7 VMAs Outfits That Prove Modest Can Still Be Super Sexy

Aug 31, 2015

There are, generally, two very different schools of sexy style. One is the less-is-more mentality where tighter, shorter and sheerer are better as seen on the majority of outfits at last night’s MTV VMAs where flashing pelvage was as commonplace as baring your elbows. Then, there’s the more subtle approach, which centers on how you wear the clothes, even when they’re not as scandalous as, say, any of the 16 outfits Miley Cyrus wore to host the show. Among the sea of nearly-naked dresses, there actually was a good showing for the later kind of sexy on last night’s red carpet. Here, we’re taking a look at the set of starlets who didn’t give in to the VMA’s famous #breaktheinternet spin on red carpet style for outfits that were way more covered up, but still are pretty danm hot.

1. Hailee Steinfeld: The actress and “Bad Blood” cast member proved more than anyone last night that you don’t need all the bells and whistles (and cutouts) to make a red carpet statement. In a sculptural, all-white ensemble with sleek metallic pops throughout, Hailee gave off major #Girlboss vibes. (Photo via Jason Merritt/Getty)

2. Kim Kardashian: We’re used to seeing Kim in second skin silhouettes — baby bump or no — so her decision to dress in a looser(ish)-fitting frock really felt like a breath of fresh air. The lace-up front and curve-clinging silhouette kept this floor-length number feeling frisky, two details balanced out by the luxe satin finish and deep olive hue. (Photo via Larry Busacca/Getty)

3. Selena Gomez: It’s near-impossible to make out the details in Selena Gomez’s first dress of the night (a reason that may have contributed to the costume change), but the strip of leather trim along the neckline didn’t make it totally unforgettable. Consider this a style lesson for choosing a non-boring LBD for fall. (Photo via Larry Busacca/Getty)

4. Ciara: Ciara might have found the sexiest way to cover up: a full fringe cape that could help you make your slinkiest romper ready for fall. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)

5. Emily Ratajkowski: The We Are Your Friends star shares a clever way to style a thigh-high slit without showing off too much thigh: slip on a pair of above-the-knee boots and downplay both slinky pieces like that. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)

6. Kelly Osbourne: The pre-show host just made a case for wearing pinstripes out of the office… and pajamas out of the bedroom. At the same time. And all while feeling cozy AF thanks to the super roomy silhouette. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)

7. Vanessa Hudgens: Only at the VMAs are Disney princess moments considered out-of-the-box, but we love that Vanessa took it there with an uber voluminous skirt, cascading waves and stacks upon stacks of arm candy. (Photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty)

What were your favorite looks from the VMAs? Tell us which celeb #won in your eyes, plus who you think wore the most shocking look of the night in the comments below.

How To Nail Halloween Cry Makeup That's Still Pretty

Alright, this was definitely an interesting Halloween makeup tutorial to do for y’all, but it had to be done! There seems to be a handful of pop culture-inspired opportunities to rep this look on Halloween. From Bey’s awesome sad streaks in her “Why Don’t You Love Me” music video to the repeated "Girls will cry and girls will lie" in Sabrina Carpenter's "Lie to Girls," you can pretty much turn anything into a sad version as long it’s done well. Whether you are going for a scary or gory look — BTW, you can totally switch out the black liner here for a red one to make this bloody eye makeup (Max Mayfield anyone?) — you’ll still look pretty. Sad, but pretty.

The Best Cry Makeup Ever

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See how good this looks?! Let's get into it.

Prep: Flawless Face + Smokey Eye

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Follow this tutorial to get your base makeup started. Add a pretty dramatic smokey eye. Layer up the eyeliner on both your upper and lower lash line — you’re going to need the extra pigment to help get those sad little makeup streaks to fall down your pretty little cheeks.

Step 1: Concealer

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Normally I say keep it light on the concealer so it does not get cakey or look too heavy. In this case, you are going to be adding water and messing with the under eye area more than normal, so you want to go a bit more dramatic in this department. Apply an upside-down triangle shape and then blend in with a brush.

