorful Moschino halter gown with 3D florals.
Ahead, scroll through the 2023 arrivals to see how musicians continue to up the style ante at this very iconic award show. Then, see what everyone wore to the afterparty, and look back at all the unforgettable outfits from the 2022 MTV VMAs red carpet.