Celebrity Red Carpet Outfits That Went Off The Rails

The red carpet can be a time to shine and show off your fashion skills, but for some celebrities, their fashion risks don't necessarily land where they hoped. Whether they missed the mark because of over-accessorizing, displaying flashy colors, or just not wearing a properly-fitted garment, some A-listers may never be able to outrun their red carpet mistakes of the past.

And when it comes to the bold, the loud, and the downright off-the-rail ensembles, that's an entire category of its own. We're sure that most of these stars had good intentions for their fashion choices, even if it was merely to get people talking. We had our work cut out for us, selecting the top red carpet outfits that forced eyebrow raises across the globe, going all the way back to the '90s for some of these looks. Lady Gaga's meat dress and even Kerli's lesser-known missteps are sights to behold, but you haven't seen anything yet. 

Colorful, playful, and reminiscent of a child's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese — Girl Crush's dress was certainly the talk of the town when she debuted it at the 2017 Grammys. Invoking images of the ball pits that we used to dive into, her two-part dress was childish, to say the least, especially for the red carpet.

Kerli's known for her eccentric style, and this outfit fits her reputation. While the clothes themselves weren't out of the norm, it was Kerli's hair and face accessories that ensured her a spot on this list for their resemblance to devil horns. We applaud the singer's desire to stand out at the 2013 Grammys, although some would argue the look belongs more in her music videos than the red carpet. 

Nothing is more appropriate than calling this dress an "explosion." Victoria Evigan's 2022 Grammys dress made use of ruffles, a high collar, and see-through panels to create a dress that was equally amusing as it was statement-making. While her sleeves were the silliest part of her dress (and made us think of a tutu), we love a good message, and what better way to convey "love is the weapon" than on the back of a red carpet gown?

Tracksuits have their time and place, but the red carpet doesn't seem like the best fit. Ta'Rhonda Jones looked stunning at the 2019 Soul Train Awards, but her decision to opt for this tracksuit-inspired mermaid dress (although in a trendy cobalt blue color) may have missed the mark. 

We love a good power suit moment, and Kesha does, too, as seen at the 2018 Grammys. The only issue is that this one didn't seem to fit the singer quite right. We must admit, though, that her chosen accessories — bedazzled boots and lots of rings on her fingers — gave her a few extra points.

The red carpet seems to be one of the best times to show a little skin. However, when the gown looks like it's being held together with safety pins, it may be a recipe for an accident. We'd be scared of the wind. And walking too fast. And getting the end caught on our heels. Erika Costell apparently wasn't afraid of any of those possible expositions with her look at the 2020 Grammys.

If you take the brightest-colored and biggest rain jacket you can find, sew it up into pants and a suit jacket, and accentuate it with nothing except the tiniest purse, it still wouldn't look as off the rails as Olivia O'Brien's metallic blue suit she sported while walking the red carpet at the 2020 Grammys after party. The singer matched the look with blue eyeshadow, and although we're obsessed with the color, the metallic finish from head to toe is a bit much. 

Sporting matching skeleton-overlay outfits certainly missed the mark for siblings Phoebe Bridger and Jackson Bridger at the 2021 Grammys — at least in the fashion department. But when you're an indie singer who marches to the beat of your own drum, maybe you just don't care (we love that for her). 

The 44th Grammy Awards took place in 2002, and Tweet's quintessential Y2K ensemble on the red carpet certainly proves it. Lots of see-through material, a choker, a leather hat, and clunky boots made up the majority of her outfit, which is all over the place and oh-so-early aughts.

We don't know just what Katy Perry (or her stylists) had in mind when they decided this was the perfect garment for the 2019 Grammys, but the silhouette it provides isn't the most flattering. Several layers of ruffles with a skirt that rounds at the hips in a bubble-like fashion? It's definitely a one-of-a-kind look. 

