ABOVE: Lil Nas X’s single cover of “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” via the artist’s Twitter.
Surrounded by flashing lights, singer Lil Nas X towered above the rest of his fellow celebrities at the MTV Video Music Awards Aug. 28 in a feathery display.
The sculptural outfit consisted of a large head piece and a wide ballgown skirt. The artistic outfit was created by fashion designer Harris Reed, whose clientele consists of Harry Styles, Beyonce and Conan Gray (who was also wearing one Reed’s pieces that night).
All of Reed’s works challenge the ideals of traditional gender designated clothing, complimenting a sense of fluidity with each piece. See Lil Nas X below:
He later revealed on Instagram that the singer’s outfit was assembled by a collection of “upcycled materials and 100-year-old upholstery fabric” that were founded from an Italian Villa. Reed stated that each feather was hand-painted, created with the help of designer Vivienne Lake. Her contribution to headdress helped the Lil Nas X to stick out above the rest.
Providing a more gender-fluid wardrobe to the carpet, Lil Nas X’s black gown bared a lot of similarity to supermodel Iman’s dress, who wore a golden version of sculptural outfit to last year’s Met Gala.
During this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, Lil Nas X was nominated for seven VMAs. With rapper Jack Harlow, Lil Nas X was able to take home an award for Best Collaboration. He earned Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects for their music video “Industry Baby.”
Bad Bunny also took his audience by surprise while performing at Yankee Stadium. His performance of “Tití Me Preguntó,” was under way when he turned to kiss the female dancer to his right, then kissed the male dancer to his left. The performance was reminiscent of Madonna’s 2003 VMA appearance when she kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XSReWvcPWo
After his performance, the Puerto Rican singer was given his Moonperson Trophy by former New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony. Bad Bunny was nominated four times at the 2022 VMAs, winning Artist of the Year.
The singer spoke to the crowd in Spanish, “I always knew that I could become a huge artist without changing my culture, my slang and my language. I am Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, from Puerto Rico to the world.”
