The 67th annual Grammy Award Ceremony kicked off this past Sunday, Feb. 2, and captured a night full of impeccable talent, admired compositions and quality fashion. The biggest names in the music industry waltzed down the red carpet, heading into the Los Angeles Crypto.com Arena in anticipation of hearing the awardees for every category. While the top performers come together to honor the efforts of the artists who we look up to for their confidence and expertise, this event is also known for the unique fashion displayed on the carpet.
As I like to call it, this night is a music artist’s runway, and these striking artists never fail to take our breath away on and off the stage. This year, there was a healthy balance of elegant, eccentric and even a tad questionable fashion choices. Nonetheless, this was fully expected from these top-tier musical performers, and the theme for the night was show-stopping energy.
Trevor Noah: Starting with the man who came back to host his fifth-consecutive Grammy Award ceremony, Noah entered in a bold navy-blue Giorgio Armani suit and Tiffany & Co. bijoux. As the leading figure of the show, Noah brought laughter and utmost class to the night, all starting with his chic attire.
Chappel Roan: Strutting into her first Grammy Award ceremony with six nominations, Roan was on her way to winning Best New Artist and gave a breathtaking performance. She wore a dress from Jean-Paul Gaultier’s Couture collection with Edgar Degas’s paintings of ballet dancers spread from her waistline to the hem. While spectators raised a brow to her dramatic full beat, Roan’s drag-inspired look and doll-like makeup made her extremely imaginative and beautifully encapsulated her personality.
Taylor Swift: In her Vivienne Westwood shimmering ruby red dress, Swift was once again a compelling figure to spectate. However, her dress was not what stole the crowd’s attention, rather the glistening “T” thigh chain. For “Travis” or for “Taylor,” we’ll leave it up to interpretation. Her high heels and vibrant lip finished the roaring red look seemingly to support Kelce as the Kansas City Chiefs head to the Super Bowl this weekend.
Sabrina Carpenter: Winning her first Grammy, Sabrina Carpenter arrived in my personal favorite of the night, a luxurious Cinderella-blue gown by JD Anderson with a halter design and feathered embellished waistline. Casually adding to the look, Carpenter accessorized her backless gown with a 50-carat diamond pendant necklace from Chopard.
Beyonce: Though she skipped the red carpet, she brought western couture to the stage to gather her award in a gold paisley dress. Undoubtedly remarkable in all fields.
And how could we forget Miley Cyrus, Lainey Wilson, Bruno Mars, Benson Boone and Kacey Musgraves? We can give them a notable mention.
Now, it would not be an award ceremony without a few questionable fashion choices from the attendees.
Bianca Censori: Kanye West’s wife made an unspeakably-memorable appearance on the red carpet last Sunday. This was not for her dress choice, but lack thereof. Instead of being featured in Vogue or Cosmopolitan, her see-through dress will be discussed in news reports.
Lady Gaga: Even with Lady Gaga’s magnificent performance of “California Dreamin’” with Bruno Mars, she was unrecognizable in her goth ensemble on the red carpet. She wore a Vivienne Westwood gown with a leather bodice and puffy sleeves. Unfortunately, with her dark hair and medieval-styled dress, I was not impressed.
Jaden Smith: Why a castle? For reference, Smith appeared on the carpet in a basic black suit and a literal castle headpiece with a cut out for his head to pop through. Meanwhile, his sister, Willow Smith, was adored in her Fleur du Mal set with a bold overcoat. There was no question which sibling came in style.
Janelle Monae: Let me preface with the fact that we all know and love her, but personally, I loathed her outfit choice. Janelle Monae was designed by Area, a New York City-based label with a signature avant-garde style. She wore a navy two-piece suit, a jacket with excessive shoulder padding and high-waisted pants. Her accessories were gold chains and a top hat that resembled a train conductor.
Joy Villa: Are we surprised that the performer who wore a “Make America Great Again” hat to the 2017 Grammy Awards, was wearing a “The Hat Stays On” version this year? Joy Villa was expected to bring another controversial choice to the carpet, and she definitely fulfilled this standard. While every individual has the right to hold and speak their personal opinion, the red carpet at the Grammys may not be the ideal moment.
Through thick and thin, or in this case, breathtakingly stunning to shockingly ugly, we can appreciate the Grammys as a night of admiration for the work and effort these artists put into making listeners feel heard.
