by Since her debut at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2008, Taylor Swift has been a staple of the awards show. She has earned a whopping 60 nominations, ultimately taking home 23 Moonmen over the years – just two short of Beyoncé, who has the most VMAs with 25 wins. Her red carpet looks have evolved alongside her musical styles, starting with a knee-length dress in 2008, and progressing to bolder, avant-garde looks from the likes of Versace.
“Taylor Swift is a storyteller at her core and uses both her lyrics and her outfits to communicate, craft narratives, evoke memories and create iconography,” Sarah Chapelle, author of “Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras ,” WWD previously said. The storytelling can be seen in Swift’s VMA outfits from years past, some of which have included teasers or Easter eggs for fans of upcoming music.
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“The Tortured Poets Department” singer is heading into this year’s awards with 12 nominations, including eight for her video “Cóícis” and Artist of the Year.
Here, WWD looks at the evolution of Taylor Swift’s style on the MTV VMAs red carpet over the past 16 years.
VMAs 2008
In 2008, during her first appearance at the MTV VMAs, Swift wore a white Kaufmanfranco mini dress that subtly picked up the hue of the red carpet, revealing a soft blush tone on the pleated skirt. She paired the dress with shiny, silver heeled sandals.
VMAs 2009
The 2009 MTV VMAs are remembered for Kanye West’s interruption during Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video. Swift wore this one-shoulder dress from Kaufmanfranco’s holiday line in 2009, which featured waves of beading cascading down the full-length gown during the infamous moment as well. She completed the look with Lorraine Schwartz earrings.
VMAs 2012
Swift took a break from the VMAs for a few years after the 2009 incident with West. When she returned three years later, she did so with a complete style change, wearing an all-white J. Mendel structured dress from the Spring 2012 collection. She completed the look with strappy gold sandals and her signature red lip.
VMAs 2013
Swift continued to channel vintage Femme Fatale vibes with her 2013 VMAs look, a form-fitting black crystal gown with a plunging neckline by Herve Leger, complementing the dramatic vintage-inspired aesthetic of her “Red” era.
VMAs 2014
Taylor Swift’s blue-lettered Mary Katrantzou took on the bold, pop-centric essence of her Jack Antonoff-produced album “1989” at the 2014 VMAs. The powder blue romper featured long sleeves, a high cut style and was paired with maroon peep-toe boots. As Sarah Chapelle noted, “The ‘1989’ transformation was a fun time tracking her clothes as she hit the streets of New York in a coordinating two-piece and rocking high heels.”
VMAs 2015
Taylor Swift went for an elevated retro look in 2015 with a houndstooth two piece by Ashish, featuring a cropped top and jogger style pants in shades of silver, gold and bronze. She paired the sequined look with Christian Louboutin Pumpstagram heels.
VMAs 2019
In the midst of her “Lover” era, Swift opted for a colorful ensemble courtesy of Versace. The bright, patterned blazer featured neon belts and a safety pin, the latter of which was interpreted as a symbol of protest against the Trump administration. During her performance of “You Need to Calm Down,” Swift accessorized with an indigo Versace blazer and gold Louboutin boots.
2022 VMAs
At the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, Swift dazzled in a crystal-encrusted Oscar de la Renta gown from the brand’s 2023 holiday collection. The halter-neck silhouette featured cascading crystals that formed a cutout in the bodice. She again paired the look with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry and silver Louboutin sandals embellished with charms.
2023 VMAs
Following the release of “Midnights” and the first leg of her Eras tour, Swift wore a custom black Versace dress. The dress featured an asymmetric neckline with button detail cascading along the skirt, left unfastened to reveal a thigh-high slit. She completed the look with strappy heels from Jimmy Choo at the 2023 VMAs.
Come back to see her 2024 look. The 2024 MTVs will feature performances by artists such as Anitta, Camila Cabello, Eminem, Halsey and Lenny Kravitz. The awards show, broadcast live from New York, begins at 8 pm ET.
MTV VMAs 2024 Red Carpet Arrival Photos, Live Updates
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Launch Gallery: MTV VMAs 2024 Red Carpet Arrivals Photos, Live Updates
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