THE BLOODIEST AWFUL DRESSES AND GOWNS BELONG TO? NO ELEGANCE AND NO STYLE: AMERICA'S WORST DRESSED STARS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos from L to R: #1. Amy Lee: "I designed it myself," is generally the last thing you want to hear on the red carpet.  No kidding! Take one look at the ensemble that Amy Lee, lead singer of Evanescence, concocted to claim her first Grammys, and you'll understand why. We get that she's the 22-year-old member of a Goth metal band and all, but alongside her requisite dyed black hair (someone get this young lady a deep conditioner), the black bondage dress and spiky necklace just seemed to be trying too hard. And while on first glance we thought the dress's mummy-effect was created by ribbons -- we later wondered whether it. #2. Martina McBride: In stark contrast to the cool simplicity of her on-stage attire -- a black sheath, classy diamond drop earrings -- this country crooner suffered from a nasty case of over-accessorization on the red carpet. McBride's floral gown, by Brazilian designer Yigal Azrouel, worked well enough, but the turquoise chandelier earrings, huge turquoise cross around her neck and matching turquoise eye makeup went way over the top. #3. Amber Tamblyn: After appearing at the Golden Globes last month looking lovely -- but rather overdressed -- in a Reem Acra strapless corset gown (complete with train), Tamblyn toned it down a bit too much for her Grammys appearance. The young Joan of Arcadia star opted to make a political statement in her studded "Rock the Vote" tee -- this year will be her first at the voting booths. Sincere enough, but it was the ultra-casual vibe of the look (tiny tee atop low-slung daytime pants) that turned us off. The Grammys are certainly a time to be playful, but the fun part comes in the dressing up, at least a little. #4. Hilary Duff: The powder pink strapless mini-dress -- sequins on top, wool on the bottom, separated by a satin empire waist bow -- took the whole "anti-Britney" thing too far. The length was awkward, the cut unflattering, the overall sensibility sickeningly sweet. (Perhaps if Duff wore this outfit to her high school prom -- rather than the Grammys -- she'd have had better luck.) Sister Haylie was much closer to the mark in a lacey, yet far from lewd, halter dress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos from L to R: #1. Alicia Keys: We have rarely seen the dress/tunic over pants look work, and it was a bust once again on Alicia Keys at this year's Grammys. Keys asked Roberto Cavalli to create the off-the-shoulder bodice and train in soft shades of pink (the exact same tones of Ashanti's more successful Cavalli gown, in fact) that she wore over white denim pedal-pushers. The end result was a fashion flashback to the gauzy green Dior sheath she layered with a wife-beater and jeans for the event two years ago. It didn't quite work that time either. #2. Elisha Cuthbert: A chiffon peach skirt, topped with a shapeless This 24 star gets a big zero for her pale pink Monique Lhullier dress. The waistband of the '50s-inspired cut made her look thick through the middle, and the flower corsage pinned to it was a bit Carrie Bradshaw circa 2002, no? Most unnecessary of all for a beautiful young starlet, her breasts drooped (note: you're never too young to invest in a good bra). Though her show was a Globe winner, unfortunately Elisha Cuthbert was a fashion flunkee. #3. Scarlett Johansson: Something about Scarlett Johansson's ensemble was a bit, well, lost in translation. The drab beige color of her corseted Stella McCartney gown didn't do much for her, and the cups of the bustier brought her breasts way too close to her chin. Plus, the long train was overdone for one of the more relaxed Hollywood awards events. We would have much preferred to see Johansson in something more befitting her 19 years, like her director Sofia Coppola's breezy black Azzedine Allaia. #4. Paris Hilton: For absence of a "least" dressed list, we'll have to put Paris Hilton in the worst category. Hip bones jutting out above every pair of low-rise jeans or ultra-miniskirt, the elder Hilton heiress strutted her stuff on any red carpet she could find this year. Standouts included a black leather studded micro-mini that read "Hilton" on the backside, topped with a pink cami. She rang in her year of fashion foibles at a Miami Beach New Year's Eve bash, wearing a baby blue strapless tutu minidress and tiara. Then there was the miraculously floor-length -- but alas!.

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