With all the COVID-19 guidelines in place, the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) looked a little different than previous years. As safety precautions are slowly returning to normal, one of the most popular awards shows was able to finally happen again on Sunday, August 30, at 8 P.M in New York City. While there was no in-person audience, the VMAs marked the first awards show since the COVID-19 outbreak. The event was held outside in safe conditions and multiple performances were pre-recorded. Considering all the restrictions that were put in place for the safety of celebrities, their outfits were one of the few things they could control. Since many fans hadn’t seen their favorite celebrities since March, they were eager to find out if quarantine had caused them to forget how to dress. The way the celebrities styled their outfits and performed despite the COVID-19 precautions was truly impressive. 

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga is known for her over-the-top and dramatic fashion choices. This year at the VMA’s, she did not disappoint. Gaga and her team of stylists — Nicola Formichetti fashion director, makeup artist Sarah Tanno and hairstylist Frederic Aspiras — arranged a sequence of nine looks that kept everyone safe by incorporating personal protective equipment. Despite the precautions she had to follow, Gaga still had the X-factor. Gaga first strutted the white carpet in a silver anorak dress from the fashion brand Area’s fall/winter 2020 collection. The metallic masterpiece was a marvelous statement item. To top off the science-fiction look, she wore a clear bubble around her head. Face coverings have clearly been in style this year, but Gaga added her own taste which made her outfit stand out even more. She then quickly changed into an ombré feathered piece from Iris van Herpen. She wore this for her performance of “Rain On Me” with Ariana Grande, as the fringe resembled rain drops. With nine nominations and a performance with Grande, Gaga couldn’t afford any fashion mishaps. Kicking off the show with two extraordinary outfits within the first 15 minutes, it’s safe to say she lived up to her expectations. 

Jaden Smith 

Jaden strode the white carpet in a bright but simple uptown piece. He wore a boxy daytime blazer with bright shapes across the front. This look, originally worn by Coco Chanel, made Smith look youthful and chic. Paired with jeans, a pearl necklace by Polite Worldwide and chunky sneakers, the structured blazer seemed more relaxed. As he had just released his new album, “CTV3,” making an impressionable appearance was vital. Even Cody Ko, Youtube star and the hardest of critics, said: “I love it… look at the colors.”

Bella Hadid 

Bella Hadid’s minimalistic and ‘90s inspired outfit was nothing short of beautiful. Hadid dressed in a daring long-sleeved sheer top that hung off her shoulders paired with low waisted black slacks. Hadid proved with this look that less really can be more. While this outfit may have looked minimalistic, the thought put into it was tremendous. In a previous showing at the Fashion East collective show in London in February, a tiny sheer dress made an appearance. Hadid clearly fell in love because when she took the white carpet she repped something similar. This look was originally created by the London-based Albanian designer Nensi Dojaka. Dojaka said in an interview with Vogue that “the minimalist, industrial nature of the ‘90s felt raw and honest.” Hadid’s premiere in this outfit had quite the effect for Dojaka’s brand. The top and trousers are now being sold on SSENSE.com, Dojaka’s main seller. With all of the attention Hadid’s outfit is receiving, I think we can all agree it was a hit.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus showed up at the VMAs in a sparkling black dress with matching gloves. Since Cyrus had just released her new single “Midnight Sky,” disappointing her fans was not on the agenda. She wore a sheer, black, strapless embroidered dress with matching gloves from Mugler’s fall 2020 collection. This showy dress displayed her beautiful silhouette with her matching black undergarments. Compared to her past VMA looks, she went with a more elegant outfit this time around. Nonetheless, she stuck to her classic ‘tongue out’ pose. 

After reviewing and analyzing all of these amazing outfits, I think most can agree that these stars haven’t lost their spark. Seeing the way all of the celebrities performed, you couldn’t even tell there were COVID-19 restrictions. Despite the loungewear they may have been rocking in quarantine, they didn’t forget how to dress for a red carpet.