The Grammy Awards aren’t just about music, they’re about style, personality and the narratives that come with fashion. Stars use the red carpet every year to communicate something more than what they’re singing. Chappell Roan, a bubbling pop star who rose to stardom as one of the evening’s hottest names, as of 2026. Not only did she do acts or perform onstage but she wore two completely opposed outfits, showing her confidence, imagination and versatility to people.
The First Look: Mugler Drama On The Red Carpet
Chappell Roan was among attendees at the Grammys in a custom Mugler gown by the designer Miguel Castro Freitas. Her gown was sheer burgundy, bold in transparency and featured faux nipple ring details that instantly struck a chord. Then she added a striking matching cape which cascaded behind her like the back of her that gave her striking, almost theatrical, look that seemed to take on a powerful edge.
Her look featured adornment like temporary body art with things like lace tattoos and pony looks, layers of personality and personality that would make this outfit the most intriguing design ever. Not only was this dress a dress, it was a performance. The red carpet became the stage of her art work and fashion became a space where she could display confidence and individuality. As social media got back to work, lots of fans praised her for stretching boundaries in a way that seemed fresh and unapologetic.
The Second Look: A Lighter Side of Rodarte
Later that evening, in front of an audience on stage sharing an award, Chappell Roan surprised it all with a total shift in tone. It was an archival Rodarte gown — beige chiffon, soft, modest, elegant. Like her bold Mugler look, this outfit was about restraint and a more traditional definition of beauty.
The Rodarte gown showed how versatile she is. It demonstrated that she could be provocative and daring on the red carpet but graceful and understated when presenting. That duality only set her apart, because it gave her proof that she is not bound to one style or one image. She could change who she was in the fashion narrative according to the scene.
Why These Changes Mattered
Fashion at award shows often skews towards what gets the headlines, but the choices which Chappell Roan made went deeper. That second pair of outfits told a tale of identity and artistry. The Mugler gown was about daring and a lot of boldness, rebellion and the courage to disrupt norms. The Rodarte dress stood for elegance, tradition, and respect for the ritual.
Collectively, they proved her a multipronged artist — one who can balance shock value with cool sophistication. This is the sort of fashion storytelling that rising stars need. It allows them to create their public persona and communicate with their public in much more than music. For Chappell Roan, the Grammys provided a point on which to demonstrate that she isn’t afraid to experiment, and also that she knows the strength of contrast.
Chappell Roan’s path through fashion at the Grammys is part of a wider trend in celebrity culture. Stars are now not just singers or actors; They are cultural figures, using fashion, social media and public appearances to express themselves in terms and ideas. Changing outfits on award shows is included in that linguistic system. It enables artists to take on other parts of themselves, and to keep us interested.
For Chappell Roan, the two outfits were more than clothes. They were reflections of who she represents in the music industry: the radical female musician who does not shrink from risk or trial and error, with confidence in both personal and professional self-development. Her choice put her in the echelon of memorable fashion moments of the night, and probably will shape fans’ perceptions and critics’ perceptions of her on the road.
Chappell Roan was able to shine at the 2026 Grammys, and she took the best of what was available. But between the bold Mugler dress and the soft Rodarte chiffon dress, her two wardrobe changes demonstrated to the world that she is more than her pop star persona: She is a storyteller, a risk taker and a fashion icon in the act of becoming. It was her fashion journey at the Grammys that was about more than beauty; it was also about identity, confidence and the art of transformation.
