All eyes on the red carpet at Sunday’s Grammy Awards went straight to Lady Gaga and her solar-system gown that was totally out of this world.
Lady Gaga has become fashion’s favorite chameleon and she didn’t disappoint with this shiny, silvery, three-dimensional number that was created in collaboration with Giorgio Armani. She then opened the show in a green fairy-wing bodysuit – with matching green sparkle booties, of course.
“I am honored to be wearing Armani this evening. The series of pieces Mr. Armani created for me are truly iconic; they represent not only beautiful fashion, but my spirit and essence as an artist,” she said in a statement.
Fergie, in an electric blue Emilio Pucci strapless dress with a swath of silver snaking from her shoulder to the high hemline, along with the other Black Eyed Peas, continued the galactic vibe set by Lady Gaga. Heidi Klum also had a futuristic twist to her nude-and-rose Pucci micromini with splashes of silver, and Jennifer Hudson captured that spirit with the geometric, clear plastic bracelets she wore with her short, banded black dress by Victoria Beckham that had an open neck, nipped waist and peplum.
Hudson, Beyonce – who wore a strong-shoulder, mermaid-hem gown in gray that had just the right amount of decollete – and Taylor Swift– in a Kaufmanfranco sequin-covered, off-the-shoulder gown in midnight blue – all hit a balanced note between style and the sophistication that comes not with age but so many red-carpet appearances.
Rihanna’s high-neck white gown with cascading ruffles and emphasized hips by Elie Saab was sort of a modern take on old-world Victoriana.
Other outfits on parade outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles that deserved notice included Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland in a chic coral-and-black gown by Victoria Beckham that fit her like a second skin.
Katy Perry made her statement with hot pink lips but her champagne dress with gold-and-pearl floral embellishment by Zac Posen was understated and elegant – at least by Grammy standards.
Toni Braxton wore a dove-gray, one-shoulder gown by David Meister while Melanie Fiona also did the asymmetrical top, but hers was black and had a pouffy black trumpet skirt by Christian Siriano.
“It made me feel like old Hollywood,” she said. “It’s classic, like I think my music is.”
Sunglasses and black are always popular with the music crowd, and T-Pain in his blue aviators and Adam Lambert in his flashy black jacket with Johnny Cash-style black tie were among those to move them forward – even if they both looked like they tried a little too hard.
Britney Spears wore a black lace dress with black bodysuit by Dolce & Gabbana, and Ciara wore a black lace jumpsuit and crystal studded jacket with tails and shoulder pads by Givenchy. Nicole Kidman wore a movie star-worthy black Prada gown with a halter neckline.
Jennifer Lopez, who had one of the most famous Grammy fashion moments in a plunging-V gown back in 2000, again wore Versace, this time a silver chain-mail dress with white chiffon overlay.
There was also a strong showing of gray, which is sort of unexpected considering the crowd.
Miley Cyrus did a steely long-sleeve minidress and chunky heels, and Pink wore a gray-to-black ombre gown with a jeweled neckline and waistband. Her super-short hair highlighted her other bling: diamond bracelets, pendant-drop earrings, pave ring and hair brooch, all by Neil Lane.
Keri Hilson complemented the crystal waist on her blush-colored Dolce & Gabbana strapless with a huge Neil Lane cocktail ring.
Carrie Underwood pulled off the fashion-forward cutout look in an asymmetrical white gown with silver leather stripes across the bust and shoulders by Georges Chakras, and Mary J. Blige did the same in her slashed-top hot pink gown.
Common said men don’t feel as much pressure to wear a show-stopping outfit as the women do, but they still want to look good. “It’s a time when the world is looking at the music world, at the artists, so you want to look fresh,” he said, rocking a plaid suit and polka-dot scarf.
Usher put his own spin on the three-piece beige suit; his Armani had white piping that he paired with a checkerboard shirt.
Teen sensation Justin Bieber brought his two worlds together in Dolce & Gabbana and Vans, and Jason Mraz wore an eco-friendly tuxedo made from recycled polyester and a tie made from old cassette tapes. “If you put this in a machine, you can hear past Grammy winners,” he said.