Fashion hits and misses from the 2018 American Music Awards

By Megan Riedlinger 5:07am PDT, Oct 10, 2018

The American Music Awards have served up some legendary style moments over the years (Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake's matching denim-on-denim, anyone?), and the 2018 red carpet was no exception! Check Wonderwall.com's roundup of the best and worst dressed stars of the night, starting with the one and only Taylor Swift! We appreciated the nod to the Tin Man, but Halloween is still a few weeks away, Taylor! This costume-like look included a long-sleeved, high-necked sparkly, reflective mess of a minidress combined with ill-fitting, matching thigh-high boots with a black pointed-toe detail. And while we would be all for this Balmain combination at a costume party, for the AMAs, we expected a whole lot more from the pop star. Keep reading to see her beauty look and the rest of the night's hit and misses!

Look what you made us do, Taylor! We hate putting the star in the miss category, but even her excellent winged eyeliner, pink lip and artfully messy updo can't make up for her disastrous ensemble. From the insanely reflective frock's distracting fabric to those dull rectangular hoop earrings by Ofira Jewels, this was one of our least favorite Taylor Swift looks to date.

One of our favorite looks of the night? That belonged to Kelsea Ballerini, who stood out in this Nicolas Jebran dress. From the cool black-and-yellow contrast to the unexpected zebra-printed sash, we loved the way this dress felt part suit jacket/part edgy minidress. Making things even better? Those amazing Christian Louboutins she paired it with!

Oh, Tyra Banks! The supermodel mogul really threw us with this oddball getup. From the oversized dress shirt and the corset-like belt to the crimson Gucci fringe skirt and those ankle boots, we've got a lot of questions for Tyra. Mainly… why? Take a look at her hat selection next…

It's part newsboy cap, part visor, part baseball hat — all parts confusing! Though we hated Tyra Bank's odd ensemble and hat choice, we can't deny her long, wavy tendrils looked phenomenal!

Dua Lipa served up some bridal vibes on the AMAs red carpet, and we were loving it! The singer sported this stunning off-the-shoulder Giambattista Valli gown, which featured some impressive gathering and pleating that culminated in a full mermaid-style skirt. Next up? A better view of her beauty look!

Does anyone rock a bob better than Dua Lipa? We don't think so! The star wore her short hair in loose waves and opted for brown-hued makeup. Finishing off her elegant AMAs look? That amazing diamond necklace.

Dolce & Gabbana dreams! Cardi B was the definition of arriving in style at the AMAs when she rolled up decked out in this ultra-glamorous design. From the spaghetti straps and corset-style bodice to the full skirt with a thigh-high slit, this all-over-floral confection was divine. Now let's get a better view of the headpiece…

Floral fabulousness! Cardi B completed her dramatic Dolce & Gabbana getup with this matching headpiece with floral embellishments that was extra in the best possible way. Equally stunning? Her bold red lip and those gorgeous gold earrings.

It's not often that Jennifer Lopez finds herself on the miss list, but we just weren't feeling this hot pink Georges Chakra number. Maybe it was the halter neckline, or maybe it was the chunky black belt, but this dress didn't measure up to J.Lo's usual red carpet caliber. But there's one thing that's undeniable about this look…

It definitely looked fun to pose in! Jennifer Lopez used the layers of fabric of her Georges Chakra gown to make a major statement while posing on the red carpet.

A closer look at Cobie Smulder's pale blue velvet minidress by Vivetta showed that those tiny red dots are actually roses! This fun floral-print frock was one of our favorite dresses of the night, and those corresponding blue velvet sandals were equally dreamy. Let's get a better look at her hair and makeup next…

We loved the way Cobie Smulders kept things in the same color family when it came to her makeup. She opted for a bright, cheery red lip and lined her eyes in a corresponding bright blue to keep with the same color palette as her pretty dress.

Ciara's American Music Awards look gave us athleisure vibes — not exactly what you want on a formal red carpet. The short-sleeved one-piece she chose featured zippered detailing and color-blocked patches, but not even those amazing strappy heels could dress this look up enough for an award show.

