Can't Pull off Lady Gaga's Pod? Here are Four Grammy Trends You Might Actually Wear

By Suzanne Singer
February 14, 2011

Lady Gaga Grammys 2011

Singer Lady Gaga performs onstage during the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Last night's 53rd annual Grammy Awards gave us the expected mix of show stopping ensembles and performances to match. The crowd combined the music Old Guard and every bestselling star on iTunes right now: Barbara Streisand, making a rare awards show appearance, sang the theme song from "Evergreen"; Christina Aguilera, Florence Welsh, Jennifer Hudson and Martina McBride gave a tribute to Aretha Franklin; John Mayer, Keith Urban and Norah Jones honored Dolly Parton; and Rihanna, Eminem, Drake, Arcade Fire, Usher and of course, tween sensation Justin Bieber, took the 2011 Grammy Awards stage.

While we loved watching Usher perform with his protégé, Bieber, and who could resist Mick Jagger in his first Grammy Awards performance ever, fashion trends are our focus here, and the highlights included: Cee Lo Green, wearing an unforgettable peacock costume, performing his hit, “Forget You,” accompanied by sequin-clad puppets and Gwyneth Paltrow. And of course, there was Lady Gaga. The always-other-worldly pop star showed up on the 2011 Grammy Awards red carpet encased in an egg and carried by four almost-naked attendees. During her performance, she hatched, revealing a latex tube top and skirt and prosthetic “alien” shoulders.

Now how about the fashion trends you could actually take home with you? Here were the standouts:

Sheer Skirts

Sheer was the texture of choice for those who wanted to walk on the racy side. Rihanna made Grammy fashion waves in her super-sexy white ruffle and sheer Jean Paul Gaultier gown and Hayley Williams channeled the "Black Swan" in her black and hot pink tutu dress with a sheer piece made by Jeremy Scott. But the fashion trend du jour was the sheer skirt dress.

Natasha Bedingfield, Florence Welsh, Ciara

Natasha Bedingfield, Florence Welsh, Ciara (Photos by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Natasha Bedingfield wore a strapless blue sequin bodice dress with a sheer blue- and white- printed skirt paired with a super-glam updo.

Florence Welsh from Florence and the Machine, a nominee for Best New Artist, went soft and natural in a nude and white swan dress with a sheer nude bottom by Givenchy Haute Couture.

Ciara went severe on top, with white and blue beaded cut-outs revealing her midsection, and romantic down below, with a sheer printed blue and white skirt with a high slit. Her black t-strap heels and white jewelry enhanced the harsher, more graphic element of her Emilio Pucci dress.

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Can't Pull off Lady Gaga's Pod? Here are Four Grammy Trends You Might Actually Wear

Dramatic Black

While every awards show has its fair share of black dresses, this year's Grammy fashion trend wasn't simple and safe; this year’s Grammy black dress had drama.

Monica, Dianna Agron, Lea Michele

Monica, Dianna Agron, Lea Michele (Photos by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Singer Monica, whose BD won the award for "Most Dramatic," rocked a power shoulder short-sleeved black column dress with a long train.

"Glee" star Dianna Agron's rocker hair, heavy black eye make-up and studded cuff lent a punk-y vibe to her strapless, drape-y yet structured Vivienne Westwood dress.

Red lipped co-star Lea Michele was more dreamy, yet certainly not demure, in a black lace and ruffle dress with a high slit by Emilio Pucci.

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Long-sleeve Short Dresses

While typically unconventional for an awards show, the '60s-style long sleeve mini dress made several Grammy fashion appearances last night. By covering the arms and revealing endless gams, stars can look super sexy but still grown-up.

Jennifer Lopez, Paz Vega, Nicki Minaj

Jennifer Lopez, Paz Vega, Nicki Minaj (Photos by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

"American Idol"’s Jennifer Lopez went straight-up disco ball with a long-sleeve silver mini dress by Emilio Pucci, a smoky eye, a pale lip and middle-parted straight hair.

Actress Paz Vega’s long, bell-sleeved white mini dress trimmed in crystals proved to be clean with a twist, but the surprising. skin-baring low back added a special and unexpected touch.

Always the fashion trend rebel, rapper Nicki Minaj wore a long-sleeve leopard print dress by Givenchy. The sheer- and leopard- sleeves and gloves, as well as the leopard print tights and head piece, made the look head-to-toe, literally. And leave it to Nicki Minaj to complete the Grammy fashion ensemble with a blond and black afro and bright pink lips.

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Low-cut Necks

Highlighting the decolletage in a low-cut long gown is an age-old vava voom strategy.

Julianne Hough, Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez

Julianne Hough (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images); Kim Kardashian (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images); Selena Gomez (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

Julianne Hough's watercolor-printed, v-neck dress by Malandrino was cut to below her ribs. But the flowery print and her messy updo made the look more romantic than R-rated.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Kim Kardashian went all out, literally, in a low cut bronze glitter dress with a high slit by Kaufman Franco paired with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry. If you got it, ladies, flaunt it.

Girlfriend to Justin Bieber? We’re still trying to figure that out. But what we do know is that Disney star Selena Gomez has style and grace. Her J. Mendel gold dress was low-cut, but nevertheless tasteful and age-appropriate.