All the best and worst looks from the American Music Awards

Just when you thought the red carpet carousel was slowing down, along comes the American Music Awards to enliven your fashion taste buds. And there was plenty to take in, from some strong pantsuit looks (courtesy of Busy Philipps and Tracee Ellis Ross), fierce metallics (thank Taylor Swift, mostly), and timeless, elegant styles (we’re looking at you, Vanessa Hudgens and Dua Lipa) – and that’s before the awards even kicked off. Don’t believe us? Check out the night’s style winners and losers in the gallery below.

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All the best and worst looks from the American Music Awards

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  Vanessa Hudgens

  Vanessa opts for slinky and sophisticated in this sleek dress. The asymmetrical long bob, with deep neck line on the pale pink satin Cushnie gown are simply dreamy. One accessory to tie it all together wouldn’t have hurt, but the deliberate simplicity can’t be faulted.
  
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• Tyra Banks

  Dinner service, anyone? Because Tyra looks kind of like a flight attendant, crossed with a baton twirler. It’s kind of a kooky look, but that tinsel skirt says more kitschy party than the AMAs.
  
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• Taylor Swift

  TSwift has arrived and she means business. In this fierce metallic long-sleeved mini-dress and thigh-high black capped boots, she stuns in this futuristic Balmain swag. There’s a touch of disco ball about it, but as it’s such a bold look, we’ll let that slide.
  
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• Shawn Mendes

  In a simple, classic black suit, Shawn jazzes it up with just a peek of a printed shirt. We love the burgundy boots too, for a more street-smart touch.
  
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• Rita Ora

  In this drop-waist dress, Rita brings the understated glam in this embroidered number. It’s formal enough, to be sure, but the dullness, along with the subtle makeup and minimal accessories, makes it somewhat lacklustre.
  
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• Rami Malek

  We knew we could count on Rami to keep the menswear game strong. With this perfectly tailored suit, he’s keeping things jazzy with strong patterning and black panels on the blazer, and we love every inch of it.
  
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• Tracee Ellis Ross

  On anyone else, this suit would be a miss, but with its unique side buckle, and loose, casual cool fit, it's perfectly Tracee.
  
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• Macaulay Culkin

  Ahw, Macaulay’s looking great from the ankles up in this gorgeous blue suit. The printed shirt is just right too, but those casual lace-up shoes make the look as a whole fall flat. So close.
  
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• Amber Heard

  Amber is looking mighty fine in this black and gold metallic strapless gown. The bodice corsage detail is on point, as is the right-on-trend thigh-high slit. And the red nails do not go unnoticed. Love it, Ms. Heard.
  
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• Leighton Meester

  In this simple black and white halter-neck dress, Leighton strikes a perfect balancing act. We love the dark lip, and the panel at the waist to break up the monochrome pattern.
  
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• Dua Lipa

  Now that’s what you call a red carpet dress. In this off-the-shoulder taffeta dress, Dua looks striking and glam in this all-white number. We love the sultry makeup, and distinctive choker, for added glitz.
  
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• Khalid

  In this two-piece pink suit, Khalid is somehow striking a bum note. The colour is great, but the fit is not quite right, and the weird stitching makes it look off. Sorry Khalid, but tonight’s not your night.
  
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• Jennifer Lopez

  Well, that’s one way to get our attention. In this bright pink number, JLo reminds us who’s queen of the red carpet with those wings. The hair is soft and gorge, and the bold black belted middle helps give it an edge.
  
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• Heidi Klum

  We’re not sure if she thinks it’s already Halloween, but in this black lace gown with dripping fringe detail everywhere, Heidi’s looking gloomy rather than glitzy. Throw in the slicked back hair, and you have a recipe for a fashion fail.
  
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• Halsey

  This may be one of our fave looks of the night. Why? Because it’s fancy enough for such an occasion, but toes the fine line between formality and fun. The mullet style skirt part of the dress allows her to show off some seriously strappy shoes. The colour, the print, the whole thing suits her down to the ground.
  
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• Constance Wu

  Ooh. Well it’s not what we would have expected, but Constance is looking kind of fabulous in this in-your-face embellished mini. We love the dark blue, pocket detail, and the neckline. We might have gone for a different ‘do, but no harm, no foul.
  
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• Cobie Smulders

  Cobie is looking flirty, pretty, and pretty darn fabulous in this baby blue printed mini. Sure, the ruching is a little overdone, but the colour pops on her, and the coordinating black heels and clutch work a treat. And with that orange lip? Can’t lose.
  
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• Camila Cabello

  In this plain black strapless two-piece outfit, Camila is seriously underwhelming. Where’s the glam? Where’s the glitz? We spy the tiny sparkles on the Armani Privé bodice, but it’s barely visible. Sorry, girl, but it’s a no-go from us.
  
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• Ciara

  Ok, it’s a little more casual than some of the night’s other fashion big-hitters, but we’re digging the easy sophistication of this mini dress on Ciara. It has some colour and detail to draw our attention. And that hair? Gorgeous all over.
  
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• Bebe Rexha

  In this glittery number with massive thigh-high slit and very pointed shoulders, Bebe is channelling an ‘80s Madonna. Somehow though, she doesn’t quite pull it off. Maybe it’s lack of colour? Either way, it’s not floating our style boat.
  
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• Chloe x Halle

  Maybe it’s the block colours, maybe it’s the oversized dresses, but the Bailey sisters are giving us serious Olsen twin vibes here in these bright gowns. It’s hardly original, but we love the tones, and the earrings.
  
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• Carrie Underwood

  Stepping out in this sultry black gown is Carrie, with perfect gold accents to bring the glam. We love the gold patterning, cutout shoulders, and thigh-high slit, to expertly show off those shoes. And the matching gold earrings set the whole thing off nicely.
  
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• Cardi B

  Ok, it’s a little derivative – is anyone else seeing the Beyoncé/Rihanna riff here? But, it’s certainly one way to walk a red carpet, and we can’t fault the vibrancy of the florals. As you were, Cardi.
  
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• Busy Philipps

  Hmm. On the one hand, it’s great to see Busy rock a simple black pantsuit, but on the other, the flared, sequined pants, and that pinned back, middle parted hair, are doing her no favours. This needs a little something extra, and tonight she just ain’t got it.
  
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• Ashlee Simpson

  In this glittering wraparound dress with stunning choker detail, Ashlee is a red carpet queen. We love that with a top knot she’s gone for earrings that can really shine, along with smoulderingly smoky eyes. A style winner if ever there was one.
  
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