Lil Nas X
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 28: Lil Nas X attends the 2022 MTV VMAs at Prudential Center on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for MTV/Paramount Global)

Lil Nas X does nothing by halves, but by now we would have thought that the rap star already reached the sartorial pinnacle of red carpet glamour. Judging by his appearance at the Met Gala last year in custom Versace armour of course. We were naive to think that as designers continued to push the boundaries of what was possible in garment making, that Lil Nas X wouldn’t follow suit. Exhibit A: the 2022 MTV VMAs.

After a slow afternoon in front of the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the “Thats What I Want” singer blessed a live audience, fellow guests and fans following along from Twitter with a spectacular appearance. He chose to wear none other than British-American designer, Harris Reed.

Lil Nas X
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 28: Lil Nas X attends the 2022 MTV VMAs at Prudential Center on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Cindy Ord/WireImage)

Pulled from the February 2022 collection, Lil Nas X stepped out in a glittering high-waisted flare pants, a skirt made from nothing but boning and feathers and a huge regal crown. It’s a fitting look given the star leads the nomination count this year with seven nods alongside Jack Harlow and Kendrick Lamar.

Lil Nas X
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 28: Lil Nas X attends the 2022 MTV VMAs at Prudential Center on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Cindy Ord/WireImage)

Reed rose to internet stardom after he dressed Harry Styles and was personally asked by Vogue editor-in-chief to design another custom look for the “Watermelon Sugar” star. The former Central Saint Martins student (and 26-year-old!) has become famous for his groundbreaking approach to gender-fluidity.

“When Harry first wore my designs on stage in 2017, my Instagram followers jumped 100,000 in about an hour,” Reed said in a previous interview. “It made my teachers at the time shut up about there being no commerciality in fluidity, and it stopped everyone calling me a costume designer or saying I had unrealistic dreams.”