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30 Red Carpet Outfits that Broke the Internet

One of the best parts about any celebrity event is finding out just what the famous person is going to wear at the ceremony. Usually, the top celebrities will receive designer clothes to wear that would be unaffordable to most people. Nevertheless, the celebrities prove to be excellent models, even if the dress isn't so hot.

Sometimes designers dress celebrities up in something elegant and sophisticated, while other times they experiment with something a little absurd. Over the years, particularly in modern times, designers push the envelope and really go out of their way to make something unique. While we commend the effort, sometimes you can't just help but laugh.

The following celebrity outfits are a mixed bag. Some worked for us, some didn't but they all had us talking. Here are the 30 red carpet outfits that broke the internet!

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga is never one to shy away from the truly strange. She is well-known for her unconventional attitudes and persona. While everyone is talking on the red carpet, lady gaga is always making the biggest statement without saying a word. Her appearance at the 2010 MTV video awards is proof of that.

Lady Gaga famously wore this bizarre dress made entirely of meat. The dress was condemned by animal rights activists but was, nonetheless, a successful fashion statement because it had everyone talking. What was the purpose you may ask? Gaga cited at the time on the daytime talk show Ellen that it was a statement about the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

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Katy Perry

Katy Perry

Katy Perry is another pop star known for her colorful outfits, and in that way, she never does the unexpected. At the 2017 Met Gala, Katy Perry wore a custom-designed John Galliano dress made up of a tulle and chiffon gown and a red wool coat. You've never seen so much red in your life.

Here Katy Perry looks like she stepped out of another dimension. Sure, the dress is artistic-looking but its also definitely extra-looking. It doesn't look particularly comfortable looking and even with all that lightweight fabric, it's probably a bit hot. I think it's safe to say she won't be wearing this dress again.

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Bjork

Bjork

Bjork is another eccentric artist with a unique fashion sense that matches her eclectic musical style. The Icelander singer has incorporated a number of musical genres in her music over the years all the way back to the '80s up to the present time. And thanks to her antics, she's never really been too far from the public eye.

At the 2001 Oscars, Bjork famously wore this dress that looks like a dead swan hanging over her neck. The swan dress was truly one of a kind, and while she may have thought it was elegant, it ended up looking absolutely absurd.  She was nominated that year for best original song, "I've Seen it All" for the film Dancing In The Dark – a film she also starred in.

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Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams is certainly no conventional musician, and he doesn't have to be, but broke all the suit rules of the red carpet when he showed up in shorts instead of slacks. Yes, that's right. The man wore a blazer, shirt, tie – the whole enchilada, but decided not to complete the look with the usual suit pants.

Instead, he wore some dressy shorts and some dress shoes but without socks. Someone must have told him to wear something semi-formal and this is what he thought bet. At the 2014 Oscars, Pharrell Williams had been nominated for the song "Happy" from Despicable Me 2 at the 86th Academy Awards. And while he didn't take home the prize, we are pretty sure the shorts had nothing to do with it.

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Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno

On Oscar night, it's pretty typical that nearly every celebrity on the red carpet is wearing something unique, and if not a custom dress, at the very least, it's something they've never worn before. With that said, Rita Moreno was a real rule-breaker when it came to the 2018 Oscars.

Instead of a new dress, Rita Moreno wore a dress she had worn before. And how do we know she wore it before? Well, because she wore it back in 1962, when she accepted an Oscar for West Side Story. What's even more impressive than the fact that the dress managed to fit is that the dress still looked good after all those years. You wouldn't even know it was from the '60s.

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Sandy Powell

Sandy Powell

Sandy Powell, if you are not aware, it a British costume designer who has been nominated for an Academy Award for a total of five times so far and is the winner of three of them. For her appearances at the 2020 Oscars, Sandy Powell showed up in a white suit and collected over 100 signatures, turning the suit into a work of art.

After the signatures were collected and Oscar night had ended, the suit was put up for auction with the proceeds going to a good cause. Money earned for the suit was given to the Art Fund Initiative. The goal of the fundraiser was to raise £3.5 million. The suit itself sold for £16,000, which is certainly a lot.

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Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence

In 2013, Jennifer Lawrence was America's Sweetheart and often from times like this where she could show just how real a person she is. Lawrence wore this dress on Oscar night in 2013, the very night she came up to accept an award for Silver Linings Playbook. While there is certainly nothing wrong with the dress itself in terms of looks, it did prove cumbersome.

