Traditional and Audacious Adorn Grammy Red Carpet

Grammys newcomer Sam Smith looked dapper in a white bow tie and Madonna rocked one of the season's most eclectic red carpets Sunday in a bedazzled two-corner black hat and burlesque-esque corset with matching thigh-high boots.

Fashion is always a little crazy at the Grammys, guys included, but first-time winner Smith soaked it all up in a more traditional tuxedo as he managed his nerves going up against some of his idols.

Madonna's big-shouldered shorty outfit was custom Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci. She wore not much underneath, flashing a black thong and fishnets at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. She wasn't a hit with some in the Twitter peanut gallery: "Just got a glimpse of Madonna arriving. Seems to be channeling some mix of the Duchess of Windsor and Mae West," one chimed in.

Rihanna dashed into the live show at the last minute in a poofy, tiered pink confection of silk and tulle from Giambattista Valli that had some online comparing her to a party cupcake. She was dripping in Chopard diamonds.

Beyonce and Miley Cyrus went for black - Cyrus in strategic, sexy cutouts and the queen in a low V-neck embellished gown with a train from Proenza Schouler. Also in black was Gwen Stefani in a stunning strapless black Versace Atelier jumpsuit with a structured spiderweb swirl up top.

Audacious singer-actress Joy Villa was encaged in revealing bright orange, and it was unclear how Sia could see under her huge shaggy white wig.

Brandy Clark showed off a killer pair of metallic silver Prada pumps under a sparkly, second-skin silver-and-black gown, while Nick Jonas chatted, hands in pockets of a light gray tweed suit with a touch of yellow and ultra-skinny trousers.

Among Clark's tasks in handling newfound fame and regular everyday life: "Squeeze myself into this dress, for starters," she told The Associated Press.

Ariana Grande had her signature high ponytail in place, wearing a white-and-silver, one-shoulder Versace with a cutout back - Big Sean by her side. "I'm wearing Saint Laurent man, head to toe," he added of his shades of black tuxedo.

Black-hatted Aloe Blacc went with a patterned bow tie and edgy royal blue tuxedo trimmed in black from the Danish fashion house Sand Copenhagen. Known for leg-baring, Pharrell Williams didn't break from tradition. He was dressed in a gray short suit, matching bow tie and shoes, from Adidas.

Tuxedos aren't just for the dudes these days. Charlie XCX did her white tailed-tux trouser look justice from one of her favorites, Moschino, paired with a bright pink bow tie and blush fur stole.

"I hate boring fashion so I wanted to do something '80s and fabulous," she said. "I like unpredictable."

Meghan Trainor brought the bass - and her dad. She wore a tight sheer miniskirt under a full black, long-sleeve overskirt adorned with black lace for her first Grammys walk.

Katy Perry's tousled lavender hair popped against her silver backless sheer dress. It fell below the knee and had long sleeves and swingy crystal fringe - fresh from the Paris runway of Zuhair Murad. She wore a $2 million canary yellow diamond ring from Harry Kotlar.

"I just want to shine like a diamond," she said, referring to one of her songs.

Later, Perry's white caped performance gown drew comparisons to the Stephane Rolland wedding gown of Solange Knowles.

Perry was greeted on the red carpet by Nicki Minaj in black Tom Ford, her decolletage out in a front slit cut to her waist. Ford also dressed Jennifer Hudson in a stunning bright white strapless dress that fell just below the knee, her sassy short hair a perfect complement. So was her Marli diamond choker.

Lady Gaga went gray-for-gray with date Tony Bennett. On their heads, that is. She showed off a high slit in her silver gown by Brandon Maxwell, Lorraine Schwartz diamonds in place with a touch of emeralds.

Taylor Swift's turquoise Elie Saab red carpet gown drew some online snark: "curtains over a mini dress," one tweeter offered of her sleeveless short-under-billowy, long look.

Kim Kardashian's gold John Paul Gaultier screamed bathrobe, but her new shorter 'do looked great. No matter.

"I love how sparkly it is," she said. "I love it."

Iggy Azalea's hair? Not so much. It was a thick braid wound around her head like a crown against a tight-tight bright blue custom Armani Prive gown.