Denim, Diamonds, Leather, and Lace on the Glam, No-Rules BET Awards Red Carpet

By Julianne Escobedo Shepherd | June 26, 2017 | 5:00pm

Entertainment

Sunday night’s 2017 BET Awards were an occasion for all manner of dress, perhaps in part because its attendees were so varied: rappers mingled with actors mingled with award-winning journalists mingled with singers, and everyone seemed to be flying by the seat of their own unique dress codes.

That translated into an extraordinarily good fashion promenade, one that ran the gamut of ultra-formal to sparkly club to extra casual and comfortable, and there were a million examples of impeccable personal style. (Above, Letoya Luckett gives us a sultry nighttime garden party look, like a little champagne mixer and then an evening in the boudoir.) Without further ado!

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Chloe and Halle are fully sophisticated in those drape dresses, plus the patchwork boots are giving them an even chic’er edge. Nomzamo Mbatha’s gorgeous beaded gown is a study in contrasts, particularly how to successfully pair shades of orange and blue with rosé. Sasha Lane’s gathered leather pants might have been too much if she hadn’t expertly paired them with a ultra-light sheer top, and she looks like the coolest person on earth. Stacy Ike’s ruffled tangerine gown is elegant with just the right amount of frouf.

Here’s a different take on that same concept, on Draya Michele in more of a canary. Eva Marseille’s embroidered linen is as comfortable and earthy as can be, while both Issa Rae and Marsai Martin have figured out the multi-striped/sandals combo is EXACTLY what the doctor (of style??) ordered for summer.

Ally Love, Erica Ash, Logan Browning and Pearl Thusi all took it up a notch for evening, each demonstrating various ways to do awards-show formal and making it look easy. Browning is especially killing it in that pink feather-dress, asymmetrical pumps and hello, matching eye shadow! More pink eye shadow 2017!

Both Danielle Mone Truitt and Rokhaya Diallo are doing crochet/lace in a super cute way, and I love how Justine Skye’s gown splits the difference between bronze bustier and pewter disco train. Meanwhile it is the KNOCKOUT Leslie Jones, looking absolutely stunning in green chiffon. LESDOGG!

Loving all these patterns on Margaret Avery, Skai Jackson taking lipstick red literally, and Yvette Nicole Brown getting impressionistic. MC Lyte went for a minimalist, ‘80s Memphis movement look.

CITY CHIC. First of all, I’m gonna need Ryan Destiny’s stylist to hook me up with this (perhaps minus the tiny glasses), because a racing-leather dress over baggy light-wash denim and silver pumps is the best thing I have ever seen? Sierra McClain’s not doing too bad either, though she went for business minimalism with geometric earrings. Yara Shahidi, aka our future president and Kara Brown’s new best friend, is maybe the only person who could successfully pull off this distressed and ruffled denim look, with peacock sandals!

These men will NOT be outdone. French Montana looks like he has joined the Freemasons, so congrats to him, while Fat Joe is going to an indoor slalom after this and just wanted to get his eye situation right beforehand. Roman GianArthur looks great and is also wearing a tie that maybe got cut off him in one of those gimmick steakhouses (j/k it’s an optical illusion with his chest), while Shaun Ross is like if Mad Max was more interested in serving looks than like, eating human flesh. (I don’t know if Mad Max does that.)

Sheer trend, you will never die! Ajiona Alexus has a different take on it with shirred arms and a skirt, though Blac Chyna and Nafessa Williams are both going with the leotard/underwear thing that simply does not wane in popularity. Tommie Lee has a different sort of thing going, which is weirdly prim and proper while also looking vaguely like an Aztec pattern. I really like it?

Migos: never not wearing excellent shirts.

Variations on a pantsuit: Brittany O’Grady in sweet cake and icing gear, Cardi B in power crimson. Dascha Polanco is my goddess and usually looks fantastic though I’m not sure about this embellishment. Dreezy split the difference between fancy basketball shorts and breezy bralette.

When in doubt… shine on. Jada Pinkett Smith is fully vamping in this gold sequined number, while Lovie Simone’s are more sweet and angelic. Tamar and Evelyn Braxton matched and contrasted in bright white, which sort of looks like they’re going to a wedding.

In come the gowns! Goapele’s fuchsia silk draping is a pretty contrast to Kayla Briana’s muted one; Queen Latifah kept it simple in black and has an auntie vibe while Sevyn Streeter is giving an Oscars bronze.

Kari Champion’s mini is really working here, well-proportioned and simple but not too much. Karreuche Tran’s purple gown is fine but very Club Liv, while Lil Mama’s chiffon and Robin Thede’s brocade are fancy-schmancy and make them look like princesses.

Future and Londyn Wilburn were obviously inspired, like all of us, by Valentina’s mask on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Can we also talk about how Gucci Mane, with the lovely Keyshia Ka’oir, is wearing the same outfit as Asahd Tuck Khaled? And why wouldn’t they be coordinated? Asahd is joined by his parents, DJ Khaled and Nicole Tuck.

Garcelle Beauvais in Grecian robe vibes; Jessie Reyez doing her own grunge carpet look (with her parents!); Lady Leshurr in a dress with a subliminal message telling her to buy it that apparently worked; Sally Richardson in full ‘90s tuxedo spaghetti dress.

Amanda Seales and Claudia Jordan both went for shiny emerald green, while Loni Love and Mona Scott Young each got the memo on drapey, pretty pantsuits in silky fabrics. Mona’s is my fave.

People should always bring their moms to awards shows; here’s Chance the Rapper with Lisa Bennett, and Jhené Aiko with Big Sean and Myra Anderson—who seems to have matched her outfit to Papoose and Remy Ma. Big Sean is the best dressed here? I want a velvet jean suit?

Kodie Shane is doing a true American theme here… Porchia Coleman is too, but in a different way. Tammy Rivera’s boating/sailor look is cute, and Ty Dolla $ign just wants everyone to know he loves us. Back atcha, boo!