TV Ate My Wardrobe

Last week it was all about Comic-Con style and this edition of “Out of the Box” looks to the panels and parties of the Television Critics Association Press Summer Tour. Current and forthcoming shows with plenty of familiar faces feature as we take a look at the big style hitters.

Winner: James Wolk at The Crazy Ones Panel

“Not great, Bob!” is still one of the best line readings of the year and James Wolk has featured several times on this list thanks to the sartorial greatness of Bob Benson on Mad Men. The Crazy Ones is also set at an ad agency and while I’m pretty lukewarm to the promos, having James Wolk as a cast member (and the bonus of Kelly Clarkson) will be enough to get me to watch the pilot. Even though it’s the height of the summer, Wolk has gone for an impressive amount of layering with shirt, hoodie and jacket and he looks pretty great in a smart/casual manner. His face is saying he’s listening intently, his slightly raised eyebrow suggests disagreement. Either way Wolk is a welcome sight.

Runner Up: Claire Danes at the Homeland Panel

Claire Danes is the only one I’ve mentioned but she is not alone in this shot; Damian Lewis’ suit is lovely and if his socks were not skin tone then he’d have his name in bold too and Rupert Friend looks like he has come from a Mary Poppins audition. Danes is often one of the best dressed on the red carpet and while you can’t see all of the Thakoon lilac dandelion dress because she is sitting down; it’s elegant without looking like she is trying too hard. I think the key behind TCA dresses is a late afternoon/early evening cocktail party approach and all of the women that feature this week have got that spot on. The Christian Louboutin t-bar sandals are now on my shoe wish list.

Mae Whitman and Lauren Graham at the Parenthood Panel

Reminding me once again that I still haven’t watched Parenthood (I know) this double dash of patterned dress brilliance from Lauren Graham and Mae Whitman is making me want to get right on that. While I’m not the biggest fan of nude colored shoes they get a pass as the dresses are both on the eye-popping side. Bonus points awarded for excellent lip color.

Hannah Simone at the Fox TCA Party

While I might not have paired nude shoes – we already know how I feel about them and it’s a bit matchy matchy with a nude dress – this is a striking look from Hannah Simone thanks to the orange floral lace detail. It’s another great choice for a relaxed summer event like this where you want to look professional without resorting to floor length gowns or jeans and t-shirt. I miss New Girl and so I’m really happy to see the cast out and about again.

Runner Up: Emily Bett Rickards at the CW, CBS and Showtime TCA Party 

The Felicity/Diggle/Oliver team is at the heart of Arrow and hopefully this is something season will capitalize on. Emily Bett Rickards gets footwear approval as she opts for orange heels that go with this blue, flower embellished dress. This is a dress that can be dressed down with flats or dressed up in this manner with a pair of bold heals and a simple clutch.

Tags: Arrow, Bob Benson, Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Emily Bett Rickards, Hannah Simone, Homeland, James Wolk, Lauren Graham, Mad Men, Mae Whitman, New Girl, Parenthood, Rupert Friend, TCA, The crazy Ones