By Jessica Wedemeyer
8:14am PST, Jan 6, 2020
We might not always remember who took home top honors at the Grammys, but we definitely remember the sexy, shocking and wild ensembles our favorite superstars donned on the red carpet. When it comes to Grammy style, anything goes! As we eagerly anticipate what the stars will wear to the 2020 Grammys on Jan. 26, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at the most memorable looks of Grammys past… starting with one of the most iconic dresses of all time: Jennifer Lopez's green Versace gown. Like it or not, there's no denying that the barely-there silk chiffon dress J.Lo donned for the 2000 Grammys ceremony is one of the most recognizable red carpet looks in Hollywood history. The singer-actress flaunted her perfect figure, somehow managed to avoid a major wardrobe malfunction and cemented her place as an international superstar in the process. Keep reading for more memorable Grammy looks!
RELATED: Most buzzed-about moments from Grammys past
Adele had that new-mom glow at the 2013 Grammys! She wore a short, vintage-inspired red Valentino dress — and looked like a total doll in the lacy creation.
Beyonce, who was pregnant with her twins at the time, looked like a sun goddess while performing at the 2017 Grammy Awards. The superstar singer wore an ethereal gold gown by Peter Dundas complete with intricate golden beading, sheer details and a stunning gold headdress. Fun fact: In the middle of Bey's gown is a medallion fashioned to look like her face!
Katy Perry's dress did the singing for her at the 2014 Grammys. The sheer, nude Valentino gown was covered in black music notes. "It's musical, for music's biggest night," she told E!'s Ryan Seacrest of her sartorial inspiration.
Kim Kardashian West might have risked a major wardrobe malfunction in this shimmery, slinky Kaufman Franco gown at the 2011 Grammys, but boy did she look good doing it! "I'm like a bronze trophy right now," Kim told InStyle while flaunting her famous figure.
Well, Cardi B certainly made a splash at the 2019 Grammy Awards. The star arrived in this vintage Mugler design — her wildest look to date. The piece — pulled from the fashion house's 1995 archives — was comprised of a sheer sequined nude bodysuit tucked into a black skirt that bloomed into a clam shell shape. Yep, that's right. A clam shell.
Yikes! Nicki Minaj drew major criticism when she walked the red carpet at the 2012 Grammys in an embellished red nun's habit, escorted by a man dressed as a pontiff. Was it sacrilegious — or just a major crime against the fashion gods?
Lady Gaga shot for the moon and landed among the stars at the 2010 Grammys when she donned this custom-made Giorgio Armani Prive ensemble on the red carpet. The space-inspired getup was just one of three separate looks the fashion house designed for Gaga that night: They also created the sparkly green jumpsuit she wore to perform alongside Elton John during the telecast as well as an ice queen-inspired look featuring an intricate headpiece that she wore while accepting her multiple Grammys that year. It was arguably the height of Gaga's avant-garde fashion aesthetic, before her style veered into wacky performance-art territory.
British rapper M.I.A. was nine months pregnant when she attended the 2009 Grammys, so we can't blame her for choosing comfort over couture, but the two ensembles she donned before and during the show were just… WOW! On the red carpet, M.I.A. made the worst dressed list by keeping her sizable baby bump under wraps in a psychedelic Little Bo Peep-inspired dress with matching sneakers. Later, she changed into a sheer jumpsuit with strategically placed polka-dot embellishments for her performance on the Grammys stage. The ensemble certainly raised eyebrows, but it also became one of the most iconic looks in Grammys history — and we gotta love a woman who celebrates her pregnancy bod just a few days before giving birth. In the end, we tip our hats to this memorable fashion risk.
In 2003, Pink hit the Grammys in this messy gothic getup that featured sheer black paneling and haphazard cutouts as well as a super-high slit. That messy faux-hawk hairstyle didn't help matters, ensuring that the final look was more sloppy than slick.