Navy blue sequined Monique Lhuillier? Sign us up! We adored Ashlee Simpson's disco-inspired ensemble, complete with a silver belt and platform silver heels. We'll check out her beauty look next!

Navy all over! We loved how Ashlee Simpson kept things all navy blue — including her amazing smokey eye and winged eyeliner! The star finished things off with a pink lip and a high bun and accessorized with some matching earrings.

Amber Heard went with black and gold at the AMAs, donning this ball gown with a dramatic tulle embellishment on the bodice. At first, we were fans of the pretty Ralph & Russo gown's structured neckline, but the back of the dress was a different story. See that next!

Yikes! From the back, Amber Heard's Ralph & Russo dress was a disaster. The gown featured alternating panels of tulle down the back, resulting in a messy, haphazard look.

Carrie Underwood opted for dramatic black and gold on the American Music Awards red carpet. The star looked lovely in this black gown with shoulder cut-outs and gold detailing down the bodice that matched her pointed-toe pumps perfectly. Next up… a better look at her baby bump!

Baby's red carpet debut! Carrie Underwood showed off her growing baby bump in this glamorous black gown. For her beauty look, the country crooner opted to wear her blonde hair down and straight and selected warm-toned makeup.

Really, Camila Cabello? The pop star sported one of the most uninspired looks of the night — a simple black corset-style top with black dress pants by Armani Prive. The only thing of note about this snoozy all-black ensemble? Her peep-toe Christian Louboutin heels. Next!

Unexpected color combinations provided some of the prettiest looks of the night — and Lauren Jauregui's Pamella Roland gown was no exception! The former Fifth Harmony member stunned in a strapless purple-and-black ball gown complete with a tie-dye-like print.

Sure, Vanessa Hudgens' pale pink dress was pretty, but what a snore. The star donned this spaghetti-strapped, super-simple and slinky pink Cushnie design on the red carpet, disappointing fans of her usually on-point fashion. Next up? A better look at her hair, makeup and accessories.

Vanessa Hudgens kept things extremely simple when it came to her beauty look as well. Her makeup, though pretty, was underwhelming on one of music's biggest nights. And while we loved the matching pastel pink eyeshadow and lip, the dress was so simple that she could have pulled off something a little more daring in the makeup department. And while her edgy lightning bolt earrings were cool, they were too subtle to stand out amongst this overall bland look.

Halsey's inspiration seemed to be a red carpet ballerina. The singer sported a strapless Redemption dress that featured a high-low hemline and delicate tulle with lace-up heels by Rene Caovilla. We have to say, we were definitely pleasantly surprised by this look, considering Halsey typically finds herself on the miss list.

Halsey gets extra points for matching her hair to her dress! The star showed up in this super-short pink hairstyle, which also matched her pink makeup shades.

As we patiently await the day that sheer dresses go out of style, we'll just be here putting Laura Marano's AMAs dress on the miss list. The actress wore a strapless confection that featured silver detailing atop a nude background, giving that all-too-common see-through effect on the red carpet.

Bebe Rexha usually finds herself on the miss list, so this stunning black-and-silver number was a pleasant surprise! The singer sported a structured, long-sleeved, sequined frock complete with a thigh-high slit and finished off her ensemble with matching silver heels.

A pink pantsuit is typically right up our alley, but Tracee Ellis Ross' oversized variety wasn't our favorite look or even close. And since Tracee is one of our favorite style icons, we expected a lot more from her red carpet look on her big night as the show's host. Her Pyer Moss two-piece ensemble with black accents landed among the misses, and her accessories were equally disappointing. Let's get a closer look next…

The hot pink lip shade? That chunky, unfortunate choker? Those boring silver dangling earrings? We're used to Tracee Ellis Ross being styled impeccably, so this messy look was shocking. From the lipstick being an entirely wrong shade of pink to the horrible jewelry selection, this was one big nope.

We loved Leighton Meester's black-and-white Sonia Rykiel gown, which split down the middle in the contrasting colors. The halter neckline and interesting studded detail at the waist elevated this look even further. Blair Waldorf would be proud!

