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The VMAs 2017 Red Carpet Featured Some Excellent Shirts

And some questionable ones. But hey, it’s the VMAs.

I could not possibly tell you the name of this boy band. But their shirt game’s on point.
MTV.com

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The MTV VMAs red carpet is not known for showcasing wearable fashion (unless donning strips of raw meat is your thing). The 2017 red carpet was a similar story if you focused on the womenswear, from Demi Lovato’s glittery harem pants to this oversized sheer T-shirt situation.

Yet the menswear was not only relatively inoffensive to the eyes, but actually rather wearable. That includes Lil Yachty and Khalid’s excellent red sweaters, which are immediately going on our fall fashion Pinterest boards. But the real standouts were the wide variety of printed shirts, the kind of Hawaiian and Hawaiian-adjacent short-sleeved tops that we would absolutely wear with denim shorts, or over dresses, or with ripped jeans... with anything, really.

As our own Rebecca Jennings has written, "Why should only astoundingly handsome boy band members get to wear loud, aggressive prints?”

Below, the many printed shirts of the 2017 VMAs.

Pete Nappi, Ethan Thompson and Samantha Ronson of Ocean Park Standoff, at the VMAs
I may not be super familiar with Pete Nappi, Ethan Thompson, and Samantha Ronson of Ocean Park Standoff, but I do love all these prints.
Photo: Getty Images
Josh Peck on the MTV VMAs red carpet
Josh Peck, veeringly alarmingly close to millennial pink. I still like it.
Photo: Getty Images
Fall Out Boy on the VMAs red carpet
Ignore the llamas behind Fall Out Boy, and appreciate the understated excellence of these casual yet very wearable shirts.
Photo: Getty Images
Billy Eichner at the VMAs
Oh hello, Billy Eichner, nice polo.
Photo: Getty Images
Kendrick Lamar at the MTV VMAs red carpet
We see you, Kendrick Lamar, and we see your printed shirt.
Photo: Getty Images
All Time Low at the MTV VMAs red carpet
This is no comment on All Time Low’s music, or band member Alex Gaskarth’s bandana, but that is a great polka dot shirt.
Photo: Getty Images
Calvin Harris at the MTV VMAs
Dear lord that mustache has got to go, but Calvin Harris’ peacock print is pretty sweet.
Getty Images