There once was a time known as the early aughts, when girl groups and boy bands reigned supreme and coordinating in matchy-matchy ensembles was all the rage. At that time, no one did it better than Kelly Rowland, Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child. At the 2001 Grammys, the trio donned metallic gowns on the red carpet — we guess putting Beyonce in gold was too obvious! — and figure-flaunting green-and-gold ensembles later in the show. Each look was designed by Bey's mom, Tina Knowles. "She's the only person who knows what we want," Queen B told People magazine.
Madonna channeled a bullfighter at the 2015 Grammys in a super-skimpy Givenchy creation with thigh-high boots and full-length gloves. And if you're wondering what was going on in the back, let's just say we shouldn't show you how revealing the look was from that angle.
Oh, CeeLo Green! He certainly made an entrance at the 2017 Grammy Awards decked out in this, well… we're not quite sure what to even call it. The all-gold ensemble left us utterly confused, but was certainly hard to forget!
Toni Braxton shocked fans at the 2001 Grammys when she wore this scandalous gown. The white and silver frock, which was essentially a few pieces of fabric strategically placed together, also required that the star go sans undergarments. Pretty risky for the early '00s!
Is that really Fergie? The Black Eyed Peas frontwoman looked simply glamorous at the 2008 Grammys in a canary yellow Calvin Klein number. It was a step in the right direction for the newly engaged singer — Josh Duhamel had proposed just two months earlier. Fergie proved that she was just as Fergalicious in mature, age-appropriate ensembles as she was dressing half her age in figure-flaunting fashions. Nicely done!
The king and queen of country music were perfectly in sync in coordinating lilac at the 1999 Grammy Awards. Faith Hill took a fashion cue from Gwyneth Paltrow at the time, donning a totally au courant simple spaghetti-strap gown with a draped neckline, while Tim McGraw looked polished in his signature look: a well-fitted suit with a matching cowboy hat. The duo looked every inch country music royalty, doncha think?
Jennifer Lopez had one of the worst looks of the night at the 2019 Grammy Awards. From the fit to the cut, we've never seen J.Lo in an ensemble so poorly tailored. Even the intricate jeweled embellishments couldn't save this bizarre sleeveless Ralph & Russo frock, which she topped off with a ridiculous hat to solidify the look as a miss.
As far as weird Grammy fashion goes, alt-rock foursome OK Go take the cake! The "Here It Goes Again" rockers donned these wallpaper-inspired suits at the 2007 Grammys — and later recycled the looks for their "Do What You Want" music video. Were they trying to cut back on costs? Hey, it's tough being an indie act: Lady Gaga got three crazy outfits for the 2010 Grammys, and poor OK Go only got one set of acid-flashback-inducing suits for the entire year of 2007!
No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani was pregnant with her first child, son Kingston Rossdale, when she attended the 2006 Grammys in this one-shouldered leopard-print ombre frock from her own L.A.M.B. line. Gwen scored bonus points for coordinating with the green carpet and brown backdrop at the Grammys that year. Natch!
At the 2006 Grammys, Kanye West arrived in this memorable ensemble: a red shirt almost completely unbuttoned to expose gold chains, a crisp white suit jacket and black pants. But it was his accessories that took this outfit to a bizarre new level. Check out those futuristic shades and black leather gloves!
A patterned skirt with palm trees? Check. A gold silk shirt? Check. A blue blazer, red tights and red pumps? Check, check and check. Cyndi Lauper brought every color of the rainbow to the 1984 Grammys. And she even added an odd tulle headband and beaded necklace to accessorize as only she can.
The men of Coldplay — Chris Martin, Will Champion, Guy Berryman and Jonny Buckland — attended the 2009 Grammys in multi-colored military jackets. Though the colors were mismatched, everything tied together with the musicians' shoes for a memorable red carpet moment.
That's a whole lot of print! Brad Paisley rocked a white shirt printed with flowers at the 2004 Grammys, then added some extra floral flair in the form of his jacket lining.