Ahh! Heidi Klum wore a black frock by Julien MacDonald, complete with bizarre netting and fringe and beading that was straight out of our fashion nightmares, solidifying herself a space on the miss list.

Holding it down for the men? Khalid! We loved the singer's bright pink getup, from the oversized coat to the white turtleneck to the wide-legged pants and the impossibly white sneakers — this was the perfectly edgy and outside-the-box men's look we were hoping to see at the big music bash.

Rita Ora, is that you? The usually outlandishly styled star went for a more demure look at the AMAs — a sleek updo, subtle makeup and this matronly Giambattista Valli dress. Though we really weren't into the frock, we do appreciate Rita's surprising style move. Let's see it from another angle…

Rita Ora's Giambattista Valli dress was pretty dramatic in the back with its excessive train. Though we weren't crazy for this floral frock, we did love her beauty look at the AMAs. Check that out next…

We're used to Rita Ora sporting some pretty ridiculous hairstyles on the red carpet, so this simple updo was a nice change of pace. We also loved her demure makeup look, complete with a pink lip and classic smokey eye.

Shawn Mendes can always be counted on to keep things cool on the red carpet. The crooner looked sharp in Saint Laurent — a black suit, a printed dress shirt and brown boots.

Red-hot! "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Kyle Richards stunned in this gorgeous red velvet dress, matching the AMAs red carpet. The whole look was great, from the gown's plunging neckline and bow detail to the way she paired it with those edgy nude pumps.

With the wardrobe we've seen on Erika Jayne's vacations on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," we expected a lot more on the red carpet! The star instead sported this glimmering, long-sleeved dress, which featured a plunging neckline and an asymmetrical hemline. Though it was pretty, we know what's in this star's impressive closet and were underwhelmed with the choice. Cementing this look as a miss? Her hairstyle, which we'll get to next…

Updos are great, but Erika Jayne's bizarre ponytail-braid hybrid lost us. While we weren't fans of the super-high pony with woven embellishments in the braided portions, we did like her peach-hued makeup and those amazing diamond-studded drop earrings.

Ella Mai's mint green pantsuit is what dreams are made of! This impossibly cool look didn't need an undershirt, as the buttoned-up suit jacket and wide-legged trousers were flawless.

When it comes to couture, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing! Case in point: Constance Wu, who sported this No. 21 minidress with about a dozen different things happening at once. From the studded pockets to the blinged-out neckline to the sequins and funky designs, we weren't fans. A different story? Constance's makeup and hair…

We loved Constance Wu's half-up, half-down red carpet hairdo. Her bold red lip and smokey eye kept things classic in the makeup department, cementing her beauty look as a hit.

We know we typically have a no-jeans-on-the-red-carpet rule, but we'll make an exception for Amandla Stenberg's stellar AMAs look. The star proved just how stylish she truly is when she showed up pulling off denim, a dress shirt, a bow tie and a Ralph Lauren blazer flawlessly.

Jessie James Decker opted for a sleek black jumpsuit on the AMAs red carpet. The ensemble featured striped sheer paneling and one long sleeve. We loved the way she paired it with strappy metallic heels and stellar hair and makeup… which we'll get a better look at next!

We adored Jessie James Decker's half-up, half-down hairdo. Her curly locks framed her warm-toned makeup perfectly, and those oversized gold hoops were the perfect addition to her black jumpsuit.

Post Malone arrived with a new haircut and a wild getup — complete with snake embellishments, a blinged-out belt buckle, matching bedazzled boots and a red Solo cup. You don't get much more rock star than that.

Kathryn Hahn continued the suit-jacket-dress trend with this gorgeous red, black and white variety by Balmain. Making things better? Those killer red Casadei heels that camouflaged into the AMAs red carpet!

We weren't crazy about Busy Philipps' Michael Kors getup. Though pantsuits are everywhere on the red carpet right now, this attempt sans shirt fell flat. We didn't like the bralette addition or the bellbottom-style trousers, and we're afraid her dramatic beauty look made this feel more costume-like than couture.

Rami Malek sure looked sharp in this black-and-white gingham-print suit jacket. To finish his look, he went with a white dress shirt, black dress pants and black dress shoes.