Conan Gray Wore Erik Charlotte To The 2025 MTV VMAs

Conan Gray’s style has always read romantic and gender-fluid, and at the 2025 MTV VMAs he dialled that up with an Erik Charlotte look that spun maritime couture into a sea-bound fantasy.

It fused sailor aesthetics with flamboyance that flirted with pirate theatrics—very Conan, very committed. I loved the theatricality of it all, along with the sentiment and the storytelling.

The outfit felt aligned with the vulnerability he writes into his songs, just reframed through a high-gloss nautical lens. My quibble sits below the waist: there’s simply too much going on. The cascade of ruffles felt like they were swallowing him whole, and I couldn’t help but wish he’d stuck with the denim boots from the lookbook instead of the white platforms. That edit would’ve kept the fantasy alive while sharpening the execution.

The feather-touched sailor hat made me smile. Olive Oyl would absolutely approve.

Overall, it worked because the intent was clear and the personality loud. With a touch of editing, this could’ve been a killer reference look. I’m still here for the ambition.

Stylist: Katie Qian.

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