2025 Grammys Fashion: ‘The Mists of Avalon’

Awards show fashion tends to be thematic, as if all the stylists to the stars are pulling from the same cultural inspiration. There are always a few notable exceptions, of course, but it makes sense: these red carpets are annual opportunities to summarize recent fashion trends in a (usually, hopefully) avant-garde way.

Maybe it’s the Gladiator effect, but this year, I’ve seen a lot of looks that would feel at home in an Arthurian court (I know I’m mixing timelines here, but stay with me). I’m thinking especially of Chappell Roan at the VMA’s, where, on the red carpet, she was giving The Mists of Avalon, and during her performance of “Good Luck, Babe!” channeled Joan of Arc.

As goes the Best New Artist of the Year, so goes the culture. Chappell took it more contemporary for the 2025 Grammys red carpet in a gauzy, French impressionist ballerina-inspired gown by Jean Paul Gaultier, with feathers in her hair and on her eyelashes.

It’s a little more Les Miserables than Mists of Avalon, but her “Pink Pony Club” performance and acceptance speech looks were full-on court jester in the best way.

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My other favorite pop girly of the year, Charli XCX, took home the award for Best Dance/Electronic Album, and she also got the Jean Paul Gaultier gladiator chic memo.

As for the other members of court, Lady Gaga was the solemn Hand of the King…

…and Gracie Abrams, in Chanel, the virginal heir. A little too virginal if you ask me.

Alicia Keys was like a visiting Empress from a distant land…

…and Cardi B was the mythical creature called upon to save the kingdom from war and famine.

And now for the exceptions to my overly stretched metaphor (at least I’m self-aware):

Sabrina Carpenter is still in her Marilyn Monroe era.

Although her fellow Best Pop Album nominee, Ariana Grande, skipped the ceremony, she’s been leading the charge in paying homage to the Old Hollywood starlets lately with her Audrey Hepburn method dressing. Methinks we haven’t seen the last of that theme.

Then there’s Doechii, who won the very well-deserved award for Best Rap Album. I adore Doechii, but I think she’s better than this Thom Browne outfit.

It’s just nothing I haven’t seen before, unlike her face tape, which is iconic.

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And though I was tempted to leave Taylor Swift out of this like she was left out of the ceremony, for once I actually like what she wore.

Taylor is one person who shares my appreciation for a theme, and usually dresses in honor of the album she’s been nominated for or is about to release. This one isn’t an obvious reference to The Tortured Poets Department apart from the “T” chain on the leg, which might have been inspired by that line from “Guilty As Sin?” off the album—“What if he’s written mine on my upper thigh only in my mind?”—since “T” is both hers and her boyfriend’s initial. But with 2025 being the year of the snake, most Swifties assume she’ll re-release Reputation (Taylor’s Version) this year, and this look could totally live in the Rep-verse.

And then, of course, the Queen of a court all her own, Beyoncé, who won Best Country Album and Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter, in a stunning bejeweled paisley gown.

I think I speak for all of us when I say: finally.