• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
The Cut
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
Style
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
  • The Cut Shop
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • The State of the Uterus
  • Parenting
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Horoscopes
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
red carpet derby
June 27, 2016

The Best, Worst, and Most Vetements Looks at the 2016 BET Awards

By the Cut

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
Photo: Getty Images

Last night’s awards featured two fashion tributes to Prince, of varying quality. Janelle Monae got high marks for her striped Sass & Bide jumpsuit, while Spike Lee was mocked for his purple hat, which drew online comparisons to Willy Wonka and the Mad Hatter. Elsewhere, Tracee Ellis Ross pulled off the perfect 180, from sophisticated snakeskin on the red carpet to evening athleisure — in the form of a cropped Vetements hoodie — during the show.

And Beyoncé skipped the red carpet, but made waves with her opening performance of “Freedom,” surrounded by dancers clad in Zana Bayne harnesses. Click through the slideshow to see our picks for the best and worst looks of the evening.

View
1 / 15 Photos
Most Dramatic Fringe: Beyoncé Even though Bey skipped the red carpet, she made a fashion statement opening up the awards with a performanc... Most Dramatic Fringe: Beyoncé Even though Bey skipped the red carpet, she made a fashion statement opening up the awards with a performance of "Freedom" in one of her favorite silhouettes: the bodysuit. The intricate patterns and fringe kept the look from being a "Single Ladies" rehash. Photo: Kevin Winter/BET/2016 Kevin Winter/BET
Best Sophisticated Snakeskin: Tracee Ellis Ross in Mugler It's hard to pull off this pattern in a subtle way, but Ross gave it an Old Hollywood g... Best Sophisticated Snakeskin: Tracee Ellis Ross in Mugler It's hard to pull off this pattern in a subtle way, but Ross gave it an Old Hollywood gloss with pumps and a red lip. Points for the interesting clavicle cutout, too. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2016 Getty Images
Best After-Dark Athleisure: Tracee Ellis Ross in Vetements Then, Ross showed off her fashion versatility and proved a sporty sweatsuit can be eve... Best After-Dark Athleisure: Tracee Ellis Ross in Vetements Then, Ross showed off her fashion versatility and proved a sporty sweatsuit can be evening-appropriate. Photo: Kevin Winter/BET/2016 Kevin Winter/BET
Best Prince Homage: Janelle Monáe in Sass & Bide, Jennifer Fisher Choker and Earrings Monae paid tribute to the artist in a bell-botto... Best Prince Homage: Janelle Monáe in Sass & Bide, Jennifer Fisher Choker and Earrings Monae paid tribute to the artist in a bell-bottom jumpsuit, telling reporters, "I want[ed] to do something that felt Prince-inspired as well as Janelle Monáe classic." Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2016 Getty Images
Second-Best Prince Homage: Questlove The artist, who made third-eye sunglasses iconic, would have appreciated the way Questlove sees the world th... Second-Best Prince Homage: Questlove The artist, who made third-eye sunglasses iconic, would have appreciated the way Questlove sees the world through stained glass. Photo: Allen Berezovsky/2016 Allen Berezovsky
Worst Prince Homage: Spike Lee Meanwhile, the director's well-intentioned tribute earned jeers from Twitter users, who compared him to Willy Wonk... Worst Prince Homage: Spike Lee Meanwhile, the director's well-intentioned tribute earned jeers from Twitter users, who compared him to Willy Wonka and the Mad Hatter. Photo: Kevin Winter/BET/2016 Kevin Winter/BET
Most Regal: Gabrielle Union in Marc Jacobs The rich fabric paired with a daring slit helped her rule the red carpet.   Photo: Frederick M. ... Most Regal: Gabrielle Union in Marc Jacobs The rich fabric paired with a daring slit helped her rule the red carpet.   Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2016 Getty Images
Most Casual: Alicia Keys This feels a mite too dressed-down for the red carpet, but she looks happy and comfortable in her relaxed jumpsuit, whic... Most Casual: Alicia Keys This feels a mite too dressed-down for the red carpet, but she looks happy and comfortable in her relaxed jumpsuit, which is more than can be said for the more constricting looks last night. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2016 Getty Images
Worst Lemonade Tribute: Mýa Leave the monochrome yellow outfits to Beyoncé, thanks. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2016 Getty Images
Best Indie Designer Shout-Out, Part 1: Beyoncé's dancers on the red carpet Though she skipped the step and repeat, Beyoncé's dancer... Best Indie Designer Shout-Out, Part 1: Beyoncé's dancers on the red carpet Though she skipped the step and repeat, Beyoncé's dancers did make an appearance, wearing fabulous outfits from young designers like Erdem and Rosie Assoulin, among others. Photo: David Livingston/2016 David Livingston
Best Indie Designer Shout-Out, Part 2: Beyoncé's dancers onstage For the "Freedom" performance, they were dressed in custom Zana... Best Indie Designer Shout-Out, Part 2: Beyoncé's dancers onstage For the "Freedom" performance, they were dressed in custom Zana Bayne harnesses (the independent New York designer is a Bey favorite). Photo: Earl Gibson/BET/2016 Earl Gibson/BET
Best Formal Stripes: Yara Shahidi in Tracy Reese The Blackish star followed in her TV mom's footsteps with a stunning striped look that felt far ... Best Formal Stripes: Yara Shahidi in Tracy Reese The Blackish star followed in her TV mom's footsteps with a stunning striped look that felt far from preppy. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2016 Getty Images
The "Much Too Much" Award: Tia Mowry Between the raw fringe, bandage-y cut-outs, and multiple patterns, there's enough going on here to... The "Much Too Much" Award: Tia Mowry Between the raw fringe, bandage-y cut-outs, and multiple patterns, there's enough going on here to make your head spin. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2016 Getty Images
Best Sibling Style: Chloe and Halle Bailey The sprightly sister duo and Beyoncé protegées looked age-appropriate and chic, and mana... Best Sibling Style: Chloe and Halle Bailey The sprightly sister duo and Beyoncé protegées looked age-appropriate and chic, and managed to coordinate in a non-cheesy way. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2016 Getty Images
Best Look If You're Tinashe: Tinashe in Philipp Plein This a "barely there" take on Goth, but if we had Tinashe's body, this would be o... Best Look If You're Tinashe: Tinashe in Philipp Plein This a "barely there" take on Goth, but if we had Tinashe's body, this would be our pick too. Photo: C Flanigan/2016 C Flanigan
1 / 15

