Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic Queen Bey is flawless in this hand-sewn Michael Costello gown. Enlarge
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images Alicia Keys attempted comfort couture on the carpet, but critics say it’s more of a fashion identity crisis. Enlarge
Music’s biggest night is also a Fashion Police feeding frenzy.
Larry Busacca/WireImage Pharrell Williams turned heads when he showed up at the 56th Grammy Awards wearing a Smoky-the-bear look alike hat by Vivienne Westwood.
Unlike the strict dress codes at the Oscars and Emmys, the Grammys are more relaxed, so A-listers are free to turn heads — or raise eye brows — on the red carpet.
Just about anything goes. And it has. Think Pharrell’s Vivienne Westwood hat, Jennifer Lopez’s iconic belly-button-baring Versace gown, Lady Gaga’s eggcellent entrance, and Katy Perry’s white feather angel wings. And leave it to Missy Elliot to work it in a fuzzy pink Adidas tracksuit and sneakers.
“It’s a fashion circus,” says Billboard associate editor Brooke Mazurek.
“Musicians are characters. Think back to Cher in the ’70s, Grace Jones in the ’80s and up through today and you can see how high fashion and couture has made its way onto the carpet more and more.”
Here are the good, the bad and the ugly.
Steve Granitz/WireImage “Rude Girl” Rihanna looked regal in her red Azzedine Alaia dress at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.
BEST:
Ranking: No. 1
Showstopper: Jennifer Lopez (2001)
J. Lo took low to a new level when she dared to bare in a plunging sheer Versace dress. She showed her wild side with a jungle print pattern and vogued next to then-boyfriend Diddy.
Expert says: “This dress went down in fashion history,” says Mazurek.
C Flanigan/FilmMagic Leave it to Lady Gaga to make an eggcellent entrance at the 2011 Grammy Awards.
Ranking: No. 2
Showstopper: Rihanna (2013)
The “Rude Boy” singer is known for her wild style, but RiRi looked regal in a sheer, red Azzedine Alaia gown and blinged out Neil Lane jewelry.
Expert says: “Rihanna is someone who bares a lot of skin pretty frequently, but something like this with a subtle open back was an elegant look,” says Mazurek.
Ranking: No. 3
Showstopper: Lady Gaga (2011)
The “Born This Way” singer knows how to make an entrance. She arrived in a giant egg and then hatched as part of her performance.
Expert says: “Definitely the most memorable red carpet entrance,” says Mazurek.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images Madonna thinks like a man in a Ralph Lauren tux complete with top hat and cane.
Ranking: No. 4
Showstopper: Madonna (2014)
Madge wore a sexy fitted Ralph Lauren tuxedo to match her son David Banda. The Material Girl completed the sassy look with a tie, top hat, cane and gold grills.
Expert says: “It’s like Rock ‘N Roll Annie Hall,” says Mazurek. “It takes a lot of guts to do. It’s multiple pieces and the fit has to be immaculate.”
Ranking: No. 5
Showstopper: Beyonce (2014)
Fashion critics were crazy in love with Queen Bey’s stunning Michael Costello dress. The white lace and nude mesh underlay and fish-netting was entirely hand sewn with delicate flowers on the sleeves and an A-symmetrical mermaid silhouette bottom.
Expert says: “Flawless.”
Jason Merritt/Getty Images Singer Katy Perry hit a high note in Valentiono during the 56th Grammy Awards.
Ranking: No. 6
Showstopper: Katy Perry (2014)
The California girl stunned in a sheer Valentino dress adorned with whimsical music notes. “Mr. Valentino knows me really well,” she said on the red carpet.
Expert says: “It was unexpected to see her covered up, but there’s a playful element [with the music notes] that’s done tastefully,” says Mazurek.
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WORST:
STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images Singer Cher’s chrome colored dress was a trainwreck at the 50th Grammy Awards making it our No. 1 worst dress in Grammy history.
Ranking: No. 1
Showstopper: Cher (2008)
Cher’s torn gray frock was fifty shades of unflattering.
Expert says: “Where does it end?” asks Mazurek. “It’s just too much material. Nothing was tailored right.”
Ranking: No.2
Showstopper: Cyndi Lauper (1984)
Barry King/WireImage Cyndi Lauper showed her true colors with a little too much Technicolor in 1984.
Lauper isn’t afraid to show her true colors, but she went too far when she sported technicolor hair, bright orange stockings and a fruit necklace .
Expert says: “Too much Technicolor for one red carpet,” says Mazurek.
Gregg DeGuire Sheryl Crow said it herself, “The first cut is the deepest.” We say this cutout went off the deep end.
Ranking: No. 3
Showstopper: Christina Aguilera (2001)
The pop princess looked like she was channeling “Pirates of the Caribbean” with braided golden locks, a high slit and cleavage.
Expert says: “ It’s a lot to look at,” Mazurek says.
Ranking: No. 4
Showstopper: Alicia Keys (2004)
The 15-time Grammy award winner appeared to be having an identity crisis when she paired blue jeans with an over-the-shoulder blue and white gown complete with a denim bracelet. Someone should have told Keys it was a red carpet, not casual Friday.
Expert says: “It was confusing, and a lot to look at. If you’re going to wear pants, go for a tux,” says Mazurek.
Ranking: No. 5
Showstopper: Sheryl Crow (2005)
If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad — unless you’re Sheryl Crow in a yellow halter dress with a half-moon shaped cut out revealing your torso. Crow has killer abs, but the unflattering exposure looked more like a hungry paparazzo took a bite out of her couture.
Expert says: “Sew it back!” says Mazurek. “The cut of the dress, even though her body is so toned, didn’t accentuate the right places.”
Music & Arts – NY Daily News