Mary J. Blige Sparkles in Jewel-Coated Heels at MTV VMAs 2023

Mary J. Blige swapped her signature tall boots for a slick shoe style during the MTV Video Music Awards.

While speaking onstage during the VMAs on Tuesday night at Newark, N.J.’s Prudential Center, Blige stepped out in a pair of gleaming high-heeled sandals. The Grammy Award-winning musician’s style featured a black base with pointed toes, which extended into thin stiletto-heeled soles topped with curved counters and buckled ankle straps.

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Mary J. Blige speaks onstage during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Sept. 12, 2023.

Her footwear, however, was far from simple, thanks to its embellishments: light-catching crystals that lined each strap and sparkled in floral arrangements across the pair’s uppers.

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CREDIT: Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV
A closer lookout Blige’s heels.

Blige’s blinged-out heels added a dynamically glamorous base to her outfit, which was similarly sleek: a black long-sleeved dress with structured shoulders, which featured an asymmetric side cutout before flowing into a sheer high-low train. For added flair, the piece included allover gleaming black beading on its top — which also continued in longer strands strung with soft black feathers along its skirt.

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Mary J. Blige speaks onstage during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Sept. 12, 2023.

The “Share My World” singer allowed her dress to take center stage, but still elevated its light-catching abilities with similar statement accessories: two large diamond rings, tiered diamond-coated statement earrings and a set of Van Cleef & Arpels’ clover-strung gold charm bracelets — one set with smooth green stones, the other light blue.

The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) celebrate the top music videos and performances in the music industry. This year’s awards show will honor Shakira with the Video Vanguard Award for her musical contributions to pop culture, and feature a range of performances by stars, including Doja Cat, Anitta, Cardi B, Meghan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj and Olivia Rodrigo.

About the Author:

Aaron Royce is the Digital Editor for Footwear News, where he writes stories on trending news, celebrity style, collaborations and in-depth profile interviews. Prior to joining Footwear News, Aaron wrote and interned for publications including PAPER, Grazia and the Daily Front Row. He currently holds a B.S. in mass communications from Virginia Commonwealth University.

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