Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande and Doja Cat were among the most talked-about attendees on the VMAs 2025 red carpet, where designers and bold styling choices dominated the evening.
Carpenter arrived in a see-through red lace gown by Valentino complemented by a lavender feather boa and Tiffany & Co. jewelry. Doja Cat wore a harlequin-patterned Balmain dress with towering platforms and carried a crystallized Judith Leiber Couture clutch shaped like an oversized tube of lipstick. Ariana Grande opted for a strapless Fendi polka-dot peplum gown with a matching spotted scarf tied around her signature high ponytail.
Carpenter’s Valentino look combined sheer lace with sparkling detailing and high-profile jewels, presenting a red-carpet moment built around contrast between delicate fabric and bold color. Doja Cat’s Balmain look was notable for its playful accessories; the Judith Leiber clutch, reported to retail at $5,995, doubled as a prop when she produced an actual tube of lipstick from it and applied — and later bit into — the product in front of photographers. Grande’s Fendi gown, paired with Jimmy Choo shoes and Swarovski jewelry, continued her penchant for polished, feminine silhouettes.
Other red-carpet highlights included Tyla and Ciara, who each chose skirted or pantless looks. Tyla wore a vintage Chanel corset top with Christian Louboutin shoes and Pandora jewelry. Ciara appeared in a scarlet neoprene bomber jacket by Schiaparelli, paired with Gianvito Rossi heels and Alexis Bittar jewelry. Lenny Kravitz favored a classic Saint Laurent ensemble of jacket, pants and boots, while Ice Spice selected a vintage Ralph Lauren top and skirt. Conan Gray attended in a dress by Erik Charlotte.
The VMAs have long been a stage for dramatic and experimental fashion. Past moments recalled by attendees and observers include Rose McGowan’s nearly sheer beaded dress, Lil’ Kim’s sequined jumpsuit and matching pasties, Britney Spears’ sparkling mesh set and Christina Aguilera’s unconventional scarf top — examples that underline the show’s reputation for pushing red-carpet boundaries.
Design houses and jewelers credited on the red carpet included Valentino, Balmain, Fendi, Schiaparelli, Saint Laurent and vintage pieces from Chanel and Ralph Lauren, with accessories from Judith Leiber Couture, Tiffany & Co., Swarovski and others. The mix of haute couture, vintage finds and statement accessories underscored the VMAs’ role as both a music and fashion moment, where artists often use styling to make visual statements as notable as their performances.