The red-carpet drama before last night's Grammy Awards was about who wasn't there -- Chris Brown and Rihanna were MIA because Brown was being held by authorities for an alleged domestic violence incident earlier in the day. But a very pregnant M.I.A. was there on her due date, in a voluminous cobalt and white floral baby-doll dress and matching tennis shoes, adding a splash of bright color and whimsy to the proceedings.

But that's the Grammys -- you don't expect award-show business as usual on the red carpet. If anything, last night was more subdued than years past, both in the outfits and the atmosphere.

Mostly, the women were decked out in glam looks with a signature adornment. Jennifer Hudson, who took home the first Grammy of the night, was in a knee-length dress with a white bodice, over black and gun-metal gray. Her hair was straight and slicked back, better to show off the other look of the night: lots of eyeliner, long lashes and drop earrings.

Asymmetry, as in Hudson's gathered white top, Sheryl Crow's one-shoulder ice-blue gown and Duffy's black fitted cocktail dress, was another trend.

Grammy winner Carrie Underwood was all glamour on the carpet but changed into a dress that was a cross between romantic and bondage for her performance.

There were a few Grammy choices that were a little wild but suited the occasion, like Whitney Houston's blue and white gown that showed a lot of leg, while some of the young women chose to make their entrances in old-fashioned glam gowns.

Katy Perry did it right, as a brunette Veronica Lake in a strapless pink confection with ruffles at the waist, while Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift had soft pretty hair and black gowns that made its seem like the teen superstars were playing grown-up. Cyrus and Swift were age-appropriate and casual for their duet during the show.

The guys seemed to be taking all the risks, and not just Coldplay, the foursome nominated for seven Grammys who went with their pseudo-military costumes off and on stage. Drummer Will Champion, when Coldplay won song of the year for "Viva La Vida," apologized to Paul McCartney for borrowing the Sgt. Pepper look.

Jay-Z was one of the more classically dressed guys on the red carpet, but he went to a white T and black leather for a duet with Martin early in the show.

T.I. wore a three-piece tan suit as he talked to E!'s Ryan Seacrest about his upcoming prison stint, a moment that kept the E! Network pre-show telecast surreal, along with reports of Brown and Rihanna's status.

Other men displayed spots of color, such as a dapper Jack Black with a green tie and John Mayer in plum, purple and blue, with his suit collar up for a nehru look. David Grohl of the Foo Fighters, casual in a turtle neck over a white shirt and jacket, also wore his collar up.

Comedian Black, with his Grammy-nominated father-in-law and bass player Charlie Haden, was one of the madhatters on the carpet, including will.i.am in a costume-y high hat and a baby-blue jacket over brown shirt with a gold necktie.

The Grammys are all about the music, of course, from heavy metal to classical, so a dash of color and a wild hat are all par for the eclectic course.