Costume Changes and Disappointing Wins at the 65th Grammys

By: Hadiyah Muhammad

I would skip school to see Beyonce too, Lizzo.

On the evening of Feb. 5, the entertainment industry’s best of the best gathered at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for a night of wins, and naturally, some losses.

The wins aren’t just those gilded gramophone trophies—the real wins, some may argue, happen beforehand on the red carpet. The late Joan Rivers might’ve been rolling in her grave at some of the ostrich atrocities (worn by Blac Chyna) or perhaps she’d glee in seeing Cardi B elegantly draped in a gown by Indian Couturier Gaurav Gupta. The latter of which was a sure win.

Cardi B reappeared later that evening to present the award to Kendrick Lamar for Best Rap Album, wearing a sharded glass look with a matching headdress by Paco Rabanne. Besides some blunders and yawning moments, there were some that stood out above all the rest and deserved an encore.

Before winning Record of The Year for her song “About Damn Time,” Lizzo stunned photographers in a peachy-colored hooded cape and corset by Dolce and Gabbana, scattered in gigantic flower appliques. The overall design was quite similar in theory to Florence Pugh’s May Queen flower dress seen in the folk horror film, Midsommar.

The night prior at Clive Davis's legendary pre-Grammy Gala, she posed alongside her beau, Myke Wright, in a daring black and blue off-the-shoulder mini dress complete with thigh-high garter boots.

It was truly a heartfelt fairytale weekend for Lizzo. Even more so when she received her award that evening, citing Prince as her inspiration for making good music and Beyonce for changing her life: “The way you made me feel, I was like, ‘I wanna make people feel this way with my music,’ so thank you so much” she announced.

The influence that Beyonce has established as an artist and fashion icon is truly no surprise. That evening completely cemented her status as one of the greatest performers and artists of our time. It wouldn’t be a Grammy night if Mrs. Carter didn’t have just one, but three incredible looks. She arrived fashionably late due to traffic, but not before posing in an Instagram post wearing her first outfit of the evening, a blush pink and gold metal custom gown by Balmain complete with two Grammys in either hand and one at her stilettoed foot.

By the time she arrived at the awards ceremony, she was in a completely different look, a custom Gucci gown styled by K.J. Moody. Her third and final costume change was a velvet corset and train with matching gloves by Schiaparelli.

She dazzled, expectantly, as she was crowned that evening as the most-awarded artist in Grammy history with 32 wins. Undoubtedly, her BeyHive and even non-members were confused when she didn’t receive an award for Album of the Year, instead going to the ex-1D singer, Harry Styles.

He’s been a fangirl favorite since those boy band days, but now his style has reached an Elton John meets David Bowie-level caricature that just isn’t super digestible to some. His singing makes up for it, no doubt.

Styles arrived shirtless in a wide-leg multi-colored jumpsuit by Egonlab, an up-and-coming French brand. Though his looks have taken on a more gender-fluid extravagancy in his performances and red-carpet appearances, he opted for a more relaxed cropped jacket and pants once the ceremony began and he collected three wins that evening.

Though his win was a disappointment to some but a win for most, he wasn’t the only fashionable gentleman performer in attendance. Gemini Rights singer, Steve Lacy, also made an appearance, completely dripped out in Saint Laurent and SL 73 Sunglasses, a growing staple in the fashion world. Also in attendance was Pharrell alongside his wife, wearing matching leather studded tracksuits by Ernest W. Baker. Singer-Songwriter Miguel channeled Justin Timberlake’s 2001 denim-on-denim look by wearing a floor-length hooded Diesel jacket, jeans, and boots.

The night was star-studded and some looks were questionable, to say the least. But it wouldn’t be an awards show without some jaws dropping and some mouths salivating. It couldn’t have been a better evening for the artists, both known and soon-to-be known, to be celebrated for their achievements in the music industry. The fashion was just the tip of the iceberg. Until next year, I bid you adieu.