Tag Archives: Kerry Washington

Out of the Box: Look of the Week

20 Apr

After last week’s pink suit extravaganza, Look of the Week and spring fashion is a bit more eclectic. Lots of bold patterns, some fabulous ladysuits and sequin delights. Behold! Regular (or even not so regular) readers will not be surprised to see me kick off this week with Busy and Michelle. At the I Feel Pretty premiere, Busy looks incredible in sparkly Christian Siriano. Siriano, as Busy shared on her Stories also provided the dress for her sister.

Meanwhile, I wish Michelle’s Louis Vuitton was a jumpsuit rather than a witchy dress. The collar is reminiscent of this LV dress she wore at the SAG awards last year, but I like this detail more on this occasion even if the sequin SAG frock is better.

Also while I’m on the subject of I Feel Pretty, this by Alison Herman is an interesting look at Amy Schumer’s career trajectory.
I am never not going to love a sequin mini dress, especially when Natalie Morales is the one in it. I just finished season two of Santa Clarita Diet, this show and Morales are so much fun. I liked season one, but it has really found its weirdo voice. I hope there is more to come.Evan Rachel Wood is Queen of the Ladysuits; she does not disappoint in this very beige, very ’70s looking Altuzzara ensemble. Also opting for a vibe from my fave style decade is Thandie Newton in patterned and peplum Osman.

Really looking forward to see these ladies tear show shit up on season two of Westworld.Hello, handsome. James Marsden is coordinating with the carpet and showing how to pattern clash in style.Carrying on the crush theme with Jimmi Simspon; I adore him and those clear frames. This is also a fun and different suit choice for spring.I finally saw A Quiet Place and I am thankful for Krasinski’s beard/knitwear in this movie, as it gave me something to focus on instead of the intense dread levels. What a movie. Emily Blunt delivered reactions to destroy me on every level and it is nice seeing them having a lovely time on the red carpet.

This is at Variety’s ‘Power of Women‘ event, where Blunt was being honored. Blunt wears floral Prada, which has a surprising touch of sequins on the shoulders. Also getting honored was Viola Davis, wearing her fave shade of pink (it looks great on her) in Pamella Roland; more peplum and it would appear that 2012 is making a comeback. I’m not sure how I feel like this on the whole, but Davis looks fabulous. Sandra Oh gives great casual outfit heading into Jimmy Kimmel Live! I am a little obsessed with sweats like this at the moment. In fact I would wear this entire outfit.And now for what Sandra Oh wore on the show. This is a great jumpsuit; Oh looks chic as hell (sorry, Reynolds Woodcock). This also reminds me that I still need to watch Killing Eve.

Get yourself someone who can do both casual and fancy. It was the Scandal series finale last night (things were handled, great clothes were worn), but earlier this week Kerry Washington attended Eva Longoria’s Star ceremony in a killer outfit.

Houndstooth appeared from time to time in Olivia Pope’s wardrobe, but she would not have worn something as colorful as this Oscar de la Renta frock. Sunglasses give it a daytime glam feel and I am head over heels for this look.

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Out of the Box: Look of the Week

13 Apr

Pink, patterns and things that sparkle are all on the “Out of the Box” agenda this week. Despite the overcast view from my window, I am so ready for all things spring fashion.

Emmy nomination campaigning has begun; new shows are being promoted while other stars are celebrating the end of their long-running series. Plus, there is the 29th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, checking in with Harry Styles on tour and some magazine covers.  My resolution to not buy a new issue until I have read the previous one has not panned out well. *looks at the unread stack and weeps*The women of American Horror Story give great pattern clashing while standing together at a recent FYC event—this is technically last week, but whatever. Sarah Paulson and Leslie Grossman both in animal print Carolina Herrera, while Adina Porter is in a fabulous geometric pattern frock from the Tracee Ellis Ross collection.

