There weren't many guys on the MTV Video Music Awards white carpet who deviated from the night's standard issue of leather jackets and skinny jeans, but the ladies certainly turned it out for MTV's biggest night. Hey, when you know [artist id="3061469"]Lady Gaga[/artist] is going to be at the show, you have to step up your fashion game.

Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine channeled a golden goddess in her lace and sequined gown, which added that touch of edge thanks to some corset detailing around her waist. Katy Perry also decided to go with flowery, lace detailing on her nude-colored dress with a white skirt.

[artist id="3079282"]Selena Gomez[/artist] just turned 18, and it showed when she stepped on the carpet. Like Welch, she went goddess in her silver strapless gown with blue sequined detailing.

The 'Hills' girls represented, with Audrina Patridge opting for silver sparkles (lots of them) and Lo Bosworth in a gold-brocade one-sleeve mini dress.

Ciara also wore lace and, like Perry, left little to the imagination in her barely-there charcoal-colored dress. Ke$ha, meanwhile, flaunted her sky-high legs in her "garbage bag" dress (word is she made it herself), a long braid and super-high heels.

Gaga didn't disappoint, but she also didn't look as strange as she has been known to (like at last year's VMAs). Her warrior princess, a tribute to late pal Alexander McQueen, involved a feather Mohawk, blue-highlighted hair and a green-, gold- and rust-colored gown with taffeta detailing and printed with a Renaissance painting. If Selena was a Greek goddess, Gaga went to Italy and hung out with Da Vinci.

Of course, there were the male standouts, namely thanks to America's favorite Canadians Drake and teen sensation [artist id="3187077"]Justin Bieber[/artist]. Bieber hit the carpet in a vest, black T-shirt and skinny jeans and his usual swagger, while [artist id="2545682"]Drake[/artist] ruled in a fitted black suit.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards are happening live, right now at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles! Keep it locked on MTVNews.com for the latest behind-the-scenes scoop, red-carpet interviews, photos, winner reactions and more.