Grammy Awards: Memorable Red Carpet Dresses Of Year’s Past
Published on February 5, 2019. Updated January 23, 2020For almost 60 years, the best and biggest names in the music industry have been honored at the Annual Grammy Awards. While the entire event is all about the music, it has also become one of the biggest nights for fashion in Hollywood. Over the many years of red carpet entrances, some dresses have stood out for all the right reasons, and while trends have changed drastically over the years, these stars knew exactly what they were doing to make a memorable statement! Here are 25 memorable Grammy Awards dresses from year’s past!
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25. Taylor Swift — 2012
The 2012 Grammys was a big night for Taylor Swift who snagged two awards for her hit song “Mean.” For the monumental evening, Swift opted for a full-glam golden dress by Zuhair Murad that featured a dramatic mesh cutout and intricate beading throughout. Rather than her typical head of curls, Swift opted for a sleek updo that was clean and sophisticated.
Shutterstock24. Kim Kardashian — 2011
No one does a sultry gold dress better than Kim Kardashian! For the 2011 Grammys, the star opted for a draped golden dress that showed skin in all the right places without being over the top. It was sultry, seductive and most of all, totally glamorous.
(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)23. Cardi B — 2018
Cardi B made her Grammy debut in 2018 wearing a dress that absolutely no one could forget! The singer donned a show-stopping custom creation by Ashi that reportedly took 150 hours to craft. We love that this dress was the perfect balance of delicate and dramatic.
Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP22. Katy Perry — 2009
Katy Perry’s style has shifted significantly throughout the years and we rarely have any idea what to expect when she steps out onto a red carpet. In 2009, however, she opted for a relatively tame route in comparison to some of her more theatrical looks. Perry opted for a blush pink chiffon gown that featured a dramatic satin bow detail along the front. The look was elegant, feminine and totally memorable!
Source: Shutterstock21. Nelly Furtado — 2002
Nelly Furtado was the queen of the Pop music world back in the early 2000s when her hit song “I’m Like A Bird” was on every radio station. For the 2002 Grammys, the star opted for a seriously stunning Giorgio Armani dress that featured a nude underlay and dainty, sheer floral design. The striking gown made for a delicate and eye-catching red carpet moment.
Source: Shutterstock20. Jennifer Lopez — 2017
One of the most memorable J.Lo looks of all time is this dreamy, lilac Ralph & Russo dress that she wore for the 2017 Grammy awards. While we often aren’t fans of oversized embellishment, since the rest of the dress is so simple this tulle detail on the shoulder looks super elegant.
Photo By: Charlie Williams/Everett Collection19. Chrissy Teigen — 2016
Chrissy Teigen has proved over the years that she has the chicest maternity style in all of Hollywood! She loves to show off her bump in slimming dresses, and our ultimate favorite of hers is this sophisticated and glitzy white number she wore to the 2016 Grammys. Her crystal cape was to die for and a fashion moment we’ll never forget.
Photo by Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock18. Rita Ora — 2018
Rita Ora mastered the little black dress when she stepped out at the 2018 Grammys wearing this sultry number designed by Ralph & Russo. What we especially love about this dress is the crystal detailing on the underside of the hemlines. It’s a subtle pop of glitz that’s unique and unexpected!
Photo by Lionel Hahn/ABACAPRESS.COM17. Rihanna — 2011
Rihanna is known for her bold fashion, and her look for the 2011 Grammy Awards definitely rang true to that notion. The music superstar opted for a white tier dress that featured sheer layers which left little to the imagination. While this Jean Paul Gaultier look was obviously revealing, we also give major kudos to Rihanna for wearing something so unique that felt like a work of art!
s_bukley / Shutterstock.com16. Taylor Swift — 2016
Taylor Swift stole the show when she opted for this bold two-piece set by Atelier Versace at the 2016 Grammy Awards. Initially, a shade of coral mixed with fuschia wouldn’t seem to be the most natural pair, but Swift found a way to make it work flawlessly. The look was dramatic and seductive by showing a little skin, which marked a huge shift in Swift’s career from that of an innocent young country star to a full-blown glamorous pop star.
Press Association15. Adele — 2013
Adele looked absolutely radiant at the 2013 Grammy awards where she stepped out in a show-stopping red number. The floral embroidered gown cinched at the waist and flattered her body flawlessly. The bold, embroidered print was just loud enough to make a statement yet still looked ultra feminine and chic. To prove just how much of a fashionista she is, Adele paired the look with coordinating crimson floral shoes. Typically we’d be opposed to wearing prints so similar, but Adele did so in a subtle and flawless way!
Source: Shutterstock
14. Nicki Minaj — 2011
We’re definitely on the fence about whether Nicki Minaj’s cheetah print look from the 2011 Grammys was an applaudable risk or completely obscure, but nevertheless, it was memorable! Minaj rocked head to toe cheetah, even including the shoes on her feet and the patterns in her wig. We can definitely appreciate the art behind this, and with Minaj, we wouldn’t expect anything less than this bold look!
Photo by Picture Perfect / Rex Features
13. Solange — 2017
Solange Knowles stepped out in a showstopping Gucci dress at the 2017 Grammy awards! The look was a definite statement with the exaggerated one-shoulder silhouette, thigh-high slit, pleating, and peplum detailing, but what truly made it stand out was the fact that the golden gown was completely different than anything we’d ever seen before!
