Beginning in 1959, the Grammys is an awards ceremony which celebrates talent and innovation in and around the world of music. However, music is not the only thing the Grammys are known for. Oftentimes, celebrities attend wearing very elaborate or strange clothing, to the point many people think of that when they think of the Grammys. Has this trend continued, or is the age of wacky Grammy garments gone for good? Let’s take a look at some of this year’s looks and the opinions on them.
- Lady Gaga:
“Lady Gaga’s” was the first response several students gave when asked what their favorite outfit was from this year’s Grammys. Trity Benefield, a freshman at Central, explained that she enjoyed the dress because it made Gaga “look like a bird.” This look from Matières Fécales certainly stood out with its long train and mass of dark feathers, especially when paired with Lady Gaga’s pale skin and hair.
2. Bad Bunny:
Another outfit that stood out, despite its apparent simplicity, was Bad Bunny’s Schiaparelli tuxedo. Aleah Frye, a junior at Central, claimed her least favorite outfits were also the most boring ones, but that “people like Bad Bunny did it well.” The clean cut look combined with a pure white boutonniere clearly made an impression.
3. Billie Eilish:
The first of a few other notable mentions is Billie Eilish’s Hodakova look. When describing the look, Trinity Benefield, a freshman at Central, said she “like[s] her style and the shoes and socks were interesting to look at.” This outfit definitely incorporated some interesting shapes to form a unique style and silhouette while staying with the black and white color scheme often found in Eilish’s Grammy looks.
4. Zara Larsson:
Zara Larsson’s “pretty flower dress” was a favorite of Frye’s, due to its brightness which stood out against all the “dull colors.” This custom-beaded, bright yellow dress from Germanier undoubtedly appeared as a ray of sunshine in a sea of deeper and more reserved looks.
5. Olivia Dean:
Olivia Dean’s sequined black and white Chanel ballgown caught Thomassie’s eye and was one of their favorite outfits. They specifically “loved Olivia Deans’ dress because of the contrast and the shape.” While it may not have a more unique color pallet, Dean’s black and white combination paired with her silhouette really helped her stand out.
6. Sabrina Carpenter:
Sabrina Carpenter’s Valentino dress was the first of two looks which split opinions. Some, like Frye, found it to be “nice, [but] just tan” while others, like Benefield, found it more interesting with its finely crafted detail.
7. Chappell Roan:
The second, even more controversial dress was Chappell Roan’s designed by Miguel Castro Freitas and inspired by a 1998 couture collection. It featured prosthetic nipple piercings which caused a lot of backlash for being too revealing. Frye enjoyed Roan’s outfit because “It looked good [and] was unique” while Benefield found that the outfit “didn’t sit right with [her].”
8. Benny Blanco:
In a largely disliked deviation from typical Grammys formality, Benny Blanco skipped the Grammys but attended after-parties in a casual outfit consisting of a hoodie and basketball shorts. This choice was highlighted by Frye as a poor one stylistically because of its boring and underdressed nature.
9. Sombr:
Sombr’s Grammy look consisted of a sparkly Valentino suit and sheer silver shirt. The outfit choice was certainly eye-catching and in line with the artist’s usual style, but according to Thomassie was “not the best” and “a lot [for] the red carpet.” This makes Sombr’s attire one of the only ones disliked for being too much—a deviation from most 2026 Grammy outfit critiques.
10. KATSEYE:
In a matching six-piece ensemble, KATSEYE wore white and silver dresses designed by Ludovic de Saint Sernin. This choice was disliked by Thomassie who felt “they could look good individually, but white dresses on all six people are a little bland and more color would suit them a little better.” She then went on to reference Gabriela Red from one of KATSEYE’s hit songs “Gabriela” as a potential alternative color scheme.
Overall, Central students seemed to feel that the Grammys outfits from this year are a lot less striking and unique than they have been in the past. They were, as Benefield put it, “less creative than the past years because many of the celebrities went more minimal.”
This downward trend of Grammys outfits which truly stand out has not gone unnoticed and remains a point of contention. Frye’s closing opinion is that “if [she] were to watch a Grammy for the outfits, it would have to be like 2022. They wore wacky shit. Bring that back.”
