Is it still considered a dress if it’s barely on the body?
At the Grammy Awards red carpet Sunday night (Feb 1) in Los Angeles, singer Chappell Roan – nominated for "Record Of The Year" and "Best Pop Solo Performance" – provided something of a pared back answer.
Roan arrived in a burgundy, opaque chiffon cape, a custom design by Mugler, that perfectly matched the colour of her hair.
When she walked onto the red carpet, she shed her cape to reveal a barely there, opaque floor-length skirt that hung in place from nipple piercings.
Read more: No nudity please, we're Cannes! Film festival bans 'nude' red carpet dresses
Skin was in, but compared with Roan, other artistes who also attempted a naked look that night came across as almost prudish.
There was Heidi Klum in a structured, latex strapless dress, by German designer Marina Hoermanseder, made to look like a naked replica of her body, complete with nipples and butt cheeks.
She had to take baby steps to get around and told People magazine that because she couldn’t sit, she’ll be “giving a standing ovation the entire night”.
Colombian singer Karol G arrived in a sheer, lacy, off-the-shoulder gown by Paolo Sebastian, and Kehlani wore a black embellished Valdrin Sahiti gown.
None came close to Roan’s standard of exposure.
Naked dressing, of course, isn’t a novel idea on a red carpet, particularly for music’s biggest night, which is considered the looser, riskier cousin of the other awards shows.
Last year, Bianca Censori, wife of rapper and designer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, arrived in a minidress so exposing that some wondered if it could be considered indecent exposure.
Read more: Is Bianca Censori's Grammy dress proof that red carpet fashion has gone too far?
And in 1999, at the MTV Video Music Awards, Lil’ Kim wore an off-shoulder jumpsuit that redefined nipple exposure.
But Roan’s red-carpet look seemed to have taken the idea a step further. On social media, some called it “iconic”, while others wondered what would happen if someone accidentally stepped on the dress.
They needn’t worry. When she got into the auditorium, Roan changed into a floor-length, ivory gown by Rodarte to present the award for "Best New Artiste") to Olivia Dean. There was nary a nipple in sight. – ©2026 The New York Times Company
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
