1990 Grammys fashion flashback

By Bryanne Salazar 8:24am PST, Jan 7, 2020

The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards is headed our way on Jan. 26, 2020. To celebrate, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back 30 years ago to see what the stars were wearing at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards in 1990… starting with Paula Abdul and her boyfriend at the time, actor John Stamos. The "Forever Your Girl" singer — who'd just earned her first Grammy nomination for best pop vocal performance for her hit song "Straight Up" — created her own spotlight in this heavily fringed, high-collared glittering gold mini with geometric cut-outs. John was handsomely dressed in an oversized double-breasted suit. Keep reading for more memorable fashion moments from the 1990 Grammy Awards…

Bros before clothes! Will Smith, doing business as The Fresh Prince, was all smiles with his musical partner in crime, DJ Jazzy Jeff, at the 1990 Grammys. The duo — who'd already won a Grammy the year before for best rap performance — were nominated in the same category once again for their song "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson." Will and Jeff kept their looks urban casual in solid T-shirts and skidz pants. At least Will amped up his attire with that gold chain around his neck.

RELATED: Will Smith's life in photos

Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee arrived at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards hand in hand with his then-wife, actress Heather Locklear. Tommy — who along with his band was nominated for best hard rock performance for their song "Dr. Feelgood" — matched Heather in black leather.

Gloria Estefan shined in this sleeveless gold sheath dress at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards in 1990. The Cuban-American singer — who was nominated for best pop vocal performance for her song "Don't Wanna Lose You" that year — paired the dress with matching gold drop earrings and perfectly coiffed hair.

This photo of Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli didn't age well. While holding their fraudulently won Grammys, the lip-syncing duo mastered the art of illusion in bold changshan-style tunics — complete with shoulder pads — and skin-tight dark denim. The men later confessed they didn't sing on their album and the Recording Academy rescinded their awards. Eight years later, Rob (left) died from a drug overdose.

After earning two nominations that year, singer and actress Bette Midler took home a Grammy for record of the year for her breathtaking song "Wind Beneath My Wings." While Bette's music has inspired us for generations, her wardrobe at the 1990 show left something to be desired. She accepted her Grammy in a blue-gray satin suit dress that — and we mean this with nothing but love — looked exactly like our mom's curtains.

We're totally not tearing up over this picture of the late Patrick Swayze and wife Lisa Niemi at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards. Patrick looked — as always — like a total stud muffin in his white-tie tuxedo while his wife looked thrilled to be by his side in her white separates. Fun fact: Patrick wasn't up for any awards at the Grammys but he did have a phenomenal singing voice as evidenced by his 1987 song "She's Like the Wind" from the "Dirty Dancing" soundtrack.

Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil and wife Sharise Ruddell went with all black at the 1990 Grammy Awards. Vince's jacket was studded with rhinestones while Sharise added extra drama to her halter-style evening gown with a sexy pair of opera length gloves. Like bandmate Tommy Lee, Vince was there to see if their band would win their first ever Grammy for best hard rock performance for their song "Dr. Feelgood." Unfortunately, the award went to rock band Living Colour for their song "Cult of Personality."

Of course the biggest boy band of the '80s and '90s — New Kids on the Block — would be at the 1990 Grammy Awards. Members Jordan Knight and Donnie Wahlberg hung out backstage in jeans, T-shirts and jackets while waiting to see if their group won the one and only Grammy they'd ever be nominated for: best music video for their song "Hangin' Tough." While they didn't take home the prize, Jordan won style points with that ridiculously flashy studded belt that we'd totally wear today.

Oh hey, Taylor Dayne. The "Tell It To My Heart" singer wore a bold red pantsuit with a peek-a-boo black bustier and matching heels and accessorized her look with crimson lips and oversized eyewear, giving her a hot journalist vibe we're really feeling.

We love how Donny Osmond's tuxedo jacket coordinated with wife Debbie Osmond's floral embroidered gown at the 1990 Grammys. Paired with a matching vest, loose trousers and a dashing pocket square, Donny looked flashy and sophisticated.

If you're a fan of Dwight Yoakam, then you know he prefers a neutral color palette. At the 1990 Grammys — where he was nominated for best country collaboration for the song "Sin City" — Dwight donned this sable-colored, barbwire embroidered blazer with a tan hat, a white button-down shirt and a comfy pair of light-wash blue jeans.

