Fashion Forward: VMA Fashions

(WSVN) -- Lil' Kim's exposed breasts...Britney Spears stripping down -- they're the MTV fashions we've come to expect.

But this year... Showing lots of skin wasn't all that in.

At this year's VMA's -- the stars left the sex and sizzle to South Florida's hot and humid weather. Instead, glamour took over the red carpet.

US Magazine Style Editor Katrina Szish: "I was surprised I expected to see a lot more skin than I did, instead there was more of the old hollywood starlett vibe."

Like Cristina Aguilera -- who wore a 1920's style flapper dress.

In fact, gold, silver and bronze metallics all came in first.

From Ashanti's gold detailed gown...To J-Lo's copper accents, plenty of stars were making a statement in metallic.

Even beyonce strutted the red carpet in a gold cropped jacket and hot shorts designed by her mother.

Katrina Szish: "Metallic was huge, not only with the shades of color but also with the bejeweled accents."

Another hot look, the color white.

Carmen Electra kept it simple in a clean white, ankle length gown. Ashlee Simpson wore a white lace number. It was the big color of the night for both men and women.

Katrina Szish: "The biggest look I have to say I give to the men, which were the all white suites head to toe white which was perfect for the heat, the men were all about style."

So this year the stars kept it clean...Hmmm, for the most part.

Katrina Szish: "The big names in women were really in elegant glamour.. it wasn't like oops, I'm showing too many things that I should not be showing."

But how about the best dressed?...Katrina says there's no doubt who the fashion forward winner was.

Katrina Szish: "The best dressed award goes to Gwen Stefani, no doubt. That great coreset top...goes into detail about outfit she looked amazing."

To finish off the look, men like Usher and Jay-Z wore fedora-style hats, while the women and some of the men wore plenty of bling. Oh, by the way, big hair was a big trend too.

Contact: ssandoval@wsvn.com