Big Band Theory
Rockers, Rappers, and Robert Plant Mix It Up at the Grammys
It was all about the mash-up at the 51st annual Grammy Awards: Justin Timberlake and Al Green and Keith Urban; the Jonas Brothers and Stevie Wonder; Radiohead and the USC Trojan Marching Band. Fashionwise, the story was much the same. To perform her prizewinning single, "Last Name," Carrie Underwood sported a getup that was Loretta Lynn up top, Madonna on the bottom. (Her quads, by the way, could give Madge a run for her money.) Accepting the first of three awards for the band, this one for Song of the Year, Coldplay's Will Champion gave a shout-out to Sir Paul McCartney, who was seated a few feet away: "Thank you, and sorry for blatantly recycling the Sergeant Pepper outfits—sorry, boss." And after walking the red carpet in a Bollywood-bright Manish Arora dress with sneakers, mommy-to-be M.I.A. took the stage wearing a sheer House of Holland outfit that showed off her full-term belly in all its glory. Backing her up was the "Rap Pack": Kanye West, Jay-Z, T.I., and Lil Wayne. But the pairing that will really have the fashion world talking? That would be Best New Artist winner Adele and her date, Vogue's Hamish Bowles.
