Tag Archives: Essence

Out of the Box: Look of the Week

30 Mar

A quieter week for “Out of the Box,” but a very good one for magazine content including gasp worthy covers and a reunion that warmed my soul. It was exactly what I needed to see on Wednesday when I was knee deep in work. So, thank you for that.

There are also ladysuits, animal print, kitties and some very good costume design. This is from last week at a FYC event (Emmy season is coming!), but I missed it and I can’t not include Cody Fern demonstrating that leopard print makes for a perfect button-down shirt choice. This is how you add sartorial flair to a black suit.

Fern plays David Madson on American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace and was a revelation. Here he looks nothing like his ACS character; the hair wave he is serving up is fantastic. Sound the ladysuit klaxon! At the A Series of Unfortunate Events season two premiere, Allison Williams gives great menswear in Gabriela Hearst.

Timeless continues to be the most fun and delightful show that also has me wanting to know more about the historical events they cover. This cast also continues to be the most fun and delightful as evidenced on Abigail Spencer’s Instagram.

The most recent episode, “Hollywoodland” paid homage to Queen Hedy Lamarr and also featured some stunning ’40s costumes. And the Timeless lipstick game is so strong right now. This Gucci jumpsuit has recently graced these pages, but it is definitely worth a second look on Holly Taylor. This is from Anna Silman’s profile of Taylor for The Cut and Silman is one of my favorite interviewers at the moment . In the piece they talk about Taylor’s background growing up in this industry and what she plans on doing next.

And for all things Americans season six as Paige falls further into the spy biz here is my review of the amazing premiere and my interview with costume designer Katie IrishGrown-ish star and TV Ate My Wardrobe fave gives great cover on Essence. And for Grown-ish style tips, here is where you find a lot of the costumes; this is a show that mixes aspirational and affordable. This made me gasp in the best way. It has been a very good week for Christina Aguilera including this Drag Race moment.

Paper continues to do very interesting things and this is beautiful (song title ref intended). But this isn’t an indictment on makeup because as Aguilera mentions in the interview “I mean, I’m a girl that likes a beat face, let’s not get it twisted.” We can do both.
Entertainment Weekly excels when it comes to WB reunions—first Felicity, then Buffy—and this Dawson’s Creek issue hits all those sweet nostalgia spots. It is always heartening when a cast comes back to celebrate the show that made them famous and they do this in spades.

There is a 55-minute reunion show which delivers on the feeeeeeelings and fun including Michelle Williams seeing the Crying Dawson meme for the first timeI yelled with joy about this on Twitter because there is nothing better than Michelle Williams opting for a cover with Busy Philipps over a solo shot. As Joanna Robinson put it “Let’s all enjoy the fact that Michelle Williams clearly has a Busy rider.” Yes this is now my lock screen image. Yes I am extra when it comes to this friendship.

Behind the Insta-Scenes: Photos from the Set

9 Mar

Last week’s Instagram round-up included the last of this award season, but there are still plenty of behind the scenes treats this week including excellent guest stars, fabulous outfits and shows starting production for their new seasons.

 

90s nostalgia continues to dominate and the new Cruel Intentions and subsequent casting has hit me right in the sweet spot. And I can guarantee that now I’ve mentioned this project I will be listening to the soundtrack later today.

 

Best Broad City guest star (Part 1).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCeex8sipdj/?taken-by=abbijacobson&hl=en

 

Best Broad City guest star (Part 2).

 

Award season might be over, but thanks to The Last Man on Earth we still get this week’s dose of Jacob Tremblay being adorable. Well a slightly potty mouth version of Tremblay, but still adorable.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCqo8J8pQx6/?taken-by=mindykaling

 

Whenever I see Mindy Kaling with Ellie Kemper I have a sudden hankering to watch Subtle Sexuality so I’ll be back in a moment… Also excellent outfits on both ladies.

 

First UnREAL table read for season 2 and I maybe just read Quinn as ‘Queen’ and that also works.

 

This also has me VERY excited.

 

Celebrating International Women’s Day on The Good Wife with lots of lady love.

