The Teen Choice Awards is one of the few enjoyable award shows, exclusively for the fact that it’s equal part glamour and delinquent debauchery—those iconic surfboard trophies are somewhere between the Oscars and getting slimed at the Kids Choice Awards, right? Who takes ‘em home is often predictable as hell (rigged, even) but the looks very rarely are. This year, as in the many years before it, the TCAs brought out the trends and the hot young people who inspire us to wear them.
So, without further ado, here’s the best, brightest and most questionable fits at the 2018 Teen Choice Awards. (Disclaimer: I tried my absolute best to leave social media stars out of it. They’re not as much fun to talk about. Sorry.)
As one could expect, the cast of Riverdale brought it—Madelaine Petsch abandoned Cheryl Blossom’s signature red fits for a floral, white set, complete with high-waisted, straight-legged pant and cropped blouse with black sheer detail and a bow at the chest. It’s like what you want Forever 21’s going-out shit to actually look like but rarely does. Heartthrob Cole Sprouse kept it casual in a denim button down, off-white blazer and dress pants as damn dark as his hair and Jughead’s soul. His bae, Lili Reinhart, wore a sequined, barbie-pink bodycon gown—I’d say this is Betty Cooper-approved, save for the lack of ponytail.
Vanessa Morgan, normally draped in black leather as Toni Topaz, wore a lingerie-esque cropped set—white, sheer, layered and polka dotted. Camila Mendes bid farewell to Veronica Lodge’s peter pan collars for a vintage, textured, pale pink, a-line dress. And Archie has never looked better—K.J. Apa’s rose gold jumpsuit is just… damn, dude.
Teen-approved music celebs were out in full force, too. J’adore Lauren Jauregui (formerly of Fifth Harmony) and her three piece… suit? She’s certainly taking a page outta Halsey’s book. Meghan Trainor wore bedazzled pjs + cleav to the maroon carpet, also, a Spy Kid fiancée on her arm. Khalid looked damn adorable in this camel color leather trench and tiny-ass sunnies.
The stars of Netflix’s On My Block—Sierra Capri, Brett Gray, Jason Genao, and Jessica Garcia—brought it to their first TCA carpet. Especially noteworthy: Capri’s teal jumpsuit, Gray’s black lace blouse, Genao’s geometric trousers and Garcia’s neon-ish yellow sundress. It looks damn near perfect with her skin tone.
I’ve found that manufactured boy bands (re: all boy bands) in this day and age typically dress like they’ve never met each other before. CNCO actually vibe off each other. There’s a real through line of white sneaks, dark denim, bright/cartoonish rainbow and thick stripes here. I appreciate the effort.
Katherine Langford, best known as beautiful dead girl Hannah Baker of 13 Reasons Why, looks alive and goth AF in this victorian collar, black lace, corseted mini dress. Straight outta Tim Burton’s pen. Chloë Grace Moretz, however, looks like she got all excited about this oversize tweed blazer and forgot to do anything daring or notable with the rest of her look. Bebe Rexha’s posture is the only thing more awkward than her neon pink, spandex onesie. I get the feeling she doesn’t even like it, either?
Hudson Yang (or “Eddie Huang” of Fresh of the Boat fame) looked fresh as hell in his summertime-appropriate strawberry top. Maia Mitchell (Callie Jacob on the Fosters) wrote a vampiric dress with exaggerated sleeves and a beaded collar. I love it so much. Who knew she had it in her?
Oh and Noah Cyrus noah-cyrused up the place with boyfriend jeans and a tiny crop.
Troye Sivan’s cowboy collar made a subtle statement; Alexandra Shipp proved the velvet fad is not over simply because it’s hot outside, okay??? Storm Reid is ready to dethrone Shania as leopard-print queen at just 15.
And last but not least, except in the case of Nick Cannon: Rainbow was out in full force. Kesha’s influence? Lucy Hale sparkled like stars on a night in the country, Nick Cannon somehow made Gucci look like the chosen designer for tryhards and Michelle Mitchenor made doing the most actually the most. And the best!