At the 1990 Grammy Awards, Melissa Etheridge rocked a major fashion trend of the decade — an embroidered and embellished multicolored vest paired with an oversized blazer and loose trousers. The "Bring Me Some Water" singer added a pop of color to the look with a sage green wrap blouse. Melissa — who was nominated that night for best rock vocal performance for her song "Brave and Crazy" — kept the rest of her look simple, accessorizing with dangling earrings and red lipstick.

You know you've made it when the queen of jazz herself, Ella Fitzgerald, makes time to give you a hug. In this Feb. 21, 1990 picture, former The Beatles member Paul McCartney holds his lifetime achievement award while dressed in a printed button-down paired with an embroidered charcoal blazer and dark jeans. Ella, wearing a long-sleeved, high-collared patterned silk dress, seems all too happy to help Paul celebrate his big moment.

At the 1990 Grammy Awards, rapper Young MC traded his usual threads for a more traditional tuxedo that was simple and sophisticated. The music star, who won the award for best rap performance for his hit song "Bust a Move," added a personalized touch with a small bow tie and oversized eyewear.

We love all the loud embroidery that singer-songwriter k.d. lang wore to the 1990 Grammys. Holding her Grammy for best country vocal performance for her album "Absolute Torch and Twang," k.d.'s smile was the only thing louder than her sparkly purple suit and goldenrod blouse.

The Indigo Girls managed to win the first Grammy they were ever nominated for in 1990. Members Amy Ray (left) and Emily Saliers — seen here with their award for best contemporary folk recording for their second eponymously titled studio album — kept their style mostly casual. While Emily added a three-quarter-sleeved military blazer to her jeans and striped tee combo, Amy went for a comfortable black T-shirt and some snazzy patchwork dark denim jeans.

Pop, rock and blues singer Bonnie Raitt had a windfall year at the 1990 Grammys where she won four prizes — including album of the year for "Nick of Time" — while wearing a heavily sequined silver-and-gold blazer paired with a black satin blouse and matching miniskirt. Adding a touch of country, the singer donned a pair of knee-high cowboy boots to complete her look.

Talk about making a fashion statement. Guitarist Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics was boldly dressed in a crushed indigo velvet suit to which he added a touch of rock 'n' roll with a gold chain and unbuttoned collar. The musician was nominated for best music video along with his partner in crime, Annie Lennox, for their song "Savage."

Eagles drummer and vocalist Don Henley brought singer-songwriter Patty Smyth as his date to the 1990 Grammys. Don — who was up for four Grammys that night and won one — kept his look simple in a charcoal suit and shades. Patty stood out in a plush red embroidered coat and equally snazzy sunglasses.

Comedian Garry Shandling, who died in 2016, hosted the 1990 Grammys. Wearing a loose-fitting double-breasted tuxedo, Garry modernized his look just a little by foregoing a tie and rocking a stud on his collar instead.

Musicians and then-spouses Rodney Crowell and Rosanne Cash were each independently nominated for Grammys in 1990. Rosanne — who earned a Grammy nod for best female country vocal performance for her song "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" — kept her look stylish and clean in a black satin blazer over a simple black dress. Rodney — who'd earned two nominations and won a best country song award for his hit "After All This Time" that night — also wore all black but added a touch of flair with some colorful geometric embroidery on his jacket.

Something about folk and country music star Kris Kristofferson's shirt makes us think of satin sheets on a waterbed. His liquid-like button-down seemed strangely elegant against his faded dark-wash jeans and black blazer at the 1990 Grammys.

One of the few women who wore a formal gown at the 1990 Grammys was opera singer Harolyn Blackwell, who celebrated her first Grammy nod for best opera recording in an elegant pink off-the-shoulder dress. The soprano kept her décolleté bare and her accessories to a minimum with just a gorgeous pair of dangling gold, pearl and gemstone earrings.

The late New Orleans-based blues, rock and jazz musician Dr. John was known for his outlandish and at times theatrical fashion choices. John — who was nominated for two awards and ultimately won best jazz vocal performance for his and Rickie Lee Jones' song "Makin' Whoopee" — wore a bold red floral embroidered jacket and a black-and-white floral-print vest and carried his trademark walking stick adorned with voodoo beads and feathers.