All of the Conservative, Shiny Looks at Billboard's 2018 Women in Music 

By Maria Sherman  |  December 7, 2018 | 4:05pm
BeautyStyle

Once upon a time, when I was a little baby unpaid editorial intern at Billboard I was asked to work their annual Women In Music event, which mostly meant helping white ladies at Ticketmaster find their seats and compiling a gift bag for Taylor Swift. It was held in the middle of the afternoon on a Wednesday in a teeny hall in Chinatown, the Target dog was there, and I was simply grateful for the opportunity to leave the office.

Since feminism is cool now, the event has become a much larger affair, with even more fake awards and performances than ever before. The 2018 iteration of the event, which took place Thursday night, looks a lot fancier than what I remember. Everyone looked conservative, but also somehow hot? Let’s take a look.

I’m so fucking grateful for Ariana Grande’s commitment to both monochrome and thigh-high boots. Janelle Monae’s chaps and dramatic shoulders are unreal, and perhaps the best look of the night. Former Fifth Harmonizer Lauren Jauregui tried it. She didn’t find it.

Nashville’s Maggie Rogers looked extremely cool in this floor-length, long-sleeve, high-neck black dress with hippie-dippie tie-dye detailing and a matching clutch. The queen Cyndi Lauper’s ta-tas were out to play in this deep green frock and I take back everything I said about Monae, Philly’s Tierra Whack’s look is by far the best, and maybe one of my fave fits of the year? The platform Nikes, the oversize jacket-dress? It’s so good.

Ava Max, an extraordinarily lackadaisical pop singer you will probably hear about in the future, did the most with this giant black skirt and Madonna-adjacent fingerless gloves. Ashley Graham, hot person, made sheer leopard sleeves a thing and sweet Grace VanderWaal should have some words with her stylist—it’s a no from me, son.

Hayley Kiyoko’s casual stage look was cute, though the built-in fanny pack pocket is confounding.

Her Valentine’s Day-red dress was sweet as well. Totally fine!

But no one rocks red like Alicia Keys. I’m obsessed with this round-the-head turtleneck with the suit to match.

Regina Spektor’s form-fitting coat with floofy black pocket lining is extremely her; Patti LaBelle’s sweeping sleeves and black lace is gorgeous—she looks like she’s accepting an honorary doctorate from Harvard. She looks so good. Not mad at Anderson .Paak’s Gucci gang, either.

Ellie Goulding’s silky baby pink elevates her glow; Alex Belle and Isis Valentine look like Clueless extras, and it rocks. Victoria Monét’s creamy mustard-gold isn’t my favorite, but she works it.

Walking wig Njomza wore a lot of cream shades. Dua Lipa wore a lot of beige shades. Kacey Musgraves looked like a 1960’s girl group angel. May she never change.

 
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