Taylor Swift rocks a crop, Lady Gaga does Bowie for awards

NEW YORK -- Other than a blast or two of David Bowie from Lady Gaga, the Grammys felt more glam routine on the fashion front than the wild and wacky of years past for music's big night.

Pharrell lost his towering hat Monday but sported torn jeans, green sneakers and a Chanel jacket that matched his blond hair.

Gaga's red-carpet ode to Ziggy Stardust included a fiery red mullet, sky-high platform sandals and '70s swirls of embroidery on an electric-blue tuxedo gown open to the crotch.

Gaga's look, ahead of her tribute in song to the legendary Bowie and more fashion in his honor, was created by Marc Jacobs and included glittery, bright blue eyeshadow.

"The world loves you, David," she declared on Instagram ahead of the Grammys.

Lady Gaga arrives at the 58th annual Grammy Awards on Monday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.Jordan Strauss ~ Invision/AP

High slits were of the moment at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Ciara had one. So did Carrie Underwood.

Taylor Swift's slit came in the middle, in the form of a peekaboo reveal of panties under a long, matching magenta skirt she wore with a coral red crop top -- all courtesy of custom Atelier Versace.

"She doesn't usually show so much skin on the carpet," said Lindsay Miller, editor of the millennial women-focused fashion and lifestyle site Popsugar.

Swift's shorter, chic bob with bangs worn down rather to one side earned raves, as did her outfit.

"I think it completely worked. Her arms looked great. It was nice seeing color," said Kahlana Barfield Brown, fashion and beauty editor-at-large for InStyle.

Taylor Swift arrives at the 58th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

But risk takers were few and far between, Miller said.

"It's surprising because the Grammys are traditionally the place to go for the untraditional and to take fashion risks," she said. "We saw a lot of understated, almost old-school glamorous looks."

Other highlights:

The green machine

Tori Kelly wore an emerald one-shoulder gown, her long hair in carefully crafted waves swept back on one side.

Taylor Swift arrives at the 58th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

The dress was designed by Gauri and Nainika and fit her nicely, but she's just 23, and Miller found it a little old for the rising star.

"She's so youthful and spirited, but she didn't embrace the risks that kind of make the Grammy red carpet so fun," Miller said. "This was supposed to be her big coming-out party."

Ashley Monroe also represented in green, a teal from Georges Hobeika with a peekaboo cutout at the chest, and Andra Day donned emerald, carrying a white fur that matched the fur on her sandals.

Men's jackets

Justin Bieber wins cutest date -- his little brother, Jaxon, walked the red carpet with him.

Sam Hunt arrives at the 58th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

The older Bieber strutted in a white tuxedo jacket he wore with black pants, shirt and bow tie.

Big Sean looked dapper in a white tux with narrow black lapels, and Fetty Wap wore a white jacket with wider lapels and some heavy gold bling around his neck.

Tyrese Gibson was in a white jacket and black cummerbund. His date was his little daughter, Shayla.

Sam Hunt rocked a shimmery pale rose suit with a white shirt.

Also representing for the men: Leon Bridges in a smart dark suit with a bolo tie.

Carrie Underwood arrives at the 58th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Wiz Khalifa donned Thom Browne black tails with cropped skinny trousers and white high-top Converse sneakers, an embellished silver vest underneath.

John Legend went for tiny bees in the print of his dress jacket.

"I felt like this year, the men pushed the boundaries a little more than the women. It doesn't always happen," Miller said.

Menswear on women

Fashion chameleon Zendaya had some fun in sleek double-breasted men's suiting and a blonde mullet.

Jaxon Bieber, left, and Justin Bieber arrive at the 58th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

"She's one of these fashion starlets who changes it up a lot," Barfield Brown said. "Her hair was great."

Her suit was designed by Dsquared and harkened back to another of Bowie's personas, the Thin White Duke.

The 19-year-old Zendaya didn't declare Bowie her direct style influence of the evening but rather said she likes the idea of a strong masculine look every once in a while.

The teen wore a white button-down shirt underneath and kept her jewelry down to diamond rights by Butani and Casa Reale.

Demi Lovato took a cue from the men-in-black Norisol Ferrari gown that included a plunging blazer look up top and a long, slit skirt down below with an edgy chain necklace underneath.

Demi Lovato arrives at the 58th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

For her Grammy performance later, she switched it up to a tight white blazer with nothing underneath, allowing for loads of skin to show off a $2.4 million diamond necklace from Mouawad.