Grammys Crimson Carpet: Present Ladies, Tiger Queens and Pearly Kings

Ah, Las Vegas: It gives inspiration in so some ways. That’s the way it appeared, anyway, judging from the Grammy pink carpet, newly situated to the MGM Grand Backyard Area within the metropolis of … gosh, so many issues! Sin and lights and camp and Elvis.

And as with the location, so, too, with the garments. If there was a theme to the night time, it was an exuberant anything-goes perspective that was not a foul reminder of why pink carpets are enjoyable within the first place. They’re as a lot for these doing the watching as these doing the carrying.

There was Megan Thee Stallion, channeling a whole massive cat enclosure in her one-shouldered, slit-to-the-waist Roberto Cavalli. St. Vincent, modeling “Showgirls,” the X Video games model, in ruffle-trimmed Gucci with huge sweeping sleeves and skirt. Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast, wanting like a wonderful daffodil briefly ruffled yellow Valentino. And Billie Eilish, going all Gothic conceptualist in a black Rick Owens coat with a neckline that appeared to have migrated to her torso, thus suggesting everybody’s perspective had flipped form of sideways. Who couldn’t relate?

Even the comparatively sedate Louis Vuitton suiting of BTS (assume tones of clay, sand, white and teal) was punctuated by V’s overblown corsage, like a whole bouquet of paper flowers had connected itself to the facet of his jacket.

Stunning pink was the colour of the night time, worn by Billy Porter in a ruffled Valentino shirtdress, cape, opera gloves and trousers; Saweetie, in a Valentino bra, extra gloves and ginormous skirt (the model truly had its personal patented title for the pink: Pink PP, after its designer, Pierpaolo Piccioli); Travis Barker, in a surprising pink coat over a black Givenchy go well with; and Angélique Kidjo, in a wonderful fringed fuchsia.

Additionally Justin Bieber, who accessorized his oversize Balenciaga go well with and steel-tipped Balenciaga Crocs with a brilliant pink beanie. (Crocs additionally made an look on the toes of Questlove. Consolation dressing to the fore!)

Talking of Saweetie, the pink was solely the primary of three — depend ’em — outfits she wore through the night time, swapping it for a black Oscar de la Renta robe lower to flash one silver-covered breast, like an Amazon going to the promenade, after which buying and selling that for a glimmering, backless gold Etro quantity.

Nonetheless, when it got here to bling, there was Lil Nas X, shining like a rhinestone on considered one of Elvis’s jumpsuits. He gave the impression to be channeling a sci-fi warrior angel in pearl-encrusted Balmain with butterfly detailing earlier than he became glittering Zorro black to begin his efficiency, which in flip was shed for a pearl bolero after which a marching band jacket full with gold braid. As for Giveon, his Chanel black bouclé “denim” jacket and denims sparkled just like the night time sky over the desert. Chanel males’s put on! Why not?

Then there was Jon Batiste, who made his entrance in a silver, gold and black harlequin sequin go well with in honor of New Orleans, his hometown. Designed by Dolce & Gabbana, the previously canceled model whose historical past of politically incorrect habits appears to be behind it, a minimum of so far as celebrities are involved, the go well with was outshone solely by the diamante-bedazzled cape, half royal, half priest, he wore to just accept his award for Album of the Yr.

Their solely actual competitors within the sparkle stakes was Brandi Carlile, in a rainbow-bejeweled Boss tuxedo she advised the E! host Laverne Cox weighted about “40 kilos” (something for trend), and that she stated each made her really feel “like a boss” and was a homage to Elton John, the king of fantabulous costume.

Certainly, there was a pressure of nostalgia working by way of the night time. H.E.R. wore an egg yolk-yellow Dundas jumpsuit with caped sleeves and phoenix embroidery that was a direct reference to Aretha Franklin’s 1976 American Music Awards get-up. Leon Bridges, in white with gold embroidery, had a contact of Presley about him. Woman Gaga served full midcentury silver display siren in black Armani Privé with a swag of white satin on the facet earlier than slipping right into a minty blue Elie Saab satin quantity with a huge bow on the again to do her golden oldies medley, like a gift-wrapped Jean Harlow.

Olivia Rodrigo paired her corseted Vivienne Westwood with a signature ’90s choker. And Dua Lipa channeled Donatella Versace in lengthy blond hair and a bondage robe from the 1992 Versace “Miss S&M” assortment. (Ms. Versace herself made an look in an award-presenting skit that was maybe the final word in product placement.)

Nonetheless, that Versace robe wasn’t the one classic on the carpet. SZA wore a nude tulle Jean Paul Gaultier design from 2006 sprouting a backyard’s value of flowers down the entrance, and Laverne Cox modeled a lacy black John Galliano quantity from 2007. It was as shut an anybody obtained to worth signaling by way of costume.

But ultimately, amid all of the enjoyable and frippery, the one garment that the majority lingered was maybe the least elaborate, least formal of all: the T-shirt worn by Billie Eilish for her efficiency. That includes Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer who died in late March, it was a trend assertion of essentially the most emotional, efficient type.