• 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
  • Shopping
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • Motherhood
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Horoscopes
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • The Cut Shop
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
August 28, 2016

See All the Red-Carpet Looks From the 2016 VMAs

By Theresa Avila

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty

In previous years, the VMAs red carpet has brought us everything from purple pasties to a dress made out of meat. This year hasn’t revealed anything quite so outré yet, although there was one maternity look that consisted of no shirt and a diamond harness. Beyoncé arrived wearing plenty of feathers — a look she coordinated with Blue Ivy’s metallic-and-tulle dress — while Nicki Minaj stunned in a sexy royal-blue cutout dress.

This year, MTV is holding its Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden. The show will feature plenty of performances from female powerhouses, including Rihanna, who is receiving the night’s VMA Vanguard Award; Beyoncé, who leads with a record 11 nominations; and Nicki Minaj, who is performing alongside Ariana Grande. So the red carpet is really just the beginning. Click through the slideshow below to see what everyone wore — at least before the costume changes begin.

View
1 / 91 Photos
Beyoncé.  Photo: 2016 WireImage
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Kim Kardashian.  Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Ariana Grande. What: earrings by Harry Kotlar. Photo: 2016 Kevin Mazur
Naomi Campbell. What: custom one-shoulder crepe gown by Brandon Maxwell. Photo: Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Image
Alicia Keys. What: dress by Just Cavalli. Photo: Nicholas Hunt/FilmMagic
Shelley Hennig. What: diamond earrings by Le Vian. Photo: This content is subject to copyright.
Jaden Smith.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Nicki Minaj.  Photo: 2016 WireImage
Naomi Campbell. What: custom dress by Brandon Maxwell. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
Fifth Harmony. What: Normani Kordei wore Crystaldust Bangles and the Fantastic Bangle by Swarovski; Dinah Jane Hansen wore the Fluorescent R... Fifth Harmony. What: Normani Kordei wore Crystaldust Bangles and the Fantastic Bangle by Swarovski; Dinah Jane Hansen wore the Fluorescent Ring by Swarovski; Ally Brooke wore the Fatal Ring by Swarovski; Camila Cabello wore the Fizzy Necklace and Fizzy Pierced Earring Jackets by Swarovski; Lauren Jauregui wore the Favor Bangle by Swarovski. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Ashley Graham. What: dress by Naeem Khan. Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Ansel Elgort.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Chance the Rapper.  Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Winnie Harlow. What: earrings by Le Vian. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Franchesca Ramsey.  Photo: This content is subject to copyright.
Cassie.  Photo: 2016 Kevin Mazur
Sean Combs.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Ty Dolla Sign.  Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Tinashe.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2016 WireImage
Britney Spears.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: This content is subject to copyright.
Nathan Sykes.  Photo: 2016 WireImage
Zara Larsson.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2016 Kevin Mazur
Hailee Steinfeld.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Travis Mills.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Nicole Polizzi.  Photo: 2016 WireImage
Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2016 WireImage
Jordan Fisher.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Future.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2014 Getty Images
2 Chainz.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Bebe Rexha. What: Earrings by Le Vian, rings by Borgioni Photo: 2016 WireImage
Baddie Winkle.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Fat Joe.  Photo: 2016 WireImage
Desiigner.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2016 WireImage
Alessia Cara.  Photo: 2016 Kevin Mazur
Sarah Barthel of Phantogram. What: jacket by the Kooples Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Kal Penn.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2016 WireImage
Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Dascha Polanco.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Madison Kocian.  Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Halsey.  Photo: 2016 WireImage
Aly Raisman, Madison Kocian, Laurie Hernandez, and Simone Biles. What: Simone Biles, dress by Sherri Hill. Photo: 2016 WireImage
Nick Cannon.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Nick Jonas.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Remy Ma.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Jidenna.  Photo: 2016 WireImage
Joan Smalls. What: halter and pants by Off-White Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Nicole Byer.  Photo: 2016 WireImage
Hailey Baldwin. What: jumpsuit by Georges Chakra Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Tove Lo. What: dress by Dion Lee. Photo: 2016 WireImage
Flo Rida.  Photo: 2016 Kevin Mazur
Stella Maxwell. What: jumpsuit by Moschino by Jeremy Scott. Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Carly Aquilino.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2016 Kevin Mazur
Frankie Grande.  Photo: 2016 Kevin Mazur
Amber Rose.  Photo: 2016 WireImage
Farrah Abraham.  Photo: 2016 WireImage
Photo: 2016 WireImage
Nev Schulman and Laura Perlongo.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2016 WireImage
Sasheer Zamata.  Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Kent Jones.  Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
DJ Khaled.  Photo: 2016 Kevin Mazur
Lance Bass.  Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Michelle Buteau.  Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Lizzo.  Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Holland Roden.  Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Lilliana Vazquez.  Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Kingsley.  Photo: 2016 FilmMagic
Alicia Quarles.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Photo: 2016 Kevin Mazur
Jonathan Cheban.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Members of Forever in Your Mind: (L-R) Emery Kelly, Ricky Garcia, and Liam Attridge.  Photo: This content is subject to copyright.
Kevin Garrett.  Photo: 2016 Getty Images
Swizz Beats and Alicia Keys.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Michael Phelps and Nicole Johnson.  Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Chloe Bailey and Halle Bailey.  Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Producer Lucas Goodman and singer Jillian Hervey of Lion Babe.  Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
1 / 91

