Looks at the American Music Awards : The Good, the Better

The red carpet showings of some televised awards events have the potential to be fairly blah, at least for someone who likes more dramatic fashion. But this year's American Music Awards (aired Sunday 11/21) proved watch-worthy. Some celebs went a little cray-cray, and I ate it up. Notable dress themes this year were lace and sheer fabrics, as well as structured and embellished cocktail dresses. Shall we? ...

Heidi Klum - love the lace (maybe don't love the hair).

I think a red or red-orange clutch would have been nice, but Heidi knows best.

Jada Pinkett Smith - she always looks like she is going to partake in a sexy battle of some kind.

She really likes the 'warrior woman' look.

Avril Lavigne - she wore these fun heels with her outfit (the dress itself was less fortunate).

Check out her toenails though. Multi-colored leopard!

Johnny Weir - like a caucasian Miss J. Alexander.

Johnny, are you wearing a dress? Work it, doll.

Karina Smirnoff - you got me when you pair gold and black.

The dress says 'Grown Up JWOW' to me a bit, but it's still fun and elegant.

Kesha (or as The Soup's Joel McHale calls her, Ke-dollarsign-ha)

It appears as though Kesha made her dress in the limo before arrival, electric-taping reels of recording tape to a black dress. I do love a good mohawk, though.

I never thought of glueing brass studs to my eyebrows... but I tip my hat to you for creativity.

Miley Cyrus - I can feel your eyes rolling from here. But I do give her an A for effort. The dress on its own is quite elegant (albeit too short for comfort).

See, look how pretty the back is. Almost like a modern day kimono.

Nikki Minaj - I know what you're thinking... 'Huh?' I usually don't like the fashion choices Nikki makes, but I thought this dress was just over-the-top enough to be interesting. She's making a little style nod to Lady Gaga with her two-tone wig and skeletal embellishments.

And I think I have just the shoes to go with her dress.

I believe it's the same designer! (Pollini Manisharora) ...

Phoebe Price - (actress slash model?) She couldn't decide which dress to wear, so she wore all 3 and topped off the look with a tarred-and-feathered Gaga bow.

Rihanna - I actually really like this dress. It's va-voom but elegant.

Floor length but we get peeks of skin. Great color on her skintone.

Taylor Swift - thank you for wearing something fun!

The new straight banged hairstyle called for a sexy-sweet dress to go with it.

Willow Smith - Aww! Look at her trying to go all Avant Garde.

Other than the Santa Claus boots, I think she's a cute lil' trendsetter.

All images appropriated from WireImage.