The 2026 VMA'S Fashion Guide: 10 Celebrity Looks We Can’t Stop Talking About—and How to Get the Look
The MTV Video Music Awards have never exactly been known for playing it safe—and honestly, we wouldn't want them any other way.
Taylor Swift attends the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards in a Tamara Ralph Fall 2026 Couture look featuring a black velvet bodice and sparkling silver skirt. Photo: Getty Images.
On September 27, music's biggest names descended on Los Angeles for the 2026 VMAs, bringing everything from old-Hollywood glamour to Y2K-inspired silhouettes, sheer layers, dramatic tailoring, and enough sparkle to light up the entire blue carpet.
This year's fashion felt especially interesting because there wasn't one single aesthetic dominating the night. Instead, celebrities leaned into completely different versions of glamour. Taylor Swift went full disco-inspired sophistication. Tyla brought back low-rise Y2K energy. Lisa embraced dramatic red glamour. Charli XCX went dark and sheer, while Normani gave us sculptural drama.
And then there was Sabrina Carpenter, who waited until the ceremony itself to reveal one of the night's most talked-about looks while joining Madonna onstage.
So, naturally, we had to break it all down.
Here are 10 VMAs looks that deserve a spot on your fashion mood board—and the trends hiding behind them.
01. Taylor Swift
THE LOOK: Disco Glamour Gets a Modern Makeover
Wearing: Tamara Ralph Couture
Taylor Swift returned to the VMAs in one of the night's most polished looks: a black mock-neck corset-style bodice paired with a dramatically sparkling silver skirt by Tamara Ralph Couture. She finished the look with statement jewelry, including Leviev earrings and an Etho Maria ring.
The result? Part Old Hollywood, part disco ball, and completely Taylor.
The contrast between the structured black top and the reflective silver skirt made the look feel glamorous without becoming overly traditional. Instead of relying on a fully sequined gown, the look used sparkle strategically—which made the silver skirt feel like the star of the outfit.
THE TREND
Strategic sparkle.
You don't need sequins from head to toe to make an entrance. Pairing one high-impact statement piece with something minimal creates the same dramatic effect while keeping the outfit wearable.
SHOP THE VIBE
Try:
Silver sequin midi or maxi skirt
Black structured bodysuit
Black pointed-toe heels
Statement earrings
THE HOT TAKE
Taylor's look proves that sparkle doesn't have to mean maximalism. The smartest part of this outfit is actually the restraint. One statement piece does all the talking.
02. LISA
THE LOOK: Red, Dramatic, and Completely Unapologetic
Wearing: The Attico + Quine Li
Lisa arrived in a fiery red The Attico lingerie-inspired dress layered beneath a dramatic matching cape by Quine Li.
If the goal was to make people stop scrolling, mission accomplished.
The combination of a body-conscious silhouette and oversized outer layer created an interesting play between revealing and concealing. The cape added movement and drama while keeping the look from feeling like a simple lingerie-inspired dress.
THE TREND
Red is having a moment.
Instead of treating red as an accent color, Lisa made it the entire story.
SHOP THE VIBE
Try:
Red lace or satin dress
Oversized red coat or cape
Strappy heels
Gold or crystal jewelry
THE HOT TAKE
Lisa understands something important about fashion: sometimes the easiest way to make a look memorable is to commit to it completely.
No timid pops of color. No playing it safe. Just red.
03.Tyla
THE LOOK: Y2K, But Make It 2026
Wearing: Mowalola
Tyla arrived in one of the night's most unmistakably Y2K-inspired looks: an electric-blue snakeskin-print bra paired with a low-rise matching skirt.
She completed the look with a coordinating teal choker and beige heels.
The outfit immediately brought back the low-rise silhouettes and barely-there styling that defined early-2000s fashion—but Tyla made the trend feel current rather than costume-like.
THE TREND
Low-rise is still here.
And Tyla is making a strong case for it.
