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fashion yearbook
November 19, 2012

Gold Sequins Everywhere on the AMA Red Carpet

By Charlotte Cowles

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Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis, Byron Purvis/Corbis

It’s not unusual for red carpets to be overrun with sparkles and metallics this time of year; after all, it’s the holiday season, and everyone wants to look festive. But there were so many gold sequined dresses at the American Music Awards last night that it almost seemed like a coordinated effort. Perhaps a memo was sent out? Or maybe there was a phone tree? A few brave stars did deviate from the norm, including Nicki Minaj, a nearly unrecognizable Christina Aguilera, and Justin Bieber (in his latest drop-crotch pants, of course). Meanwhile, Psy wore a leather tuxedo jacket, Ludacris wore a giant gold tooth, and Pink had a hair doughnut. Click through our slideshow to see the best, worst, and most perplexing outfits from last night. 

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1 / 23 Photos
Most Questionable Follow-Up to That Lace-Up Thing She Wore Last Week: Heidi Klum It looks quite a bit like the outfits Kristen Stewart's bee... Most Questionable Follow-Up to That Lace-Up Thing She Wore Last Week: Heidi Klum It looks quite a bit like the outfits Kristen Stewart's been wearing lately, only with even less fabric. Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Most Unrecognizable: Christina Aguilera Wow, we thought, Nicki Minaj really toned it down for this red carpet. Oh, wait ... Photo: RD/Winn/Retn... Most Unrecognizable: Christina Aguilera Wow, we thought, Nicki Minaj really toned it down for this red carpet. Oh, wait ... Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Tamest: Nicki Minaj It's weird to see Nicki wearing (a) a strapless, promlike gown and (b) only one color, even though it's highlighter yellow. C... Tamest: Nicki Minaj It's weird to see Nicki wearing (a) a strapless, promlike gown and (b) only one color, even though it's highlighter yellow. Can't you picture this dress on someone like Lea Michele instead? Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Most Pleasant Surprise: Elisha Cuthbert Oh hi, Elisha! Haven't seen you in a while. Looks like you got the gold-dress memo. Photo: RD/Winn/Retn... Most Pleasant Surprise: Elisha Cuthbert Oh hi, Elisha! Haven't seen you in a while. Looks like you got the gold-dress memo. Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Matchiest: Hayden Panettiere As usual, it's short, sparkly, and vaguely figure-skater-ish. Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Best Hair Doughnut: Pink It's as if a nice, fresh Krispy Kreme is stashed in there for later. Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Second-Best Hair Doughnut: Jenny McCarthy Hers is messier; perhaps this is what Pink's will look like once the aforementioned snack has been retr... Second-Best Hair Doughnut: Jenny McCarthy Hers is messier; perhaps this is what Pink's will look like once the aforementioned snack has been retrieved. Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Best Pearls of Wisdom: No Doubt Note to everyone else on the red carpet: Sometimes it's cooler to wear pants. Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Most Like Everyone Else: Taylor Swift Yet another gold dress. She looks pretty, though. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Best Taylor Swift Look-alike: Stacy Keibler Her dress is also short, high-necked, sleeved, and sparkly. Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Oddest Ruching: Colbie Caillat A last-minute safety-pin job? Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Most in Need of a Better Tailor: Curtis Jackson And judging by those spots on his pants, a good dry cleaner is in order too. Photo: Andreas Bra... Most in Need of a Better Tailor: Curtis Jackson And judging by those spots on his pants, a good dry cleaner is in order too. Photo: Andreas Branch/patrickmcmullan.com
Walking Advertisement for His Tailor: Lance Bass It can't be easy making perfectly fitted pants out of blue aluminum. Photo: Andreas Branch/pat... Walking Advertisement for His Tailor: Lance Bass It can't be easy making perfectly fitted pants out of blue aluminum. Photo: Andreas Branch/patrickmcmullan.com
Most Perplexing Décolletage: Ke$ha There's a lot of double-sided-tape action going on here, but that tab-thing in the middle is confusing.... Most Perplexing Décolletage: Ke$ha There's a lot of double-sided-tape action going on here, but that tab-thing in the middle is confusing. Also, of all red carpets to forgo glitter?! She must be kicking herself today. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Best Overall: Psy Spats + sequined pants + a leather tuxedo jacket - bowtie knot = holding his own, even without his grape army. Photo: By... Best Overall: Psy Spats + sequined pants + a leather tuxedo jacket - bowtie knot = holding his own, even without his grape army. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Most Befitting a Teen Pop Star: Carly Rae Jepsen She looks like sparkly bubble-gum ice cream. Photo: Jason Merritt/2012 Getty Images
Most Expensive Dental Work: Ludacris My, what large teeth you have. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Most Hobbled: Justin Bieber We know these droopy pants are his "thing" these days, but shuffling along penguin-style must get awfully t... Most Hobbled: Justin Bieber We know these droopy pants are his "thing" these days, but shuffling along penguin-style must get awfully tiresome. What if he wants to take the stairs two at a time or do a high kick?  Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Fruitiest: Carrie Underwood This is the color that André Leon Talley would describe as "framboise." Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./... Fruitiest: Carrie Underwood This is the color that André Leon Talley would describe as "framboise." Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Most Edie Sedgwick: Ginnifer Goodwin She's got false lashes stuck to her bottom lids. Presumably she's not one to get misty-eyed at these things.... Most Edie Sedgwick: Ginnifer Goodwin She's got false lashes stuck to her bottom lids. Presumably she's not one to get misty-eyed at these things. Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Most High-Fashion: Kerry Washington This fringe-trimmed dress is from Stella McCartney's carnival-themed resort collection. As you can see, the f... Most High-Fashion: Kerry Washington This fringe-trimmed dress is from Stella McCartney's carnival-themed resort collection. As you can see, the fringe is on the inside of the dress, which looks cool and also spares her from being asked to do twirls on the red carpet. Photo: RD/Winn/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Best Multitasker: Cyndi Lauper All of her garments are pulling double duty! She's wearing shants (shoes + pants) and a jarf (jacket + scarf).&nbs... Best Multitasker: Cyndi Lauper All of her garments are pulling double duty! She's wearing shants (shoes + pants) and a jarf (jacket + scarf).  Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Worst Double-Dipper: Phoebe Price This is like the Canadian tuxedo of gold sequins. Photo: Byron Purvis/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
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  • american music awards
  • ludacris
  • psy
  • colbie caillat
  • ginnifer goodwin
  • taylor swift
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