Thanks to all the fabric, going up the stairs to the stage proved difficult. Lawrence ended up tripping over the dress and falling. It was an unforgettable moment that really showed everyone how normal she was and America fell even more in love with her than they were already. Lawrence just laughed it off as she does.

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Melania Trump

Melania Trump

At a time when tensions were already high in America and people were feeling very strongly about America's immigration policy under the Trump administration, Melania Trump wore this jacket that many felt was disrespectful. People felt it was a comment about the children locked in cages, which many Americans were upset by.

Melania Trump claimed at the time that it was just a jacket and that there was no "hidden meaning" but that was not entirely true. While it may not have been about the immigration policy specifically, it was a criticism of the media, trying to tell them that she simply doesn't care what they have to say.

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Rihanna

Rihanna

Rihanna is another artist that really loves to go big rather than go home. She wore this huge yellow dress with a giant trail to the 2015 Met Gala. It is truly a strange dress and from a certain angle, it looks like a scrambled egg dress. No doubt, however, that it turned heads at the time.

How big was the dress exactly? It weighed a whopping 22kg. And while she certainly made the dress look as good as it possibly could, Rihanna expressed afterward that she felt like a "clown" in the dress. Naturally, the dress also made it difficult to get around anywhere or even sit for that matter. Indeed, it's not the most practical option for a night out.

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Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie

In 2012, Angelina Jolie wore this jaw-dropping dress that really showed some leg. The Atelier Versace gown had a slit on the slide that exposed her leg, which sent the media into a frenzy and really had people talking. Some thought it was too much and other thought the dress was just right.

What did Angelina Jolie think? Well, she certainly wasn't trying to stir controversy. According to Jolie on Extra, she had a choice between a more extravagant dress and one that was comfortable and she chose the one that was comfortable. So, there you have it – she just wanted to be comfortable.

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Beyonce

Beyonce

The 2015 Met Gala really had a ton of interesting dresses. Beyonce was another musician that really caught the eye of the media that night with this stunning dress. This sheer dress really showed a ton of skin and for that reason had people talking. Beyonce looked great as always, but some people thought it was a bit much.

But it seems that that's exactly what the Met Gala is all about. While some people exaggerated, like Elle calling her "naked," she of course, was covered up and its not like anyone has never seen a body before, but alas it always fun to pretend to be upset by things.

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Gwendoline Christie

Gwendoline Christie

At the Season 8 Premiere of Game of Thrones in New York, Gwendoline Christie who plays Brienne of Tarth on the show wore this truly interesting dress. Fantastical in its own right, the silk dress featured long flowy sleeves and an interesting pattern that looked like something out of a painting.

Some people loved the dress sure, but for many it was a bizarre sight. But like her character, Christie has a personality of her own. The only thing people would talk about more than the dress after that point would be the final season itself, which people seemed to dislike even more than that dress.

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Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj stirs the pot and that's why we love her. In 2017, she was front and center with her met Gala dress from H&M. The custom black dress showed not just a lot of leg but all of it. But moreover, it was the belt that really caught people's attention.

The dress featured the face of Comme des Garçons’s designer Rei Kawakubo who was to be honored that evening. Nobody had seen anything like it before, and as such it drew in laughs and awe at the same time. It certainly had people on the internet talking as many always do when it comes to Nicki Minaj.

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Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian loves attention herself, so it's no surprise she also had an interesting dress at the 2019 Met Gala. The nude-colored dress was tight-fitting and almost looked like she was wearing nothing at all. The embellishments of the dress were made to look like water droplets, so she looked like she was dripping wet.

She really went all out with this and her hair was also styled to make it look like her hair was wet. The dress was peculiar enough that it seemed even more so next to Kanye West who was wearing a casual jacket with a zipper and pants. But they certainly got enough attention to make them happy.

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Cardi B

Cardi B

Cardi B at the 2019 Grammys made quite the scene with this high fashion dress. Looking like a human oyster or flower, or whatever you want to call it, Cardi B's dress is a work of art, no doubt, but it's odd and impractical. How she sat down in that dress is beyond me.

Nevertheless, she does look great and it's only for one night. But don't expect to be able to replicate this look by shopping at the mall. That night, Cardi B won the Grammy award for best rap album. It was her first Grammy ever and she was more than dressed for the occasion.

