By Wonderwall.com Editors
3:41am PST, Feb 6, 2009
Having a dress that doubles as an award-duster is a sign of confidence – which can be risky, even for Rihanna. We guess it's a DO when you win, but its a downy DON'T when you don't. Let's see what else we can learn from other past Grammy styles.
Fast food server. Disneyland greeter. Candy striper. Baton twirler. These are all images you DON'T want your Big Grammy Night outfit to conjure up (sorry, Chris Brown).
Former Frou Frou singer Imogen Heap and her little green date travelled all the way from under a toadstool in Middle Earth to attend the Grammys. This gown and matching parasol are, in fact, an awarding-winning DO in the Shire.
Listen all you single Grammy-nominated ladies, this is not a gown – this is an Ice Capades costume in need of a hem job. Beyonce's look is only a DO if you're planning on doing a duet of the love theme from Ice Castles with Robby Benson.
Paging all the Grammy-nominated fellas: This look is a DO if, and only if, you are Lenny Kravitz, Tom Petty, Slash or Lil' Wayne.
We don't know how many hallucinating grandmas it took to quilt Joss Stone's gown, but working with senior citizens for Grammy charity is always a DO.
Does Big Bird know Mary J. Blige raids his wardrobe? The color is a flattering DO, but as Bjork can attest, awards show style critics are notoriously negative about avian-inspired outfits. Just DON'T it.
Unless you're going to writhe around on stage singing "Justify My Love," DON'T even try to justify wearing one of Madonna's tattered old nighties. And Teri Hatcher, you're not even a musician!
Actress/singer Christina Milian's brushed-steel colored gown looks like a Macbook with loose morals who's not afraid to show a little tum-tum. Embracing technology and midriff are decided DO's.
Jennifer Lopez going full jungle in her infamous Grammys jungle-themed gown was a daring DO in our books, but on the wrong nominee – say, Aretha Franklin – this kind of navel-cut number could've gone horribly wrong.
