It came as no surprise that sheer style dominated the arrival carpet at the 2026 MTV VMAs on Sunday night at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater. Stars like Taylor Swift and Teyana Taylor showcased a range of sheer elements in their respective designer looks by Tamara Ralph and Zuhair Murad.
Of course, Swift and Taylor weren’t the only guests who opted for sheer styles. WWD breaks down the trend from the MTV VMAs ahead.
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Charli XCX
Charli XCX added a sheer touch to her custom Saint Laurent design courtesy of creative director Anthony Vaccarello. The two-piece look, inspired by a design from the fall 2017 ready-to-wear collection, featured an extra-cropped, long-sleeve top with dramatic cuffs and fabric ribbons. At the bust, ruched sheer fabric added a touch of sensuality that only served to elevate the “Rock Music” artist’s dark glamour aesthetic.
Styled by Chris Horan, the rest of Charli’s look included a low-rise maxi column skirt in a complementary sheer fabric. The artist accessorized with diamond rings, including a double mesh gold diamond ring and a bubble white gold ring with sapphires and diamonds by Fope.
Teyana Taylor
Taylor took sheer styling to the next level and added a few touches of plumage to boot. The Oscar-nominated “One Battle After Another” star wore a design from Zuhair Murad’s fall 2026 couture collection — a sheer black coat-gown that was fully embroidered with a feather hem, cuffs and collar.
With a plunging neckline and front thigh-high slit, the dress was embellished with subtle, allover shimmering elements on the crisscross patterning. Styling duo Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald curated Taylor’s arrival carpet attire.
Taylor Swift
Swift contrasted sheer and sparkle in her Tamara Ralph gown. The Grammy Award-winning artist turned to the Australian designer’s fall 2026 couture collection, from which she chose a dress with a black bodice and halter neckline that transitioned at the drop waist to a silver shimmering skirt with a thigh-high slit.
The back of the bodice for Swift’s dress featured completely sheer black fabric with a lace-up element, adding another touch of sensuality to the look. Swift’s 2026 MTV VMAs look was curated by stylist Joseph Cassell Falconer.
Raye
Raye took her jazz-club-crooner style to a new level with her Georges Hobeika gown. The “Where Is My Husband” songstress wore a dress from the Lebanese designer’s fall 2027 couture collection — a halter dress with a scoop neckline with sheer fabric completely embellished with gemstones and tear drop pearls throughout.
While the bodice of the dress revealed little in terms of the sheer trend, the skirt showcased the sheer base fabric beneath the shimmering embellishments throughout. Raye’s look was curated by stylist Eniola Dare.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards returned to Los Angeles on Sunday at the Peacock Theater, marking the show’s first West Coast edition since 2017. Snoop Dogg hosted the ceremony, which aired live on CBS and MTV and streamed on Paramount+. Madonna, this year’s most-nominated artist, opened the show, while Nirvana received the Video Vanguard Award and Taylor Swift was honored with MTV’s inaugural Artist Director Honors.
