Grammys Red Carpet & The Baby Gap + Paddington Bear Collection

Oh those Grammy Awards. It’s always interesting to see how the red carpet styles are received by those in, and out of the fashion industry. To set the tone, a portion of Booth Moore’s story for the Los Angeles Times,

But fashion with a capital “F?” There wasn’t much of it on the Grammys red carpet this year. In fact, it was kind of a bust.

One reason? Style divas Beyonce and Rihanna didn’t walk the walk. No Gaga or Miley either. But Taylor Swift did, and she was the best-dressed of the rest, leading the charge in the metallic brigade.

Francis Specker, CBS / Valentino Facebook Page

Booth Moore had Ms. Perry on his Best Dressed list:

What could be more perfect for the Grammys than a gown dotted with musical notes? This Valentino Couture confection, which came down the runway at the couture show in Paris just last week, is sweet and whimsical, just like Perry.

But VH1 disagreed, placing Ms. Perry as on of its Worst Dressed list:

This Valentino dress is what a Fairy Godmother would look like if instead of being a fairy who wanted to grant your wish, she was a creepy ghost queen who wanted to suck out your soul with music.

At the risk of sounding like a rube, I really liked this dress when I saw it last week in Valentino’s Spring 2014 Haute Couture runway show. I thought it light and fun and floaty and ideal for a female entertainer in the music industry. However, our pals across the pond at Grazia Live pointed out something I hadn’t noticed.

Why has the look created debate? Katy’s wondrous body was encased in something that looked a tad uncomfortable and, let’s be honest, she looks naked from the waist up.

There seemed to be universal approval for Ciara’s look, a shimmering dress by Emilio Pucci.

Francis Specker/CBS

There were also mixed reactions to Macklemore’s suit. Back to Booth Moore’s story:

Lots of guys wore vivid color on the red carpet, but Macklemore’s plush teal velvet tuxedo was one of the best looks of the night. A thrift store find, perhaps? If so, we’ll take it.

Francis Specker/CBA

Below we see both Macklemore and Ryan Lewis; FabSugar’s thoughts on their suits:

While Macklemore chose a kelly-green velvet tuxedo, his musical partner went with a black and gray houndstooth suit cut from a metallic fabric. They’re both definite departures from what the other guys wore on the red carpet, but we’re wondering if they’re too far outside the limits of classic menswear to make it onto your personal best-dressed list.

Francis Specker/CBS

From the Corner Condo here at the Prepatorium I thought they looked wonderful; it’s the entertainment industry, quirky and stylized work just fine, no? And not to belabor the ‘appropriate dress’ issue, but the gentlemen *were* in suits.

Then there was Madonna. From Grazia:

The only different thing about Madonna’s black and white Marlene Dietrich homage (for how many times have we seen Madge en-suit?) was that this time she accessorized with both gold grillz and, um, her adopted son David Banda.

Francis Specker/CBS

Madonna was deemed Most Tiresome by the Fug Girls.

Madonna’s son David Banda might have been the best-dressed person on the red carpet, but we’ve seen this menswear-inspired look on her many times before, not to mention her ridiculous grill and her one gloved hand. Madonna used to be the master of self-reinvention. Where did that version of her go?

Another entertainer being praised for last night’s sartorial selection, Taylor Swift.

Francis Specker/CBS

From Emily Longaretta’s Hollywood Life story:

On the red carpet, the 23-year-old singer looked absolutely phenomenal in a gorgeous, gold lamé Gucci Première gown — it was the perfect look for the singer, who already has seven Grammy Awards under her belt. While the dress was in her signature gold shade, it fit her figure perfectly and she oozed an effortlessly chic vibe as she rocked the red carpet.

From the Fug Girls:

This golden Gucci is perfect on Taylor Swift. It’s all things Taylor Swift stands for: shiny, glittery, girly goodness, but finally cut with a welcome edge of sophistication. Bonus points for those short sleeves, which look fresh on something so formal. She’s never looked better.

Gucci Facebook

And E! Online:

Taylor Swift looks gorg at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. The beautiful blonde rocked a silver Gucci gown that looked like it was made of chainmail! “It’s so scratchy, I love it,” she told E!’s Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet.

Next, the multi-talented Pharrell, starting with Grazia‘s thoughts on his hat:

To the untrained fashion eye this is nothing more than a desperate ploy for extra height – something that we’re sure Pharrell doesn’t give two hoots about. To those in the know this is a very fashion forward Vivienne Westwood’s Worlds End Mountain hat.

Francis Specker/CBS

The Fug Girls weren’t as fond of his chapeau, noting “It’s not an awards show if it doesn’t spawn at least one parody Twitter account. This Grammys, that honor went to Pharrell…”. Nor was Booth Moore favorably impressed by the ensemble:

He’s been named to nearly every best-dressed list on the planet and this is what he comes up with for the Grammys? The hat is a quirky statement, we get it. But the jeans and leather track jacket just don’t cut it for the red carpet.

Opinions were divided on the red dress worn by Pink. The Idolator liked it:

The 34-year-old added her own rock chick twist to the outfit with her short hair and tattoo-covered arms but she left an overwhelmingly glamorous impression.

Francis Specker/CBS

But the Fug Girls didn’t care for the gown.

….Cheap-looking red gown — and its lackluster styling — are a poor representation of how interesting and talented she actually. Be your own billboard, Pink. Nobody will sell you better than you do. And leave the strapless satin bridesmaid gowns to the rest of them.

From what we saw I thought it a pretty tame red carpet. And that’s okay, we don’t always need fashion atrocities and “look at me, look at me” grandstanding beyond existing levels, already pretty high.

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Moving to something completely different, the sweetness that is the Paddington Bear for Baby Gap collection.

Baby Gap

Paddington Bear has long been a Princess favorite. Somewhere I may still have my cute little bear with the note attached that says “Please look after this bear. Thank you.”

Paddington