Elegance plays on repeat

HEY, where did the Grammys go? Gathered at the Staples Center on Sunday night was a collection of some of the loveliest, most elegantly dressed performers ever to walk a red carpet ... but who needs more of that?

The beauty of being a rock (or pop/R&B;/country) star is the cool quotient, the fun factor -- the free pass to go a little crazy at a celebration of creativity. Unlike the big film industry awards that bookend the Grammys this season, there is no expectation of glamour here, so what gives? Where were the swan dresses? The barely there gowns slit down to here?

Even the Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie went for sexy elegance in a charcoal Badgley Mischka baby doll. We saw Mary J. Blige in a deep-cut, sparkly full-length gown and Beyonce in a lovely satiny white dress. And all three Dixie Chicks wore variations of the standard black eveningwear. Lovely, all, but ...

Finally, relief came from Imogen Heap, who looked like a wild combination of Mary Poppins, Little Bo Peep and Nanny McPhee, and the Pussycat Dolls, who at least brought bright, vibrant colors to the red carpet.

The men mostly played it safe too, with multiple takes on the musician’s uniform of all black and hip-hop artist Akon’s contrasting all white. So kudos go to the OK Go guys, who cut loose and wore red paisley suits and hats, complete with matching red face coverings -- even if it was in service of their new music video.

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-- Elena Nelson Howe