When Chappell Roan stepped onto the Grammys red carpet in a barely-there Mugler dress, the sheer deep-red chiffon slip immediately drew attention. Suspended from nipple rings, the fabric fell into a long train, layered over a second-skin base covered in graphic tattoos, including a “princess” motif across her lower back. While some viewers fixated on the rings anchoring the dress, the look was far more controlled than it appeared.
As reported by Marie Claire, Roan’s makeup artist, Andrew Dahling, confirmed that the pierced nipples were prosthetic and designed as part of the styling. “There was so much going on, the tattoos, the prosthetic nipples, all of it, but overall we wanted everything to feel cohesive and really honor the dress and the medieval world we were living in,” Dahling told the outlet. “The glam came from that.”
Dahling said the makeup was intentionally pared back to support the complexity of the look. “We started with this very archival, full, bare moment. Once the tattoos came into play, everything became very medieval, but in a real way. It’s still fantasy and something otherworldly, but grounded,” he said.
Fake nipples have been trending lately in a much softer form, like the viral Skims nipple bra. Roan pushed the idea further, but most importantly, the look was secure, and thankfully, there was no risk of the kind of wardrobe malfunction that could actually hurt.