Step 2: Visine

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Add a few drops of Visine to your lower lash line. Be sure to start off by focusing on one eye, because you want to take the next step immediately so you don’t lose the Visine drop.

Step 3: Smear

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Use a thin makeup brush to gently encourage your eyeliner to bleed in the same pattern that the Visine drops are falling down your face.

Step 4: Highlight

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Add a pop of deep silver metallic shadow to the inside corners of your eyes. This is going to give the highlight and dimension we want, but it'll maintain more of a moody vibe.

Step 5: Repeat

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Go through these same four steps on the other eye! Easy peasy.

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Get your acting skills on and have fun with this pretty cry baby look! Play your go-to sad tunes to really get into the mood.

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So. Sad. (But so pretty!)

Check out more Halloween ideas on Pinterest and our Halloween page.

This post has been updated.

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“Protective” Peter Gallagher Is “So Grateful” Mischa Barton Survived “Toxic Fame”

No matter what kind of day you're having, Marissa Cooper's having a worse one. Mischa Barton's The O.C. character went through the ringer during the first three seasons of the teen drama (remember how she overdosed in Tijuana...and also saw her parents post-hookup after their divorce?).

And during her time on The O.C., Mischa Barton struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. She was arrested for a DUI in 2007 and eventually received involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in 2009 after allegedly threatening to end her own life. And in a new interview, Peter Gallagher (who played Sandy Cohen on the show) says he's "just so grateful" for "the fact that she’s still alive."

Mischa Barton starred alongside Peter Gallagher in The O.C. from 2003-2006.
The actress has revealed the "trauma" of being a star at that point in her life.
Peter recently opened up about how he's thankful "she’s still alive."

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FLC/John Lamparski/Getty Images

The O.C. follows Ryan Atwood, who moves in with the Cohens after getting kicked out of his mom's house, and starts a relationship with Marissa shortly after. While Peter Gallagher played Adam Brody's TV dad instead of Mischa's, Sandy was a definitely father figure for Marissa, and it seems like Peter felt that same responsibility off camera.

"I’ve always felt very protective of her," Peter told The Independent. "First fame is toxic. First fame can kill you. She was 16 years old when she started working with us, so just the fact that she’s still alive, I’m just so grateful."

“You can go to therapy every day for the rest of your life,” Mischa said in a 2023 interview with The Sunday Times. “There’s just a certain amount of trauma [from] all that I went through, particularly in my early twenties, that just doesn’t go away overnight.”

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage revealed that season 1 overdose not only served as a cliffhanger, but gave “network executives an escape hatch on a performer they had been wary about” (via People). But Mischa Barton got her big break, becoming "how people knew the show," and (thankfully) Marissa recovered — only to die after a car crash in season 3.

As hard as that season 3 ending is to watch, Mischa did have the opportunity to watch it with Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke for the first time on their rewatch podcast. "It needed to be a thing, after everything she's been through, but if it's here I'll watch it with you," Mischa says.

"I couldn't do it, Mischa, I couldn't do it," Rachel adds. "But I'm going to do it if you're going to do it."

Mischa says even though being written off the show "was a little bit of a bummer," it wasn't necessarily a surprise. "The character was just doing too much," she told Vanity Fairin 2023. "And I think they ran out of places for her to go. It was not the best thing in the world, [but] there wasn’t much you could do at that point. It was whether she could sail off into the sunset, or die. At that point, I guess it’s better to have the more dramatic ending.”

What did you think of The O.C. season 3 finale? Let us know on Facebook!

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*NSYNC Just Reunited (Again) At Justin Timberlake’s Album Release Party

My iTunes library is filled with music from '90s boy band *NSYNC and I'm proud of it. As much as I adore the Backstreet Boys, my stance is firm - *NSYNC will forever be the group that unlocks the romantic feelings in my heart. Fun fact: my mom and sister have core memories of me singing "Every little thing I do, never seems enough for you..." at the top of my lungs.

That's why this '90s baby has been squealing with excitement over *NSYNC's reunion at Justin Timberlake's LA Concert last week and the fact they made another recent appearance to support him! If you're as much of an *NSYNC fan as I am, have no fear because all the details are here!