On Sunday evening (April 3rd), the 51st annual Academy of Country Music Awards 2016 took place in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Singers Luke Bryan & Dierks Bentley joined one another to host the show, that honours the industry and artists’ accomplishments from the previous year with big performances on the bill and of course awards & plenty of standing ovations. But as always, I’m very interested in who wore what and so here is this year’s Killer Fashion Best Dressed list for the ACM Awards 2016!
The Best Dressed
Always one for glitz & glam, Carrie Underwood attended the awards in this fully embellished sheer slip gown. Wearing Davidson Zanine, the blonde country star looked beautiful with its leaf-like design and sheer upper bodice panel and cinched-in waist. She styled the look with jewellery by Bavna, soft smokey eyes & nude lips and a chic effortless hairstyle. Later she performed ‘Church Bells’ on stage, which you can watch here, changing into a Sanyae Semure mini dress with a Manual Diaz cage dress on top.
Opting for an embroidered sleeveless bodice & full skirted look, Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell looked great as she joined the party on the red carpet. Wearing Sherri Hill, the pageant queen looked wondrous with the colourful floral-motif top and skirt trim matching, flawless makeup and a sweet curled hairstyle. I absolutely love this look from head to toe!
Pretty in Pink & Purple
Tatiana Starzynski attended in a beautiful blush pink ball gown by J’Aton Couture, donning an ornate pink & nude lasercut look to the awards. It featured a deep plunging neckline that complimented the mid split on the full skirt, showing off her nude leather pointed ghillie heels by Jimmy Choo. A straight hairstyle, dark smokey eyes with Brooke Worthington jewels and an envelope clutch completed her look. Just fabulous!
In a similar pink hue, Jessie James Decker wore this cute strapless midi dress, with a fold-over detail on the bust. She styled an Edie Parker marble & gold striped box clutch to her look, along with thin triple strap barely there sandals, which do look a tad small on her though. Beautifully curled hair and a dewy glow makeup finish with smokey eyes rounded up her awards attire.
Maren Morris looked lovely in her two-tone purple gown by Jill Stuart. The flowy halterdress featured soft pleats on the bodice with silk lining, and a thigh-high leg slit that showed off her black Azzedine Alaïa embellished sandals. She added silver metallic accessories including a box clutch and arm cuff & bangle bracelet by Brooke Worthington, finishing with soft wavy hair and subtle smokey eyes. Looking gorgeous Maren!
Nancy O’Dell attended in a plum purple strapless gown, wearing this wide sweetheart dress that features a sculpted bodice with a thigh-high leg split and train for extra oomph. I love the styling for this look; a silver pavé bracelet & drop earrings, silver barely there sandals and combed back straight hair were the perfect finishing touches.
Also opting for purple, Kelsea Ballerini walked the red carpet in a dark purple strapless gown by Georges Hobeika. The low sweetheart dress featured an ornate-patterned lace overlay with a leather waistband that was beautiful on the blonde country singer. Adding jewellery by Swarovski and Fernando Rodriguez, she completed her look with a straight hairstyle, silver shimmering eyeshadow & exaggerated lashes, Stuart Weitzman heels and a clutch by Rebecca Minkoff. During the show, Kelsea performed ‘Love Me Like You Mean It’ and then was joined by singer Nick Jonas for ‘Peter Pan’, which you can watch here, and had changed into a custom-made royal blue Hayley Paige playsuit that featured black straps & cut outs with a skort finish and removable flowy skirt. Kelsea Ballerini also won the ACM Award for New Female Vocalist of the Year!
Beautiful Blues
Martina McBride attended the awards in an asymmetrical teal blue dress by Kayat, which featured a sequined one-sleeved bodice. The skirt featured a wrap detail with a leg slit too, that she wore with metallic barely there sandals and styled with eye-brightening shadow, big lashes and tousled curls.
Singer Lauren Alaina wore this beautiful blue hue as she walked the red carpet in a strapless waterfall trim custom-made gown by Anne Barge. The sweetheart neckline featured a subtle fold over, with the bodice cinched in on the waist and a full skirt that fell into a high-low deep pleated finish. It was just beautiful, and the ACM Award nominee was smiling at all times, adding to her cat eyeliner & exaggerated lashes in a deep red lipstick. I adore the Fiona Kotur baby pink minaudière addition, and with silver lace up sandals from Stuart Weitzman & jewels by Lana Jewelry to finish this was one gorgeous outfit.
Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town attended with her band mates, donning an asymmetrical midnight blue & black gown. Wearing Project Runway designer Alexander Apope, the blonde beauty worked the red carpet in a gathered tulle overlay that featured a subtle waistband and leg slit. She styled with a blue box clutch, dark smokey eyes and turquoise drop earrings to finish. During the show, Little Big Town performed ‘Stay All Night’, which you can watch here, and Kimberly Schlapman won the ACM Awards alongside her band mates for Vocal Group of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for ‘Smokin’ & Drinkin” with Miranda Lambert.
Sparkling in Silver & Gold
Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry looked lovely in her nude-coloured dress that featured tiger-like stripes in gold sequins all along the sides & sleeves with a v-cut neckline and halterneck piece too. A gold fold over clutch, straight hair and smokey eyes completed the singer’s look.
Country star Lindsay Ell looked great in her black, white & gold number at the ACM Awards. The look featured a gold gemstone neckline & trims that created an hourglass shape along the front before meeting at the knees and going around the skirt, as well as a black sheer plunging panel on the bodice for extra oomph. Black barely there sandals, a metallic clutch and layered bracelets, with silver-black smokey eyes, nude lips and curled hair, Lindsay Ell nailed this look from top to bottom.