Panel attire is something I have discussed a lot of the years here on the blog and you can really go in a lot of different directions. What the AHS ladies have done is coordinate without being too matchy matchy. Killing Eve is very much on my To Watch list; created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and starring Sandra Oh and Jodi Comer. Here they are attending the 1st Cannes International Series Festival to promote the show.

All three looks are perfect for the French setting (I won’t be using the word chic, because Reynolds Woodcock); Waller-Bridge in wide-legged pants and caped sleeve double-breasted ladysuit, a floral jumpsuit for Comer and Oh wears a mix of black tulle and fur. There is a mix of romance and whimsy across the board.Also taking the pink suit to the next level is Busy Philipps in velvet Anaïs Jourden to match the Three Olives Rosé Vodka she is sipping, as part of an endorsement deal. And if you haven’t read Allie Jones’ excellent profile of Philipps from last week then what are you waiting for?The pink suit theme continues with Adam Rippon, looking incredibly sharp (even without socks) at the GLAAD Media Awards.Obsessed with everything Queer Eye and the Fab Five at the moment—including this wonderful collection of reactions from Reddit at The Cut. It is honestly so great to see something so positive on TV and all over my Instagram feed. Karamo Brown also did the black shirt/bow tie combo, which works really well with this jacquard three piece stunner.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine won best comedy—Rosa’s coming out as bisexual storyline has been a highlight of the season—and Stephanie Beatriz is deservedly holding the award. This B99 quote from Beatriz’s speech is worth repeating:

“Every time someone steps up and says who they are, the world becomes a better and more interesting place.”I am on a self-imposed stripe buying ban until June (which is also part of a bet) so instead I have been buying a lot of polka dots. Luckily for me, polka dots are big this spring in stores and on the red carpet; Chelsea Peretti’s frock looks perfect for cocktails, dancing and celebrating media that is inclusive in its representation of the LGBTQ+ community.

For the full list of winners head here.The Scandal farewell tour is in full swing (the series finale is next week) and while I have dipped in and out of these last few seasons, I am excited to see how it will all end for Olivia Pope.

Kerry Washington combines the pink and sparkly trends in a super romantic Erdem on The Tonight Show with a big dash of ’70s inspired disco hair courtesy of hairstylist Takisha Sturdivant-Drew.Let’s take a moment to see what Harry Styles is wearing on tour. You guessed it; another Gucci stunner. And it’s pink and sparkly! Very on trend.

At the London date fans Ksenia Kulikova and Luna Riedel organized a massive light up rainbow tribute during “Sweet Creature.” Kulikova and Riedel run the London Rainbow Project and you can read more about this amazing moment at Teen Vogue.Another pink jacket! And for Marie Claire’s fifth annual Fresh Faces issue they have picked five actresses who represent why we should be excited by what is going on in Hollywood right now.

Each look is super colorful, Issa Rae gets the purple treatment and is serving up some ’80s office to the bar outfit realness in Céline. All five covers are fabulous—for Sophie Turner, Yara Shahidi, Riley Keough and Katherine Langford head here—and I will definitely be picking up this issue. The magazine stack grows ever higher.

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2018 Costume Designers Guild Awards: Winners and Red Carpet

21 Feb

The Costume Designers Guild Awards shines the spotlight on those behind the camera; this is always one of my favorite celebrations of this time of year. Instead of one costume design category with period, contemporary and fantasy up against each other, these awards separate the different styles ensuring that period doesn’t dominate. Contemporary costume is often overlooked, but is just as vital to storytelling.The Shape of Water is one of the Oscar front runners; Luis Sequeira won for his incredible work on this film. Director Guillermo del Toro was on hand to receive the Distinguished Collaborator award. Wonder Woman was one of my 2017 highlights—both from a costume POV and in general—and Lindy Hemming won for Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy. And I, Tonya (which I am seeing at the weekend) took the Contemporary award. The part of me that worries about the ’90s being so long ago is glad that 1994 counts as contemporary and not period.

