The new black is brighter colors and glittering fabrics among the younger set sashaying up the Grammy red carpet

By Deborah Nelson

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 2/10/08 — Rap Artist Maurice Eloise XIII must have been running late as he forget to take the rollers out of his hair. Haley Williams of Paramore, with a transparent dress over a plum slip contrasting with punky bright red hair wore tube socks .

Most of music’s leading ladies preferred elegant ball gowns from haute couture houses (See related HT article) but fashionista Bai Ling chose to gamble on playing card themed cock-eyed hoop skirt.

Creatively stunning was Christine Aguilera with a salmon number with an engineered deep “V” that went from shoulder to navel. With ultra-long blonde dreadlocks cascading over bare midriff, she created an incredible ethereal fantasy mermaid persona.

Among the best dressed of the younger set was Miley Cyrus, with impish elegance and grace; wore an amazing white structured and textured ¾ length sheath with Sergio Rossi heels based on a white and silver theme. She sported day-glo eye shadow and her dark hair of course, rather than the blonde wig that marks the emergence of Hannah Montana.

Fergie Black Eyed Pea singer showed equal elegance with her strapless creamy maize Calvin Klein full length gown, asymmetrically draped onto the floor.

From stunning to simply elegant, Taylor Swift, first time Grammy Winner, wore a perfectly almost-understated custom lavender Sandy Spika gown— except for the strapless floor length gown, highlighted by a beautifully torn & beaded, flipped at the bottom of a gored skirt. Beautiful color and texture.

And then came Amy. Winehouse, if you can get past her tabloid behavior, sums up what a cool, edgy young mess should wear to the Grammys, even if its by satellite from near one’s rehab. Her strapless black dress was as retro as her trademark beehive ‘do and showed off her vast gallery of tattoos nicely.