The VMAs often harbor legendary fashion choices that are remembered for years to come. One extreme example of a singer going all-out with her fashion choice was Lady Gaga, whose dress was made entirely of meat at the 2010 VMAs. While nobody went this far at the 2024 VMAs, there were some looks to remember, starting off strong with Taylor Swift. She wore a plaid dress that opened at the waist, as well as knee-high black boots for the red carpet. However, she made a costume change for the awards show, opting for a beaded mini-dress with a UFO on the front, which, according to People, “felt like a nice nod to the singer's hit ‘Down Bad’ from her most recent album, The Tortured Poets Department.” Sabrina Carpenter, the world’s latest pop princess, was channeling Madonna in a shimmering silver and white floor-length gown that Madonna had previously worn to the Oscars in 1991. During her performance, Carpenter opted for a bodysuit that looked similar to the gown.

Swift’s acceptance speech when she won Video of the Year for “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone gave many fans a shock when she name-dropped Travis Kelce. She stated that, after every take while she was filming and directing the music video, there was always one person cheering and clapping for her. That person was Kelce: “And that one person was my boyfriend… Travis. Everything that man touches turns to happiness and fun.” Swift has rarely, if ever, publicly acknowledged the relationship she is in, which excited fans because it seems as if she is serious about Kelce. Katy Perry won the Video Vanguard award, which is similar to a Lifetime Achievement award at MTV. Her performance included a medley of her biggest hits, including “Firework,” “Teenage Dream,” and “E.T.” According to The New York Times, Perry even stated that “she did it on her period,” which is not for the weak. Carpenter also had a memorable moment on stage. While performing part of her latest hit from her album Short N’ Sweet, “Taste”, she interrupted a dance between an alien and an astronaut, pushing the astronaut off-stage and kissing the alien. The alien, however, faced a similar fate to the astronaut and was pushed off the other side of the stage.