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Since her debut at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, Taylor Swift has become a staple at the awards show, garnering an incredible 60 nominations and ultimately taking home 23 Moon Men over the years – just two fewer than Beyoncé, who currently has the most VMAs with 25 wins. Her red carpet appearances have evolved alongside her musical style, starting with a youthful knee-length dress in 2008 and moving on to more daring, avant-garde looks from brands like Versace.
“At her core, Taylor Swift is a storyteller and she uses both her lyrics and her outfits to communicate, craft a narrative, evoke memories and create iconography,” Sarah Chapelle, author of “Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras,” previously told WWD. The storytelling is evident in Swift’s VMA outfits from years past, some of which included teasers or Easter eggs for fans to upcoming music.
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The singer of “The Tortured Poets Department” goes into this year’s awards ceremony with 12 nominations, including eight for her “Fortnight” video and as Artist of the Year.
Here, WWD takes a look at Taylor Swift’s style evolution on the MTV VMAs red carpet over the past 16 years.
VMAs 2008
For her first appearance at the 2008 MTV VMAs, Swift wore a cream mini dress by Kaufmanfranco that subtly echoed the color of the red carpet, reflecting a delicate blush hue 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 of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video. Swift wore this one-shoulder dress from Kaufmanfranco’s 2009 Resort line, which also featured waves of pearls cascading down the floor-length gown during that infamous moment. She accessorized the look with Lorraine Schwartz earrings.
VMAs 2012
After the incident with West in 2009, Swift took a break from the VMAs for a few years. When she returned three years later, she did so with a completely different style, wearing a structured, all-white J. Mendel suit from the Spring 2012 collection. She completed the look with gold strappy sandals and her signature red lips.
VMAs 2013
Swift continued to exude vintage femme fatale vibes with her 2013 VMAs look: a figure-hugging black dress with crystals and a plunging neckline by Herve Leger that perfectly complemented the vintage-inspired, dramatic aesthetic of her “Red” era.
VMAs 2014
Taylor Swift’s blue alphabet-printed romper by Mary Katrantzou at the 2014 VMAs reflected the bold, pop-centric essence of her Jack Antonoff-produced album ‘1989.’ The powder blue romper featured long sleeves, a high cut, and was paired with maroon peep-toe ankle boots. As Sarah Chapelle noted, “The ‘1989’ transformation was a fun time to follow her wardrobe as she walked the streets of New York in coordinated two-pieces and wobbly high heels.”
VMAs 2015
Taylor Swift opted for an elevated athleisure look in 2015 with a houndstooth two-piece by Ashish, consisting of a crop top and sweatpants in silver, gold and bronze tones. She paired the sequined look with Pumpstagram heels by Christian Louboutin.
VMAs 2019
In the midst of her “Lover” era, Swift opted for a colorful ensemble by Versace. The bright, patterned blazer featured neon belts and safety pins, with her fans interpreting the latter as a symbol of protest against the Trump administration. During her performance of “You Need to Calm Down,” Swift added a matching indigo Versace blazer and gold Louboutin boots.
VMAs 2022
At the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, Swift dazzled in a crystal-embellished Oscar de la Renta gown from the brand’s Resort 2023 collection. The halterneck silhouette featured dangling crystals that created a cutout in the bodice. She again paired the look with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry and silver Louboutin sandals embellished with charms.
VMAs 2023
Following the release of “Midnights” and the first leg of her Eras tour, Swift wore a custom black Versace dress. The dress featured an asymmetrical neckline with button details that extended down the skirt and were left open to reveal a thigh-high slit. She completed the look with strappy Jimmy Choo heels at the 2023 VMAs.
Come back to see her look of 2024. The 2024 MTV VMAs will feature performances by artists such as Anitta, Camila Cabello, Eminem, Halsey and Lenny Kravitz. The awards show, which will be broadcast live from New York, begins at 8 p.m. ET.
Photos and live updates from the 2024 MTV VMAs red carpet arrivals
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Launch Gallery: Photos and live updates from the 2024 MTV VMAs red carpet arrivals
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