How Has The Red Carpet Changed In The Age Of Coronavirus?

Is it all masks and elbow bumps?

VMAs and Venice Film Festival

by Natalie Hammond |
Updated on

As the world slowly reopens, it’s not just shops and restaurants that are coming out of hibernation. The red carpet is back in business, albeit in a very different format to what we’ve come to expect. Gone are the cosy group shots and the air kisses. In the age of coronavirus, it’s all about coordinating your mask to your outfit (or saying ‘stuff it!’ and simply going the disposable route like Cate Blanchett) and a socially-distanced step-and-repeat. We haven’t yet witnessed an elbow bump, but unfortunately it’s probably not long before someone cracks one out.

Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett at the Venice Film Festival ©Getty

At Sunday’s VMAs, the red carpet actually looked pretty normal. Miley Cyrus chose a fabulously sheer strapless dress with matching opera gloves by Mugler, while Lady Gaga swept onstage in a spectacularly voluminous gown by Christopher John Rogers with, you guessed it, a horned face mask that looked like a viking helmet. It was a world away from ‘normal’, but at least the ‘new normal’ can still dial up the drama.

Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus at the VMAs ©Getty

The Venice Film Festival, which kicked off on Tuesday, produced a rival for Lady Gaga. On yesterday’s red carpet, Tilda Swinton alternated between a white face covering and a metallic butterfly which she held in front of her nose. Medically-certifiable? Perhaps not, but fabulous? Hell, yes.

Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga at the VMAs ©Getty

It was Cate Blanchett, however, who really showed how much the red carpet might change, recycling a gown she first wore in 2015 for yesterday’s Lacci premiere.

Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett at the Venice Film Festival ©Getty

Rewearing one’s gown isn’t new, but it certainly isn’t mainstream. Yet. The coronavirus has certainly made the fashion industry rethink its ‘more, more, more’ approach to making clothes. A form of mea culpa, if you like, came earlier this year, when the CFDA and BFC joined forces to lay the groundwork for a radical reset. The general theme was that the pandemic had provided a unique opportunity to ‘slow down’ and, basically, stop the rampant over-production that is both hurting our planet and overwhelming the consumer.

Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton at the Venice Film Festival ©Getty

Department stores have been hit hard by the months-long closures, not to mention plummeting footfall, but they too are starting to see that a more sustainable approach to business is the only way forward. Last month, Selfridges announced its new sustainability project, Project Earth, an ambitious initiative that will radically change the business and its customer mindset by 2025.

Nicole Richie
Nicole Richie at the VMAs ©Getty

For mere mortals, whose red carpet moment hasn’t yet materialised, what does all this mean for their wardrobe habits? It could be renting a wedding guest outfit instead of buying five in one year - as part of Project Earth, Selfridges is partnering with the rental service HURR - or perhaps not buying anything new at all this September (like Michaela Coel). One thing’s certain. If you owned Blanchett’s gown, why wouldn’t you wear it again?

Gallery

VMAs 2020 red carpet looks

MTV VMAs 2020 red carpet Sofia Carson1 of 11

Sofia Carson

Sofia Carson's ruffled gown by Giambattista Valli certainly wins the showstopper award of the night.

MTV VMAs 2020 red carpet, Nicole Richie2 of 11

Nicole Richie

Nicole Richie presented an award in this stunning mini dress with train.

MTV VMAs 2020 red carpet, Madison Beer3 of 11

Madison Beer

Madison Beer made us all hanker for the days of the LBD (remember when parties were a thing?) in this Mugler dress.

MTV VMAs 2020 red carpet Lady Gaga4 of 11

Lady Gaga

The awards were Lady Gaga's night with the singer picking up five awards. She also owned the red carpet in this space-inspired outfit.

2020 MTV VMAs red carpet, Bella Hadid5 of 11

Bella Hadid

Bella Hadid rolled out the v. Famous model version of a nice top and trousers for this year's awards, and looked amazing

2020 MTV VMA red carpet, Miley Cyrus6 of 11

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus wore a sheer Mugler dress for her first live performance of 'Midnight Sky'

2020 MTV VMA red carpet, Joey King7 of 11

Joey King

Joey King wore a floral Versace mini dress.

2020 MTV VMAs red carpet, Jaden Smith8 of 11

Jaden Smith

We weren't really expecting Jaden Smith to inspire us to start thinking about winter knits this evening, but there you go

2020 VMAs red carpet, Bebe Rexha9 of 11

Bebe Rexha

Cycling shorts on the red carpet? Definitely not the strangest thing to happen in 2020.

2020 VMAs red carpet, Machine Gun Kelly10 of 11

Machine Gun Kelly

Machine Gun Kelly reminds us (again) that pink, and red carpet dressing, isn't just for girls.

2020 VMAs red carpet Doja Cat11 of 11

Doja Cat

We're loving this fringed Versace dress.

READ MORE: Cate Blanchett Recycled Her Esteban Cortázar Gown On The Venice Film Festival Red Carpet

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us