The costume-y rocker outfits were saved for the Grammy stage for the most part last night, as artists walked down the red carpet decked out as if they were headed to the Oscars, ready with a quick answer to "Who are you wearing?"

The glam gowns were out in force, with Alicia Keys in midnight blue Armani, Fergie in eye-popping yellow Calvin Klein, and Carrie Underwood in flowery Badgley Mischka that was straight from the New York runway show.

For the women, jewel tones were the way to go, with big earrings and dramatic eyes. Rihanna and Corinne Bailey Rae went royal blue and short. Rihanna's Zac Posen was all fluff and feathers and a cute change from her usual figure-hugging fare.

The kids on the carpet were age-appropriate, with Miley Cyrus in a sparkly white Celine dress and 18-year-old Taylor Swift in a perfectly fitted strapless, drop-waist gown. The Plain White T's looked like a group on the way to the prom in "Pretty in Pink," and Chris Brown brightened up the proceedings in bright white trimmed in bright red.

Many of the guys followed the ladies' classy lead, with Ne-Yo the nattiest in head to toe Ferragamo and Banana Republic sunglasses. Seal wore all white with a black tie and Ludacris did the opposite. The guys' story went mostly like this: from white-out to deepest black, and every shade of gray in between.

That's not to say that the Grammys' pre-show didn't shout rock and rap stars. Slash and Yoko One wore top hats, and Nas wore a red ball cap and a T-shirt with a word that shocks, appalls and is the title of his latest album.

And, of course, there was beguiling Beyonce, in otherworldly swirls of metallic silver fabric and sky-blue tulle.

All's fair in rock 'n' roll, even on the red carpet.

-- Sharon Eberson,

Post-Gazette entertainment editor