 

Cuteness overload on the Elementary set. Random aside, but Lucy Liu’s guest appearance on Girls is definitely one of the TV moments of this week.

 

Priyanka Chopra took over the Tonight Show Instagram and this delightful photo with Questlove.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCjn4MxJqMk/?taken-by=daniebb3

 

Crushing it for Essence magazine is Danielle Brooks and this cover shot is also incredible.

 

There was an homage to Scandal on this week’s Jane the Virgin and I wonder if The Americans is getting this treatment next if these wiggy pictures are anything to go by.

 

This is certainly a look and probably not one that is good for spy work.

 

Best TV show tie-in.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCq44wrOqag/?taken-by=jennyslate

 

Excellent outfit ahoy!

 

There is still plenty of getting ready for photo shoot shots to behold and this one of Greta Gerwig is stunning.

 

And stylist Ilaria Urbinati still has a whole lot of fittings to do even after the last Oscar gown has been hung up and I can’t wait to see who will wear these beautiful clothes.

 

Out of the Box: Look of the Week

16 Oct

Fashion Week season is over but there are still plenty of sartorial delights on offer this week with striking magazine covers and a whole range of red carpet events.

Taraji EssenceTaraji P. Henson killing it on yet another magazine cover (keep them coming as far as we’re concerned) wearing a stunning Fausto Puglisi dress with ultra high thigh slits. Henson discusses her work ethic with Essence and how her training informs her performance “These kids are thinking they can do reality TV and come and do this craft that I studied, sweated and grinded. People forget it’s a craft because it’s so pop now… Can they make me believe the words coming out of their mouth?” And it must be said that Cookie Lyon is so endearing because of everything Henson brings to this role. 
Brie Larson
Another TV Ate My Wardrobe “Out of the Box” regular gives good magazine cover in this moody shot for Variety and Brie Larson is going to be a big red carpet presence this awards season if early chatter is anything to go by. Reviews for Room and Larson’s performance suggest huge things are afoot much to our joy; I just finished reading Room and I am excited to see Larson’s interpretation of this emotionally challenging role.

Anne Marie DuffTurtleneck tanks and ladysuits for Anne-Marie Duff in this fantastic photoshoot for Interview.

Kiernan ShipkaContinuing her reign as a fashion queen is Kiernan Shipka – and even though I wasn’t a huge fan of her Emmys Dior, it was at least interesting – wearing Bottega Veneta to the Hammer Museum’s Gala in the Garden. Polka dots and pleats perfection.

Cush JumboCush Jumbo is hitting style highs both on The Good Wife as potential new Alicia bestie and partner (fingers crossed) and on the red carpet at the Golden Heart Awards in a beautiful pink Michael Kors frock.

Emily Blunt and Diane KrugerAlso attending this event is Diane Kruger wearing Michael Kors hot off the runway from the new Spring 2016 and as with Kiernan Shipka she is showing how to wear black and blue together (for some reason the color rule of never wearing these two colors together has stuck with me).

Emily Blunt’s mixed textured Michael Kors dress is a fun play on pleated sequins and her black and gold puzzle clutch is just the touch this outfit needs. Now I am picturing Sicario with Blunt and Kruger as Sonya Cross from The Bridge. If that I had been the case I would have liked this movie more.

Lupita and DanaiDanai Gurira isn’t just an incredible actress, she is also a playwright and Lupita Nyong’o is making her off-Broadway debut in the Gurira penned Eclipsed. Both women look stunning on the opening night with Nyong’o dazzling in red Dior and the play has been getting excellent reviews so far. The wish list of stage productions I would like to see gets ever longer.

Out of the Box: Look of the Week

11 Sep

The busy that is September becomes all too clear in this week’s Out of the Box as we have fabulous outfits from a variety of events including film festivals, magazine covers, a fashion campaign, New York Fashion Week, film premieres and a profile of a star from a returning show.

Lizzy CaplanStunning from Lizzy Caplan in ultimate pattern clashing Mary Katrantzou and she pushes the fashion envelope once again at a Sleeping With Other People screening. And it also bears repeating that her lack of Emmy nomination means one less showstopping moment. Let’s enjoy her breathtaking Donna Karan Atelier gown from last year instead.