SHOP THE VIBE
Try:
Low-rise maxi skirt
Snakeskin-print top
Statement choker
Neutral pointed heels
THE HOT TAKE
The reason Tyla's look works is because she isn't simply recreating Y2K fashion. She's taking the recognizable elements—low-rise, animal print, minimal coverage—and styling them in a way that feels distinctly her.
That's the difference between following a trend and actually owning it.
04. CHARLI XCX
THE LOOK: Dark, Sheer, and Very Charli
Wearing: Saint Laurent
Charli XCX leaned into the darker side of VMAs glamour in a semi-sheer Saint Laurent look featuring a long-sleeved bra-style top and floor-length skirt.
The silhouette was sexy without feeling overly polished—and honestly, that slightly undone quality is exactly what made it feel so Charli.
THE TREND
Sheer layers aren't going anywhere.
But the newest version of the trend is less about the traditional "naked dress" and more about layering transparency over lingerie-inspired pieces.
SHOP THE VIBE
Try:
Sheer long-sleeve top
Black bralette
Low-rise maxi skirt
Silver statement rings
THE HOT TAKE
Charli's outfit is proof that "sexy" doesn't have to mean hyper-glamorous. Sometimes the coolest look is the one that feels slightly rebellious.
05. TEYANA TAYLOR
THE LOOK: Feathers Meet High Fashion
Wearing: Zuhair Murad Couture
Teyana Taylor arrived in a sheer black Zuhair Murad Couture coat-gown covered in intricate embroidery, with dramatic feathers framing the cuffs, collar, and hem.
The look managed to feel romantic, dramatic, and slightly gothic all at once.
THE TREND
Texture is the accessory.
Feathers, fringe, embroidery, lace, and embellishment can transform even the simplest silhouette.
SHOP THE VIBE
Try:
Feather-trimmed jacket
Sheer black maxi dress
Embellished heels
Statement earrings
THE HOT TAKE
This is what happens when you let texture do the talking. Teyana didn't need a million accessories because the garment itself was the statement.
06. PINKPANTHERESS
THE LOOK: Romantic With a Little Bit of Edge
Wearing: Nina Ricci
PinkPantheress brought a softer aesthetic to a carpet filled with dramatic black and metallic looks, wearing a Nina Ricci ensemble that leaned into romantic femininity.
The look felt delicate without disappearing among the night's bigger fashion moments.
THE TREND
Ultra-feminine dressing is getting an update.
Think romantic silhouettes—but style them with accessories, makeup, or shoes that give the look a little more attitude.
SHOP THE VIBE
Try:
Feminine mini or midi dress
Satin or sheer fabrics
Mary Jane heels
Delicate jewelry
THE HOT TAKE
Not every memorable red-carpet look needs to scream for attention. Sometimes the fashion statement is knowing when to soften things up.
07. NORMANI
THE LOOK: Fashion as Architecture
Wearing: Robert Wun
Normani delivered one of the night's most sculptural looks in a Robert Wun design featuring a liquid latex-like top, a pleated drop-waist skirt, built-in gloves, and an oversized floral shoulder detail.
This wasn't just an outfit.
It was a silhouette.
THE TREND
Sculptural dressing.
We're seeing more celebrities choose clothing that changes the shape of the body rather than simply following it.
SHOP THE VIBE
Try:
Structured mini dress
Drop-waist silhouette
Sculptural shoulder detail
Opera gloves
THE HOT TAKE
Normani's look is a reminder that fashion doesn't always have to be practical to be effective. Sometimes clothing exists to create a picture—and this one definitely did.
08. RAYE
THE LOOK: Old-School Glamour With a Modern Finish
Wearing: Georges Hobeika
Raye sparkled her way onto the blue carpet in an embellished Georges Hobeika dress featuring a dramatic, body-skimming silhouette.
While other celebrities leaned into sheer fabrics and low-rise styling, Raye's look reminded us that classic glamour can still compete for attention.
