Carrie Underwood Joins the “Crumpled Metal” Trend in Sculptural Rafik Zaki Gown and Mirror-Finish Platforms

Metallic textures and “sculptural foil” designs have evolved into a definitive red-carpet movement, challenging the traditional fluidity of evening wear with industrial, high-shine silhouettes. This avant-garde aesthetic reached a peak in New York City at the 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala, where the trend shifted from experimental concept to mainstream glamour.

Drawing inspiration from the “crumpled metal” look popularized by Michelle Yeoh at the Met Gala, Carrie Underwood’s appearance at the New York Marriott Marquis serves as a masterclass in balancing heavy textures with height-enhancing footwear.

By pairing a rigid, chrome-inspired Rafik Zaki bodice with sky-high mirror-finish sandals, Underwood demonstrated how to leverage the metallic trend to command attention on the red carpet.

Carrie Underwood steps out at the 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala in New York City, pairing a sculptural metallic gown with towering silver platform sandals at the New York Marriott Marquis on June 13, 2024 (Credit: Janet Mayer / INSTARimages)

While the evening honored the industry’s most prolific songwriters—including Underwood’s longtime collaborator Hillary Lindsey—the fashion focused on the intersection of “soft glam” and hard-edged industrialism.

Lindsey co-wrote several of Carrie’s biggest hits, including Jesus, Take the Wheel, Just a Dream, Last Name, Wasted, and Ghost Story.

Inside the Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala: Celebrating the Architects of Modern Music

The event honors the contributions and legacies of songwriters across all music genres while supporting up-and-coming writers with Master Sessions, songwriting workshops, scholarships, and digital initiatives.

Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley, Dean Pitchford, R.E.M., Steely Dan, and Cindy Walker were other inductees recognized at this year’s gala. Special awards, including the Hal David Starlight Award and the Johnny Mercer Award, were given to Sza and Diane Warren, respectively.

Carrie Underwood Embraces Crumpled Chrome in a Futuristic Rafik Zaki Gown

Carrie Underwood’s wardrobe is anything but basic. She often favors cutting-edge styles with statement embellishments, such as frills and sequins. Although her recent red carpet appearance is a testament to her sense of style, I don’t think the gown looks good on her.

The wealthy country singer chose a piece by Cairo-born designer Rafik Zaki, whose mission is to empower and reassure women with his creations. He’s known for using ruffles and flattering cinched waists with precise cuts and impeccable stitching.

Unfortunately, Carrie’s gown didn’t seem to embody the label’s ethos, or maybe she couldn’t carry it effectively. I think it’s unflattering; the wrinkled look of the bodice and skirt didn’t help.

Carrie Underwood joins the tin foil trend by wearing an avant-garde dress with a chrome bodice and a high-low skirt (Credit: Janet Mayer / INSTARimages)

The top portion of the strapless dress resembles a crumpled chrome breastplate. Its asymmetrical hem and sharply pointed neckline give it a contemporary sculptural appearance. Although it is intriguing, Carrie didn’t look good in it, in my opinion.

The structured top and textured mint-green taffeta high-low skirt, unfortunately, did not complement each other, detracting from the overall look. While the gathered, ruffled front of the skirt highlighted her toned legs and added dimension, the voluminous back drape overwhelmed her form, creating an unbalanced appearance.

Carrie Underwood showcases her toned legs in a futuristic Rafik Zaki gown with a crumpled foil-like chrome breastplate and a textured mint-green ruffled high-low skirt (Credit: Janet Mayer / INSTARimages)

Metallic Platforms & Minimal Jewelry: Styling a Futuristic Red-Carpet Look

A futuristic look often benefits from bold, sculptural accessories, but Underwood opted for a comparatively restrained approach that did little to elevate the ensemble.

She layered delicate necklaces with chunky gemstone earrings, finishing with gold bracelets and rings. On her feet, classic yet forward-looking mirror-metallic silver sandals added height and a sleek, reflective finish to the look, subtly elongating her petite frame.

They are fastened to her feet with thin buckled straps, and a strap across the toes shows off her hot pink pedicure. The tall stiletto heels and reflective platforms took her ensemble to new heights.

Carrie Underwood teams her futuristic dress with metallic silver platform sandals, showcasing her hot pink pedicure (Credit: Janet Mayer / INSTARimages)

Soft Glam vs. Hard Metal: Carrie Underwood’s Red-Carpet Beauty Breakdown

Although I wasn’t impressed by her attire, I knew she wouldn’t let me down when it came to glam.

The American singer looks beautiful, as always. Her smoky eyeshadow and false feathery lashes accentuated her natural beauty, while a hint of glitter further enhanced her brown eyes. She applied a peach blush to her cheeks and wore matching lip gloss to complete the look.

I love how she styled her blonde tresses, opting for a classic wavy style that cascaded down her back.

Carrie Underwood glams up with glittery, smoky eyeshadow, fake lashes, and a voluminous, wavy hairstyle (Credit: Janet Mayer / INSTARimages)

Carrie Underwood’s Shoe Strategy: Height, Heels, and Red-Carpet Power

From towering platform sandals to stage-ready boots, Carrie Underwood consistently uses footwear to enhance proportion, presence, and performance—whether she’s commanding the red carpet or stepping into the spotlight on stage. For a closer look at how heels and bold shoe choices define her signature style, explore more of her standout footwear moments below.