‘Outer Banks’ Star Madelyn Cline’s Sultry 2023 VMAs Look Still Has Fans Calling It the Best Ever

Every awards season, fans revive their favorite red carpet moments, and the VMAs are especially good at inspiring nostalgia. On the day of this year’s ceremony, one fan account declared that Madelyn Cline’s crown for best look of all time remains intact. Madelyn Cline’s VMAs look from 2023 is clearly still on people’s minds.

At the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, Cline arrived at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, wearing Givenchy. W Magazine described it as a nude gown with a fitted corset and a see-through skirt, her take on the lingerie red carpet trend. She paired it with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

Just Jared said she was giving classic Hollywood vibes on the pink carpet before presenting on stage. She was 25 at the time and best known for ‘Outer Banks’ and ‘Glass Onion.’

happy vma day to madelyn cline whose crown remains in tact for best look of all time she can simply never be outdone pic.twitter.com/NeAwucdnnn

— ★ (@madelync1ine) September 27, 2026

Style writers praised the design for its layers and texture. One review described a shiny, satin-like fabric with a dewy makeup look, adding that despite all the different elements, the gown never felt overwhelming. It said Cline looked airy and graceful while still looking natural.

That review also credited the gown to custom work by Givenchy’s creative director, Matthew M. Williams, saying it was clearly curated for her. It called the look a match for her natural beauty. Fans have echoed the sentiment ever since.

madelyn cline during the pink carpet at the 2023 #vmas pic.twitter.com/ku7S8qsXi9

— best of madelyn cline (@madelynfiles) September 13, 2023

The house has been a recurring partner for her. Cline wore a low-cut, sheer Givenchy gown to the 2024 Oscars after-parties and a Givenchy feather dress to the Critics Choice Awards. These looks helped establish her as a fashion favorite.

Her wardrobe has covered plenty of ground. She made a classic Met Gala debut in 2023 and went floral in Tommy Hilfiger for the 2024 Met Gala. For the ‘Outer Banks’ season 4 premiere, she wore a high-slit white gown from Tommy Hilfiger’s spring 2010 archive.

The nostalgia arrives just as she is having another big fashion moment. Cline has been one of the busiest guests at Milan Fashion Week, which runs from September 22 to 28. She walked the runway at Vogue World Milano in a floral Etro gown from the brand’s Pre-Fall 2026 collection, layered with a velvet blazer.

The gown featured a corseted bodice with a deeply plunging neckline, and it flowed into a ruffled mermaid skirt with a sweeping train. She also sat front row at Etro’s Spring/Summer 2027 show in a sheer, feather-trimmed paisley dress. Together, the appearances show how much range she has.

Cline’s career keeps growing outside of fashion. She is best known for playing Sarah Cameron in ‘Outer Banks,’ which ran from 2020 to 2026, and for ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ in 2022. She also appeared in the 2025 slasher ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer.’

She has also been branching into beauty and campaigns. In July she fronted a campaign for Dossier Perfumes, wearing a black and red biker jacket and micro-shorts. Brit + Co has also called her a Gen Z beauty queen, noting that she went viral for siren eyes and 90s glam.

Part of the appeal lies in its simplicity. The soft peach tone, the drape of the satin, and the airy skirt all made for a look that feels timeless rather than trendy. On a carpet that often rewards spectacle, it stood out for grace.

That may be why fans still bring it up years later. Whenever the VMAs roll around, the conversation turns to who might top it, and so far the answer has been that nobody has. As her fashion week appearances show, Cline may have plenty more contenders in store.

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