The Grammys: Is this Contemporary Vintage?

Image Courtesy: Los Angeles Times

The 2024 Grammys brought together two seemingly opposite ends of fashion: classy vintage and flashy contemporary. From Taylor Swift’s opera gloves to Miley Cyrus’ safety pin attire, the 66th Annual Grammys had a wide range of styles to take in. Upon a deeper look, you can find common threads, so to speak, in the fashion looks. The outfits represent a connection between past fashion influence and current trends. But do the outfits achieve this intention, or do they fall short of their potential?

Looking first at the “classy vintage” side of the Grammys fashion, it’s hard to miss Taylor Swift’s strapless dress and black gloves. The black and white colors, crisp lines, and red lipstick are reminiscent of mid-1950s high fashion – somewhere between Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. However, Swift’s necklaces cut straight through the classy 50’s look. The diamonds and watch may call back to historical fashion styles, but the black choker, layered with silver chains, comes across as visually more contemporary. After asking about people’s opinions on Swift’s dress, I found mixed reviews. Personally, I admire the classy black-and-white color scheme, and I found the gloves to be a nice touch. I also like her red lipstick, but I can agree with any criticism concerning her relatively flat hairstyle.

Image Courtesy: them

Janelle Monáe’s outfit continued the “classy colors” trend. Giorgio Armani’s notable cool, dark color scheme is exemplified in this plunging-neckline, hourglass-shaped dress. The sequins and rhinestones, however, bring a contemporary feel to the outfit. Olivia Rodrigo also wore an hourglass dress—this time cream-colored, instead of black. Like many of the “classy vintage” outfits, Rodrigo’s outfit is minimalist. She didn’t wear a necklace or any flashy makeup, aside from her red lipstick. Perhaps even a simple necklace would have made her outfit more memorable, especially compared to other fashion statements at the awards. The rhinestones on her dress offer a nod to contemporary fashion, but I believe other jewelry (perhaps statement silver earrings or a thick pearl choker) could have achieved this goal in a classier route.

Lana Del Rey donned all-black attire, from her floral-print vintage dress to the bows on her gloves and shoes. All of her accessories, such as her handbag, help bring home her “classy vintage” look (which pairs nicely with her musical style). Del Rey’s hair, adorned with a draping satin bow, is notably styled into long, full bangs that partially cover her eyes. For both Swift and Del Rey, I have the impression that their hairstyles are complementary to their respective outfits, rather than meant to be conventionally flattering.

Image Courtesy: Vogue

Madison Beer’s strapless dress may offer a similar “classy minimalist” look to previous artists I’ve mentioned, but I couldn’t help but think, “She looks like she’s just stepped out of a wedding.” However, Beer’s dress is overshadowed by Billie Eilish’s layers, which made me think she had just walked out of a thrift store. According to Elle, “[Eilish] wore a vintage Barbie varsity jacket reworked by Chrome Hearts over an oversized white Willy Chavarria button-up and black skinny tie, plus black pants.” Eilish’s upcycled look may promote the benefits of thrifting over mass consumption, but the Barbie logo (though a nod to pop culture) minimizes the effect by coming across as advertising. In addition, Eilish’s outfit is jarring in contrast to the many hourglass-shaped dresses like Doja Cat’s, Olivia Rodrigo’s, and Janelle Monáe’s.

Dua Lipa’s low-cut, metal dress lies somewhere between 1970s disco and futurist attire. People Magazine said, “For her 2024 Grammys look, Dua Lipa rocked a custom silver Courrèges dress that she said made her feel ‘strong.’” Her outfit shows that fame also affects fashion, as the artists’ outfits seem to shout to the world who they are and what their music is.

Lipa is a perfect transition from vintage into the more flashy, contemporary outfits. If you thought a metal dress was a lot, then you’ll marvel at Miley Cyrus’s outfit—made entirely of safety pins! If the Grammys wanted to celebrate stunning, anything-but-boring styles, then Cyrus should win the award for achieving so. Perhaps her dress (if you can call it that) calls back to classical mythology as if she’s a goddess or ancient beast. Her high hair and cat-like makeup enhance this mythological imagery. This classical look does harken back to historical influence on fashion—but in an entirely different manner than the other (classier, crisper) outfits I’ve mentioned.

Image Courtesy: WWD

Doja Cat’s dress attempts to bridge the gap between “vintage” and “sexy.” I don’t believe the style achieved the goal; however, it’s worth noting that Doja’s outfit is reminiscent of Madonna’s outfit at the 1984 MTV Awards. The dainty “underwear” attire paired with thick, gaudy accessories isn’t necessarily a bad choice, but the execution of Doja’s style failed to achieve what Madonna’s did. Possibly, her distracting hairstyle, tattoos, or thick glasses clashed too much with the desired “vintage sexy” look.

Image Courtesy: Life & Style

The jewelry choices for this year’s Grammys failed to satisfy me visually. Many of the dresses featured V-necks or plunging necklines, which emphasized the bust. Some stylists may have wanted to steer clear of necklaces to distract from the minimalism, while others seemed to use necklaces as a loud fashion statement that only proved to be a distraction. Perhaps the stylists wanted the jewelry to reflect the “vintage, thrift-shop” theme, complete with gaudy necklaces that looked straight out of a local thrift store. However, I believe simple pearls would have achieved the same vintage look while bringing in the “classiness” that is present in many outfits.

Over the decades, fashion has evolved as designers continuously put their mark on the world. Modern clothing influenced by the past typically has a new twist—like the rhinestones on Madison Beer’s dress or the Barbie reference on Billie’s vest—that speaks to the present. Current styles even suggest where fashion should go in the future, such as more environmentally friendly thrifted clothing. All in all, vintage will always be a popular trend because it offers a shout-out to the fashion influences of the past, while still bringing style forward through contemporary accessories, new takes on old patterns and designs, or nods to pop culture.

Strike Out,

Writer: Ellie Amos

Editor: Blake N. Fiadino

Tallahassee