Red Carpet Reviews: iHeartRadio Music Awards
These up-and-coming artists brought their fashion A-game.
By Jessica Katz, Online Editor, Jane Houseal, Fashion Editorial Assistant, Alison Stecker and Dani Csaszar, Online Editorial Assistants
On March 22, our favorite up-and-coming artists gathered to celebrate a new generation of musical sensations. For the first time in a long time, these stars brought their fashion A-game. The theme of this carpet felt edgier, with lots of black ensembles, bold makeup looks and hints of leather and studs. So many looks caught our attention; it was difficult to narrow down the list.
Best Dressed:
Lil Nas X style is as impressive as his music skills, and he won male musician of the year. He showed up in an all-black outfit suited for a futuristic-dystopian-space battle. The outfit consisted of a STUDIOCULT black vest complete with pockets and layers, perfectly tailored black pants and gorgeous sky-high platforms. No detail was overlooked, Lil Nas X completed his ensemble with black leather gloves and a simple black undershirt.
Maggie Lindermann looked hot in a sleek and sexy Emery cutout slip dress (Rearick, 2022). Lindermann, known for her punk princess style, edged up the sparkly mini dress with thick black liner, pointy black nails and lengthy black extensions. We cannot wait to see her continue to kill it with both her dauntless fashion and music!
Olivia Rodrigo won female artist of the year and in my eyes, best dressed. She wore a purple corset mini dress by Versace. She paired the stunning dress with latex tights and powerful platforms. The look was unique and encapsulated Rodrigo's fun flair and femininity. To tie the look together, she rocked the perfect subtle graphic liner look.
The Kid Laroi opted for a black jacket, white shirt and black pants designed by Prada (Fisher, 2022). The combo is classic, or maybe even boring, but his accessories sold us. He finished the look with a black bolo tie and stylish pair of black loafers. It may be simple, but the look was cohesive and fresh. One thing for certain, he dresses better than most 18-year-old boys we know.
Oh. My. God. Halsey, styled by the legendary Law Roach, wowed us in a cutout crystal jumpsuit designed by Andrés Sardá (Rearick, 2022). They tied the look together with a sleek high ponytail and blue eye makeup. From the Swarovski-studded bodice and sparkling straps that snaked around their body to the dramatically flared bottoms that swished with every step, the design of this ensemble was impeccable. This new mama looked absolutely stunning on the red carpet.
Megan Thee Stallion exuded class and sass in a Julian Mendez Couture black velvet dress, designed with sheer paneling across the chest and a hip-grazing slit (Johnson, 2022). The “Sweetest Pie” rapper's bold look encapsulated “cat-woman” energy, pairing her dress with dark-red nails. This color combination is stellar in embodying classy energy for a jaw-dropping look. Accessorized with black pointed-toe Louboutin pumps, chunky diamond rings and black semi-circle earrings covered in pavé diamonds (Messina & Mantz, 2022), this is a look we could see over and over, and never be disappointed.
Biggest Flops:
Charlie Puth walked the carpet in a patterned Corridor sweater vest and black Reiss bottoms (Rearick, 2022), a look that one could describe as—meh. Puth looked underdressed and the ensemble seemed uninspired, not to mention, very unflattering.
“Aye, Aye, Captain!” Dove Cameron wore a Zuhair Murad beaded skirt suit dripping in gold chain, diamonds, sapphires and rubies (Vargas, 2022). These embellishments appeared tacky and dirty as if the singer just discovered a hidden treasure chest at the bottom of the murky ocean. This pirate-inspired outfit is a look one should steer away from at a glamorous event.
Avril Lavigne, our y2k icon, never seems to age as she rocked signature punk style on the carpet. Although she’ll always be that skater girl we once knew, this look wasn’t rocking as hard as we’d expect from her in 2022. Her Ashton Michael leather mini dress could have gone without the plaid sash (Lavigne, 2022). If the outfit was just the black dress and boots, alongside her spike bracelet and paired necklaces, it could have been the real moment.
Although Jennifer Lopez was rewarded with the ICON Award, her outfit was far from iconic. Dressed in a Roberto Cavalli emerald green velvet bandeau and matching wide-leg trousers, this set could’ve been picked off the shelves of a Forever 21 (Kallon, 2022). She topped off her outfit with a casual cheetah print silk robe, adding disappointment to the already messy design. Lopez looked ready to lounge in front of the TV to watch an award show rather than strutting the red carpet at one.
Sources:
Chariza, N. (2022, March 23). Olivia Rodrigo Wore a Corset Mini and Latex to the iHeartradio Music Awards. Popsugar. Rearick, L. (2022, March 23). iHeartRadio Music Awards 2022: See All the Best Celebrity Fashion, Outfits & Looks. Teen Vogue.
Vargas, C. (2022, March 23). Dove Cameron's Pirate-Inspired Dress Is Dripping in Gold Chains. Popsugar.
Kallon, C. (2022, March 23). Jennifer Lopez Wore Roberto Cavalli & Stéphane Rolland Haute Couture For The 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards. RCFA.
Johnson, C. (2022, March 22). Megan Thee Stallion and Halsey lead stars at iHeartRadio Music Awards. Daily Mail.
Messina, V., & Mantz, A. (2022, March 23). Megan Thee Stallion Wears Corset Dress to iHeartRadio Awards. POPSUGAR.
Larson, T. (2022, March 23). Avril Lavigne Elevates Her Signature Punk Style in Leather Mini Dress With Plaid Sash & Combat Boots at iHeartRadio Music Awards. Footwear News.
Lavigne, Avril. [@avrillavigne]. (2022, March 24). Last night @IheartRadio Music Awards [Photograph]. Instagram.
Syed, A. (2022, March 23). The Best Celebrity Outfits at the IHeartRadio Music Awards 2022. Insider.
Fisher, K. (2022, March 23). Every Eye-Popping iHeartRadio Music Awards Red Carpet Look You Need To See. iHeart.