SHOWSTOPPER--Jennifer Lopez arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

by Nekesa Mumbi Moody

Associated Press Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A warning not to show too much skin didn't seem to deter the stars out Sunday for the Grammy Awards.

Jennifer Lopez was among those showing off thigh-high — or higher — openings in their dresses. Katy Perry showed down-to-there cleavage in a seafoam gown.

CBS put out a memo earlier in the week asking that "buttocks and female breasts are adequately covered" for the televised award show. The memo sent out Wednesday also warned against "see-through clothing," exposure of "the genital region" and said that "thong type costumes are problematic."

"As you can see, I read the memo," Lopez joked as she took the stage.

Miranda Lambert revealed some leg on the red carpet and laughed about the guidelines.

"I thought it was funny," she said. "Country music has never really been a problem with that."

Singer-songwriter Skylar Grey let out an "oops!" when asked about it. "I had to show the side boob," she said. "What are they gonna do, kick me off?"

Andrew Dost of fun. said he read the memo, "but all we wanted to do is go as classy and timeless as possible." Bandmate Jack Antonoff joked that he was "showing off a lot of ankle" going sockless with high pants.

Rihanna seemed to get the memo: The usually provocative star covered up in an elegant red gown. Taylor Swift wore a prim gold metallic floral cocktail dress by Jenny Packham to the pre-telecast awards before changing into something a bit more revealing for the red carpet. Beyonce wore a modest pantsuit. All three won early awards.

"I think it's just, you know, we should always stay classy and dress according to the event that's being held," Ashanti said. "So I don't think people should be limited so much and told what you can and cannot do. But, you know, you do have to have a certain class and prestige about yourself."

Even she, though, revealed a fair amount of leg and cleavage. Hey, this isn't the Oscars.

Comedian Kathy Griffin joked about the fashion warning.

"I'm here to watch all the pomp and circumstance," she said. "You want to see a lack of underwear. I'm open to all the forbidden parts."

The Recording Academy's president says this year's great clothing cover-up kerfuffle was "much ado about nothing."

"For some reason people thought this was something new or different or even foreboding as far as being restrictive," Neil Portnow said backstage after the show.
What was outlined in the memo was simply the standard the show has followed every year for at least a decade, he said.
What's more, he added, every TV network has to communicate its standards and practices to anyone appearing on its shows.

AP reporter Beth Harris contributed to this report.

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Did you know that a Black woman designed Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding dress for her marriage to John F. Kennedy? Her name was Ann Cole Lowe.

This month we celebrate ground breaking moments in fashion and beauty. In 1953, Lowe designed Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' wedding dress for her marriage to John F. Kennedy. The voluminous, off-the-shoulder dress was constructed out of 50 yards of ivory silk taffeta.

Just 10 days before the wedding ceremony a water line broke in Lowe's New York City studio and ruined the former First Lady's gown along with all 10 pink bridesmaids’ dresses.

Lowe worked tirelessly to recreate all 11 designs in time for the Rhode Island nuptials. Sadly, Lowe did not get the credit she deserved for designing and creating Jackie's all-important dress. Jackie is said to have told people that her gown was made by a "colored woman dressmaker" and

Lowe was only mentioned by name in the Washington Post where fashion editor Nine Hyde simply wrote "… the dress was designed by a Negro, Ann Lowe."

In the 1960's, Lowe opened Ann Lowe Originals inside the Saks Fifth Ave department store on Madison Avenue in New York. Her amazing work still lives on in the permanent archives at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Black Fashion Museum and The Smithsonian.

Lowe passed away in 1981 at the age of 83.

GRANDPARENTS/PARENTS—Some of the people in attendance at the sessions, not in order: Ayanna Squar, Syreeta Squar, Kezia Ellsion, Alberta Graham-Ellison, Jordon Scott, Janice Gladden, Hakeem George, Regina Brown, Meesha Williams, DaShawn Williams and Marjorie Singletary. Middle photo: Marjorie Singletary is the grandmother of 13-year-old twins Meesha and Dashawn Williams. Bottom photo: Jordon Scott, 13, with his grandmother, Janice Gladden. (Photos by J.L. Martello)

Educating Teens About HIV/AIDS Inc. held an informational session for its Live Life without the Disease Series, Jan. 12, at the Thelma Lovette YMCA on Centre Avenue in the Hill District. The theme was “A Healthy You in Every Season: HIV and STI Prevention.”
The information session brought parents and grandparents together with youth to discuss ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. There were several panel discussions on different topics such as: The Unique You; Finding Ways of Dealing with Peer Pressure, Stress and Surviving in Your Environment; How to Create Success from the Inside Out; and more.

MICHELLE OBAMA (Erin Isaac) arrives with secret service (Harold Jackson and Calvin Isaac).

In 2009 St. James AME Church held an Inaugural Ball in honor of the first African-American president Barack Obama. On Jan. 20, the night before the Inauguration of Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s second term they held their second Presidential Inaugural Ball hosted by The Lydia A. Lowry Women’s Missionary Society of St. James AME Church in Sumpter Hall. The evening was complete with “secret service men,” and people put on their best ball gowns and cocktail attire.  
The president was invited, however, could not make it. He did send his beautiful wife, Michelle in his place. Upon closer examination, Michelle was look alike Erin Isaac. Secret service men portrayed by Calvin Isaac and Harold Jackson escorted her into the room. Guests had fun taking pictures with the Obama stand up, meeting and chatting with friends, and enjoyed a delightful meal.
The first family of St. James AME, Rev. Rodrecus Johnson Jr., his wife, Rev. Ayonna D. Johnson and their 3-year-old son Rodrecus M. Johnson III, joined in the festivities as did people of all ages. It was a beautiful evening of dancing, dining and celebrating the historic re-election of the first Black President of the United States Barack Hussein Obama.