Fashion is always a major component of the MTV VMAs, and this year's celebrities really wowed audiences with their choices with Katy Perry, Emma Watson and Miley Cyrus as some of the best-dressed at the awards ceremony.

Considering that MTV barely, if ever, even plays videos these days, it could be argued that a major reason most people watch the VMAs is to check out what their favorite celebrities are wearing, or in some cases not wearing.

Lady Gaga is usually making headlines this time of year, but after being snubbed with nominations this year (she got not even one), Mother Monster has been lying relatively low for the 2012 VMAs.

While no one tried anything extremely over the top or outrageous; many of Hollywood's finest really upped up the glam in 2012.

Katy Perry was without a doubt one of the best-dressed women at the event. After divorcing from now ex-husband Russell Brand it seemed the "Part of Me" singer was dyeing her hair every other month: pink, Easter egg blue, purple, blonde, red, orange -- Perry essentially tasted the rainbow through her hair.

But at the 2012 MTV VMAs, she rocked her signature jet-black hair with soft waves. She wore a black dress that hugged her curves perfectly. It had just the right amount of red and blue in the dress so that it appeared intriguing to the eye but didn't come off as cartoonish.

Emma Watson, best known for playing Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" series, wore a short colorful red dressed that seemed to match her personality. Watson is one of the lead stars in the upcoming film adaption of the book "The Perks of Being a Wallflower."

After dating Conor Kennedy for the past few weeks, Taylor Swift seems to have embraced her inner sophistication by opting for an all-white suit, and after Labor Day -- how scandalous!

Rihanna is another one of the best dressed celebrities who didn't feel compelled to uphold the "no white after Labor Day" rule. She looked like a young Halle Berry with rose-red lips and a short pixie cut.

Speaking of pixie cuts, Miley Cyrus, who recently stirred up a lot of commotion after she dyed her hair bleached blonde and cut it essentially all off, looked outstanding in a long black gown. She oozed confidence sashaying down the red carpet.

Even Kesha looked remarkably chic trashing her signature glitter and outrageous outfits for a classic little black dress, she was almost unrecognizable.