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fashion yearbook
November 2, 2012

The Best and Worst Outfits From the Country Music Awards

By Charlotte Cowles and Alex Rees

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Photo: Frederick Breedon/2012 Frederick Breedon

Last night’s Country Music Awards delivered all the sparkles, bandage dresses, and cowboy-themed accessories that define Nashville’s finest. Host Carrie Underwood changed her clothes no fewer than twelve times throughout the evening, and there was enough pleather on the red carpet to upholster a dozen sofas. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift wore several outfits in her new favorite color and managed to look surprised despite not winning anything. Click through our slideshow and zoom in on the best and worst denim, pocket squares, and American-flag ensembles from the evening.

Related: The Biggest Beauty Looks From Last Night’s CMAs

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1 / 24 Photos
Best Incorporation of Her New Album Name: Taylor Swift A nice nod to Red, also her new motif in life. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights... Best Incorporation of Her New Album Name: Taylor Swift A nice nod to Red, also her new motif in life. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Least Surprising Continuation of Red: Taylor Swift This is Taylor's best "I didn't win any awards, but I'll look surprised anyway" face... Least Surprising Continuation of Red: Taylor Swift This is Taylor's best "I didn't win any awards, but I'll look surprised anyway" face. Photo: Laura Farr/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Best Cowboy: Dustin Lynch For all we know, Dustin could actually be a cowboy. And why not? He pulls it off well. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. ... Best Cowboy: Dustin Lynch For all we know, Dustin could actually be a cowboy. And why not? He pulls it off well. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Best Reba: Reba McEntire Sure, there's only one Reba. But that's for a damn good reason. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Best Oscar-Worthy Glamour: Carrie Underwood As the event's host, Carrie changed outfits eleven times during the evening. Sadly for everyone, it w... Best Oscar-Worthy Glamour: Carrie Underwood As the event's host, Carrie changed outfits eleven times during the evening. Sadly for everyone, it was all downhill from this preshow red-carpet look. Photo: Byron Purvis/Corbis
Worst of the Twelve: Carrie Underwood Yes, twelve looks is a lot, but making the last one out of some puffy brocade and tricking it out with clea... Worst of the Twelve: Carrie Underwood Yes, twelve looks is a lot, but making the last one out of some puffy brocade and tricking it out with cleavage sparkle just won't cut it. Photo: Frederick Breedon/2012 Frederick Breedon
Worst Bandage Dress: Miranda Lambert Bandage-inspired boob-wrapping should never be done in beige. Photo: Jason Kempin/2012 Getty Images
Best Collage: Miranda Lambert This look seems much more like Miranda's "thing." The corset is a rampant mixture of countrified patrioti... Best Collage: Miranda Lambert This look seems much more like Miranda's "thing." The corset is a rampant mixture of countrified patriotism: stars, stripes, flags, guns, eagles ... and what just might be a Christina Aguilera badge.  Photo: Laura Farr/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Best Airbrushed T-Shirt: Brad Paisley What a lovely sunset. Next time we're a little dizzy after a strong massage in those vibrating chairs at th... Best Airbrushed T-Shirt: Brad Paisley What a lovely sunset. Next time we're a little dizzy after a strong massage in those vibrating chairs at the mall, we'll be sure to pick a few up ourselves. Photo: Laura Farr/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Worst Visible Bra Line(s): Krista Marie of the Farm This sort of thing will happen when you lace yourself into a distressed floral corset. Phot... Worst Visible Bra Line(s): Krista Marie of the Farm This sort of thing will happen when you lace yourself into a distressed floral corset. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Best Necktie: Michael Lockwood Nice fuzzy bow on his head, too. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Best Coordinated Pleather Separates: Faith Hill and Tim McGraw Her pants, his hat: Because the couple that plans their cheesy outfits together st... Best Coordinated Pleather Separates: Faith Hill and Tim McGraw Her pants, his hat: Because the couple that plans their cheesy outfits together stays together. Photo: Laura Farr/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Second-Best Coordinated Pleather Separates: Kimberly Schlapman and Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town How they're not drowning in sweat is prizew... Second-Best Coordinated Pleather Separates: Kimberly Schlapman and Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town How they're not drowning in sweat is prizeworthy in itself. Photo: Laura Farr/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Best Recreation of an Early-Nineties GQ Fashion Spread: Eric Close Eric parked his time machine from the past just outside the Bridgestone Arena... Best Recreation of an Early-Nineties GQ Fashion Spread: Eric Close Eric parked his time machine from the past just outside the Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Best Not Quite Real Housewives of Nashville: Kimberly Schlapman and Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town This series does not yet exist, but ... Best Not Quite Real Housewives of Nashville: Kimberly Schlapman and Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town This series does not yet exist, but Andy Cohen must be looking at the explosion of tanning lotion and sequins on the CMA red carpet and thinking, Yes please. (Also, congrats to Kimberly and Karen for scoring two bests in our roundup.)  Photo: Jason Kempin/2012 Getty Images
Best Wrong Turn Made on a Second Date to Olive Garden: Brad Arnold and Guest These outfits would make you the envy of your fellow diners (and sho... Best Wrong Turn Made on a Second Date to Olive Garden: Brad Arnold and Guest These outfits would make you the envy of your fellow diners (and show just enough cleavage to keep the breadsticks coming), but they're perhaps a little too casual for the red carpet. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Worst Viagra Ad: Little Jimmy Dickens It must have been convenient to buy those performance outfits for half-off at Ricky's Halloween section. ... Worst Viagra Ad: Little Jimmy Dickens It must have been convenient to buy those performance outfits for half-off at Ricky's Halloween section. Photo: Laura Farr/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Most Expected Outfit: Rachel Wyatt Enough with the bandage dresses, please. Spanx have stores now. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Re... Most Expected Outfit: Rachel Wyatt Enough with the bandage dresses, please. Spanx have stores now. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Worst Chin Beard: Keifer Thompson But best suspenders.  Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Worst-Placed Pocket Square: Big & Rich It's purple, and it's on his arm. In other news, very few people are going to take you seriously when ... Worst-Placed Pocket Square: Big & Rich It's purple, and it's on his arm. In other news, very few people are going to take you seriously when you look like you've just returned from an unsuccessful Willy Wonka audition. Photo: Taylor Hill/2012 Taylor Hill
Worst Hair: The Band Perry What are the odds of blow-dryer malfunctions in all three band member's hotel rooms? Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. ... Worst Hair: The Band Perry What are the odds of blow-dryer malfunctions in all three band member's hotel rooms? Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Best Tinkerbell: Hayden Panettiere Showing off her imaginary wings. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Best Joey Fatone: Lee Brice The open shirt, the paperboy's cap, the embroidered collar turned inside out. Lee, you're tearing up our hearts. Ph... Best Joey Fatone: Lee Brice The open shirt, the paperboy's cap, the embroidered collar turned inside out. Lee, you're tearing up our hearts. Photo: Jason Kempin/2012 Getty Images
Worst Subsitute for "Bop": Little Big Town Hanson did it first, and they did it better. Photo: Laura Farr/© Corbis. All Rights Reser... Worst Subsitute for "Bop": Little Big Town Hanson did it first, and they did it better. Photo: Laura Farr/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
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  • taylor swift
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