Grammys: Best and worst dressed in recent years

Another cuckoo fashion choice, yes, and I kind of liked it. Paula Patton’s gown is by Nicholas Jebran, one of several under-the-radar designers who were flying high on the Grammys red carpet.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Paris Hilton’s sparkly white Haus of Milani gown with scroll-patterned insets is a little wack-a-doodle, especially with the super-high hair. But hey, this is the Grammys. And that’s what we expect.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Adding her own twist to the evening’s metallic trend, Rita Ora chose a short, woven metallic Lanvin cocktail dress in a beguiling absinthe green with lavender undertones.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Ciara collaborated with Emilio Pucci designer Peter Dundas on this coppery sequined stunner, which was sexy and serpentine-looking, not unlike the Gucci gown Olivia Wilde wore to the Golden Globes.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

What could be more perfect for the Grammys than a gown dotted with musical notes? This Valentino Couture confection, which had come down the runway in Paris just a week before, is sweet and whimsical, just like Katy Perry.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lots of guys wore vivid color on the red carpet, but Macklemore’s plush teal velvet tuxedo was one of the best looks of the night. A thrift store find, perhaps? If so, we’ll take it.   (Christopher Polk / Getty Images)

Oh, how I wanted to love this look, a Ralph Lauren tuxedo chosen by 8-year-old son, David, who was sporting a similar style. But Madonna piled on way too many accessories. The hat, Maltese cross pin and crystal-mesh hand bracelet -- it was overkill.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Pharrell Williams has been named to nearly every best-dressed list on the planet and this is what he comes up with for the Grammys? The hat is a quirky statement, we get it. But the jeans and leather track jacket just don’t cut it for the red carpet. (He is shown with his date.)  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

There is nothing sexier than Rihanna in that red-hot gown by fashion insider favorite Azzedine Alaia. At first glance, the cross-front style didn’t seem to reveal too much. But upon further inspection, the gossamer-like fabric hinted at everything.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

The always well-behaved Taylor Swift played the goddess in a strappy chiffon pleated gown with metallic embroidered straps by J. Mendel with cutouts over the waist.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Kelly Rowland is a vision in a black Georges Chakra gown with geometric mesh panels down the front and sides. A fashion daredevil, god love her.   (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Beyoncé shocked us all not with deep décolletage, but by wearing a graphic black and white crepe jumpsuit by Osman Studio that played into the season’s 1960s Op Art fashion trend.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Florence Welch was the night’s fashion winner, paying homage perhaps to the year of the snake in a poison green sequin gown by Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy. With reptilian 3-D stud-like details, the long sleeve style is stunningly unique.   (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Leave it to J Lo to reprise Angelina Jolie’s famously leggy red carpet stance. J Lo wore a black, one-shoulder Anthony Vaccarello gown slit up to there.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

And then along came Ashanti in a Tony Ward Couture gown. The embroidered black lace may have looked innocent enough, but that keyhole of cleavage and slit to the hip were pushing the bounds -- in terms of propriety, yes, but mostly taste.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Lady Gaga’s interplanetary Giorgio Armani Prive dress is proof that the songstress is on her own fashion planet.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

MGMT: Taking thrift store chic to a whole other level. You gotta love it.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Katy Perry’s backless, nude-colored Zac Posen gown with gold floral embroidery is playful and sexy.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Elvis Costello: The best of the evening’s hats.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

LMFAO: These guys have a skater pimp style all their own.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Only Adam Lambert could make a Colonel Sanders ribbon tie look good.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Fergie should have taken it up a notch from this blue Emilio Pucci dress.  (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

Why does Miley Cyrus’ green Herve Leger mini-dress bring to mind “Attack of the Swamp Creature”?  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Ke$ha, we expected more than this gold fringe dress. It looked like it could be off the rack.  (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)