THE TREND
Liquid sparkle.
Instead of chunky sequins, look for embellishment that moves with the body and catches the light.
SHOP THE VIBE
Try:
Crystal-embellished dress
Metallic heels
Drop earrings
Rhinestone clutch
THE HOT TAKE
Raye's look is the perfect example of why timeless silhouettes don't necessarily mean boring. When the fabric does enough work, you don't need an overly complicated design.
09. TROYE SIVAN
THE LOOK: Dark Romance
Troye Sivan brought a completely different energy to the carpet in an Erdem look from the Spring/Summer 2027 collection.
The styling leaned into dark romanticism—dramatic, slightly gothic, and intentionally fashion-forward.
THE TREND
Dark romance.
Think deep colors, dramatic silhouettes, unexpected proportions, and pieces that feel like they belong in a gothic love story.
SHOP THE VIBE
Try:
Dark floral shirt or jacket
Wide-leg trousers
Statement jewelry
Pointed boots
THE HOT TAKE
The best thing about Troye's look is that it doesn't try to make traditionally masculine fashion "safe." It embraces drama—and that's exactly what makes it interesting.
10. SABRINA CARPENTER
THE LOOK: Madonna's Influence Meets Sabrina's Signature Style
Sabrina Carpenter may not have revealed her performance look on the blue carpet, but she absolutely made up for it once she stepped onstage with Madonna.
For their performance, Carpenter wore a white button-down left open over a black lace bra, bedazzled black shorts, suspenders, rhinestone tights, a black beret, and custom Christian Louboutin Mary Janes.
The styling was unmistakably inspired by Madonna's fashion language while still feeling like Sabrina.
And that's what made the look work.
THE TREND
The celebrity style remix.
Instead of copying an iconic look exactly, today's stars are borrowing recognizable references and translating them through their own personal style.
SHOP THE VIBE
Try:
Oversized white button-down
Black lace bralette
Rhinestone shorts
Suspenders
Sheer embellished tights
Black beret
Mary Jane heels
THE HOT TAKE
Sabrina's VMAs look is a perfect example of why fashion references matter.
She wasn't simply dressing like Madonna.
She was speaking the same fashion language in a new way.
SO, WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST VMAs FASHION TREND?
If we had to sum up the 2026 VMAs in a few words?
Drama. Skin. Texture. And nostalgia.
The blue carpet gave us low-rise Y2K silhouettes, sheer fabrics, feathers, sparkle, lingerie-inspired dressing, dramatic tailoring, and plenty of black.
But underneath all of those trends was something even more interesting:
PERSONALITY.
The celebrities who stood out weren't necessarily wearing the most expensive or complicated outfits. They were the ones whose looks actually felt connected to their identity.
Tyla made Y2K feel like Tyla.
Charli made sheer dressing feel like Charli.
Normani turned her outfit into a sculpture.
Sabrina borrowed from Madonna without becoming a Madonna copy.
And Taylor turned disco glamour into something distinctly her own.
That's ultimately why these looks matter beyond the red carpet.
Fashion trends don't become trends simply because celebrities wear them.
They become trends when people see something they recognize, reinterpret it, and decide they want a piece of it for themselves.
THE HOT TAKES & HASHTAGS VERDICT
The 2026 VMAs proved that the red carpet isn't just about who wore what.
It's about why we're still talking about it afterward.
A great celebrity look creates a reaction. It becomes a screenshot. A TikTok. A Pinterest board. A shopping search. Maybe even your next outfit.
And that's where fashion and digital culture collide.
So whether you're ready to bring back low-rise skirts, experiment with sheer layers, add a little sparkle, or channel your inner Madonna, there's one thing the VMAs made very clear:
You don't have to copy the look. You just have to understand what made it unforgettable.
WHICH VMAs LOOK WAS YOUR FAVORITE?
Tell us your pick—and then go make the trend your own.
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