Mariah Carey made a dazzling return to the MTV Video Music Awards, taking the stage to perform a medley of her greatest hits in a sparkling, head-to-toe golden look.

The MTV Video Music Awards stage is known for its high-octane energy, and no one embodies that more than a legend returning to accept a career-defining honor. Mariah Carey, who was presented with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, delivered a memorable performance that showcased both her vocal prowess and her iconic sense of glamour. Her look was a tribute to her status as a global icon—a style moment that glittered from start to finish.

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For her performance, the legendary performer first appeared in a champagne-colored silk robe with feather trim. She then removed the robe to reveal a long-sleeved, gold romper that was completely covered in glittering rhinestones. The romper had a corseted design and was paired with matching knee-high boots, also encrusted with rhinestones. The gold color and glittering texture of the outfit created a captivating, high-wattage effect under the stage lights, turning her into a living disco ball.

Carey’s styling was all about maximalist glamour. The star wore several pieces of dazzling diamond jewelry, including the “Rosée Éternelle” diamond necklace and matching earrings from Levuma, reportedly valued at a combined $10 million. Her hair was styled in her signature long, wavy curls, adding to the bombshell look. The overall style perfectly matched the celebratory atmosphere of the night, reminding everyone why she is one of the most popular celebrities in music history.

Lady Gaga’s red carpet return was anything but tame—ruffled noir, blood-red florals, and a headpiece that whispered “funeral couture” with a wink to punk opera.

There are entrances, and then there’s whatever Lady Gaga did at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards in New York. Beneath the looming silver Moon Person statue, she didn’t so much walk the red carpet as haunt it—an apparition of theatrical excess and couture precision. Styled in Marc Jacobs Fall 2025, Gaga delivered a look that felt like a requiem for minimalism.

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Let’s start with the dress: a black ruffle explosion that defied gravity and convention. The fabric, a dense matte organza, was sculpted into voluminous tiers that cascaded like ink spilled across velvet. The silhouette—part Victorian mourning gown, part avant-garde armor—wrapped Gaga in a cocoon of drama, with hints of deep purple peeking through the folds like bruises blooming under skin. It was unmistakably Marc Jacobs: romantic, rebellious, and just a touch deranged.

On her feet, the Marc Jacobs Kiki Leather Platform Multi-Buckle Ankle Boots in black added industrial bite. Their stacked sole and aggressive buckling grounded the look in post-apocalyptic grit, a counterpoint to the dress’s operatic sweep. Jewelry was minimal but pointed—a custom engagement ring by Sofia Jewelry, oversized and glinting with menace, like a promise made under duress.

But it was the headpiece that sealed the mood: a crown of red flowers tangled in dark netting, perched atop slicked-back hair that gleamed under the VMAs’ harsh lighting. Her makeup? Gothic precision. Kohl-rimmed eyes, a deep plum lip, and skin so pale it bordered on porcelain doll territory. Gaga didn’t smile—she smirked, posed, and stared down the cameras like she was daring them to blink first.

Is this couture’s Blade Runner moment? Or perhaps a nod to Alexander McQueen’s early theatricality, filtered through Jacobs’ New York lens. Either way, Gaga’s look felt like a manifesto: fashion as performance, identity as spectacle. It’s a reminder that the red carpet isn’t just a photo op—it’s a battleground for aesthetic dominance.

Mia Goth’s latest look—a sculptural black gown with a flourish of dark romance—was a bold reminder that her singular style continues to make an unforgettable statement on the red carpet.

Mia Goth has cultivated a style that feels both timeless and deeply theatrical, a rare feat in Hollywood. At the TIFF Tribute Awards, she delivered a look that perfectly encapsulated her signature aesthetic, blending gothic romanticism with high-fashion artistry. It was a study in contrasts: a classic silhouette subverted by an unexpected, almost avant-garde texture. The result was a look that felt both powerful and poetic.

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The actress wore a striking black strapless gown with a clean, structured bodice that hugged her frame. The most captivating element, however, was the fabric itself. The black material, likely a silk taffeta or similar textured weave, was sculpted into a voluminous, oversized bow-like flourish at the waist, adding an element of dramatic, three-dimensional texture. This detail transformed the classic silhouette into a work of wearable art, a clever deconstruction of formalwear that felt distinctly Goth. The gown flowed into a sleek, floor-length skirt, allowing the unique bodice to be the undisputed focal point.

Mia Goth’s accessories were as carefully chosen as her dress. She wore a pair of stunning vintage Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger Earrings, which were crafted between 1942 and 1959. The gold and palladium earrings, set with diamonds, added a touch of refined, historical glamour. With her hair parted in the middle and falling in soft, natural waves, and her makeup kept simple with a subtle lip, the star allowed the dress and her delicate jewelry to tell the story. The overall mood was one of quiet confidence and effortless sophistication, a perfect match for her poised demeanor at the elegant event.