Dolly Parton was a lovely surprise on the red carpet, she always makes me smile! She stepped out in an ivory gown with a wide sweetheart neckline and gemstones all over, and also featured lace overlay on the bodice & sleeves. The scalloped skirt was a lovely finish that the veteran country singer & actress styled with peeptoe platforms, a selection of rings and gemstone drop earrings. She later performed ‘Coat of Many Colors’, ‘Jolene’ and ‘9 to 5’ alongside Katy Perry, which you can watch here. Dolly Parton was also honoured with the ACM Tex Ritter Award for her work producing Coat of Many Colors (2016).
Wearing a stunning gown to the awards, Savannah Chrisley attended in a sheer nude, silver & gold gown from Diana Couture by Diana Putri. The look featured embroidery designs on the bodice cleverly covering the tall blonde’s body, with ornate appliqué on the skirt & train for such an elegant finish. With a gold clutch by Fiona Kotur, drop earrings and a wavy half-up half-down hairstyle, Savannah was easily one of the best dressed ladies on the night. Kudos to her stylist Daniel Musto!
Black Beauties
Cassadee Pope looked sweet in her fringed Gomez-Garcia LBD. The sleeveless look was worn with black patent peeptoe booties, a sleek hairbun and smokey eyes to finish, for a rock chic look that was ever so cool.
Attending in quite the dark attire, Kacey Musgraves wore this mermaid dress to the awards, which featured a low neckline and sheer cut out panel across the bust. She kept the look simple with a dainty silver pavé choker necklace, dark smokey eyes and nude lips with a slicked down straight hairstyle to finish.
Jennifer Wayne stepped onto the red carpet in this mirror-embellished & black gown. Short capped sleeves and a narrow plunging neckline on the bodice, the dress also featured a high-waisted skirt that fell to the floor with a thigh-high leg split that showed off her sandals. I love the hair & makeup for this look too; a sideswept braided ‘do with lined eyes, shimmering eyeshadow and red lipstick. Just beautiful!
Lady in Red
Showing up to the awards in red, Blair Fowler wore this one-sleeved dress. Styled with a black waistbelt and metallic leather sandals, the thigh-high leg cut complimented the half-sleeveless look too. Soft waves, kohl-rimmed eyes and a pink nude lip to finis, Blair looked every bit ready to party.
Working the red-hot look, Jana Kramer attended in a cowl neck dress by Rubin Singer, which also featured a high-leg slit. Looking phenomenal after having given birth to her and husband Michael Caussin‘s baby, the singer was all smiles and even showed off some sexy leg sporting Stuart Weitzman sandals. Deep, dark eye makeup with nude lips, a straight hairstyle and selection of rings and Jana was good to go.
Opting for a darker red hue, Cyndi Thomson stepped out in a silk gown that was just wondrous. The dress featured a v-cut neckline, was cinched in at the waist with a matching silk side bow and a slight train too that she styled with a red marbled box clutch. Her flawless hair & makeup added to this beautiful look, with minimal jewels to finish.
A Splash of Colour
Newlywed RaeLynn looked sweet in her minty hue strapless gown, donning a full-skirted dress to the awards. The sweetheart bodice featured quite the odd shape below the bust, with a simple A-line underskirt and the sheer stripe-panelled overlay, cinched in by a metallic waistbelt. She channeled a bit of rock chic with her faux-hawk bouffant hairstyle, pink eyeshadow & thick eyeliner and bejeweled manicure, which with an off-white clutch, an open choker necklace & rings completed her evening look.
Ever the beauty on the red carpet, Miranda Lambert attended the awards in a pastel yellow wide plunging pleated gown by Christian Siriano. The dress featured a thigh high leg split showing off her pink strappy sandals Joyce Echols, which she also styled with a triangular pendant necklace & rings from Irene Neuwirth. Soft waves, smokey eyes and nude lips to complete. During the show, Miranda also performed a cover of ZZ Top’s ‘Tush’, with ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibson & Keith Urban, changing into an Alice + Olivia bodysuit, jeans by AYR and boots by Zara. Miranda Lambert also won the ACM Award for Female Vocalist of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for ‘Smokin’ & Drinkin” with Little Big Town.
The Couples
The couples that walked the red carpet were some of the cutest yet! Not only did their outfits look great together, both contrasting and matching styles, but it was just lovely to see such love on show. My favourite best dressed couples include Cassie McConnell & Charles Kelley, Mika Caussin & Jana Kramer, Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban who also performed ‘Wasted Time’ which you can watch here, and Lauren Gregory Akins & Thomas Rhett who also was honoured with the ACM Award for Single Record of the Year for ‘Die a Happy Man’!
Menswear
The menswear styles this season is very strong, and at the ACM Awards, the lads were pretty creative & colourful on the red carpet. Metallic sheen was rather popular with Neil Perry of The Band Perry who opted for a fun white & grey printed suit and metallic silver shirt & shoes, Easton Corbin opting for a striking pale pink & black three-piece suit and Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts opting for a shiny blue hue. Blues are becoming ever so popular again, with Red Perry of The Band Perry, Jake Owen, Chris Lane and brothers T.J. & John Osborne of Brothers Osborne donning well-fitted suits with white or black accessories. Keeping it classic, Chase Bryant, Dierks Bentley, Tom Hiddleston and Sam Hunt opted for monchrome, and Sam Hunt also looked suave later changing into an all-white outfit to perform his song ‘Make You Miss Me’, which you can watch here.
Notable Mentions
Click to see all the winners of the Academy of Country Music Awards 2016
Nirina xx
Images courtesy of Zimbio
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