MTV Video Music Awards' Most Iconic Fashion Moments of All Time

Madge's bride-gone-wild "Like a Virgin" look from 1984 is one of the most recognizable of her many iconic looks -- and probably the most copied Halloween costume.

As if this Driving Miss Daisy-esque floral ensemble wasn't enough, Applegate arrived to the 1989 VMAs arm-in-arm with Brad Pitt -- and she ditched her date for another guy!

Greased Lightnin'! The Batman star went full Sandy in a black catsuit, studded leather jacket and thick headband at the 1990 awards show, finishing off her look with a red lip and black pumps.

It's pretty hard to get more confident than Crawford in this strappy, slightly S&M-inspired LBD in 1992.

Girl power was in full force when Chilli, T-Boz and Left Eye proudly hit the 1995 VMAs together. The R&B trio donned all-white crop top-and-baggy pant ensembles for the occasion. 

The singer was truly a "fantasy" in this black tube top and matching skirt with a hip-high slit at the 1997 VMAs.

The Jawbreaker star left nothing to the imagination when she walked the red carpet in 1998 with her then-beau, Marilyn Manson. The sheer dress featured a few mere wisps of glittery fabric along her otherwise bare backside. 

We were feeling a little blue after the No Doubt frontwoman stepped onto the red carpet in 1998 in this fuzzy bikini top that was teamed with a shiny knee-length skirt, matching black pants and platform flip-flops.

The ultimate boobgate honor goes to the Brooklyn-born rapper, who stepped out at the1999 VMAs in a sparkly one-shouldered purple jumpsuit designed by her stylist Misa Hylton-Brim. A matching shell pasty covered her exposed wig, and she accessorized with a lilac wig, plum lipstick, mile-long lashes and cut-out platforms.

J.Lo's all-white ensemble in 2000 was memorable for not just showing off her killer abs, but for also taking a cue from then-boyfriend Puffy's style.

More than a decade before Miley Cyrus surprised fans by dropping an album at the VMAs, the "I Try" singer announced her release date on her dress in 2001.

Her hips didn't lie in this unique, sexy spin on cowgirl chic in 2001.

The pop icon slid into the 2002 VMAs like the cop from your wildest dreams -- or Madonna's.

The singer-turned-fashion designer nearly popped out of her white suit when she walked the red carpet with then-husband Nick Lachey in 2003.

Never before did flamingo fashion look as good as it did when Xtina stepped onto the VMA red carpet in 2003.

London Bridges fell down alright when the Black Eyed Peas singer stepped out in this revealing take on a British schoolgirl outfit in 2006. 

Not only did RiRi look incredibly confident in this stunning neon pink strapless mermaid gown by Armani Privé at the 2007 VMAs, it's also one of her best -- and most famous -- red carpet looks ever. That year, she also won her first Video of the Year award for "Umbrella."

The "So What" singer was like the circus ring leader of our dreams in this red-and-black strapless gown at the 2008 VMAs. She won all of the awards she was nominated for that year, which included Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Video of the Year.

The country singer-turned-pop star looked ethereal in a beige sequined one-shouldered Kaufmanfranco gown and Lorraine Schwartz diamonds in 2009, but her fashion got severely overshadowed by Kanye West infamously stealing the spotlight when he stormed the stage during her acceptance speech after she scored the Best Female Video award for "You Belong With Me."

Art Pop! Gaga wore a corseted, black lace Jean Paul Gaultier gown with metallic underlay, a feathered neck brace, black hat and Phantom of the Opera-style mask, to the 2009 VMAs. Mother Monster arrived at the awards show with an unexpected date: Kermit the Frog.

Age ain't nothing but a number, and Cher more than proved that in this sequin-and-leather clad sheer get-up in 2010.

You couldn't forget Mother Monster's meat dress from the 2010 awards show even if you tried.

Black Barbie rocked this colorful, geometric ensemble in 2011, and we would totally watch whatever anime film she starred in. The raver-robot ensemble included a hand-stitched metal dress by Amato Couture, Onch Movement ice cream necklace, ShojonoTomo surgical mask, star-patterned white stockings, colorful knee-highs, furry shoes, a cartoon-inspired bag, powder blue bow cuff and pink, yellow and blonde hair buns.

