PC– THE CUT

At the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night, Taylor Swift stepped out in a short dress by Oscar de la Renta covered in crystal chains. The outfit, which had a high halter neckline and plenty of sparkle and gave peekaboo views of the singer’s torso, successfully combined elegance and eroticism.

By sharing a before-and-after video of herself getting ready for the Oscars, Swift previewed the look on TikTok. The final footage, which plays over Blackpink’s new song “Pink Venom,” features her walking toward the camera with Dylan O’Brien, who also appears in the video, and cinematographer Rina Yang.
She captioned the photo, “Team ‘All Too Well’ bringing the emotional misery to the VMAs.”

Swift has made sparkling dresses of all lengths a staple of her wardrobe; she wore a fringed silver dress to the 2010 Grammy Awards and a full-length one-shouldered dress to the VMAs in 2009. (when Kanye West infamously hijacked her acceptance speech). She finished off the look with rich red lipstick and an updo that emphasised the backless silhouette of this year’s Oscar de la Renta dress. Christian Louboutin shoes in crystals were worn with the outfit.

Swift later in the evening took up two silver “Moonman” trophies from the VMAs, for Best Longform Video and Best Video of the Year. O’Brien, Yang, and the video’s producer Saul Germaine all joined her on stage, although co-star Sadie Sink was not present.

Onstage, Swift praised her team and added: “I have previously written and directed my own music videos, but I had never before created a short film. We gave this our all in an effort to create something that would be deserving of the love that you, the listeners, have shown this song.”

She said during her victory speech for Best Music Video that her future album will be released on October 21.

Blackpink, Lizzo, and surprise artist Fergie all gave heart-pounding performances at the VMAs, joining co-host Jack Harlow for a performance of “First Class.” Along with Lil Nas X and Conan Gray, other celebrities including Chloe Bailey and Sabrina Carpenter also dazzled the red carpet in dazzling gender-neutral attire.