Mariah Carey Slays VMAs with Style and Song: A Look Back at Her 10 Most Iconic Fashion Moments

I’m Riley Carter, and I’m here to spill the tea on Mariah Carey’s enduring style. It’s hard not to be obsessed with the songstress, from her signature high notes to her butterfly-like allure. This Sunday, Carey will take the VMAs stage to accept the 2025 Video Vanguard award, an accolade that recognizes her outstanding contributions to the music industry and pop culture.

Carey’s unforgettable fashion choices have had a lasting impact on today’s generation, and her medley performance of her greatest hits at the VMAs will surely take die-hard fans down a memory lane of her hottest ensembles. According to Samantha Brown, an experienced NYC celebrity stylist, Carey is the ultimate glam diva. “She has a lasting impact on style that’s influenced the generations, including Gen Z,” Brown said, noting that “It” girls like Hailey Bieber, Dua Lipa, and Vanessa Hudgens have all taken a page out of Carey’s look book at one time or another.

Throughout her decades-long career, Carey has always stayed true to herself, especially when it comes to fashion. “With Mariah, there’s always lots of legs, lots of cleavage, lots of skin – but she does it tastefully and confidently,” Brown said. Carey’s saucy, chic aesthetic has been a hallmark of her style since her 1990 debut, and after 35 years, she continues to shine as a voguish “Vision of Love.”

One of Carey’s most memorable fashion moments was her custom Vera Wang wedding dress, which she wore for her 1993 nuptials to music executive Tommy Mottola. The sweetheart-neckline ball gown featured an over 20-foot train and a 10-foot veil, which she anchored atop her head with a diamond tiara. Wang revealed that Carey was inspired by Princess Diana’s wedding and wanted a fairytale-like look.

Carey didn’t let the dress go to waste once the marriage went south; she revived it in the “We Belong Together” music video. “I was going to do a scene with a wedding dress,” Carey said, “rather than spend tons of money on a new dress, we just used the one I had lying around.”

Another iconic look was her red, curve-clinging Santa jumpsuit from the 1994 “All I Want for Christmas” music video and album artwork. Carey admittedly had “no idea” that the outfit would have such indelible impact on pop culture, but it’s now a classic keepsake that she wears every year.

Carey’s butterfly top, which she wore to the 2000 VH1 Divas gala, is another look that’s been emulated by many. The Emanuel Ungaro design has become a signature piece in Carey’s fashion repertoire, and its influence can be seen in many of today’s fashion trends.

In addition to her wedding dress and Santa jumpsuit, Carey has had many other memorable fashion moments throughout her career. From her early ’90s bridal gown to the fab frock she donned to receive “Icon” honors earlier this year, Carey has kept her pedicured foot on the pedal of posh.

As Carey takes the VMAs stage, fans can expect a performance that’s equal parts style and substance. With her enduring influence on fashion and music, it’s clear that Carey is a true icon. And as she continues to slay the scene with song and style, one thing is certain: her legacy will be felt for generations to come.

Anyway, that’s the deal. Do with it what you will.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and The New York Post, PageSix, Vevo’s Footnotes
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed