The voice, the hair, the shoulder pads. At her late-’80s height peak, Whitney Houston’s style could be summed up in a word: big.
So, at Fashion Week in New York, word of Houston’s death hit hard Saturday night. But then fashion editors awoke to happier news, confirming another rumor that had been swirling about another big-voiced, full haired diva, 25 years Houston’s junior:
Singer Adele had landed the cover of March Vogue, sealing her place in fashion’s top echelon.
For some, it defied the bias toward skinny-minis in high fashion. (Designer Karl Lagerfeld spoke critically of Adele’s size days earlier.) For others who follow fashion and music, it drove home what they love best about the stars on the Grammy red carpet — their declaration of independence from high fashion’s strictures.
“There are no rules,” summed up Sasha Charnin Morrison, fashion director for Us Weekly. “They make them and break them. It’s always been this way.”
Is there any other red carpet on which heavy artillery (Sasha Gradiva), a pope impersonator (Nicki Minaj), a face net (Lady Gaga) and blue-green hair (Katy Perry) are typical accessories?
Though hearts were heavy over Houston, the approach to fashion Sunday night was hardly funereal. Some went, well, big.
Here’s a look.
Rihanna wore a plunging Armani gown she said she helped design, inspired by Michelle Pfeiffer in “Scarface.”
Fergie wore red-orange lace Jean Paul Gaultier with dark granny panties underneath and thick gold hoops on her ears.
Katy Perry’s blue encrusted Elie Saab won raves, while her color-coordinated updo teetered toward Bride of Frankenstein.
Corinne Bailey Rae, who won Best R&B Performance, brought back memories of Houston’s curls, balanced with an equally voluminous Christian Siriano skirt and towering platforms.
The women had nothing on the guys — the only red carpet where that’s the case. Tyga wore a red jacket and black sparkling oxfords. Kings of Leon looked ready to preach in the pulpit. Studs on the lapels rocked a simple black jacket on David Guetta. Eric Benet made the ascot sexy; John Legend did the same for brown suits. Flo Rida gleamed in white dinner jacket.
A favorite gown of the night was the Julien Macdonald worn by Jessie J.
More costume than gown, Nickiy Minaj wore a big red riding hood by Versace, escorted by a pope impersonator.
If you’re a guy shopping for a new ‘do, look no further than Foster the People.
The Skrillex half-shaved, half-long do is for a select few.
Adele wore a high-necked, three-quarter-sleeve black gown but with high-wattage sparkle.
Carrie Underwood chose a similar silhouette but in white by Gomez Gracia.
Maturing her look by a few years, Taylor Swift glittered in a gold Zuhair Murad gown with an illusion neckline.
Kelly Rowland spared no glamor in a blush Alberta Ferretti Ögown.
