The VMAs never disappoint -- great performances (I'm talking you Taylor Swift), a dusting of scandal (really Rhianna and Chris Brown, REALLY??) and a whole lot of fabulous fashion.  While other awards shows are stiff and formal and seem to be a parade of Marchesa and Chanel, we always find the VMAs to be a breath of fresh air -- not because we necessary love all the fashion choices, but we simply love that fact that are fashion CHOICES!  

So let's go.  The good, the bad, and the maybe-kinda ugly…

First up - Taylor Swift

Love the white pant-suit and love the blown out hair.  Taylor suffers a bit from red carpet repetition and tends to rock the same look on most press lines --  perfect curls, red lip, A line, high-neck dress.  It's great to see her brand out a bit.  I'm mixed on the shoes.  Good idea with the gold strappy sandal, but ultimately the straps are just a little to thick making the show a bit too chunky.  Would have been a home run is a more delicate look.

Zoe Saldana.

Pretty and elegant, if not a little boring. This pink dress is body hugging perfection and the shoes are to die for.  I'd like to see Zoe eat a sandwich, but other than that, love the hair, her skin (HER SKIN!) love the shoes. But next time, embrace the VMAs and go a little wild!  We know you have it in you.

Nikki Minaj

We get it.  Being crazy is your thing.  Your crazy outfits, your wild hair.   This outfit kind of looks like she's going for that female-cop-in-a-fight-with-a-spool-of-yarn look (so you call it a spool?) and it simply fails to shock.  She must be so disappointed.  So disappointed that it seems that she forgot to plan for shoes.  These crazies appear to have been an after thought as they no way seem to work with this outfit at all.  Digging through her chest of weapons she must have passed on swords, knives and pistols before settling on these dagger/ spiked weapon-shoes.  Doubles as protection if Chris Brown gets too close.

Emma Watson

We'll always love Hermoine even if we somewhat hate this choice.  Bonus points for color, tribal print and half moons on the shoulders, but looks like three different outfits all in one.  And while it doesn't really work well together, those shoes are pretty great.  Vintage and high-fashion rolled into one.  They deserve a shootout.

Gabby Douglas  

Now, she has an Olympic medal or two so far be it from me to pass any judgment.  And she does pretty much look like a perfect 10 (perfect just doesn't have the same ring to it).  The dress is great, the hair (THE HAIR!!) is fab, and that smile is always where it's at.  However, where it's not totally at is in those shoes.  Since so much of her upper body (chest, arms) is so heavily covered, I would have liked to have seen a more delicate shoe -- something strappy, loopy and just in generally lighter.

Jessica Szhor

Okay, look, we get it.  Vanessa from Brooklyn has been exiled from the Upper East Side and chances are you'll never work again.  Ain't Hollywood a bitch. So we understand that you're trying to get noticed any which was you can.  So maybe that's why you chose to wear winter boots.  Under a formal dress.  In September.  In Los Angeles.  I have nothing else to say.  Go back to Brooklyn.

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