Pants, Pasties, and Vag on the American Music Awards Red Carpet
Perhaps scarred from years past, the American Music Awards were relatively tame Sunday night, both onstage and the red carpet.
Charli XCX, above, was a clear standout, with a prom-themed “Boom Clap” into an almost frightening resurrection of early ’00s Hot Topic goth for “Break the Rules.” The most potentially precarious performances, Lil Wayne with Christina Milian and Jennifer Lopez with Iggy Azalea, went off without a hitch, although the latter was a teeny tiny bit reminiscent of one Beyoncé, while the former was confusing on the level of… Lil Wayne and Christina Milian. Fortunately, the best looks were a little more straightforward than all of that.
The leg show Jordin Sparks and Kylie Jenner were giving in plunging necklined gowns was perfectly gorgeous, formal enough for an awards event but also fun because you know, the music industry isn’t all that serious. Nicki Minaj got her playful party frock on in Spring 2015 Alexander Wang, while Charli XCX wore a “mermaid heat map” two-piece by Australian partystarters Discount Universe. It showed via sequins where every woman sweats the most, an essentially feminist ensemble. Like, can I just have a vag sweatline in every outfit? It’s so real.
In theory we’re supposed to love Heidi Klum in Versace because she is a model but this thing looks hot-glued together and it’s too summery for November anyway. Maybe next time. Lauren Elizabeth‘s outfit time-traveled from different times of the day and landed upon her in a quantum mixup of epic proportions, but it wasn’t as bad as Ansel Elgort, who told Giuliana Rancic on E!’s preshow that he was inspired by a “colonial” look. He does not know what “colonial” means in definition, practice, or fashion. Also dubious: Skylar Grey, who wore not one but two separate beanies that said “Hoodrat,” showing her loyalty to the super-mean streets of Mazomanie, Wisconsin, a small village outside Madison where she grew up playing folk music with her mother. THUGLIFE.