The 2021 MTV VMAs Was A Huge Night For Early-2000s Vintage Fashion

The 2021 MTV Music Video Awards, hosted by Doja Cat, celebrated the network’s 40th anniversary, but its guests arrived honoring the fashion that came decades before them. The red carpet was full of early-aughts looks — and in some cases, actual archival pieces from that era — that left us wondering if this year’s ticket came with a nostalgia-heavy dress code. If so, everyone understood the assignment, but some viewers were less than impressed by the familiar looks.

From Madison Beer’s Beyoncé tribute to Lil Nas X’s Lil’ Kim-inspired suit, take a look at the 2021 MTV VMAs red carpet looks that were a blast from the Y2K past:

Madison Beer

Madison Beer arrived in a vintage Dolce & Gabbana dress that Beyoncé wore on back in 2003 for an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. While Beyoncé kept the dress’s lace-up details intact, Beer opted to remove some of the lacing to show off a bit of leg.

Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo channeled a Y2K prom queen wearing an Atelier Versace look from the Italian fashion house’s Spring 2001 couture collection. The Sour singer and “Best New Artist” VMA winner wore matching rhinestone butterfly earrings that would’ve been found in any Claire’s that same year. (Can we note here that Rodrigo wasn’t even born until 2003? Yes, Y2K fashion is officially vintage now.)

Bretman Rock

Bretman Rock stepped out in a vintage Roberto Cavalli dress, which the late singer Aaliyah famously wore to the 2000 MTV VMAs. “No one will ever rock it like Aaliyah 🐯 Thank you so much @roberto_cavalli for letting me wear this special piece,” wrote Rock in a caption on Instagram. “I never thought I would ever be able to wear this, let alone be in the VMAs, when they said I could wear it I literally cried of disbelief… I love Aaliyah and am so honored to have been able to wear this 21 years after her. We love you 🕊.”

Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne channeled herself on the red carpet, returning to the 2021 MTV VMAs for the first time in 18 years in a hot pink plaid suit straight out of the early 2000s. (OK, it was really from Area’s Pre-Fall 2021 collection.)

Tinashe

Tinashe (and her abs) posed in vintage, low-rise Dolce & Gabbana leather pants from its Spring 2003 collection and a black bra top.

Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X arrived (sans baby bump) in a one-shoulder purple suit, similar to Lil Kim’s purple-pasties look at the 1999 MTV VMAs.

The outfits may have been on point — if the point was to emulate the early 2000s — but some people are ready to leave that fashion era behind. Critics argued the references are overused, pointing out “lazy” styling and a lack of original ideas.

Maybe tonight’s 2021 Met Gala will inspire some fresh ideas.