This weekend's MTV VMAs somehow missed out the award for the best translation of key 2019 fashion trends into music video form. Don't worry though – we're here to fix this unforgivable omission. Let's see what should've won....
Best for streetwear: Octavian - Bet
Highly-coppable streetwear and rap video flexing haven't exactly been strangers for the past few years, but Octavian's minimalist black-and-white clip for early-year banger Bet deserves special mention for its absurd clothing credits: actual action in the video ratio. Octavian and guest-feature Michael Phantom switch outfits about 15 times each in the course of standing around nodding their heads slightly for 3 minutes, repping Supreme balaclavas, Carhartt beanies, Cav Empt x Nike track jackets, Patta x Dekmantel joggers, Supreme x The North Face ski caps and more along the way. The other featured MC, Skepta, doesn't get changed at all because a) he's Skepta, and who's going to make him, and b) he's already rocking the heck out of 2019 utility-vest-and-bucket-hat angling chic, so what more do you need?
Best for westernwear: Orville Peck - Dead of Night
You might think the all-conquering Old Town Road, and its excellent, Vince Staples-featuring video, would occupy this slot, but – as partial as we are to Lil Nas X's contemporary take on nudie-suit-wearing cosmic American menswear – we're giving it to Orville Peck's gorgeous, Lynchian mini-western. Pop culture's 'yeehaw' moment (and fashion's subsequent embrace of reconfigured ranch dressing) has been all about reclaiming Wild West imagery from its macho, white tradition, both as point of historical accuracy and as an act of defiant, culture-mashing cool. Peck's clip – with cowgirls of colour and queer cattlemen; pick-up trucks and pole-dancing; wonderful western shirts, cowprint jackets and fringed fetish masks – delivers all of that and more.
Best for Scandi-skate: Channel Tres - Sexy Black Timberlake
We doubt any video in 2019 will feature more head-to-toe stealable styles than Channel Tres' ultra-fresh Sexy Black Timberlake clip. Leopard print trews with an off-white graphic tee and dadcore sneaks? Sign us up. Yellow roll neck, tan check chinos, stripey socks and white Chuck Taylors? We're there. White tee, longline mustard cardigan and cropped charcoal skater pants? All day long. It's basically a four-minute masterclass in looking really cool without looking like you're trying to look really cool.
Best for resort prints: Khalid - Right Back
There's nothing particularly groundbreaking – sartorially or cinematically – in Sandora mag cover star Khalid's recent promo for Right Back, but it situates SS19's standout resort print in exactly the right environment. Specifically, a golden hour, late-summer park picnic with tasty barbecue, frosty beers and all your mates breaking into synchronized dance routines every now and then.
Best for Scandi-skate: Channel Tres - Sexy Black Timberlake
We doubt any video in 2019 will feature more head-to-toe stealable styles than Channel Tres' ultra-fresh Sexy Black Timberlake clip. Leopard print trews with an off-white graphic tee and dadcore sneaks? Sign us up. Yellow roll neck, tan check chinos, stripey socks and white Chuck Taylors? We're there. White tee, longline mustard cardigan and cropped charcoal skater pants? All day long. It's basically a four-minute masterclass in looking really cool without looking like you're trying to look really cool.
