HaveUHeard

So much of Tuesday night’s MTV Video Music Awards ― from the onstage reunion of *NSYNC to Doja Cat’s subtle Britney Spears homage ― felt steeped in early 2000s nostalgia.

Among those who also leaned into the style of the Y2K era was Emily Ratajkowski. The model, author and former actor made a striking appearance at the ceremony in a handkerchief dress ― identifiable by its asymmetrical hem, and a fashion staple in the ’00s ― designed by Jean Paul Gaultier.

The gown featured a crisscrossing halter neck and abdominal straps in a sheer green, as well as a black-and-orange patterned skirt.

Ratajkowski paired the look with a Fendi bag and gold stilettos from Piferi.

Ratajkowski, one of the night’s presenters, was reportedly making her first appearance at the VMAs since 2015. Still, her association with MTV goes back a decade, when she appeared in the video for Robin Thicke’s controversial 2013 hit “Blurred Lines.”

In 2021, Ratajkowski accused Thicke of inappropriately touching her breasts while filming the video. Her allegations were supported by director Diane Martel, who said Thicke had been drinking during the shoot and later “sheepishly apologized” for his behavior.

To date, Thicke has never publicly addressed the claims.

Ratajkowski’s VMAs appearance came just days after she signaled her support for actor Sophie Turner, who recently announced that she and her husband, musician Joe Jonas, were planning to divorce after about four years of marriage.

“So, it seems that a lot of young ladies are getting divorced before they turn 30,” she said in a video on TikTok. “As someone who got married at 26, has been separated for a little over a year [at] 32, I have to tell you, I don’t think there’s anything better.”

Ratajkowski, who split from husband Sebastian Bear-McClard last year, captioned the video: “Personally I find it chic to be divorced by the age of 30.”