This is now the fourth win in a row for Michele Clapton’s work on Game of Thrones and I can’t argue with this. Especially as there was an entire new winter wardrobe for Daenerys and everyone started wearing black. Clapton also won for The Crown last year and it was another win for this show with Jane Petrie at the helm. Very pleased to see Ane Crabtree receive the Contemporary award for The Handmaid’s Tale, Crabtree’s work on Masters of Sex was one of the first shows we focused on here at TV Ate My Wardrobe and we’ve been longtime fans.

Gina Rodriguez hosted the celebration and Kerry Washington received the Lacoste Spotlight Award.  In Washington’s speech she noted about costume and acting, “I don’t know who a character is until I know what shoes she wears.”

Below are some of the designers getting fêted and the stars supporting them.As with the Golden Globes and the BAFTA Awards, a lot of attendees wore black in support of #TimesUp and #MeToo. When accepting her award, Michele Clapton exclaimed, “I’m proud to wear black and I’m proud of the movement.”

Michele Clapton’s all black look is also in line with the most recent season of Game Thrones and I love the simplicity here. Plus I need those boots in my life. And of course there are pockets. Long-time Ryan Murphy collaborator Lou Eyrich was nominated for Feud: Bette and Joan, adding a touch of sequin glitz to proceedings. I have a feeling we will see Eyrich at next year’s awards for her stunning creations on American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace.Ane Crabtree wore black and the #MeToo/#TimesUp message loud and clear. During her acceptance speech she said “It’s a great time to be a woman and it’s a great time to be a multicultural woman… to every brown skin little girl or boy, if you have a dream, dream big.”

Updated to include Ane Crabtree’s speech.Sally Field took a break from trying to set her son up with Adam Rippon to present Joanna Johnston with the Career Achievement Award. Field was joined by Kathleen Kennedy. Johnston has an impressive resume and along with her collaborations with Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, she has worked on recent costume design spy faves The Man from U.N.C.L.E and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.Props! Sally Field is prepared for this moment including the pink sweater she wore in Forrest Gump and a blanket with fabrics from her Lincoln costumes.Doug Jones pulls out the fancy coat stops to present Guillermo del Toro with the Distinguished Collaborator Award. And costume designer Luis Sequeira was a surprise, but deserving win for The Shape of Water. Eva Longoria and Scandal costume designer Lyn Paolo presented Kerry Washington with the Lacoste Spotlight Award; Paolo and Washington are nicely coordinated in green (Dolce and Gabbana florals for Washington).

When I spoke to Paolo a few months ago she mentioned the strong bond she shares with Washington, this was something she emphasized in her introduction:

“I have had a great seven seasons with Ms. Washington. You would all be blessed to work with her if you get the opportunity…  I’m sad it’s over. Your love of costumes and the process of storytelling, all that is self-evident in your body of work…I can’t wait to see what you do next.”

And here is part of Kerry Washington’s speech where she talks about the importance of standing by Lyn Paolo when ABC said they were going to make a Scandal inspired clothing line, “Not without us.” It is all in the details and Maggie Schpak was honored with the Distinguished Service Award. Schpak is a jeweler and metalworker and you will have definitely seen her creations on screen including Rocky’s championship belt, Vulcan pieces for Star Trek and tiaras in Black Swan and The Princess Diaries. This article goes deep on Schpak’s work and is well worth a read. And it isn’t surprising to see Schpak wearing some amazing accessories to this event.Someone get Gina Rodriguez a part in the next Star Wars.

Here is the full list of winners and nominees.

