Grammys 2013: Best/Worst Style

Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen rock the red carpet; Kimbra, Beyonce, more miss the mark -- see our grades
By Nakisha Williams
Updated February 11, 2013 at 02:00 AM EST

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Beyoncé in Osman

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After PETA blasted her for the reptile skin and leather get-up she wore at the Super Bowl, Beyonce stuck to a man-made fiber for the Grammys. Sure, she managed to show off her considerable, um, assets without breaking the network dress code, but her jumpsuit was more court jester than couture. C

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Carly Rae Jepsen in Roberto Cavalli

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The ''Call Me Maybe'' singer stepped out of her bubblegum persona and into a seriously sexy Roberto Cavalli column dress. I just wish she'd called her hairstylist to polish off the look with an updo. A-

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Adele in Valentino Couture

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Though I've never been a fan of patterns on the red carpet, I have to give it to the ''Skyfall'' singer for wearing something other than black! B-

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Carrie Underwood in Roberto Cavalli

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This look is nothing new for the country singer, but the $31 million in diamonds helped Underwood shine on the red carpet. The lesson here: Stick with what works and wear a small fortune in jewelry. B-

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Wiz Khalifa (in Tom Ford) and Amber Rose (in Donna Karan)

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The Khalifa cleaned up rather nicely in a traditional Tom Ford dinner jacket and black bow tie, while Rose looked chic in a jersey dress that (tastefully) clung to her baby bump. Khalifa: B+ Rose: A-

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Faith Hill (in J. Mendel) and Tim McGraw (in Tom Ford)

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Hill's dress had too much going on on top (lace, illusion mesh, a sweetheart cut-out and an embellished neckline) and not enough going on down below. Same goes for her husband, who showed more décolletage than his wife. Hill: B- McGraw: C+

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Kimbra (in Jamie Lee Major) and Gotye (in Jack London)

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Gotye got it right, but Kimbra needs to file the stylist who picked out this wacky gown under ''Somebody That I Used to Know.'' Kimbra: D Gotye: B+

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RedFoo

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What's even worse than the LMFAO singer's train wreck of an outfit? The fact that he wants to dress the world in his designs. D-

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Estelle in Genelle Brooks x Love Collins

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The nominee collaborated with Genelle Brooks x Love Collins to create her head-turning mermaid gown, which showed just a sliver of midriff. A-

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Nicole Kidman (in Vera Wang) and Keith Urban (in Rick Owens)

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A little bit country, a little bit rock 'n roll... Kidman's look was all over the map. And though I get the grunge thing, just once I'd like to see Urban clean shaven in a suit and tie. Kidman: C Urban: D+

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Taylor Swift in J. Mendel

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Swift managed to flirt with a sexier image without alarming the network censors. A

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John Mayer in Brioni

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He wore blue velvet... Am I the only one who's getting a Willy Wonka vibe from this look? C

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Rihanna in custom Azzedine Alaia

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If you look closely, you'll see that her dress is quite sheer (that's fashion speak for see through), but this is the most fabric I've seen on Rihanna in ages. The Unapologetic singer matched her gown with red lips and nails, but balanced out the sexy color by wearing her hair in soft, romantic waves. I'm a fan of the effect, but I can't help wondering how this ensemble would have looked with one of her edgier hairstyles. A

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Chris Brown in Lanvin

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Someone should have reminded Brown that you never wear white after Labor Day, and you never wear an all-white ensemble, well, ever. He's just asking to have someone spill a drink on him and we all know that will end in something worse than a big dry cleaning bill. I support drama-free wardrobe choices! D

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Justin Timberlake in Tom Ford

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By now, I expect to see JT in a Tom Ford suit and tie (the designer created looks for Timberlake in support of his forthcoming album) but his moire ''cocktail jacket'' and black-and-white loafers were the kind of Rat Pack touches that kept his look fresh. B

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Jennifer Lopez in Anthony Vaccarello

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She didn't rebel against the new Grammy dress code by pulling that infamous Versace frock out of her closet (oh, just imagine if she had!), but JLo couldn't resist the urge to show off a well-toned gam. There's just one problem; After a year of copycatting, we're way over the Angelina Effect. C

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Florence Welch in custom Givenchy

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The nominee's green gown was a modified version of a look from the label's Fall 2009 couture collection. The over-sized studs were a bit reptilian, but in a year that was lacking in the kind of drama (like Lady Gaga's designer egg or Nicki Minaj's satin nun's habit) we expect at the Grammys, this was the red carpet fashion risk of the night. A-

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Katy Perry in Gucci

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The Wide Awake singer had everyone's full attention in this mint green dress. Perry told Ryan Seacrest she was going for 1970s Priscilla Presley. Mission accomplished... but not in a good way. C

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