By Megan Riedlinger
5:08am PDT, Aug 31, 2020
After months of no red carpet critiquing due to the pandemic, the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards blessed us with some epic fashion. Wonderwall.com is ecstatic to be back rounding up the best and worst dressed stars of the night, starting with someone who never plays it safe — Lady Gaga. Truthfully, we'd be disappointed if Gaga arrived in anything resembling normal couture at the MTV VMAs. And true to form, the superstar arrived in this funky intergalactic silver frock by Area with three-quarter-length sleeves and a slit up the center. She paired it with silver jewelry from Dena Kemp, platform boots by Pleasers and a clear, globe-like headpiece by Conrad Muscarella that we'd dub astronaut-chic and give an A+. Keep reading for more hits and misses…
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The best dressed man of the night? Machine Gun Kelly, who arrived in this surprising yet amazing hot pink look comprised of a turtleneck tank top, trousers and a jacket draped over his shoulder. Now let's take a closer look at his accessory choices…
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Another sharply dressed man? Maluma, who donned this silky black Versace suit with silver Medusa-clad hardware and high-heeled boots for a monochromatic black moment. Next up, we're taking a look at his accessories.
Maluma added an abundance of chunky jewelry to his silk suit to keep his look sleek — including double gold hoop earrings, a silver chain necklace and rings.
Our first yikes of the night! We weren't feeling Doja Cat's halter-style Versace gown — which featured floral embellishments and beading in hot pink, orange and red tones that culminated in a fringed miniskirt.
Miley Cyrus has a history of wowing at the VMAs, so we weren't shocked by her barely-there ensemble. In fact — it's more covered up than usual for the star (remember her infamous 2013 performance outfit?). She arrived in this strapless black Mugler frock that was entirely sheer with black undergarments underneath, which she paired with over-the-elbow sheer gloves.
Black and sheer looks were trending at the VMAs, and the next star to embrace the combo was Bella Hadid. Though she adhered to the trend, we weren't fans of her very sheer top with spaghetti straps and strategically placed black fabric. She wore that barely-there top with black trousers for her appearance on the show.
Joey King had a serious floral moment, arriving in this darling green and red rose-emblazoned frock. She styled the long-sleeved Versace minidress with layered gold necklaces and red pointy-toed pumps to solidify her A+ VMAs fashion moment. Let's take a closer look…
Joey King rocked a sleek center-parted hairstyle with Versace Medusa-emblazoned hair accessories, which worked perfectly with her chunky Versace chain necklaces. And when it came time for makeup, the star sported a peach lip and smokey multi-hued eyeshadow.
Nicole Richie certainly made a statement in lime green. And though we weren't wild about the silhouette, with the minidress length and the tail-like train element, we did appreciate the impressive draping down the Cong Tri frock.
Jaden Smith brought pops of color to the VMAs — rocking a multicolored jacket with matching rainbow-hued sneakers and light denim jeans for a perfect summer getup. Let's get a better view of that jacket…
We loved Jaden Smith's pastel-hued jacket, which featured cream sleeves and dashes of pink, yellow, blue and green. He wore a graphic T-shirt underneath, a chunky black belt and piled on bracelets and necklaces to finish off this fun fit.
The Weeknd arrived in this impeccably tailored red blazer with a black dress shirt, black trousers and sharp black and white loafers for a stylish ensemble reminiscent of his "After Hours" album cover. But one accessory lost us — those black leather gloves. Next up, a better look and an explanation for why his face looks roughed up…
Wondering why The Weeknd's face looks bruised and bloodied? It's also an homage to his "After Hours" album cover and the music video for "Blinding Lights."
CNCO missed a great opportunity to seek inspiration from boy bands of yesteryear and coordinate their looks. Instead, the Latin-pop group rocked a hodge-podge of looks — from full sweatsuits to plaid to ripped denim for a vibe that was anything but cohesive.
Sofia Carson brought some serious couture to the VMAs in this ruby red confection. The asymmetrical frock featured a perfectly ruffled peplum detail and a flowing pleated skirt complete with a glamorous train. Let's get a look at this beautiful gown from the back…
This angle better shows the dramatic, romantic peplum detail and train of Sofia Carson's red gown. And when it came time to add jewels, she kept things simple but stunning.
Sofia Carson added these diamond-shaped Vhernier earrings in white diamonds to infuse some bling into her MTV VMAs look.
Bebe Rexha embraced the blazer-dress trend, and though we usually like this style, we weren't fans of her Lionne Clothing piece. She paired the leathery lace-up top with a pair of black biker shorts for an underwhelming VMAs ensemble.
Madison Beer opted for this sleek and partially-sheer LBD. The singer wore this minidress with a high-collar detail that dipped down and attached to dramatic long sleeves with gloves. It also included a low neckline and a sheer skirt that paired perfectly with her strappy black pumps.
DaBaby donned a black and white outfit — Louis Vuitton shorts and a Supreme jacket with no shirt underneath. And while we appreciated his commitment to the color scheme — check out the white laces in his black boots! — this look was a miss in our book.
Cool and casual! A black beanie-clad Travis Barker arrived in a graphic T-shirt, red and black plaid pants and Converse sneakers for a low-key yet stylish VMAs look. He also rocked a black face mask emblazoned with three words, which we'll take a closer look at next…
A closer look at Travis Barker's mask shows his message: "Don't Trust Anyone."