Excellence in Contemporary Film
Get Out — Nadine Haders
I, Tonya — Jennifer Johnson — Winner
Kingsman: The Golden Circle — Arianne Phillips
Lady Bird— April Napier
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri — Melissa Toth

Excellence in Period Film
Dunkirk — Jeffrey Kurland
The Greatest Showman — Ellen Mirojnick
Murder on the Orient Express — Alexandra Byrne
Phantom Thread — Mark Bridges
The Shape of Water — Luis Sequeira — Winner

Excellence in Sci-Fi / Fantasy Film
Beauty and the Beast — Jacqueline Durran
Blade Runner 2049 — Renée April
Star Wars: The Last Jedi — Michael Kaplan
Thor: Ragnarok — Mayes C. Rubeo
Wonder Woman — Lindy Hemming — Winner

Excellence in Contemporary Television
American Horror Story: Cult — Sarah Evelyn Bram
Big Little Lies — Alix Friedberg
Grace and Frankie — Allyson B. Fanger
The Handmaid’s Tale —Ane Crabtree — Winner
The Young Pope — Luca Canfora, Carlo Poggioli

Excellence in Period Television
The Crown — Jane Petrie — Winner
Feud: Bette and Joan — Lou Eyrich
Glow — Beth Morgan
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel — Donna Zakowska
Stranger Things — Kim Wilcox

Excellence in Sci-Fi / Fantasy Television
Black Mirror: USS Callister — Maja Meschede
Game of Thrones — Michele Clapton — Winner
Once Upon a Time — Eduardo Castro, Dan Lester
Sleepy Hollow — Mairi Chisholm
Star Trek: Discovery — Gersha Phillips

Excellence in Short Form Design
Assassin’s Creed – “I Am”  Commercial — Patrik Milani
Elton John featuring Marilyn Manson: “Tiny Dancer,” Music Video — Sara Sensoy, Dawn Ritz
Katy Perry – “Chained to the Rhythm,” Music Video — B. Ăkerlund
“Miu Miu Women’s Tales #14: The End of History Illusion,” Short Film — Mindy Le Brock
P!NK – “Beautiful Trauma,” Music Video — Kim Bowen — Winner

Career Achievement Award
Joanna Johnson

Distinguished Collaborator Award
Guillermo del Toro

Distinguished Service Award
Maggie Schpak

Lacoste Spotlight Award
Kerry Washington

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Out of the Box: Look of the Week

19 Jan

January continues to be the month where everything happens. This week we have the NAACP Awards, more TCA and Sundance kicks off. Sundance is one of my favorite style events of the year because of the levels of knitwear, coats and boots. Fancy gowns are one thing, but give me boots and tights any day. Expect much more of this next week.Tracee Ellis Ross gazing at her NAACP award is how I am looking at this photo. Sparky Narciso Rodriguez paired with this jacket (I don’t know if it is faux or not) gives such strong Studio 54 vibes. I wore my vintage faux fur jacket out of the first time last weekend and it is an experience I will be detailing in the newsletter soon. Grown-ish is so far living up to everything I hoped it would be and more; performances, storylines and the costumes are all amazing. On the red carpet Yara Shahidi continues to impress and at the NAACP Awards, this Vera Wang looks a little Western tavern and I am here for it. Especially that collar. Not only is Yvette Nicole Brown’s Öfuurë gown an absolute stunner, but Brown wore it to make a bigger statement. Here’s what Brown said on her Instagram:

“I chose to rep the beauty of Africa and its beautiful countries for this special event. Being a descendent of the kings and queens brought here to America and enslaved, I don’t know what (per the “president”) sh*thole country I’m originally from but I know pure EXCELLENCE comes from the mighty continent of Africa. Proud to be a descendant of that legacy.”Kerry Washington goes classic in Michael Kors and her accessory game is next level.

