[starttext]
By Daily Mail Reporter
Fashion face-off: Lady Gaga played it all regal and covered up in a flowing costume gown, while Katy Perry flashed the flesh in see-through number with only black embroidery detailing saving her blushesLady Gaga and Katy Perry made the biggest impact on the white carpet at tonight's MTV Video Music Awards - but for very different reasons.
While Gaga opted to cover up, in a typically outlandish outfit, saucy Katy set pulses racing in a risqué see-through dress.
Lady Gaga, who is competing for top honours tonight, wore a flowing regal Alexander McQueen design, comprised of gold, orange and green with a renaissance-style art print on the front.
She teamed the outfit, which she wore for a recent Vanity Fair cover photoshoot, with a long white wig complete with gold-feathered headdress and was accompanied by a military-themed entourage.
Katy wore a dress with a white skirted section, but which was see-through on top save for the black embroidery detailing to save her blushes.
As she made her arrival on to the white carpet at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, she revealed she had a 'mad cold' and was on antibiotics.
'I'm still here because I'm a pro,' declared 25-year-old Perry.
Not alone: The singer arrived to the MTV Video Music Awards tonight in true style, dressed in a renaissance-style dress complete with a military entourage at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles
Acting up: Katy got into a bit of a mock fight with a spaceman, showing off her slender legs as she didShe also told how she loves awards shows because 'you get free drinks' and 'get to meet your idols' before recalling 'and last year I took home a husband'.
Katy was referring, of course, to husband-to-be Russell Brand who she met at last year's VMAs in New York, which he presented.
He wasn't with her on the white carpet, but was at least in spirit as Katy revealed her nails had pictures of him on them.
Fashion forward: The Alexander McQueen dress was comprised of deep oranges, greens and intricate gold detailing around the bottom
Making an entrance: Her entourage, former members of the military, were dressed in their full uniformsLady Gaga and Perry were among a plethora of artists who took their place on the white carpet amid a frenzy of flashbulbs as an army of screaming fans watched on.
Tonight will see Lady Gaga compete for top awards - she's nominated for 13 moonman trophies, setting a VMA record.
Eminem has eight nominations and he's also due to perform. Other performers include Usher, Justin Bieber, Drake and Jason Derulo.
Stylish: U.S. singer Ke$ha in an outfit she made herself and British star Florence Welch of Florence And The Machine, in a glittering gold dressBut by the end of the night, two other nominees - Kanye West and Taylor Swift - may upstage them all.
Taylor has written a song about Kanye West to perform at tonight's event.
The country superstar's win for best female video last year was marred when Kanye West got on stage and said it should have gone to Beyonce.
Stunning: Twilight star Ashley Greene wowed in a white skirt with black and silver top while, right, Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara donned a shimmering LBD
Eastside go West: Jersey Shore cast members, from left, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Paul DelVecchio, Michael Sorrentino, Nicole Polizzi, Jenni Farley, Angelina Pivarnick, Sammi Giancola and Vinny GuadagninoSwift wrote a song about the experience earlier this year, and a source familiar with the show said today that the 20-year-old will sing the new song at the VMAs, which will is being aired live on MTV.
The source did not want to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The song is on Swift's upcoming album Speak Now, due out in October. The source said Swift performed it during a secret rehearsal in Los Angeles for the VMAs on Friday.
Dancing With The stars contestant Audrina Patridge cut a stunning figure in a short silver dress and, right, her former Hills co-stars Stephanie Pratt and Lauren Bosworth 
Looking cool: Justin Bieber with his mentor Usher, with the pair looking hip in sunglassesThough the West-Swift moment only lasted but a few minutes, it has endured for what seems to be a lifetime.
It became a cultural watershed moment and gave West the most intense backlash of his career, despite numerous apologies delivered later.
He dropped out of the spotlight, and last week on Twitter, said that he endured death wishes, had to cancel a tour and let go of employees.
Rocking it: Award winners 30 Seconds To Mars, from left Tomo Milicevic, Jared Leto and Shannon Leto
Hot wheels: Actor and musician Jared arrived in style on a bike in the ice rink-like red carpetHe again apologised to Swift and said he wrote a song for her and hoped she would sing it - and if not, he would perform it for her.
But instead, Swift will be singing her own song. The Grammy-winner is known for writing intensely personal songs, and skewering a few former boyfriends along the way.
After initially expressing her hurt, Swift has avoided addressing the matter.
West will also be a performer at the awards show; both are nominees. It's not clear what song he will sing.
Though there was anticipation of possible fireworks related to last year with West's performance, Swift's song all but guarantees it.
Boys together: Justin Timberlake, Jesse Eisenberg, and Andrew Garfield, who appear in the Facebook movie The Social Networksource: dailymail
[endtext]