Men Dress to Impress.  And Boy Are We!

Men’s fashion on the red carpet doesn’t usually get much attention because let’s face it, a shirt, maybe a tie, pants, shoes and you’re done.  Not much time and effort to coordinate.  But the Grammy’s signature ripped up rocker and big and baggy hip-hop looks were retired on the red carpet this year in favor of a little spit and polish.  This is the “Year of the Gentlemen.”  Perhaps inspired by Ne-Yo and his Polo club chic man-style, dudes were pimpin’ in fedoras, shades and suits.

Disney tween scream stars, the Jonas Brothers, coordinated in Brat Pack black tuxedos with their usual individual flair.  Nick was head-to-toe in Burberry, Kevin’s was a classic suit from Versace and Joe was a little viva las Vegas in a metallic Versace jacket.  Where were the teenage boys like this when we were growing up?

“Miss Independent” singer Ne-Yo was very Thurston Howell III — in a good way! — sporting a patterned jacket with an ascot, gray pants that hit the top of his matching shoes perfectly (”What Not to Wear’s” Clinton Kelly would be so proud) and a fedora.  Swagger on.

Even funny man Jack Black cleaned up for the occasion!  The Tropic Thunder comic ditched his usual “whatever happens to be clean on the floor of my bedroom” style aesthetic for a suit and tie.

Rap mogul Jay-Z looked like he had “my mind on my money, my money on my mind” in a billionaire boy’s club ensemble, complete with pocket square and tie-clip.

Remember when rapper and fashion empresario Sean “Diddy” John (he’ll always be P. Diddy to us) used to wear full-length fur coats just for the hell of it?  Funnily enough, he was one of the most casually-dressed ones there! But his sneakers, which have a purple accent threaded across the heel to coordinate with his jacket, are pretty boss.

Of course, 808s & Heartbreak singer-rapper and newly minted Louis Vuitton designer Kanye West brought the too cool for school vibe to the red carpet, rocking his Michael Jackson Off the Wall-era look  (you know, before he got all creepy) in a sequined jacket, double gloves and kicks.  LV, naturally.  We’re still not feeling that mullet though . . .

Coldplay, who went home with a trio of awards, bucked the debonair dude trend, showing up in a rip of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover look.  Because they’re English.  And it’s not like anyone has ever gotten smack for comparing themselves to one of the greatest bands ever (cough*Oasis*cough).

Move the kicks to the back of the closet to make room for a slick and finely crafted pair of  dress shoes, like these from Alexander McQueen in dark blue.  That subtle detail, plus shine combined with luxurious quality, brings new edge to a classic and makes them perfect to pair with suits or jeans. You know what they say, every girl’s crazy about a sharp dressed man.

By ShoeMinx Red Carpet Watcher Paige Muller

Awards Show Tries Something New:  Music That Doesn’t Completely Suck

The Grammys generally don’t offer much in the way of music people actually listen to but this year’s list of nominees for the annual snooze-apalooza is surprisingly not awful. Sadly they still haven’t done away with vintage terms like “album” or “record” but at least most of the tunes aren’t ones your parents are likely to groove to in the mini-van so it’s a start.

But with the across-the-pond centric tilt to some of the categories, the award ceremony seems more like the Brit Awards than the Grammys.

Notable nods:

Leona Lewis’ career has skyrocketed since winning the British reality show X Factor. (For non-Brits: X Factor is a U.K. singing talent search with cantankerous Simon Cowell as the show’s lead judge and executive producer; American Idol is the uber successful U.S. version.) Nominated in several categories, including Record of the Year and Best Pop Female, for her single “Bleeding Love,” pop’s Cinderella superstar could cap a fairytale year with multiple wins.  Mariah, you might want to polish up that pop crown and have it ready to hand over, just in case.

Fellow Britster Adele, who’s hijacked Amy Winehouse’s once-promising career with her angst-y hit “Chasing Pavements” (and the whole not being a coke fiend thing) is up against Lewis for Record of the Year, and has several chances to return to the stage to claim trophies, including the career “kiss of death” award, Best New Artist.  Anyone remember Paula Cole?  Exactly.  Also up for the dubious honor, soul-voiced nominee Duffy, who charted with hits “Rockferry” and “Mercy.”

“American Boy” singer Estelle keeps the British invasion going with a nom for Song of the Year.  If she wins, the award would be sitting pretty next to the UK Best Female trophy she won over Lewis at the Music of Black Origin awards last year.  Maybe collab partner Kanye West will gift her with some mad Louis Vuitton swag from the line of shoes he’s designing between music tracks and all-cap blog posts.

Not to be shown up by the popsters from across the pond, America’s lyrical ladies are also representing.  Katy Perry and her ubiquitous played-it-till-you-wanted-to-scream song “I Kissed A Girl” will go retro pinup toe-to-toe against Duffy and Adele for Best New Artist.

Her marriage crashed and burned, but the music industry showed Madonna some love with a Best Pop Collaboration nod for her hit “Four Minutes” with music maestros Justin Timberlake and Timbaland and another for Best Dance Track, “Give It 2 Me.” Our money is on the Sticky and Sweet and very single divorcee rocking the red carpet in something sheer with fishnets.  Will the “fabulous at fifty” material model rock a pair of those to die for shoes from her new spring 2009 Louis Vuitton ads or something from Miu Miu, Givenchy or even Stella McCartney?  Such an embarrassment of riches!  As if hooking up with A-Rod isn’t reward enough.

And after recent family tragedies, R&B newcomer Jennifer Hudson returns to the “Spotlight” with four nominations, including Best Female R&B Vocal, where she is pitted against Dream Girls rival Beyonce and her metal glove. If Bey gets knocked off the podium, at least she’ll have bagging rights that she sang for the new prez and he knows the dance moves to “Single Ladies.”  Priceless.  But if she does win, who will accept the trophy:  Mrs. Jay-Z or Sasha Fierce?

Worst dressed on the red carpet is one award Grammy nominees don’t want to win.  The stars’ footwear will be ready for their close-up on the E! Stiletto Cam in these a “little bit rock n’ roll, a whole lotta cool” ‘Jewel’ heels from Sergio Rossi.

Read the complete list of nominees here.  The big show goes down February 8, 2009 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center and will be broadcast live on CBS. Yeah, we’re going to catch the highlights and the inevitable WTF moment on YouTube, too.

By ShoeMinx Pop Star Paige Muller