A look at unconventional fashion statements at the Grammy Awards
By Brittney MacDonald, Life & Style Editor
Awards season is one of my favourite times of year. Not because I care about the awards themselves, but because I want to see the celebrities in their red carpet fashion, especially those who screwed up big time and came off looking like a train wreck. Unfortunately, the Grammy Awards, which aired on February 15, left me very little to complain about.
As popular music expands its horizons, the aesthetic scene that surrounds the music industry grows exponentially. Gone are the days of the photogenic pop sensations, perfectly coifed and ready to thank God as they clutch their tiny gold trophy in perfectly manicured hands. Don’t get me wrong, they’re still around—it’s just now they have some company. Women and men of all different body shapes and style-inspirations have joined in on the fun, adding to this massive melting pot of fashion expression. All in all, it creates this really amazing, creative dynamic—showing people world-wide that you don’t have to be “perfect” to look it.
Starting off, I want to point out Elle King, who was one of my favourite standouts of the night. As a curvy woman, she dressed for her shape by choosing a silhouette that accentuated her hour-glass figure and cinched her in at the waist without making her look like a sausage. What I like most about her dress was the fact it was very close to being over the top. We’re talking feathers, beads, lace… it’s enough to make your head spin. The reason why it didn’t is because she maintained a cohesive colour story. Yes, there is a lot going on, but because the entire dress is black with only little hints of silver, the look doesn’t overwhelm her. She’s also a fairly tall woman, so she can carry a bigger look without being enveloped by it.
Next, we’re going to go to the complete opposite of the spectrum and take a look at Zendaya. Unlike King, Zendaya is extremely petite, and I find that she often wears gowns or separates with prints or textures that overwhelm her tiny frame. This showing, however, I was quite impressed by. She replaced her usual too-frilly look with a slick, androgynous suit that made her look extremely tall. The simplicity of the suit was off set with a high-fashion mullet, which many have criticized her for. I, on the other hand, thought the entire look was fantastic. It reminded me of an updated version of David Bowie’s look in the early ‘80s, which was probably its intent. After all, the man was an icon—Gaga can’t be the only one paying homage.
Next up, we’re going to look at a very unlikely source for fashion advice—Swedish heavy metal band Ghost. The band won Best Metal Performance for their song “Cirice,” and they showed up to the event looking slick as heck. Now I’m a big fan of heavy metal, but I’ll be the first to admit that the artists that come out of this genre don’t often have the biggest appreciation for good tailoring. Proving that good style isn’t limited to Pharrell Williams, lead singer Papa Emeritus III and four of his masked bandmates appeared in matching black military jackets that were perfectly tailored for each one of them. I’m serious, not a puckered seam in sight! Emeritus was a little more flamboyant, sporting his jacket open in the front and made out of a black satin, as opposed to his bandmates, who appeared to be wearing a more traditional fabric as well as perfectly coordinated gunmetal masks. The overall look was cohesive and actually pretty elegant. Nothing looks better on a man than a perfectly cut jacket—even if the rest of his appearance is slightly terrifying.
