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

1 of 18

Beyoncé in Osman

Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

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

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 18

Carly Rae Jepsen in Roberto Cavalli

Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

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-

3 of 18

Adele in Valentino Couture

Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

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-

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 18

Carrie Underwood in Roberto Cavalli

Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

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-

Advertisement

5 of 18

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

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

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-

6 of 18

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

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

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+

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 18

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

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

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+

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 18

RedFoo

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

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-

Advertisement

9 of 18

Estelle in Genelle Brooks x Love Collins

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 18

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

Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

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+

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

11 of 18

Taylor Swift in J. Mendel

Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

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

Advertisement
Advertisement

12 of 18

John Mayer in Brioni

Credit: Jeff Vespa/WireImage

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

13 of 18

Rihanna in custom Azzedine Alaia

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

14 of 18

Chris Brown in Lanvin

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

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

Advertisement
Advertisement

15 of 18

Justin Timberlake in Tom Ford

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

16 of 18

Jennifer Lopez in Anthony Vaccarello

Credit: Lester Cohen/WireImage

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

17 of 18

Florence Welch in custom Givenchy

Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

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-

Advertisement
Advertisement

18 of 18

Katy Perry in Gucci

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Nakisha Williams