Fashion’s Hall of Fame: Aaliyah’s Wild Roberto Cavalli Moment at the 2000 VMAs
By Alexus Mosley
At the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, Aaliyah took a walk on the wild side. That night, the Princess of R&B took home Moonmen for Best Female Video and Best Video From a Film for “Try Again.” Accepting the awards draped in a saffron Roberto Cavalli Fall 2000 gown complete with tiger-striped patterns and dramatic fur trim, Aaliyah not only made a mark on music, but fashion as well.
At a time when Y2K glamour thrived on excess, the look fit perfectly within the era’s obsession with boldness and sensuality. Still, what made the moment unforgettable was Aaliyah herself. While the Cavalli gown was undeniably daring, she wore it with the effortless coolness that became her signature, proving once again that no one made statement dressing look smoother than Baby Girl.
Looking back, the dress feels like everything fashion loved about the early 2000s wrapped into one moment: Cavalli glamour, rockstar sensuality, and just enough drama. Yet somehow, Aaliyah still made it feel effortless. That was always the difference. While many celebrities wore fashion, Aaliyah seemed to glide through it.
Even now, the look hasn’t lost an ounce of its magic. In 2024, Tyla rocked a vintage Roberto Cavalli gown to the 2024 MTV EMA in honor of the late pop star, proving that the fur trim and the tiger stripes all still feel deliciously over-the-top in the best possible way. Still, few people besides Aaliyah could have walked onto a red carpet looking part Bond girl, part princess, and be the coolest girl at the afterparty all at once.