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M.I.A.

M.I.A.

The Grammy's are ostensibly about music, but, like every other award show, the red carpet is where the real fun is at. This maternity look from singer M.I.A. turned more than a few heads when she debuted it at the 2015 Grammy Awards. Who knew a baby could be turned into a fashion accessory? 

The theme of this unusual outfit is basically "Baby's First Red Carpet Outing." I can't say that the pregnant, polka dot egg look is a look that anyone could pull off, but M.I.A. knows how to make it work...sort of. This is not something you'd wear running errands, but it fits in with all the other wild looks that come down the red carpet. 

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CeeLo Green

CeeLo Green

We expect a lot of things from singer CeeLo Green, but we never expected anything as outrageous as this. This gold-plated fashion statement is what Green wore in 2017 to the 59th Grammy Awards. Considering the fact that he looks like a giant Oscar, it seems like the Academy Awards would have been a more appropriate choice for this outfit. 

If he had just stuck with the gold, studded jacket, this would have been just another poor attempt at an attention-grabbing red carpet look. But the matching gold helmet elevates this outfit to an entirely different level. It's absurd. It's sci-fi. It's CeeLo. 

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Amber Rose

Amber Rose

At this point, it would be shocking for Amber Rose to not show off her amazing body. You might not know what she's going to wear exactly, but you can rest assured that she's going to be showing a lot of skin as she comes down the red carpet. This outfit, which she wore to the 2014 VMAs, was no exception. 

The outfit (if you can even call it that) is basically just a collection of chains draped creatively all over Rose's body. I imagine that this thing was ridiculously heavy and a nightmare to wear, but she sure looks good doing it! Let's just hope she doesn't start to rust. 

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Britney Spears & Justin Timberlake

Britney Spears & Justin Timberlake

The internet wasn't nearly as big as it is now when then-couple Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake wore their infamous matching outfits to the 2001 American Music Awards. However, these blue jean babies still continue to cause a stir across social media when photos of this fashion disaster crop up from time to time. 

Some people say you can never have enough denim, but I would like to see those people say that with a straight face as they gaze upon these Levi-Strauss abominations. Denim may be a versatile, American fabric but that doesn't mean you should drape yourself in it from head to toe. 

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker

The theme for the 2015 Met Gala was "China: Through the Looking Glass." However, Sarah Jessica Parker's outfit is not so much that as it is "Passing Through Chinatown to Pick up a Halloween Costume." SJP collaborated with H&M to create the outfit, and one thing is crystal clear--those H&M designers were terrified to say no to her designs. 

Even if we ignore the giant, ridiculous headpiece, there's still the dress to think about it. Unfortunately, all I have are bad thoughts about it! It somehow manages to be both plain in the worst way and flashy in the worst way. Definitely a swing and a miss from a so-called fashionista. 

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Lena Dunham

Lena Dunham

Love her or hate her (or really hate her), Lena Dunham is going to do what she wants to do. And what she wanted to do at the 2014 Emmy Awards was wear this highly questionable dress. It's an outfit of colors and contrast but, unfortunately, they were all terrible colors and contrasts. 

The most jarring thing about this outfit is the fact that the top and bottom do no match up at all. If you go from the head down, you'd expect her to be sporting a sensible pair of slacks. If you go from the feet up, you'd expect some sort of voluminous, colorful tulle top. In reality, we ended up with a mismatched Frankenstein dress. 

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Linda Cardellini

Linda Cardellini

If Linda Cardellini can't pull off a dress, you know it's a dud. And while this pink number she wore at the 2019 Academy Awards was by no means dull, it was definitely a dud. Sometimes less is more, and this is one look that could have benefited from that wisdom. 

If you're going to play with volume (which this dress painfully tries to do), you've got to use it to accentuate your proportions. However, this dress makes Cardellini look like she has football player shoulders and a waist that's the same size as her hips. She's basically proportioned like an oil funnel in this getup. 

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Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus has a history of wild outfits - especially when it comes to the Music Video Awards. Over the years at the show, she's donned everything from a bear onesie to a transparent dress. However, today we're talking about her 2015 VMA red carpet look, which left little to the imagination. 

