Sizing Up the Leather and Lace Crowd

Stars battled intermittent downpours and a soggy red carpet, doing their best to put on a fashion show at the Grammys.

At this awards show, unlike the Oscars and Golden Globes, anything goes, from designer gowns to simple black leather and T-shirts.

The real showstopper was Jennifer Lopez, clad in a scandalously bare, green Versace dress. She arrived with beau Sean “Puffy” Combs, but both were surrounded by a protective entourage that shepherded the couple quickly through the red carpet area.

Sarah McLachlan was a moment of quiet elegance in a Sully Bonnelly gown. Best new artist Christina Aguilera wore a short Versace with a beaded butterfly design. Monica posed in a D&G; black leather pantsuit.

The members of TLC stopped to show off their outrageous cotton and leather outfits designed by their stylist, Julie Majaras. The four women in Destiny’s Child squared off in soft cream and brown leather and lace by designers Valentino and Escada.

L.A. designer Richard Tyler dressed R&B; balladeer Brian McKnight and his wife, Julie--he in a leather tux and she in a velvet green gown. The Dixie Chicks also wore Tyler, except for Natalie Maines’ white leather dress from Lord’s Leather. (The paparazzi, by the way, had to elbow former child actor Gary Coleman, who joined the line of photographers to take his own pictures of the Chicks.)

Gospel legend and Grammy winner Shirley Caesar wore an elegant midnight blue gown that she simply said she got from “the store.” And fashion trendsetter Shirley Manson of Garbage wore a schoolgirl’s outfit.

The men wore everything from tuxedos--Ricky Martin wore Armani--to a red leather suit worn by Cisco.