Photo by Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock
12. Kelly Rowland — 2013
Cutouts are a tricky look to pull off when it comes to the red carpet and there is a fine line between coming across tasteful or tacky. The jaw-dropping Georges Chakra gown that Kelly Rowland wore at the 2013 Grammy awards was definitely one of the riskiest cutout dresses we’ve seen and featured strategically placed geometric sheer designs throughout. The risque gown was undeniably a talking point at the 2013 Grammy awards, especially after CBS sent a memo advising celebrities to avoid sheer, see-through clothing. “It’s so funny! I thought about the dress code and thought about it again, and that’s about it,” Rowland joked at the time.
Photo By: Jef Hernandez/Everett Collection
11. Katy Perry — 2012
Katy Perry is the ultimate fashion chameleon and has transitioned her sense of style more than a few times throughout her career. Her 2012 Grammys look was one of our ultimate favorites and definitely a peak in Perry’s fashion evolution! The powder blue Ellie Saab dress was completely covered in soft, sheer applique that was feminine yet still sultry. The choice of dress couldn’t have been better with her electric blue hair color at the time and her luminous makeup and pink lip definitely added a softness to the look.
Source: Shutterstock
10. Rihanna — 2015
It would be impossible to forget Rihanna’s enormous Giambattista Valli gown from the 2015 Grammy awards! The poufy, Barbie pink dress was definitely bold, but we have to admit that Rihanna may be one of the only celebs who could pull off a statement look like this. The larger-than-life princess gown definitely stole the show that evening and is still an iconic fashion moment that fans reminisce about years later.
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9. Kim Kardashian — 2015
Kim Kardashian’s Grammy awards dress from 2015 was definitely one of her most memorable looks ever! The 100 lb Jean Paul Gaultier gown featured embellished shoulders, a plunging neckline, and a glittering waist-cinching crystal belt. The intricate, glittering gown looked like a piece of art straight off the cover of Vogue and definitely made this Kardashian look like a glamour queen at the 2015 Grammy awards!
Source: Shutterstock
8. Christina Aguilera — 2001
Christina Aguilera’s 2001 Grammy dress was definitely one of the riskiest looks we’ve seen at the awards show! The Trish Summerville gown featured a daring lace-up neckline and a super high slit down the front of the gown. She rocked major braids in her hair and a pair of unconventional yellow chandelier earrings. We’re not totally sure whether we love or hate this dress, but one thing for sure is no one could forget this Grammys fashion moment!
Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
7. Carrie Underwood — 2012
Carrie Underwood’s head to toe sequined gown from the 2012 Grammy awards was one of the highlights of the evening. The show-stopping gown was sleek and sharp, but still intricately designed and luxurious! The simple gown featured a cutout along the back which Carrie allowed to shine by pulling her hair into an elegant and loosely coiffed updo.
Source: Shutterstock
6. Lady Gaga — 2010
For years, Lady Gaga’s trademark was to go completely out-of-the-box with her red carpet fashion which included the infamous meat dress at the MTV Video Awards. For the Grammys in 2010, Gaga stepped completely out of this world with a custom design by Giorgio Armani Prive. “I am delighted to be creating these outfits on such an important night for her, the Grammys, and I wish her the best of luck,” the designer said ahead of the show. While the outfit may not be “stunning” in the conventional sense, it is without a doubt one of the most memorable.
Photo by BDG / Rex Features5. Jennifer Lopez — 2011
Jennifer Lopez has never shied away from flaunting her amazing and toned figure, and while her 2000 Grammy Awards dress has gone down in history, her 2011 dress was also spectacular. J.Lo rocked a short and shimmering silver metallic Emilio Pucci dress. As if Lopez needed any help being eye-catching, this dress did the trick and was one of the most talked about looks of the night.
Photo by Broadimage / Rex Features4. Rihanna — 2013
Over her years attending the Grammys, Rihanna has had both hit and misses, but one of her best was her 2013 Grammy Awards gown. The singer wore a custom-made Azzedine Alaia red dress which mastered the use of sheer cutouts way before they were popular, and Rihanna herself said the dress was “stunning” and loved the vibrant look which she made sure to match to both her lips and her nails.
Photo by Broadimage / Rex Features3. Beyonce — 2014
Beyonce has always stunned at the Grammys. From her days with Destiny’s Child to going solo, she has never failed to impress, and one of her best looks was at the Grammy Awards in 2014. Queen B wore a white and lace Michael Costello gown which sent everyone buzzing, and kept the buzz going for weeks afterward.
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)2. Taylor Swift — 2015
2015 may seem like decades ago now to some, but at the time, high-low skirts and dresses were all the rage and when Taylor Swift showed up to the 2015 Grammys, she stunned everyone. Donning a shimmering perfect blue Elie Saab gown, jaws-dropped when Swift took the red carpet, and since it has only been two years, it is one of the gowns still freshly emblazoned in our memories.
Photo by Broadimage/REX1. Jennifer Lopez — 2000
Of all the most iconic Grammy dresses, Jennifer Lopez’s look from 2000 has got to be one of the all-time most memorable! In all seriousness, this look is arguably one of the most iconic from any awards show ever. Many even claim that this dress inspired the creation of Google Image Search after it became the most popular search query Google had ever seen.
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Source: Shutterstock