Some fashion is simply timeless.
That’s why Grammys fashion is still worth talking about.
Though the awards themselves came with some disappointment (enough for Kanye West to nearly interrupt yet another acceptance speech), the fashion was phenomenal.
A perfect Grammys outfit requires the perfect balance of risk and payoff, along with loads of imagination and spunk. The award show is an opportunity for famous artists to “let loose” and wear something racy, silly or simply controversial.
As Beyonce, the queen herself, demonstrated, it’s easy to look beautiful at the Grammys, but hard to be remembered. Although her black lace Proenza Schouler gown was stunning and laid beautifully on her, she wore it to the Grammys. This would have been an amazing opportunity for Beyonce to break some rules, but instead this look reminded everyone that even your heroes can disappoint you.
Nicki Minaj also pulled a similar move, except that her Tom Ford gown at least had some sparkles and fringe to add a more youthful vibe. Rap colleague Kanye West and trophy wife Kim Kardashian both wowed in luxury threads, Kim in a Jean Paul Gaultier bathrobe and Kanye in a lush red velvet sweat suit worthy of Hugh Hefner.
Iggy Azalea’s anticipated debut at the Grammys might have been hard to forget, but not necessarily in a good way. Her milkmaid braids created a perfect bird’s nest and made it hard to appreciate her perfectly adequate cobalt cutout gown.
Besides the classic gown choice, singers Charli XCX and Anna Kendrick played the pantsuit card, the former failing. Charli’s Moschino suit made her look like a conservative Playboy Bunny, and satin white never flatters anyone. On the other hand, “Cup Song” queen Anna Kendrick made the smart choice and went classic black with a plunging neckline.
Regardless of the hits and misses our beloved celebrities donned, my personal favorite look was impossible to ignore. Though it’s definitely debatable as to whether or not Rihanna’s pink, poofy Giambattista Valli gown was something you might wear yourself, she achieved exactly what every Grammy guest should hope to achieve through their outfit: buzz. Rihanna’s rule-breaker reputation led me to predict her in a fierce, black pantsuit or something with dangerously sheer panels— but her dainty, bubblegum pink number surprised everyone way more than black mesh ever could. Thousands of memes of the pop star Photoshopped next to sticks of cotton candy popped up left and right online in seconds after she arrived on the red carpet, and her look was only overshadowed by history almost repeating itself (I’m referring to Kanye, of course). In fact, popular online news source Buzzfeed has already compiled a list of “13 Random Things That Rihanna Looked Like At The Grammys.”
Though the results are always wishy-washy, and someone always ends up disappointed, the Grammys were full of awesome fashion moments. I did secretly hope that Lady Gaga would show up in a rocket ship, but I guess I will just have to wait for next year.