These 6 Accessory Trends Popped Off at the Billboard Music Awards

If you were to peek inside my Slack messages with colleagues, you’d realize that we all have mixed feelings about award shows. From the Met Gala to the Oscars to the Grammy Awards, no function is safe from our thoughts, feelings, and general gossip. Sometimes, it feels like I’m low-key hate-watching a ceremony just to see how many celebs woefully misunderstood the assignment and the dress code. But really, I’m tuning in for those celebs who get it. You know, the ones who manage to serve looks and champion some of the biggest fashion trends of the moment? Well, that type of style is only found among the best of the best, and luckily for us, a few did manage to pull up and show out at this year’s 2022 Billboard Music Awards. So ahead, I’ve rounded up the best red carpet looks from the ceremony and identified the six biggest accessory trends from the evening. If these looks are proof of anything, it’s that we’ll be talking about these ensembles for months to come and wearing the trends too.

Trend #1: Bangles Are Back

WHO: Kylie Jenner

WEAR: Balmain dress and Ultima Metallic Leather Sandals ($1595) 

There’s no better time to access what jewelry trends are actually a thing than spotting them on the red carpet. At last night’s show, the celeb set made it clear that bangles are back.

WHO: Chlöe Bailey 

WEAR: Valdrin Sahiti dress 

But it’s not just spotting chunky bangles on Chlöe Bailey and Kylie Jenner that makes this a noteworthy micro-trend off the red carpet—it’s how they’re wearing them. Layered over leather opera gloves or the sleeve of the dress, it’s all about showing off the drip in the least subtle way. And while we can’t all walk around in gowns, we can add some bangles into our very own lives.

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Trend #2: It’s Giving Jetsons

WHO: Doja Cat

WEAR: Schiaparelli Couture dress

I’m willing to stand by the following assertion: Doja Cat was the best dressed attendee at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. Her couture Schiaparelli look paid homage to her recent award-winning album, Planet Her, and championed a bubbling micro-trend among a few designers—futurism. With darting curves on the dress and the stunning Saturn-shaped handbag, it’s giving Jetsons energy in the best possible way.

WHO: Megan Thee Stallion

WEAR: Mugler dress; Jimmy Choo

x Mugler 110mm Crystal-Ball Embellished Sandals ($1950)

Doja Cat wasn't the only one to subtly nod to futuristic fashion in her red carpet look. Megan Thee Stallion’s look was a bit more subtle, but her Mugler minidress evoked the same emphasis on futurism—just look at the draping and cutouts on the dress and the sci-fi-like acrylic strap and jewelry as proof. These rappers’ looks reminded us that we need to take our accessorizing game into the future, stat.

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Trend #3: Heavy-Metal Lovers

WHO: Teyana Taylor 

WEAR: Skims top; Givenchy pants; Balenciaga shoes 

The fashion set has been loving heavy-hardware jewelry for a while now, but it seems that the celebrity crowd isn’t ready to give it up yet either. Case in point: Teyana Taylor’s Billboard Music Awards look. She’s wearing an oversize chain, and every other element of the outfit (from her hair adorned with chains to her pants studded to her layered chain belts and bracelets ) is all about the heavy metals. 

WHO: Jazzelle Zanaughtti

Taylor wasn’t the only one to layer on the chunky silver pieces. Longtime Fenty Beauty model Jazzelle Zanaughtti also showed the trend some love at the show. While it was definitely more subdued than Taylor’s look, Zanaughtti’s full-length crochet gown paired with chunky jewelry is a vibe. From the oversize earrings to the choker to the bangles, it’s clear that heavy jewelry isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

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Trend #4: Drippin’ in Crystal

WHO: Megan Fox 

WEAR: David Koma Cut Out Tailored Gown ($1379) and Crystal Flower Embroidered Long Gloves ($1980) 

Crystals are a mainstay on any red carpet these days, but it seems that they’re slowly getting a trendier refresh through unexpected accessories. Megan Fox is donning this Old Hollywood floor-length cutout David Koma gown, but rather than styling it with typical crystal jewelry, she’s paired it with crystal-embellished opera gloves and a little ring. It’s the dramatic flair I didn’t even know I needed in my life.

WHO: Liza Koshy

WEAR: Area Crystal Cage Strap Blazer ($1680) and Crystal Buckle Mini Skirt ($780)

Fox wasn’t the only one to bring drip back to the red carpet in a new way. Actress Liza Koshy donned a crystal-embellished blazer from Area and a miniskirt with an oversize belt buckle and sparkly heels—she was drippin’. And while it may seem a little too extravagant to embrace this much sparkle daily, if you do it in small doses (e.g., an embellished T-shirt, a sparkly belt, opera gloves, or shoes), it can make everyday drip much more attainable.

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Trend #5: Tiny Bags

WHO: Kali Uchis 

WEAR: custom GCDS gown and bag; Jacob & Co jewelry; Dena Kemp jewelry; Jimmy Choo sandals

While the fashion set is getting excited about the prospect of new handbag trends, the celebrity set still can’t satisfy their tiny-handbag cravings. Personally, I’m not mad about it, especially when you look as good as Kali Uchis did on the red carpet. Her custom-made GCDS gown was serving a full meal in and of itself. But the little bag? That was the dessert.

WHO: Shenseea

WEAR: Di Petsa gown

Uchis wasn't the only musician continuing to carry the baby-handbag trend. Jamaican musician Shenseea wore this incredible gown from Greek brand Di Petsa with fun gold accessories, but the best part was indeed the tiny bag. Maybe our takeaway from the Billboard red carpet can be this: If you’re trying to serve a full look and want to go big with it, you go tiny with your handbag choice.

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Trend #6: Sky-High Platforms

WHO: Becky G

WEAR: Zuhair Murad dress

Last but certainly not least, the trend I saw bubble up at the Billboard Music Awards was sky-high platform shoes. Platforms in all their forms have been a cult favorite among the fashion set for a minute now, and it was refreshing to see them pop up on the carpet. I loved how musician and actress Becky G elevated her feather-adorned Zuhair Murad minidress with sleek platform sandals.

WHO: Janette Ok

WEAR: Rotate Birger Christensen Natalie Off-Shoulder Satin Minidress ($375); Versace Medusa Aevitas Satin Platform Pumps ($1230)

If Becky G’s red carpet look didn’t convince you that platform shoes are poppin’ off, you’ll want to look to famous TikToker Janette Ok’s outfit as proof. The social media star paired a pink Rotate Birger Christensen dress with those viral Versace Medusa pumps to create a look that was the life of the party. While the look may not be as dramatic as other red carpet looks, it’s the perfect example of how you can take a viral trend off of social media, wear it on the red carpet, and then wear it again in the streets—proving that the award-winning looks of the night serve on the carpet and can give us style inspiration off the carpet too.

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Next up, Every Breathtaking Red Carpet Look From the 2022 Met Gala