Queen Bey may be the only person who could've taken attention away from Minaj -- not only was she dripping in diamonds and stunning in this full-length, bright orange one-shouldered gown, the 2011 VMAs also doubled as the her pregnancy announcement. The "Crazy in Love" singer and husband JAY-Z had their first child, daughter Blue Ivy, in January 2012 and would later welcome twins Rumi and Sir in 2017.

The singer-actress shed her Disney image in this vampy navy blue long-sleeved Versace number with a sheer bustier top, grommet detailing and thigh-high slit at the 2013 awards show.

The "1, 2 Step" singer showed off her curves in 2013 in this sheer peach gown covered in sequined embroidery and feathers.

The MTV Video Music Awards tend to be a place to test out risky fashion, but the British singer was a drop-dead stunner at the 2013 show in this low-cut baby blue Alexandre Vauthier gown that featured a plunging neckline, sequined top, feathered skirt, long train and hip-high slit, which she paired with strappy black Christian Louboutin heels, blunt bob and pale pink lips.

The voluptuous model stood out in 2014 in a revealing, shimmery chain-strap dress by Laurel DeWitt that paid homage to McGowan's booty-baring ensemble from the '90s.

In 2014, the raven-haired singer did Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake proud in this all-denim custom Versace send-up to the former couple's his-and-her Canadian matching jean ensembles at the 2011 American Music Awards. She walked the red carpet with rapper Riff Raff, who took on the part of JT. 

The happy hippie, who hosted the 2015 VMAs, left nothing to the imagination in this metallic get-up.

Minaj showed off her curves in a royal blue long-sleeve Bao Tranchi gown with sexy cutouts and sheer paneling at the 2015 VMAs. The "Super Bass" rapper hit the carpet with then-boyfriend Meek Mill. 

Kardashian's beach-inspired look was much more toned down than we expected from the normally fully done-up reality star, but she took to her app after the 2016 VMAs to explain her look. "For this year's VMAs, I originally wanted to go for a really glammed up look, but I changed my mind last minute," she said. "I was so inspired by my recent trip to Mexico, that I went with this amazing, vintage Galliano dress that I already had in my closet, for forever."

Leave it to Bey to make our list twice, but with a feathered-and-sequined look this breathtaking, how could she not? Sure, there were a few who deemed this a "muppet" dress, but it's hard to argue that the "Formation" singer owned this pale blue Francesco Scognaiglio gown in 2016.

Showstopper! Minaj rocked a skintight pink bodysuit, matching platform heels and a two-toned pink-and-blonde hair to the 2017 VMAs.

The "Bodak Yellow" rapper chose a Christian Siriano creation for her very first VMAs in 2017. Cardi looked stunning in a white skirted jumpsuit with a haltered top that channeled Madonna's infamous cone bra.

The "Juice" singer went all out for the 2019 VMAs, vamping it up in a red sequined, strapless Christian Siriano floor-length gown with the word "siren" printed all over it. The look was a modernized take on Old Hollwood, complete with a red boa, strappy silver sandals and a diamond necklace, which were all accentuated by Lizzo's bouffant and long talons.

We couldn't get over Palmer's bold cell phone purse at the 2019 ceremony, but her dress is nothing to ignore either. The Hustler star was anything but mellow yellow in a shimmery, sunshine-hued mock turtleneck maxi dress by Yousef Al Jasmi. The look should be a new gold standard, just like her platform heels.

Mother Monster is the queen of major VMA looks! Lady Gaga did not disappoint in 2020, kicking off the night in an astronaut-inspired helmet and metallic dress with a zip-up collar and puffy train. She ended up rocking nine different outfits over the course of the awards show, swapping out her look for each win and multiple times throughout her marathon performance of Chromatica hits.

Has bright pink ever looked this good? The "Bloody Valentine" singer went for punk V-Day vibes in a monochrome, neon Berluti suit in 2020.