Katy Perry wowed the audience with a 20-minute set of her greatest hits before she was presented with the MTV VMAs Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award by her fiancé Orlando Bloom.
The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award is given to iconic artists for their outstanding accomplishments and lasting influence on popular culture. Other recipients include Shakira, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Kanye West, Beyonce, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake.
In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award, Perry also took home the Moon Person trophy for Most Iconic Performance for her live performance of Roar at Empire-Fulton Ferry Park in 2013.
Aside from her breathtaking medley, which included Dark Horse, E.T., I’m His, He’s Mine, California Gurls, Teenage Dream, I Kissed a Girl, Firework, and Lifetimes, Katy left everyone’s jaws dropping with her wardrobe selections.
She’s 39 and a mom of one, but Katy proved she still got it when she showed up on the MTV VMAs red carpet in not one but two daring ensembles!
Her post-apocalyptic outfit choices complement the VMAs quirky and boundary-pushing fashion, but I have to say, I’m not a fan. However, I appreciate it every time she pushes the envelope of fashion with her often eccentric, bold choices. It’s just that they don’t align with my preferences.
Katy Perry showcases her toned figure in barely-there shipwrecked looks: a cream-colored Who Decides War two-piece outfit and a metallic silver Area fringe dress (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)
Katy Perry in Who Decides War Two-Piece Shredded Outfit
Arriving on the red carpet with Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry looked like she had just washed up on the shore in her two-piece outfit straight off Who Decides War’s Spring 2025 collection.
Perry’s ensemble perfectly embodies the New York City-based brand’s distressed, deconstructed style, redefining American streetwear with its innovative, immaculate craftsmanship and artistic maximalism.
A wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen, the outfit featured a shredded cream-colored one-shoulder bralette and a matching low-rise, tattered maxi skirt with asymmetrical draping that accentuated her figure. From afar, the fabric looks like a paper mache.
Rebellious yet ethereal, it has a contemporary appearance with a touch of Victorian flair, and to me, it makes Katy Perry seem even more dangerously beautiful.
Katy Perry looks shipwrecked in a paper mache-like outfit by Who Decides War composed of a one-shoulder cropped bralette and a Victorian-inspired draped skirt while posing with her fiance Orlando Bloom at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Now, on to her accessories, which enhanced the look’s futuristic feel. With her stylist Tatiana Waterford, the American Idol judge let her outfit speak for itself, styling it with a black metal armpiece.
On her lower back, she had a temporary QR code tattoo that directed fans to a website where they could pre-save her upcoming album, 143, which is set to drop on Friday, September 20. I have to hand it to Katy—that was so witty of her! The tattoo not only enhanced her futuristic look but also discreetly hinted at her upcoming release.
It’s not the first time Katy has shown a lower back tattoo. In March, she made waves with her 3D butterfly prosthetic tattoo while clad in a red Ellie Misner ensemble at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards.
Jesus Guerrero styled Katy’s hair in wet-look curls that fell naturally down her face. Alison C, meanwhile, added matte lipstick, peachy blush, and metallic bronze eyeshadow to balance Katy’s avant-garde ensemble.
Katy Perry shows off her sexy back and temporary QR Code tattoo that directs fans to a website where they can pre-save her next album 143 (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Katy Perry in Silver Area Fringe Dress and Jimmy Choo Heels
Katy Perry wore another futuristic outfit for her second look of the evening, which, in my opinion, was much more subdued than her first but still incredibly daring.
She chose a silver fringe dress from Area’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection, which was inspired by various artistic genres and emphasizing the contrast between maximalist elements and minimalist silhouettes.
Perry’s metallic silver outfit demonstrated the NYC-based brand’s exquisite craftsmanship, playful aesthetic, and innovation with its deft twisting and knotting.
Katy Perry takes to the stage in a silver Area fringe dress to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and the Moon Person for Most Iconic Performance (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)
The bodice is a little too revealing for my taste, but Katy effortlessly pulled it off, as expected. I like how it draws attention to her assets. It has a daring neckline that plunges to the navel, a thick tasseled high neck, and a knotted bundle of fringes gathered on the right chest.
It also features a large knot at the waist that flares into a flowing skirt of asymmetric tassels. Seemingly a recipe for another wardrobe disaster, the tassels sway as Katy walks, exposing her legs.
I agree with forgoing the jewelry to allow the outfit to take center stage. Katy wore the same smokey metallic eyeshadow and glossy wet-look curls, complementing her ensemble.
Katy Perry’s daring fringe dress has a navel-deep plunging neckline, a high neck, and large gathered knots (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)
To round out the look, she slipped her pedicured feet into metallic silver open-toe sandals by Jimmy Choo. I agree with her choice—these go so well with her outfit!
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They’re the “Azia” sandals, easily identifiable with their delicate curved straps that gracefully climb up the feet. These Italian-crafted shoes are finished with modern open square toes, ankle straps, and 3.7-inch slim heels.
These Jimmy Choo sandals are available for $865 at Mytheresa.
Katy Perry pairs her silver fringe dress with metallic silver Jimmy Choo Azia sandals (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)