The 2025 MTV VMAs’ Best-Dressed Celebs Were Also Super Naked

When it comes to outrageous, barely there red carpet looks, no awards show does it better than the MTV VMAs — and 2025’s event was no exception. This year, the celebrities brought their style A-game with lingerie-inspired looks, sheer dresses, and lots and lots of cutouts and sky-high slits.

Held on Sunday, Sept. 7, attendees arrived at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, in their boldest, most boundary-pushing style. For instance, Doja Cat made a jaw-dropping entrance in a crystal-encrusted minidress and a lipstick-shaped clutch worth $6,000. Other stars, meanwhile, wore similarly stripped-down looks, like Tate McRae, who wore a diaphanous white gown that exposed her ruched underwear.

Read on for the best (and nakedest) looks of the night — some of which will live on in VMAs infamy.

Sabrina Carpenter

While most awards show guests typically avoid matching with the carpet, Sabrina Carpenter leaned into the crimson hue in a red-hot lace dress that was utterly diaphanous. She paired the intricate number with a lavender fur stole for a sophisticated, Old Hollywood take on “naked dressing.”

Doja Cat

Proving that the VMA red carpet is the most playful of all awards shows, Doja leaned into camp in a harlequin-print mini from Balmain with a plunging off-the-shoulder neckline encrusted in pink crystals. She also toted a bedazzled lipstick-shaped bag from Judith Leiber — worth an eye-whopping $6,000 — and took out an IRL red lipstick, applied an extra coat, and then proceeded to eat it. Casual.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande found a new stylist in Zendaya’s image architect, Law Roach. For their first awards show together, Roach dressed her in a sweetheart strapless polka dot column gown with a bubble-esque peplum, practically ushering in the “cheugy” trend’s renaissance. And because Roach loves a fashion reference, the custom look was an homage to Silvia Venturini’s Fendi gown from the ’80s. Iconic.

Tate McRae

The “Greedy” singer combined several racy trends in one diaphanous number: a plunging, bra-esque top, waist cutouts, a completely sheer skirt, and peekaboo underwear.

Gabby Windey

Whale tails, aka the exposed thong trend that dominated the 2000s, have long been a VMAs staple. The Bachelorette’s Gabby Windey revived the undies-forward style on the 2025 red carpet in a see-through lacy LBD, which featured two waist cutouts that perfectly framed her stringy undergarment.

Zara Larsson

Zara Larsson, meanwhile, offered a different take on the sheer dress. She had beaded fringe, rhinestones, and a handful of bedazzled floral appliqués affixed to her translucent mini (and matching headpiece). Even her white underwear, peering under the dress, featured sparkly crystal touches.

Alix Earle

Could a T-shirt dress be appropriate for an awards show? According to Alix Earle, absolutely. As long as it has a fun, revealing detail (peep her sideboob-baring cutouts and micro mini hem), it’s guaranteed to be a showstopper.

FKA Twigs

Bandeau bras as tops have been trending for a hot minute. But FKA Twigs’ avant-garde treatment — with the bra’s boxy, padded shoulders, distressed pants in the same oxblood hue, and edgy platform boots — made the style feel oh-so-fresh.

Tyla

Tyla’s Chanel minidress was so short, it was practically an undies-baring top. What the “Water” singer lacked in fabric, however, she more than made up for in accessories. Peep her layers upon layers of necklaces, belts, bangles, and anklets. So, so chic.

Olandria Carthen

From the villa to the VMAs, Love Island USA star Olandria Carthen is no stranger to a skin-baring look. She arrived to the awards show in a plunging red bodysuit featuring a sheer overlay for a gown-like effect. She completed her monochromatic ‘fit with a cherry-red choker, gloves, and heels.

Taylor Momsen

Taylor Momsen channeled her inner Jenny Humphrey in an all-black number — pairing her bra, worn as a top, with an ultra-low-rise skirt and a ton of edgy accessories.