Lady Gaga during the 52nd annual Grammy Awards on January 31, 2010 (© Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images)

Lady Gaga with two Grammys in 2010. Too bad she didn't have a free hand to pick that wedgie.

Rihanna at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012 (© Christopher Polk/WireImage)

If anyone can pull off this shirt it was Rihanna in 2012. Or maybe a stiff wind.

Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas at the 54th annual Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012 (© Danny Moloshok/Reuters)

Fergie in 2012, wishing she'd been able to find a slip.

Nadeea at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards on January 31, 2010 (© Jeff Vespa/WireImage)

Nadeea in 2010, wishing she'd found a dress to put over that slip.

Nadeea at the 54th annual Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012 (© Danny Moloshok/Reuters)

Nadeea again, this time in 2012. She added a jeweled bra and tutu.

Ciara at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards on February 13, 2011 (© Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

Ciara in 2010, giving a geometry lesson with her chest.

Sheryl Crowe at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards on February 13, 2005 (© Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Sheryl Crowe in 2005, looking like Cookie Monster took a bite out of her dress.

Rihanna at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards on February 13, 2011 (© Danny Moloshok/Reuters)

Rihanna, making us read between the lines in 2011.

Drake & Rihanna perform 'What's My Name' at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards on February 13, 2011 (© Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

Riri again, performing in 2011 while wearing what look like extensions...and not on her head, either.

Jennifer Lopez at the 42nd annual Grammy Awards on February 23, 2000 (© Mike Blake/Reuters)

Jennifer Lopez got a lot of exposure in 2000 with this flimsily belted caftan.

Christina Aguilera at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards on February 21, 2001 (© Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

Remember when Christina Aguilera (also known as "Xtina") was all into looking narrow and "dirty" in 2001?

Lady Gaga performs 'Poker Face' at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards on January 31, 2010 (© Mike Blake/Reuters)

Lady Gaga silently contradicting hermaphrodite rumors with help from a bedazzled thong in 2010.

Nicki Minaj at the 54th annual Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012 (© Danny Moloshok/Reuters)

Nicki Minaj, managing to shock while being fully covered up in 2012.

Toni Braxton at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards on February 21, 2001 (© SGranitz/WireImage)

Toni Braxton in 2001. To her credit: No visible panty lines!

Sasha at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012 (© Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Sasha getting some re-use out of her Halloween costume in 2012.

M.I.A. & Ben Brewer at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on February 8, 2009 (© Michael Tran/FilmMagic)

M.I.A in 2009, getting a head start on embarrassing her kid.

Pink performs 'Glitter in the Air' at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards on January 31, 2010 (© Mike Blake/Reuters)

Pink performing in 2010, wearing a provocative but wardrobe-malfunction-free nude bodysuit.

What not to wear: Remember these tasteless and risqué Grammy dresses?

2/10/2013

Appearances are everything at the Grammys. Having the most spectacular show, costume or jaw-dropping wardrobe malfunction is pretty much all that matters. This year, the Grammys have tried to reign in the displays of famous flesh by imposing a dress code at the award show. (Hey, can we consider a taste code, too?) The dress code is probably a prudent step, since some guests might be looking to top some of the daring gowns and costumes of Grammys past, featured in the gallery above. Let's be honest: Exposing more body parts would probably require an X-ray machine.

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