Although many people prefer not to wear animals as a fashion statement these days, looking back at Björk's swan dress debacle at the 2001 Oscars makes us think the style wasn't all that chic anyway. The singer wore a full nude bodysuit with a swan draped around her neck. We're just glad it wasn't a real swan.

For her second entry on this list, we go back in time to 2010 when Lady Gaga let her avant-garde style shine. She showed up to the Brit Awards in what looked like a triple-layered tablecloth dress, a lace face mask, and a blond wig reminiscent of the 17th century. The "Poker Face" singer really knows how to stun a crowd, that's for sure.

Miley Cyrus likes to push the envelope even on her dressed-down days. Still, this flowery two-piece ensemble she wore to the Los Angeles LGBT Center's 46th Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards wasn't her finest moment. Her bottom was see-through, and her top was held together by little more than sequins and some clear tulle. The "Wrecking Ball" singer's clam-shaped purse also seemed like an odd accessory choice. 

We're all for bedazzled dresses — they sure make a statement! But Sophie Von Haselberg's headpiece at the 2019 Met Gala? Not so much. A fully bedazzled dress is dramatic enough on its own, but apparently not for the actor, who topped the look off with a matching bedazzled headpiece to up the ante.

Cara Delevingne channeled her inner rainbow candy cane at the 2019 Met Gala. It's also giving Willy Wonka, and we can't unsee it. While the Met Gala is known for (and encourages) outrageous, out-of-the-box ensembles, this one is too much and not enough all at the same time.

Feathers and mesh are not always a good combination. Anja Rubik's dress at the 2021 Met Gala sure got tongues wagging, but it didn't earn the model any fashion points. Her low-key makeup and bed-head hair, combined with the feathers, made us think more of heading to bed rather than down the red carpet.

While donning what looks like a full-body suit with elbow-length gloves doesn't sound like the worst thing to wear to the 2022 Grammys, La'Myia Good may have proved otherwise with the choice of material the ensemble was made out of. Is that lace pantyhose? Regardless, there's not a lot of dimension to the look, which even errs on the boring end.

Pink's style has certainly evolved throughout the years, but back in 2003, she loved to rock jeans — even for the MTV Movie Awards. She threw on cropped, loose jeans and a crop-top hoodie. With her black lace bra peeking out and the dazzling array of zippers adorning her jeans, the whole outfit was a bit chaotic.

Z LaLa pulled out all the stops when it came to making her entrance at the 2015 American Music Awards. Could any dress get stranger? Her stiff, hair-like headpiece, the octopus at her feet, the tendrils around her hands — all of it was just over the top and somewhat fit for a horror film.

We can appreciate creativity, and Christina Aguilera's dress at the 2018 Harper's Bazaar Icons Party (supposedly paying homage to songbirds) is surely a product of an imaginative mind. While it has a messy look to it, like someone took a plain white dress and attached feathers to it with no clear direction, it definitely makes a statement! 

Katy Perry walked the red carpet at the 2019 Met Gala wearing a chandelier. Oh, wait ... that's two chandeliers. Yep, the singer wore not one but two chandeliers that were accompanied by rhinestone-encrusted shoes and a bedazzled dress. Really, no inanimate object or piece of furniture is off-limits in the world of fashion. 

At the 2015 Grammys, Madonna channeled her inner sexy maid with a bedazzled mini dress featuring a sort of front apron, which she paired with thigh-high boots and a beret. With so many elements wrapped into one, this look gives a costume vibe fit for a Halloween party.

Out of all the many eccentric, creative, jaw-dropping outfits that have graced the red carpet, it's a rare moment when we come across one that covers every part of the body — including the face. But Kim Kardashian proved it possible with her all-black ensemble at the 2021 Met Gala when she wore a black garment head to toe (literally). At least she didn't have to do her hair and makeup!

If you attended the "Ocean's 8" premiere and happened to glance at Sarah Paulson, we hope you had your sunglasses on. The actor's dress was such a neon shade that she outmatched the sun (the fringe on the garment didn't help tone down the look either).