Samira WileyNew York Fashion Week started yesterday so expect plenty of coverage in the coming days and one piece of fashion news that has already caused woots of joy comes courtesy of the new face of Christian Siriano; Orange is the New Black’s Samira Wiley looks incredible in this campaign.

Aya Cash ComplexYou’re the Worst returned this week and I pretty much had a giant grin plastered across my face throughout the episode. Which is pretty much the same expression the Aya Cash Complex shoot gave me and this cobalt sequin collared dress number coupled with a flawless sunglasses game (much like her character’s) and amazing red lip color is giving me so much life. The rest of the photos and interview are just as good including her description of Gretchen and Jimmy’s relationship:

“They’re only one representation of a relationship. The idea that one relationship or one show can represent all of a culture is just not realistic. But I do think there’s a cynicism in our generation. I actually think that cynicism is what makes it so romantic.”

Or as Jimmy might put it “Look, we’re not against sweater people. We’re not protesting sweater people’s right to exist. We just choose not to be them, because they remind us of encroaching death.”

IMG_2296The Shondaland magazine takeover continues with Essence and more sequin pretty for “Out of the Box” this week with Kerry Washington delivering another great cover.

Alicia VikanderThis is one dress I keep going back and forth on ultimately landing in the love it camp and Alicia Vikander’s custom Louis Vuitton peasant gown is a very different look for the Venice Film Festival red carpet and she’s pulling off the drama. Considering how many films she is in this year and that some of them have awards written all over them I am glad she is such a fashion risk taker.

Birgitte Hjort SorensenBirgitte Hjort Sørensen is about to do the all 70s thing in HBO’s Vinyl so it is only appropriate that she shows up to NY Mag and The Cut’s NYFW party sporting some very 70s very wide legged pants. This decade has been providing runway inspiration throughout 2015 and it will be interesting to see if it is still an influence this week. And I am so ready for Sørensen to be a huge star.

Out of the Box: Look of the Week

20 Feb

A big pre-Oscar weekend style edition of “Out of the Box” with NYFW runway watching style, Costume Designers Guild Awards, Vanity Fair celebrating Young Hollywood and the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event.

Natasha Lyonne and Nicki MinajNicki Minaj and Natasha Lyonne at the Alexander Wang runway show this week pulling their best front row DGAF faces.

Allison WilliamsAllison Williams’ style leans towards the classic and she looks at home in matching Spring 2015 Michael Kors floral crop top and skirt at the Michael Kors runway show. With the current New York weather I suddenly turn into my mother and get concerned about how cold she must be,

Christina HendricksA super sophisticated look for Christina Hendricks at Zac Posen in Zac Posen. That is an excellent shade of red lipstick and I’m already getting weepy about the end of Mad Men whenever I see one of the cast members.

Alison WrightDitching the 80s frumpy sweaters for something with an air of relaxed cool at the Tracy Reese show is Alison Wright from The Americans and I am particularly eyeing up her necklace. Wright is also demonstrating how you can do cold weather legs and still look fashion ready.

Kiernan ShipkaMoving on to the Costume Designers Guild Award and Kiernan Shipka is a vision in Oscar de la Renta. This lady is incredible. Also *sob* (see earlier Christina Hendricks remark).

Nicole BeharieOf course we know that actresses are not going to mirror the style of the characters they play (see Alison Wright from The Americans), however as I am so used to seeing Nicole Beharie in a range of leather jackets, jeans and boots on Sleepy Hollow this color/pattern Luis Antonio explosion at the Vanity Fair Young Hollywood event is a fun change-up.

Uzo AdubaThe OITNB ladies have been doing the award and party circuit (deservedly so) and I might have the opposite problem when Netflix gifts us with the next season readjusting to seeing them in their prison beige. Uzo Aduba is a picture of sophistication at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon in this pretty floral L.K. Bennett dress and orange Stuart Weitzman heels.

