For every red carpet at every award show, there are about 25924824 best and worst dressed lists. But style is objective. With time comes a change of mind (usually), so while something may have seemed over-the-top or inappropriate once upon a time, it eventually becomes genius. Or at the very least, not so bad.
That’s why we scoured the best and worst dressed lists of yore to dig up the most controversial MMVA red carpet choices. Even last year’s, because hey, opinions can change in 365 days. Think of how quickly backlashes happen. (So, I mean, why not the opposite?)
Read below the gallery for more!
In Defense Of The Worst MMVA Red Carpet Looks
1. Brittany Snow, 2013
Brittany Snow is a trailblazer. Having worn her black and sheer gown to the MMVAs in June 2013, she was placed on more than a few “worst dressed” lists (for reasons I’ll never understand). Meanwhile, later that year, the fashion world was all over Jennifer Lawrence’s sheer Dior gown at the “Catching Fire” premiere. Evidently, one of these things is actually very much like the other. And while Snow’s dress may have seemed a little high fashion for the MMVAs, it was merely ahead of the curve.
2. Naya Rivera, 2013
And so we find ourselves smack in yet another sheer-related controversy. This time, Rivera’s sleek black dress turned heads, despite laying down the foundation for the likes of Rihanna (and JLaw at the Oscars), who debuted a completely sheer crystal number earlier this month. There’s nothing wrong with sheer, and there’s nothing wrong with exhibitionism, and I’m sure at some point we’ll all understand that.
3. Lights, 2013
The only thing Lights did wrong on the 2013 red carpet was not hold up a sign telling us where she got her dress. Is it short? Sure. But the nuetral tone and texture help balance out the sexiness of the high hemline. Lights also picked up on a colour trend that defined fall/winter 2014: nude. Odds are if she rocked the dress again, sentiments would be re-evaluated.
4. Vivica A. Fox, 2005
The MMVAs celebrate music, which means they’re supposed to be fun. (Avril Lavigne wore a spiked crown on her head last year, for heaven’s sake.) So why shouldn't Vivica A. Fox wear jeans? She’s not a musician – she’s an actor and a producer. We are #blessed to have her in this country; she has earned the right to wear denim. And on the flipside, she’s also earned the right to embrace and introduce us to the high-waisted ‘70s trend that showed up within the last few years. See? Questioning Vivica is ridiculous because Vivica knows best.
5. Ashanti, 2003
Not only did Ashanti predict and acquaint us with the current affinity for metallics, she did it by maintaining a good balance. The shape of the bodice is totally reminiscent of the club-appropriate bandana shirt of the early 2000s, but the dress is still red carpet-appropriate, thanks to the length of the skirt. Plus, she was way ahead of the cutout trend, which has seemingly taken over the fashion world.
6. Amanda Marshall, 2002
Here’s the thing about Amanda Marshall: she never conformed to a specific aesthetic – not in the ‘90s, and certainly not at the 2002 MMVAs. Instead, she represented her brand of counter-culture by adopting certain trends and interpreting them in her own way. The cropped denim jacket paired with the decade’s low-rise cropped pants were go-to looks at the turn of the naughties, but she wore them her way, along with a bouffant that puts even "Mad Men" characters to shame.
7. Pamela Anderson, 2002
In our current vintage-obsessed culture, Pamela Anderson’s mod print and go-go boots would've been applauded for the duration of the MMVAs themselves. Her neckline is balanced by the high boots, and her hemline follows a late ‘60s, early ‘70s silhouette. The only thing she’s missing is appropriately teased hair – but thankfully Amanda Marshall did enough for the both of them.
8. Rachel Leigh Cook, 2003
Here, Rachel Leigh Cook embodies what it meant to be a teen and/or 20-something at the turn of the century. And since the MMVAs’ target audience is youths, we should've expected the actress to wear something that accurately represents both them and herself. There is no such thing as a fashion "don’t” when appealing to a demographic enthralled with rebellion and figuring out what works. (Not that Cook was doing that, necessarily, though at 17, I would've killed for that top.)
9. Fergie, 2005
Fergie’s sense of style is underrated in general (as far as I’m concerned), but in terms of the MMVAs, her Marilyn Monroe printed skirt works even now in the wake of shows like "Masters of Sex" (set in the ‘50s). Just maybe leave out the armband if you want to recreate that vintage look.
10. Mel C., 2008
This is Girl Power. And disco. And just an overall good choice. Not everybody can pull off blunt bangs and a turtleneck, but the artist-formerly-known-as-Sporty Spice used the MMVA red carpet to prove just how far she’d come from a ‘90s chick in track pants. (Not that there’s anything wrong with track pants.) The look is polished, but the sequins keep it from being boring. Not that Mel C. ever could be, because hello, we’ve all seen "Spice World."