On the one hand, Sheryl Crow's body looked freaking unbelievable in this midriff-baring yellow gown at the 2005 Grammys. On the other hand, the singer — who wore yellow to support then-boyfriend Lance Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation — kind of looked like she was about to be constricted by a snake made of tinsel. And that is never good.
Lil Kim's outfit at the 2002 Grammys certainly turned heads. The rapper sported this cropped red leather jacket with matching boots and blinged-out pants and rocked a tight white crop top underneath. And to top it all off? A Chanel-encrusted motorcycle helmet. Because, why not?
Alicia Keys may have taken home five trophies at the 2002 Grammys, but when it came to her red carpet style, she was a total loser. We're not sure what's worse: the embellished jeans and plain white tank top, the sheer sari or the overly enthusiastic glittery eye shadow. Let's just say Alicia has come a long way since 2002!
If you've ever wondered what happens when an ostrich mates with a flapper, fear not: Christina Aguilera has the answer. The singer donned this overdone lilac confection at the 2004 Grammys. Sadly, she also attempted an Old Hollywood glam hairdo, but with her nearly black hue, this getup just didn't hit the right notes.
We absolutely loved Rihanna's 2017 Grammys look! The Bajan singer rocked an orange crop top and black ball gown skirt by Armani Prive with a black clutch and diamonds.
Goofy is certainly one way to describe Macy Gray's 2001 Grammys getup. The singer rocked baggy pink bedazzled jeans, pink boots, a hot pink T-shirt emblazoned with "Goofy" and a massive floor-length white fur coat to the big event. Oh, and don't forget the rose-colored glasses and streaks of pink in her hair.
Then-newcomer Avril Lavigne shirked tradition by wearing an ensemble of her own design — or was it from Hot Topic? — rather than a designer gown at the 2003 Grammys. She probably hoped her oversized jacket, bow tie, sneakers and belt buckle would convince us of a fact her music just cannot: That she's totally punk rock. To us, the whole thing came off as really immature and kind of petulant. What do you think?
Rihanna can basically wear anything and look flawless, which she proved at the 2011 Grammys. The then-redhead stunned in a sheer white Jean Paul Gaultier gown with tulle ruffles.
Lady Gaga paid tribute to David Bowie with her 2016 Grammys ensemble — a deep blue embellished Marc Jacobs jacket dress with swirling cosmic designs. She completed the look with a red hairstyle a la Ziggy Stardust and ridiculously high platform heels.
Rapper Cardi B made quite a statement at the 2018 Grammys in this angelic yet avant-garde Ashi lace dress with butterfly sleeves and a train.
SZA gave us angelic style at the 2018 Grammys where she rocked a sheer sequined Atelier Versace gown with tulle sleeves, an intricate sheer beaded bodice and thigh-high slits.
Styling her hair in curls tucked behind a headband, Faith Hill's beauty look was very late-'90s at the 1999 Grammys. But this funky printed tank dress? There's no excuse for this flashy, loud look that we wish we could forget.
Halsey gave us a pretty memorable moment at the 2017 Grammys with this Christian Wijnants ensemble. She skipped wearing a shirt and instead showed up in just a royal blue suit jacket and parachute pants.
Will Smith went all-out at the 1999 Grammy Awards in a moss green leather jacket with wide lapels that matched his dark leather pants. Guess he was gettin' jiggy with it?
That wig! That dress! We can't decide which of Cher's fashion faux pas was worse at the 2008 Grammys. The star donned this bizarre, excessive green gown, which featured an obnoxious train. On the plus side? It almost paired well with that equally loud and large wig.
Nicki Minaj looked wildly outrageous at the 2011 Grammys where she wore a head-to-toe leopard-print Givenchy outfit with matching boots and a gravity-defying animal-print wig. Roar?
Mya gave us classic '90s style at the 1999 Grammy Awards when she arrived in floral-embellished blue suit with a matching bralette.
