Much like the Country Music Awards, the Grammy Awards tendto bring out the wildest and wackiest of couture. Musicians and actors have adistinctively different flair on the red carpet, and last night’s Grammy Awardsshowed off “musician flair” quite dramatically. Rather than attempt tocategorize the various looks, or directly compare them, I’m just going to gothrough a number of attendees and give a brief description of the impression Igot from each look.
Anna Kendrick’s skinny, cleavage-baring tux paired withlong, wavy locks and pointed stilletos was elegant and flattering, but it’s beendone before (if not necessarily done better).
Annie Lennox is the Helen Mirren of the music world: hergown was flattering, glamorous, and age-appropriate, and her hairstyle was justdramatic enough to set her apart from the crowd. She looked like a millionbucks.
Ariane Grande managed to look both cute and sexy in thisGrecian-inspired white gown. The silver panel looked a bit sloppy, but thelines of the dress were lovely and I loved her high half-pony and minimalmakeup.
Ashanti’s gown also had beautiful lines, but the broad openfront revealed just a hair too much drooping side-boob. One more bead-edgedpanel halfway up would still have allowed for plenty of skin while carrying outthe geometric lines, but would have been much more flattering. A fuller hairstyle would also have balanced out the proportions better.
Beyonce’s red carpet look was a bit blah for my taste. Thesilhouette was pretty, but her chest looked flattened and uncomfortable and thepeekaboo fabric covered with blobs that looked like crushed tissue paper justdidn’t work for me.
Charli XCX had a halfway decent concept, but the execution didn’t work. The baggy tux pants with narrow hem looked a bit likesweatpants, the jacket was too tight over the ribs, and the droopy fur wrap was not theright proportion for the rest of the outfit. The coordinating pink bow tie andsatin shoes were a nice touch, though.
Chrissy Teigen barely pulled off this stunning gown, withthe long wavy lines of her hair echoing the long wavy open panels in the dress.Unfortunately, the panels hit in just the right place to reveal someunflattering underboob. But with John Legend on her arm, especially in a slickshawl-collared gray tux, she pulled it off.
Ciara was slightly overwhelmed by this bulky gown. I likedthe volume in the train, and it would have worked with a slimmer body (the gown’s,not hers – check out those calves!!), but the bulk around her neck looked like aspare tire. Points for her sleek shiny hair and natural makeup, though.
Gwen Stefani rocked the red carpet in this fabulous jumpsuitwith its swirly mesh bodice and baggy tapered capris. I should have hatedeverything about this outfit, and yet it was one of my favorite looks of thenight. The structured top and loose bottom worked together, and somethingabout the lines of the top reminded me of a Van Gogh painting. This kind of cutting-edge look is what the Grammys are all about.
Iggy Azalea stunned in this cobalt blue column with widecleavage and just a few well-placed peekaboo slits. It fit her like a glove andwas never out of place when she moved. Her thick coronet-style braid was a bitfuzzy but its geometric line worked perfectly with her gorgeously chiseledfeatures to create another of my favorite looks of the evening.
Jennifer Hudson’s short white gown teetered on the edge ofbeing too simple, but her chic short ‘do, fabulous orchid lips, and tiny butelegant necklace pulled it up nicely.
Jenny Lewis’ charming rainbow-fade suit paired with giant bottlegreen sunglasses was a flower child look for the 2010s. It could have beenimproved by better shoes (perhaps rainbow-striped strappy sandals or brightorange or turquoise pointy pumps), but it was a fun look.
Jessie J and Meghan Trainor both went for old-school glamourin similar lacy black columns with sheer overlays. Jessie brought just a hairof an edge with slicked-back hair and dark, stark makeup, where Trainor optedfor softer hair and makeup that played up the traditional glamour of the look.
Kat Graham’s gown was basically a giant white chrysanthemum appliqueover a see-through black sheath. It was absolutely gorgeous and perfectlyflattering on her. Her tight bun and nude lips let the dress take center stage,as it should have. A great look.
I felt like I should have loved Katy Perry’s dress, butsomehow it didn’t quite work for me. It was too see-through, the fringe was tooshaggy-looking, and the cut was somewhat matronly. It couldn’tdecide whether to be sexy or covered-up. I loved her hair color, if not themussed style, and the silver of the dress worked well with it, but this overall lookjust didn’t do it for me.
Kim Kardashian opted for something that looked like aheavily beaded metallic gold bathrobe with too-long sleeves weighed down further by bulky cuffs and giant epaulets. She announced thatshe had been styled by Kanye, which may explain a lot of things about thisdisastrous look.
Kristin Anderson-Lopez looked absolutely adorable in thisvintage-inspired flared dress. I loved the textures of the fabric, especiallythe vertical strips around the rib cage. And with her equally adorable husbandRobert on her arm, in a retro velvet tux jacket paired with ruffled shirtand sneakers, they look like they’re headed to the most fun prom ever.
Lady Gaga’s look was toned-down to the point of being almostsubtle (for her, anyway) in this sleek silver column with high slit and widecleavage. Her smooth platinum hair and stunning emerald pendant added a nicefinishing polish.
Madonna wore a matador hat with birdcage veil and epauletsmixed with a sequin-encrusted corset and tutu and matching long gloves andthigh-high gladiator boots. It wasn’t a horrible look, but she always lookslike she’s trying too hard these days.
I probably would have liked this look better on someoneother than Miley Cyrus, but I will grudgingly admit that it wasn’t a badlook. The plunging neckline was sexy without being too revealing, and thecut-outs were tastefully done, although the ones over the hipbones were perhapsnot at the most flattering location. But the slim line with just a hint of amermaid flare and a tiny train was lovely.
I barely recognized Nicki Minaj in this va-va-voom blackfringed gown paired with simple straight hair and nude makeup. She looked absolutelystunning with a tiny waistband emphasizing her tiny waist, gravity-defyingcleavage, hip-hugging skirt ending in a carwash fringe that movedbeautifully, and matching diamond cuff bracelets. Well done, Nicki!
Rihanna’s giant pink gown reminded me of the doll-shapedbirthday cake I made for my daughter’s second birthday. The color was great onher, and the bodice was pretty, but it was just ridiculously voluminous. Lose threeor four of the petticoats that had to be under there and it might just haveworked.
Sia’s look consisted mainly of a giant white wig and amini-me by her side. I think she had on skinny black pants and a plain black cape as well,but who noticed underneath the bizarre wig? I’m not sure what else I can evensay about this look, other than that her lipstick was a pretty color.
Taylor Swift stunned in this spectacular aqua gown. Thegeometric straps and flat bodice were flattering on her tall, slim figure, andthe straight miniskirt with yards of leg ending in gorgeous orchid-colored shoes peekingout from the ballgown-styled skirt (which perfectly skimmed the ground) brought it to a whole new level. My eye wasdrawn to her in every single crowd shot. Hands down, my favorite look of thenight.
Bottom line for the red carpet? There were a few missteps,but on the whole, there were some great and unusual looks out there.