Laverne CoxPleats are a clothing weakness for me and Laverne Cox does understated elegance which is perfect for this daytime Essence event wearing a Whistles skirt with a Theory top.

Out of the Box: Look of the Week

13 Feb

New York Fashion Week has just kicked off and will dominate TV Ate My Wardrobe over the next few days; this edition of “Out of the Box” includes a couple of NYFW moments, magazine covers/editorials and other red carpet events.

Elizabeth BanksElizabeth Banks made our Best of 2014 “Out of the Box” list and here she is at the Berlin Film Festival for Love & Mercy in another stunning Elie Saab Couture gown. I cannot wait for the Pitch Perfect 2 promo train.

Tracee Ellis Ross EssenceTracee Ellis Ross looks like she is about to play a killer and super stylish game of tennis on the cover of Essence and I love it.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw Town & CountryTown & Country delivers another beautiful editorial this time for the US edition and featuring Gugu Mbatha-Raw. In addition to these amazing shots Mbatha-Raw gives a good style message to live by “It’s important to know that it’s okay to be your natural self. It’s also okay to dress up and wear makeup and hair extensions if you want, so long as you don’t feel like you need that or will be worthless without it. The point is, it should be a choice.”

Laverne CoxA celeb filled runway at the Go Red for Women event and Laverne Cox works her Donna Karan gown by turning the sheer cape into a twirling sensation.

SJPSuper floaty pink dress, sleeveless check wraparound coat; this is SJP NYFW perfection when unveiling her new shoe collection with Tome this week.

Magazine Cover Roundup: Kerry Washington, Amy Poehler and Claire Danes

3 Oct

It’s the start of the month which means new publications of several magazines and some of our favorite TV women feature on the covers. All three of these women have new seasons of their shows to promote and for one of them this has been a year of multiple cover shoots as both her star power and the popularity of her show are on the rise.

I am of course talking about Kerry Washington and at the moment she is getting at least one cover a month, sometimes two. In October she was on the cover of both Glamour and Flare, this month she features on Essence and Variety.

Kerry Washington Essence Cover

It’s a captivating cover as Washington is staring into the camera full on and she is wearing a stunning Rafael Cennamo Couture gold gown. In the interview she discusses the difference between Olivia’s style and her own “Olivia has three [fashion] modes: Work Olivia, Black-Tie Gala Olivia and At Home Olivia… My fashion is more eclectic: There’s Going to Work Kerry, which is gym clothes and Nike kicks. That’s the Bronx girl. There’s also Red Carpet Kerry and Out to Dinner With Friends Kerry.”

Kerry Washington Variety Cover

It’s Variety’s fifth annual Power of Women issue and Kerry Washington is one of five women being celebrated for her work as a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Washington works as an arts ambassador in areas with poverty-stricken schools, using arts programs to help increase reading and maths scores as well as having a positive influence on attendance, parental involvement and enrollment. It’s a very different cover photo to her Essence shoot but just as mesmerizing. Washington’s red carpet style can’t be put in one category and her magazine covers have varied wildly in style and composition and I can’t wait to see what she features on next – personally I’m hoping for Vogue.

Amy Poehler Variety

Amy Poehler is another one of Variety’s Power of Women recipients for her work with the Worldwide Orphans Foundation. Poehler is both a fundraiser and an arts ambassador for the organization and she recently raised over $30,000 by throwing an Emmy “losers” afterparty. Co-hosting with fellow “loser” Jon Hamm the invitation stated that if you turned up with an Emmy award then your entry fee was a donation to WWO. It’s not mentioned in the article but I’m also a big fan of Poehler’s Smart Girls at the Party a website which promotes healthy self image for young women.

Claire Danes Vogue

Claire Danes covered Vogue earlier this year and now it is time for the UK issue of this publication. The cover shot is a lot softer than the US counterpart which almost feels like it is Danes’ Homeland character Carrie on the front. Wearing a tweed Louis Vuitton jacket Danes looks both relaxed and happy and you won’t be surprised to hear that I’m going to find out what lipstick color she is wearing because it’s the perfect soft pink blush for the fall season (when I’m not opting for a ’90s influence).

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