Tags:

  • cut homepage lede
  • vmas 2016
  • mtv video music awards 2016
  • red carpet
  • fashions

More Galleries

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. 

Most Popular

  1. Which Women Do We Choose to Believe?
  2. Madame Clairevoyant: Horoscopes for the Week of May 16
  3. Waking Up From the Nap Dress
  4. The Woman Who Killed Roe
  5. It’s ‘Hot-Girl Walk’ Season
  1. Which Women Do We Choose to Believe?
  2. Waking Up From the Nap Dress
  3. Madame Clairevoyant: Horoscopes for the Week of May 16
  4. The Woman Who Killed Roe
  5. How an Aspiring ‘It’ Girl Tricked New York’s Party People — and Its Banks
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 Mar. 22, 2022
Bridgerton Season 2 Premiere: All the Red-Carpet Looks 
style Mar. 13, 2022
BAFTAs 2022: All the Red-Carpet Looks  Florence Pugh, Daniel Kaluuya, Emma Watson, and more! 
celebrity fashion Mar. 6, 2022
Spirit Awards 2022: All the Red-Carpet Looks  Julia Fox, Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, and more! 
Mar. 1, 2022
All of Rihanna’s Maternity Looks  From belly-baring looks to sexy leather dresses. 
Feb. 27, 2022
SAG Awards 2022: All the Red-Carpet Looks  Selena Gomez, Ariana Debose, Daveed Diggs, and more! 
paris couture week 2022 Jan. 27, 2022
Glenn Martens Wows As Guest Couturier for Gaultier Haute Couture It is a sight to behold.
By Vivian Chuang
Dec. 9, 2021
All the Looks From the And Just Like That … Red Carpet  Sarah Jessica Parker, Billy Eichner, Sara Ramirez, and more. 
style Nov. 29, 2021
Gotham Awards 2021: All the Red-Carpet Looks  Tessa Thompson! Kristen Stewart! And more. 
red carpet Nov. 29, 2021
All the Best Looks From The British Fashion Awards Dua Lipa, Demi Moore, Kehlani and more looks.
style Nov. 21, 2021
American Music Awards 2021: All the Red Carpet Looks  Cardi B! BTS! Olivia Rodrigo! And more. 
By Olivia Truffaut-Wong
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Help
  • We’re Hiring
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Accessibility
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2022 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.