Lady Gaga Brings Mayhem Ball to the 2025 MTV VMAs in a Gothic Marc Jacobs Dress and Floral Headdress

The pop star snuck into the award show to accept her Artist of the Year trophy.

Lady Gaga accepts the \201cArtist of the Year\201d award onstage during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 07, 2025 in Elmont, New York.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The MTV Video Music Awards has played host to many a historic fashion moment throughout its 41 years on the air—many at the hands of Lady Gaga.

The pop star has been attending the fabled award show since the release of her first album The Fame, which earned her the title of Best New Artist in 2009. The following year, Gaga accepted the award for Video of the Year, simultaneously debuting what many recognize as her most infamous outfit of all time: the reviled meat dress. And though her 2025 VMAs outfit wasn't nearly as shocking, it certainly will go down in her own personal hall of fame.

Singer Lady Gaga accepts the Video of the Year award onstage during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on September 12, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Lady Gaga accepted the Video of the Year award during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards wearing her infamous raw meat dress.

(Image credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Though Gaga has the most nominations of any star this evening, she chose to skip the VMAs red carpet all together. This is likely because the star accidentally double-booked herself for Sunday night's show. She is also hosting a sold-out performance at New York City's Madison Square Garden the very same night.

The pop star delayed the performance an hour in order to accept her Artist of the Year award in person on the VMAs stage—and did so wearing a Marc Jacobs dress that very well could have come straight out of her Mayhem Ball wardrobe.

Lady Gaga accepts the “Artist of the Year” award onstage during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 07, 2025 in Elmont, New York.

Lady Gaga accepted the Artist of the Year award in a ruffled Marc Jacobs look.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

She wore an 1800s-inspired confection covered in black ruffles. The plumed gown—a Marc Jacobs Fall 2025 creation—was made all the more dramatic by a matching rose-topped headpiece, which sat atop her blunt bangs. The blood-red floral blooms are likewise the centerpiece of her tour wardrobe, all styled by Hunter Clem.

Lady Gaga accepts the “Artist of the Year” award onstage during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 07, 2025 in Elmont, New York.

The singer wore a rose-topped headpiece to match.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Lady Gaga holds a grand total of 12 Moon Person nominations this evening. Categories include: Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Album, Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography, and Best Visual Effects. If she secures any more, her Mayhem Ball performance very well may need to be delayed indefinitely.

Kelsey Stiegman
Contributor

Kelsey (she/her) is a freelance fashion editor and writer, specializing in e-commerce and fashion news. With more than ten years of experience in digital media, Kelsey has a knack for turning top-performing content into top-selling content. At Marie Claire, she provides witty celeb style commentary, unpacking the style choices of stars like Zoë KravitzDua LipaSelena Gomez, and her fashion superhero, Rihanna. When she’s not tracking the personal style of Hollywood’s elite, Kelsey also covers designer collabs and industry news.

Before taking her talents to Marie Claire, Kelsey was the Senior Fashion Editor at Bustle, where she oversaw the site’s fashion coverage and launched a successful luxury handbag series called Secure The Bag. Prior to Bustle, she came from a six-year stint at Seventeen, during which she managed the team’s fashion and beauty verticals and led e-commerce strategy. In her freelance era, Kelsey contributes to publications like InStyle, CosmopolitanGlamour, and more. She also offers consulting services and content creation, in addition to writing and editing. Follow @klstieg on Instagram for 'fit pics and travel recommendations.