CNN
—

Taylor Swift was one of many stars who rocked ’90s fashion at the MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday, wearing a chic taffeta bustier and skirt by Dior.

The yellow tartan was a familiar one, recalling one of the decade’s most iconic looks: the preppy Dolce and Gabbana blazer and pleated skirt worn by fictional character Cher Horowitz (played by Alicia Silverstone) in the 1995 hit film “Clueless.” But this isn’t the first time Dior has nod to the timeless outfit on screen. In 2022, Natalie Portman wore a nearly identical two-piece for a Halloween costume, while Blackpink’s Jisoo wore a version for Dior’s Fall-Winter 2022 show in Paris.

But with its punk-accented styling, in the form of black buckles, collar and zip-front, Swift’s version is by far the edgiest. Completed with velvet shorts, thigh-high boots and gloves, the look was lifted straight from Dior’s 2025 Cruise collection, which was inspired by Scottish artisan traditions and Mary, Queen of Scots. The brand quoted founder Christian Dior as calling tartan “the only chic fabric that resists fashion trends” in the show notes. Models dressed in Gothic plaid walked through the grand gardens of Drummond Castle in Perthshire, Scotland.

Wednesday night’s look was a departure from Swift’s typical red carpet style. The megastar is never without a handful of crystals, diamonds or sequins, often sticking to classic silhouettes and more overtly glamorous gowns. She even swapped her signature red lipstick for a dramatic black smokey eye.

Swift won a major award at the Video Music Awards, taking home seven of the ceremony’s “Moon Person” trophies, including the top prize: Video of the Year, for “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone.

The duo also won the award for Best Collaboration, and Swift used that acceptance speech to commemorate the September 11 attacks.

“I’ve just been thinking about what happened 23 years ago, everyone who lost a loved one and everyone we lost,” she said onstage. The star’s appearance at the VMAs came a day after she endorsed Kamala Harris for president in a move that made headlines around the world.