Music and Fashion Clash at The VMAs
A black carpet gives way to dozens of celebrities donning looks ranging from simple formal wear to strange outfits reminiscent of the dystopian fashion of the Hunger Games. On Wednesday, Sept. 11, the majority of the MTV Video Music Awards’ (VMAs) musicians made it clear that they are musicians, not runway models.
The VMAs is one of the most widely-watched awards shows, pulling in over four million views and 60 million social media interactions from its latest broadcast. However, it tends to fall into the shadows of other award ceremonies. MTV’s program isn’t included in the “EGOT,” or the accomplishment of receiving an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, and the show’s latest broadcast barely matched in viewership with the Tonys.
Fashion is likely not an indicator of the VMA’s struggle for relevance, but instead a marker for the show’s priorities. The VMAs prioritize performance–as a show founded to highlight the combination of music and visuals, it only makes sense that the ceremony shifts its spotlight on various live music acts. Under this programming, the show becomes fundamentally different from its competitors. Rather than spending time analyzing celebrities’ outfits on the carpet, viewers focus on award-winning performances and their favorite music.
Courtesy of Harper's Bazaar
Courtesy of Harper's Bazaar
Karol G., for example, sported a vintage Véronique Leroy dress with flames that reached just below her shoulders. For a bright orange garment, Leroy’s look felt oversimplified, especially in comparison to her stage ensemble. Donning a beige top and white jeans with a painterly design, the artist performed “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” in an outfit that wasn’t afraid to explore textures with neutral colors.
Courtesy of Music Mayhem
Courtesy of Music Mayhem
Courtesy of Cosmopolitan
While Benson Boone also featured texture in his transparent floral top, his all-black outfit on the runway paled in comparison to his stage look, which featured a blue sequin jumpsuit with white sneakers. GloRilla too wore a unique ensemble before her show, with a matching denim set that mimicked a more holographic material. However, the artist’s performance of “Yeah Glo!” and “TGIF” displayed an outfit of more visual interest as her long, black and gold coat tore away to reveal a matching two-piece of the same colors.
Courtesy of Elle
Courtesy of Deadline
Chappell Roan was one of the few to make a unique appearance on and off the stage. The artist worked with stylist Genesis Webb to build a story around her outfits, first donning a medieval-inspired gown from Y/Project. To balance out this look, she wore a suit of armor complete with her own knight’s sword while performing “Good Luck, Babe!”
The VMAs are meant to focus on music rather than fashion. However, by creating a different viewing experience that places less emphasis on the looks of celebrities as they waltz through an event, the show ostracizes itself from colleagues such as the Oscars and Grammys. If MTV wants to push the VMAs into the spotlight, highlighting its famous guests could lead it down the right path.
Featured Image Courtesy of Vogue