These 5 Ladies Hit The Highest Style Notes At The 2015 Grammy Awards
The red carpet at the Grammy Awards has a reputation for welcoming everything from over-the-top flashy and theatrical looks (as in 2010, when Gaga donned a yellow wig and a dress with hula hoop-like orbs circling the bodice, or in 1980, when Grace Jones donned an umbrella-shaped hat) to bafflingly eccentric ensembles(Bjork’s swan dress comes to mind), piquant and provocative get-ups (think of the plunging green Versace number Jennifer Lopez wore in 2000), outfits so funky and glittery they border on gawdy, and a fair share of glamorous gowns with unconventional details. Despite the precedent established by fashion risk takers ranging from Cher to Katy Perry, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna and M.I.A., the red carpet at the 2015 Grammy Awards was relatively tame. Sure, Madonna decided to resort to shock tactics at age 56, donning a matador-inspired look replete with a corset-inspired, lace-trimmed bustier with spiked epaulets and a harness-like strap along the derriere that cradled her butt cheeks, fully revealing her buns, and accessorizing the risqué look with a black beret with a demi veil and fingerless, past-the-elbow leather gloves. And Sia again avoided revealing her face by sporting yet another enormous wig — this one a platinum blond number with bangs that reached down to the tip of her nose. But overall, there were no history-making fashion moments this year — no ensembles so bizarre or, on the other end of the spectrum, so glamorous that they would be indelibly stamped in our brains. Still, even if they didn’t necessarily take huge style risks, a handful of ladies did look stunning while arriving at the Staples Center for what will now be known as the Sam Smith Awards (and yes, he deserved them all!). Here are our picks for best-dressed:
TAYLOR SWIFT
Taylor Swift didn’t have to worry about shaking off the haters in this stunning Eli Saab dress, featuring a gradient azure-to-teal color scheme. From the back, the dress resembles a traditional gown with a full ballroom skirt but the front view paints a much different picture thanks to the A-shaped opening along the center of the pleated skirt, which reveals a youthful miniskirt. Similarly,the cut-outs along the shoulders add an interesting visual touch to the upper bodice. To add an unexpected color to the ensemble, Swift opted for strappy sandals in a radiant orchid shade that feels fresh and feminine. She also gets bonus points for being one of the only women wearing a colorful dress to the event!
JESSIE J
There were several stunning black ensembles on the red carpet last night, but we’re partial to Jessie J’s Ralph and Rosso dress, which was sheer in all the right places and featured shimmering floral embellishments — some clustered along the bust to create the illusion of a sweetheart-shaped neckline, other grouped around the waist and hips to provide a bit more coverage, and others scattered fancifully down the long skirt. Wearing a dress this sheer can be a risky move since if, the look isn’t executed well, it can have a tawdry feel, but it was perfection in this instance.
CHRISSY TEIGEN
Another white-hot look for Chrissy Teigen! Shortly after making the best-dresses list at the SAG Awards with a baby pink, long-sleeved, lace Zuhair Murad number, John Legend’s blushing bride turned heads (and camera lenses) in a white Emilio Pucci gown with long sleeves and a straight skirt. Aside from the impeccable fit, what makes this gown so special are the strategically placed cut-outs, which undulate down the neckline, snake around and under the bust (revealing a tad of under-boob cleavage), then coil outward again towards the hips, finally shooting straight down along each side of the skirt. Bonus points for the opalescent minaudiere, which itself features geometric motifs.
GWEN STEFANI
Though we were thirsting to see Gwen’s signature red pout (and got out wish later in the evening, when she performed alongside Adam Levine), we still adored the museum-worthy intricacy of her strapless jumpsuit and the restraint she exhibited when accessorizing the look, choosing a pair of pointy-toed pumps and barely any jewelry. The Atelier Versace jumpsuit features a tapered leg design, billowing out slightly along the upper leg area and then fitting closer to the body at the knees and ankles, an accentuated waistline, and an intricate bodice with a webbed design and a nude underlay, not to mention an undulating neckline that gave the piece a sense of movement and verve.
BEYONCE
Though Queen Bey’s black Proenza Schouler gown was reminiscent of the Nicolas Jebran design she donned to last year’s MTV Video Music Awards, she still looked ravishing. The semi-sheer lace number perfectly hugged Beyoncé’s famous curves while the plunging V-shaped neckline revealed a tasteful amount of cleavage and the all-over beading made the fabric glisten in the lights.
WHO ALMOST MADE THE LIST?
RIHANNA — Though her honeysuckle pink Giambattista Valli dress was a dreamy and voluminous wonder, it didn’t seem like the right choice for the self-professed “good girl gone bad.” Moreover, the Grammys didn’t seem like the right occasion for a princess-ready gown — especially when you’re the same performer who, hours later, would sing about “wilin’ out” and maybe “doin’ a little time.”
IGGY AZALEA — The rapper showed off her body in an elegant royal blue gown, but she managed to mess up the entire look with a milkmaid-worthy braid that looked positively comical.
NICKI MINAJ — In theory, her black Tom Ford gown was worthy of top honors, but fit issues (like the way her breasts were pressed together as if in some Player’s Club gala or the way the skirt’s beading slanted to the side because it didn’t seem to properly accommodate her hips and bum) cheapened the look.
