The VMAs are usually known for meat dresses and foam fingers, so this year’s red carpet was a bit underwhelming. Still, there were some definite risk-takers. Here’s my picks for the night’s best and worst looks (and check out all the outfits here):
BEST:
Taylor Swift: Ok, I know you hate this. And maybe you should hate this. I mean, there was a huge ‘camel toe watch’ happening on Twitter when she stepped onto the red carpet. And yes, a onsie isn’t the most flattering thing she could have worn. But I’m just glad that she didn’t opt for her usual “I’m a sparkly princess” style. And this outfit made her legs look like they go on forever. I don’t know, guys. I kinda dig it!
Laverne Cox: I’m so goddamn glad she’s invited to walk red carpets, and looking so fierce when she does. She knocked this one out of the park.
Kendall Jenner: I don’t think I’ve ever said anything nice about a Jenner, but I kind of liked this. Sexy without being slutty, it totally captured the VMAs vibe.
Solange: First, I will cosign any outfit that looks as comfortable as pyjamas. Plus, it’s H&M! Love, love, love.
Katy Perry: It’s not the “best” in terms of fashion, but Katy’s custom Versace denim is a rip-off of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears’ AMA outfits, which is AWESOME.
WORST:
Gwen Stefani: I was less offended by her LAMB outfit than her face. What happened? Why does someone as beautiful as her feel the need to mess with it? Sadness all around.
Iggy Azalea: Yeah, it might have been Versace, but that doesn’t make it flattering. Look at how stretched the material is across her thighs! Rita Ora had a similar issue with bunched stitching on her Donna Karen gown.
Kim Kardashian: How do you manage to look both frumpy and slutty at the same time? Kimmy K manages this difficult feat.
Beyonce: Look, it’s not the worst dress ever and it definitely shows off her curves. But the night’s was hers — and this is what she shows up in? I’m bored to tears.
Lucy Hale: Fortunately, she changed into a different outfit to host the pre-show, but the first look she wore was beyond disappointing, especially for someone whose TV character regularly goes balls-out style-wise. This unflattering length of the skirt makes her look like a hobbit, and those terrible shoes aren’t helping.
-All that twerking helped the VMAs score big ratingslast night.
-Everyone’s still talking about Miley Cyrus‘ desperate performance (as well as Will Smith and Taylor Swift’s reactions to said twerkfest — though Smith might have been reacting to Gaga instead). Vulture posted a pretty great analysis of Miley’s performance, saying it wasn’t about sex, it was about race and calling her ratchet display a “minstrel show“. It’s an interesting point of view, but I think they’re giving Miley too much credit. I’m guessing her thought process went something along the lines of “tongue = good; clothes = bad.”
-Meanwhile, Miley‘s manager says her “evolution” is “healthy” and “organic.” In case you didn’t know, this is the same guy who used to manage Britney Spears, so…yeah.
-Also, the Onion hilariously predicted Miley’s VMA performance back in 2008.
-Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson deemed a couple VMA performers “pitchy strippers,” making me love her even more.
-In other VMA news, Jessica Biel didn’t show up to the ceremony, but Justin Timberlake at least let her attend the afterparty (in a super unflattering dress, but still).
–Ellie Goulding is rumoured to be dating One Direction’s Niall Horan, but that didn’t stop her from getting handsy with Ed Sheeran during the VMAs. She later pooped the gossip party by tweeting that they’re just “friends.”
–Taylor Swift may have mouthed STFU during the ceremony at Harry Styles, but the exes made niceat a VMAs afterparty.
-Also last night, One Direction got booed for winning the Song of the Summer, and Lady Gaga was having none of it.
–Anna Gunn wrote a great op-ed piece in the New York Times about fans’ hatred of her Breaking Bad character, and how such vitriol only seems to rain on female characters.
-Speaking of Breaking Bad, last night’s ep gave me a mad case of the OMGs.
-For those of you who just couldn’t sit through Low Winter Sun last night, here’s the Walking Dead sneak peek that aired during the commercial break.
-The other big entertainment event that happened last night was the taping of James Franco‘s Comedy Central roast. So just how many gay jokes were there? Not surprisingly, a LOT. (And here’s a selection of the non-gay jokes, in case you’re wondering what else they teased him about.)
–Chris Brown keeps tweeting about how he’s ready to be “a leader.” He better be talking about the comic book character, or else we’re all in trouble!
–Jenny McCarthy is gearing up for her View debut by trotting boyfriend Donnie Wahlberg out on red carpets.
-The Lamar Odom saga has taken a dark, disturbing turn. Khloe Kardashian reportedly separated from him after a failed intervention last week, and now comes reports that he spent the last few days in a hotel room where friends “are trying to get him help for unspecified drug problem.” Khole is the only Kardashian I find tolerable; I hope it all works out for them.
–Joss Whedon has defended Ben Affleck being cast as Batman, so I guess we should all just shut up now and bow down to his nerd judgement. Bryan Cranston has reportedly already signed on to play Lex Luthor, so I’m already on board.
–Kate Gosselin is reportedly suing ex-husbandJon for millions, claiming he hacked into her computer, bank accounts and phone lines and used what he found to publish a tell-all book about her. Glad to see some things never change.
–George Clooney starts filming his new movie Tomorrowland in Vancouver this week. Is this why he can’t make it to TIFF? *pout*
–Brad Pitt (who’s also not scheduled to attend his TIFF premiere – WTF?) and Angelina Jolie were reportedly in Canada recently scouting locations for her new film, and they took a break to enjoy a daredevil date at a racetrack.
–Kevin Spacey had some tough talk for TV network execs. I spent a lot of time vigorously nodding while listening to this.
-The Church of Scientology held a big gala this weekend, which served as a reminder that people who otherwise seem pretty awesome (like Laura Prepon and Erika Christensen) are members.
-A bunch of directors, including Edgar Wright, James Ponsoldt, and Lynn Shelton, started tweeting nice things about each other last night, and it quickly devolved into a “Twitter group hug,” which was kind of adorable.
–Arcade Fire will be doing…something…to promote their upcoming albumon Sept. 9 at 9pm. Smack in the middle of TIFF, so that’s just swell.
–Scarlett Johansson plays a tease in the new trailer for Joseph Gordon-Levitt‘s Don Jon.
-Speaking of trailers, the first one for Divergentpremiered last night. I’m loving Kate Winslet as Jeanine in this!