Tags:

  • red carpet
  • fashions
  • fame
  • bet awards
  • alicia keys
  • beyonce
  • mya
  • gabrielle union
  • chloe and halle
  • slideshows
  • red carpet derby
  • questlove
  • janelle monae
  • tracee ellis ross
  • vetements
  • marc jacobs
  • yara shahidi
  • tinashe
  • andra day
  • tia mowry
  • chloe and halle bailey
  • zana bayne
  • spike lee
  • More

More Galleries

grammys 2023 Feb. 5, 2023
Every Look From the 2023 Grammys Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Bad Bunny, Adele, Doja Cat, Jack Harlow, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, and more.
By Brooke LaMantia
Jan. 10, 2023
All the Looks From the 2023 Golden Globes  Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jenna Ortega, Jessica Chastain, Julia Garner, Jeremy Allen White, Angela Bassett, and more. 
parties! Sept. 23, 2022
Katie Holmes, Chloë Sevigny, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week  Chanel, Mejuri, and more celebrate. 
parties! Sept. 16, 2022
Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week  Fendi, Frame, and Coach all celebrated NYFW. 
emmys 2022 Sept. 12, 2022
Emmys 2022: All the Red Carpet Looks  Updating: What Hollywood is wearing to the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards. 
By Olivia Luppino
nyfw spring 2023 Sept. 9, 2022
Gigi Hadid, Chlöe Bailey, and More of the Bestest Party Pics of the Week  Saks Fifth Avenue, Longchamp, and more celebrate the beginning of NYFW. 
rip Sept. 9, 2022
The Queen Sure Did Love to Color-Coordinate  Monochrome for decades. 
red carpet Sept. 6, 2022
The Venice Film Festival Is a Major Fashion Event  Valentino and Gucci and Armani, oh my. 
red carpet June 5, 2022
All the Best Looks at the 2022 MTV Movie and TV Awards  Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Hudgens, Jay Ellis, and more! 
parties! May 20, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Harry Styles > everyone! 
parties! May 13, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Bury me in Dove Cameron’s Saint Sintra skirt. 
parties! May 6, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Cue the Met Gala after-party FOMO. 
met gala 2022 May 2, 2022
Met Gala 2022: All the Looks [Photos]  Billie Eilish, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Yeoh, Hailey Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Blake Lively, and more. 
parties! Apr. 29, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  This one goes to Olivia Rodrigo and her sweater vest. 
parties! Apr. 22, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  “Fuck those Zoom tops.” 
celebrity style Apr. 18, 2022
The Best Looks From Coachella 2022  From Harry Styles’s sparkling Gucci set to Megan Thee Stallion’s metallic bodysuit. 
style Apr. 13, 2022
A Look Inside the New Museum’s Spring Gala  Featuring all the best looks. 
grammys 2022 Apr. 3, 2022
Grammy Awards 2022 Red Carpet: All the Looks  Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Lenny Kravitz, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, and more. 
oscars 2022 Mar. 28, 2022
How Were The Oscars After Party Looks Better Than The Actual Award Looks?  Finally, some fun. 
oscars 2022 Mar. 27, 2022
All the Looks From the 2022 Oscars Red Carpet  Zendaya, Regina Hall, Timothée Chalamet, Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Ariana DeBose, and more. 
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • About The Cut
  • About New York Magazine
  • Newsletters
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • We’re Hiring
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Accessibility
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2023 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.