From Western-inflected tailoring to fur, leather, couture, and unexpected proportions, these eight men brought a distinctly individual approach to VMAs style.
Menswear at the MTV Video Music Awards has never been about following a single dress code. While traditional tailoring still has its place, the VMAs have long rewarded those willing to push beyond the conventional suit—and the 2026 red carpet continued that tradition.
At Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on September 27, the evening’s men explored a wide spectrum of style. Western references met high fashion, classic tuxedo dressing shared the carpet with leather and fur, and emerging artists proved that contemporary menswear is increasingly about silhouette, personality, and a willingness to experiment.
Here are eight men whose looks captured the more adventurous side of the 2026 VMAs.
SOMBR — THE NEW REBEL
Sombr arrived in a custom ERL ensemble that immediately challenged the conventions of traditional red-carpet dressing.
The look brought together a faux-fur coat, low-slung leather trousers, and an oversized statement belt, creating a silhouette that felt deliberately undone yet carefully considered. Vogue specifically highlighted Sombr’s ultra-low-rise styling alongside the more experimental looks of the evening.
There was something distinctly youthful about the combination. Rather than treating the suit as the default language of menswear, Sombr treated the entire silhouette as an opportunity to experiment.
SHABOOZEY — WESTERN, REIMAGINED
Shaboozey has made Western influences part of his visual identity, but his VMAs look demonstrated how far the aesthetic can be pushed.
Dressed in Chrome Hearts, he paired a black leather blazer and vest with a crisp white shirt, slime-green tie, cropped trousers, and pointed boots. Silver jewelry, grills, and an oversized belt buckle completed the look.
The result was unmistakably Shaboozey: part cowboy, part rock star, and entirely contemporary. It was a reminder that personal style becomes most compelling when references are absorbed rather than simply reproduced.
GUNNA — THE NEW CLASSIC
Gunna offered a more restrained interpretation of VMAs glamour in a sharply tailored tan suit.
The warm neutral palette gave the look a sophisticated foundation, while an oversized diamond-encrusted cross necklace provided the statement element. The contrast between understated tailoring and high-impact jewelry kept the ensemble from feeling predictable.
It was a lesson in restraint: sometimes one exceptional accessory is all a strong suit needs.
LUCKY DAYE — PROPORTION AS STATEMENT
Lucky Daye approached the carpet through silhouette.
Wearing Campillo, the singer played with proportion around the waist, creating a sharper and more sculptural outline. His dramatic high-top hairstyle became an integral part of the overall look, extending the sense of height and shape beyond the clothing itself.
The result felt considered from head to toe. It demonstrated that modern menswear does not necessarily need bold prints or excessive embellishment to make an impression—sometimes, it is all about construction.
MILES CATON — LEATHER WITH A MESSAGE
Miles Caton stepped away from conventional suiting in a KidSuper leather jacket featuring a large white dove.
Paired with Dr. Martens, the ensemble had an intentionally relaxed quality that suited the young star’s emerging style. The jacket’s graphic centerpiece gave the otherwise casual look a sense of visual purpose.
It was the kind of outfit that demonstrates how contemporary menswear can communicate personality without relying on traditional red-carpet formality.
ALEX WARREN — YOUNG HOLLYWOOD POLISH
Alex Warren brought a youthful but polished presence to the VMAs carpet, appearing among the men highlighted in Teen Vogue’s red-carpet coverage.
His look demonstrated a quieter side of contemporary event dressing—proof that making an impression does not always require an extravagant silhouette. There was an ease to the styling that allowed the artist himself to remain at the center of the image.
In a carpet increasingly defined by experimentation, that sense of confidence and restraint felt particularly current.
ADAM LAMBERT — COUTURE AFTER DARK
Adam Lambert has never approached the red carpet with an interest in blending into the background, and the 2026 VMAs were no exception.
He arrived in dramatic custom Charles de Vilmorin Couture, featuring a sweeping black cape and feathered headpiece spelling out his name. The ensemble was created as a tribute to the late fashion editor André Leon Talley, adding another layer of meaning to an already theatrical look.
It was fashion as performance—an approach perfectly suited to an awards show built around music, spectacle, and personality.
KEVIN GATES — THE POWER OF BLACK TIE
Kevin Gates took the evening in a more traditional direction, arriving in a black-and-white tuxedo.
While much of the VMAs carpet leaned toward experimentation, Gates demonstrated the power of classic formalwear. The clean black-and-white palette kept the focus on the tuxedo’s structure rather than excessive styling.
