Lance Bass attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York on Aug. 28, 2016.
Erik Pendzich/REX/Shutterstock
The first of many to make political and social fashion statements at the VMAs, Lance Bass wore his voting preference on his blue bomber jacket. The custom "Love Trumps Hate" outerwear was created by Hollywood-based designer Rey Ortiz. The skinny hardware tie was a little questionable, but overall, the look had style and substance, befitting the times.
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Lance Bass
Image Credit: Erik Pendzich/REX/Shutterstock The first of many to make political and social fashion statements at the VMAs, Lance Bass wore his voting preference on his blue bomber jacket. The custom "Love Trumps Hate" outerwear was created by Hollywood-based designer Rey Ortiz. The skinny hardware tie was a little questionable, but overall, the look had style and substance, befitting the times.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars
Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars captured the spirit of diversity on the VMAs white carpet, while poking fun of some famous pop star fashion statements of yore. Lady Gaga's famous meat dress, Lil Kim's pasty jumpsuit, they're all here.
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Beyonce & Blue Ivy Carter
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage Beyonce dressed like a fairytale queen in a Francesco Scognamiglio gown, propelling the Italian couturier into the international spotlight, and conveying female power and optimism in the face of evil while she was at it. In addition to daughter Blue Ivy, Beyonce brought the mothers of Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and Oscar Grant to the VMAs. All the women (except Grant) appeared in Beyonce’s Lemonade visual album holding pictures of their deceased sons.
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2 Chainz
Image Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP The men outdid the women in most cases on the VMAs red carpet, including 2Chainz, whose Gucci head scarf, boots and fringey shirt were eclectic style at its best.
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Meek Mill
Image Credit: Nicholas Hunt/FilmMagic Meek Mill (not Nicki, sorry), wins best-dressed for an updated version of the bomber jacket, in a colorful pattern.
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Taylor Marie Hill
Image Credit: REX/Shutterstock This Moschino gown was rough and refined. The artfully shredded texture elevated what could have been a same-old, same-old cutout style to something interesting.
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Sean Diddy Combs
Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Diddy rocked a kimono and black trousers with layered gold jewelry, for a look befitting a godfather of 1990s hip hop.
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Nick Cannon
Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage You gotta respect the audacity and originality of NIck Cannon's white jeweled turban, especially when paired with athletic shorts and sneakers. I dream of a pickup game with genie. A score for fashion fearlessness.
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Jaden Smith
Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images A style icon in the making, Jaden Smith has already starred in a Louis Vuitton ad campaign. His cat-printed double-layer coat-jacket made a statement all its own, in the best possible way. Smith has his own style, and it's something to watch.
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Alicia Keys
Image Credit: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images Alicia Keys' red-and-black printed Just Cavalli gown may seem a bit matronly at first glance, but the modest statement worked in that it didn't overshadow what she had to say. The singer took her moment on stage to point out the 53rd anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech, and to deliver a poem of her own touching on the need for racial equality.
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Desiigner
Image Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Desiigner lived up to his moniker, wearing a pale Margiela suit, sans shirt, layered gold jewelry and pointy toed shoes. He mastered several of the evening's trends with this sharp, throwback '70s look.