This look was not so much a dress as it was an assortment of straps, chains, and crystals. It definitely outraged some people but we're sure she's used to that. However, there's one thing that even the naysayers can't deny - she's got the body to pull off an outrageous look like this. 

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Jared Leto

Jared Leto

Jared Leto brought a plus one along with him to the 2019 Met Gala who just happened to be...Jared Leto? Like pretty much everyone else at that year's Gala, he completely botched the theme of Camp: Notes on Fashion, but boy, did he have one of the most memorable outfits of all time. 

Really, it's his fake head that makes the outfit so great. Without it, he's just some weird dude in a glitzy dress. But with it, the look is elevated to...well, we're not sure what it's elevated to, but it's definitely a standout look for the Met Gala. Let's just hope all the attention didn't go to his head. 

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Rita Ora

Rita Ora

If we're going to judge by Rita Ora's 2017 MTV English Music Awards look, the British are a pretty laid-back, casual people. They can't even be bothered to dress up for the red carpet! 

The British singer's choice to don a bathrobe and head towel down the red carpet was a bold one, but she strangely was able to make it work. It might not have been the most luxurious look of the night, but it was definitely the one that people couldn't stop talking about! 

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Solange

Solange

Sometimes we think that celebrities invited to the Met Gala don't even pay attention to the theme--they just go out and find the weirdest outfits money can buy. That was definitely the case in 2015 with Solange's look (allegedly) based on the theme "China: Through the Looking Glass." 

Considering the weird proportions and designs on the fabric, Solange definitely got the looking glass part right, but we're not sure at all how this is supposed to represent China. Also, is she wearing this thing backwards or is it supposed to look like that? 

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Z LaLa

Z LaLa

Z LaLa is an LA-based musician who has struggled to reach breakthrough success. However, one thing that's not a struggle for her is her presence on the red carpet. The singer is known for her outrageous, conceptual looks, and this one at the 2015 American Music Awards is no exception. 

People online were divided about the deep sea vibes she was serving, but this is a great, hilarious look - if not a bit of an odd choice for the red carpet. From the iridescent squid devouring her dress to the crazy headpiece, this is one look that got people talking. 

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Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera

Bjork may be forever known for her swan dress, but Christina Aguilera had another feathered friend in mind when she walked down the red carpet for the 2018 ICONS party presented by Harper's Bazaar. Unfortunately for her, chickens are definitely not as chic as swans - and that's exactly the vibe this dress gives. 

Christina Aguilera seems like the kind of superstar who would have a designer beheaded for presenting her a dress like this. But no heads rolled, and Aguilera was seemingly proud to be seen in public in this feathery mess. There's really nothing redeeming about this look, and it just proves that money does not always translate into good fashion. 

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Ezra Miller

Ezra Miller

There was no sci-fi theme on the red carpet at the premiere of 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald. However, that didn't stop actor Ezra Miller from dressing like he was a goth Dalek wearing a puffy jacket. Beyond being attention seeking, we're not at all sure what his getup was trying to accomplish. 

Miller's outfit may have been out of the box, but it just goes to show you that sometimes the box is the best place you can be. At least this outfit was multipurpose - he went straight from the red carpet to his part-time job as a children's bounce house. 

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Lizzo

Lizzo

Lizzo is nothing if not bold and colorful, but there's just no denying it--that shade of green isn't "good as hell"; it's just plain hell. This unfortunate look made its debut on the red carpet for the 2019 MTV Movie and TV awards. While the construction of the dress is pretty mild, you can't say the same about the color scheme. 

We can't decide if she looks more like a feathery key lime pie or a ruched glow stick, but neither one of those options is very flattering. Bright colors can make a fantastic fashion statement, but there is not a soul on earth who can pull off that unsightly shade of day-glo green. 

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Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton

Usually seen on red carpets in charming but simple gowns, Kate Middleton stepped down the red carpet in this stunning gold-embellished gown for the premiere of the latest Bond Movie, No Time to Die. Kate’s fashion sense has inspired us all since she became an icon of the royal family. Kate, in this dress, captured international attention and we can see why!

Like the other members of the royal family, Kate has always kept her fashion simple and classic with timeless prints and solid colors. But there’s no place like a James Bond movie premier to step out of your comfort zone with a stunning look like this. Maybe she’s the next Bond girl? Guess we’ll have to wait a while to find out…the latest Bond movie was very delayed.

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