At the Grammys, the Best Dressed Stars Trade Flashy Fashion for Modesty

It wasn’t so long ago that the Grammy Awards’ red carpet was dominated by skin, flash, and a sort of everlasting trashy-fabulousness. There’s a reason. It had its height during the early aughts with stars such as Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera. It recurred when Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, and Kim Kardashian West ruled the Awards and everything was skintight, slit, and about putting a spotlight on those bodies.

But tonight there was a notable shift: Gone were the skimpy frocks and in their place a more of a fashion-centric modesty which totally won the night. The music scene’s leading artists favored dramatic trains, sleek tailoring, long sleeves(!), and haute couture—something typically seen at the Oscars, not the Grammys.

Consider, for example, Lady Gaga. A pop star who rose to farm for her quirky, out-there ensembles, the A Star Is Born actress pared it way back, embracing a Hollywood A-lister vibe by wearing a glitzy number by Hedi Slimane’s Celine, which was shockingly simple and sleek. Former wild child Miley Cyrus also toned it down, choosing to do a covered—but still sexy—take on French style, in a tuxedo by Mugler. (She forwent a shirt underneath—just a peek of skin.) Even the men got the chic, not sleazy, memo as well: Leon Bridges hit the step-and-repeat in a custom look by Bode, a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist; the BTS crew embraced South Korean designers, suiting up in minimal ensembles by JayBaek Couture and Kim Seo Ryong. And then there was Cardi B who shut the carpet down in 1995 haute couture by Thierry Mugler. Brilliant.