Ah, Las Vegas: it offers inspiration in so many ways. At least that’s how it seemed, judging by the Grammy red carpet, newly installed at the city’s MGM Grand Garden Arena… geez, so many things! Sin and lights and camp and Elvis.
And as with the site, so with the clothing. If there was a theme to the night, it was an exuberant “anything goes” attitude that wasn’t a bad reminder of why red carpets are fun in the first place. They are just as good for those who watch as they are for those who wear.
There was Megan Thee Stallion, channeling an entire big cat enclosure into her one-shoulder, slit-to-the-waist Roberto Cavalli. St. Vincent, modeling for “Showgirls”, the X Games version, in Gucci with ruffles and huge wide sleeves and skirt. Michelle Zauner from Japanese Breakfast, looks like a fantastic daffodil, in short, wavy yellow Valentino. And Billie Eilish, all-goth conceptualist in a black Rick Owens coat with a neckline that seemed to have migrated to her torso, suggesting that everyone’s perspective was turned a little to one side. Who couldn’t handle it?
Even BTS’s relatively staid Louis Vuitton suit (think shades of clay, sand, white, and teal) was punctuated by V’s over-the-top corsage, as if an entire bouquet of paper flowers had tied itself to the side of his jacket.
Shocking pink was the color of the night, worn by Billy Porter in a Valentino ruffled shirt dress, cape, opera gloves and trousers; Saweetie, in a Valentino bra, more gloves and a giant skirt (the brand actually had its own patented name for the pink: Pink PP, after its designer, Pierpaolo Piccioli); Travis Barker, in a shocking pink coat over a black Givenchy suit; and Angélique Kidjo, in a gorgeous fringed fuchsia.
Also Justin Bieber, who paired his oversized Balenciaga suit and steel-tipped Balenciaga Crocs with a hot pink hat. (Crocs also appeared at Questlove’s feet. Comfort dressing at the forefront!)
Speaking of Saweetie, the pink was just the first of three — count them — outfits she wore at night, swapping it for a black Oscar de la Renta dress cut to flash a silver-covered chest. like an Amazon going to the prom, then trading that for a shiny, backless gold Etro number.
But when it came to bling, there was Lil Nas X, who shone like a rhinestone on one of Elvis’ jumpsuits. He appeared to channel a sci-fi warrior angel in pearl-encrusted Balmain with butterfly details before changing into shimmering Zorro black to begin his performance, which was in turn shed for a pearl bolero and then a brass band jacket complete with gold braid. As for Giveon, his Chanel black bouclé “denim” jacket and jeans shone like the night sky over the desert. Chanel menswear! Why not?
Then there was Jon Batiste, who stepped in in a suit of silver, gold, and black harlequin sequins in honor of his hometown of New Orleans. Designed by Dolce & Gabbana, the previously canceled brand whose history of politically incorrect behavior seems to have been behind it, at least as far as celebrities are concerned, the suit was surpassed only by the diamond-studded cape, part royal, part priest he wore to his Award for Album of the Year.
Their only real competition in the twinkling stakes was Brandi Carlile, in a rainbow-bejeweled Boss tuxedo she told the E! presenter Laverne Cox weighed about “40 pounds” (anything for fashion), and she said it made her feel both “like a boss” and paid tribute to Elton John, the king of fantasy costumes.
Indeed, there was a hint of nostalgia that lasted through the night. HER wore an egg-yellow Dundas cap-sleeved jumpsuit with phoenix embroidery that was a direct reference to Aretha Franklin’s 1976 American Music Awards turnout. Leon Bridges, in white with gold embroidery, had a touch of Presley about him. Lady Gaga served up a mid-century silver screen siren in black Armani Privé with a touch of white satin on the side before slipping into a mint blue Elie Saab satin number with a giant bow at the back to wrap her golden old medley to do, gift wrapped Jean Harlow.
Olivia Rodrigo paired her Vivienne Westwood with a corset and a signature ’90s choker. And Dua Lipa channeled Donatella Versace in long blonde hair and a bondage dress from the 1992 Versace “Miss S&M” collection. (Mrs. Versace herself appeared in an awards ceremony that was arguably the ultimate in product placement.)
Still, that Versace dress wasn’t the only vintage on the carpet. SZA wore a 2006 nude Jean Paul Gaultier tulle design with a flower garden in the front, and Laverne Cox modeled a 2007 lacy black John Galliano number. It was as close as anyone could appreciate through clothing.
But in the end, amid all the fun and frills, the one piece of clothing that lingered the most was perhaps the least elaborate, least formal of them all: the T-shirt Billie Eilish wore to her performance. With Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer dying in late March, it was a fashion statement of the most emotional, effective kind.