Washington appeared on stage as a representative for the #TimesUp movement along with Tracee Ellis Ross, Lena Waithe, Jurnee Smollett Bell, Angela Robinson and Laverne Cox. This is not just for the Golden Globes.
Costume designer June Ambrose shows how to really work a cape on the red carpet in Michael Costello.  Draaaaaama. Another stunning va-va-voom gown from Niecy Nash, switching florals for metallic Mac Duggal. So many sparkles this week as this continues to be the trend. At the NACCP dinner and ceremony, Tessa Thompson puts a glitzy spin on the ladysuit in Jonathan Simkhai. Lena Waithe looks great in the mix of smart/casual in suit, polka dot shirt and classic Vans.Team Insecure go for three very different looks; Jay Ellis in a standard tux that is anything but, Yvonne Orji in a romantic Patricia Bonaldi frock and Issa Rae nails the sequin ’70s vibe in Marc Jacobs.Also looking like a fun group hang at the NAACP awards with plenty of sartorial grace. This is Us fave, Susan Kelechi Watson’s beautiful patterned Phuong My dress is a standout. Danai Gurira in ruffled Rodarte and Chadwick Boseman in Prada reminds me how excited I am for the Black Panther press tour (and the movie). Back to TCA—which is now over—and this very fun artsy frock as worn by Kelly Macdonald. Appearing during the PBS session to talk about her new show The Child in Time, Macdonald nails the sit down look. Even if I am not wild about the scrunchie top boots. Stripes! I am officially on a stripe buying ban (because I really have too many, if such a thing can exist), but that doesn’t mean I can’t long from afar. This is a great sweater from Supergirl* star Melissa Benoist as she talks Waco. And regular readers will know how much I adore Julia Garner. I am excited for this mini-series.

* For all things Supergirl style check out my column over at The Observer where I go deep into where to find the costumes from the CW superhero shows.Sundance! Where boots and black tights are in abundance, much to my delight. At the “An Artist at the Table” kickoff event Dominque Fishback wears the platonic ideal of an outfit for this festival. Hopefully she has a heavy duty coat for venturing outside. While we’re on the subject of outwear; Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal give great coats at the world premiere of Blindspotting, one of the most anticipated films screening at Sundance. Initial reaction to the Diggs/Casal film—which they co-wrote and star in—is good. Gold shoes also up the style stakes for Diggs.

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Best of 2017 – Out of the Box: Look of the Week (Part 1)

22 Dec

Welcome to the TV Ate My Wardrobe Best of 2017 coverage! As with”Out of the Box” highlights from previous years everything that features here has already appeared in “Look of the Week.”

There have been a lot of amazing magazine covers this year featured on “Out of the Box.” The first part of this 2017 rundown is dedicated to these striking images. Twelve covers from twelve different magazines. Ruth Negga was a constant fixture this year on “Out of the Box,” particularly during award season. Another Magazine delivered the first stunning issue of the year back in February. Ten months later and it is still on my coffee table. Pride of place. Mahershala Ali was another star of award season, so when GQ unveiled this cover in June it was met with much joy. Considering how grey and miserable it is right now, it is also the boost December needs.Vanity Fair celebrates Serena Williams and motherhood in a beautifully stripped down manner. A nod to Demi Moore’s VF cover from fifteen years ago, while being completely about Serena.
The heritage print revival of 2017 has been one of my fashion highlights. Lena Headey’s walk through the highlands for The Edit was just the way to showcase this sartorial spin. I have strong positive feelings about Kirsten Dunst and polka dots. The two combined on this Nylon cover is the dream. Plus this profile is by glass brick aficionado and one of my culture writer faves, Molly Lambert. Another ‘still on the coffee table’ issue. Best use of millennial pink goes to The Hollywood Reporter with their profile of multi-hyphenate Donald Glover.Everything about Sterling K. Brown’s Emmy win makes me happy. Including Variety’s celebration of this. And Brown’s fabulous socks. Usually the clothes worn on covers cost at least a few months rent, not so with Samira Wiley’s Stylist shot. Here she wears Urban Outfitters and Uniqlo in the most autumnal colors. This is another magazine that is still on my coffee table. Sometimes all you need to make you stop and stare at a magazine cover is a simple beauty shot. The November issue of Allure does just this; Kerry Washington looks like is staring into your soul.What a fun, striking cover from Entertainment Weekly featuring Constance Wu and Henry Golding. And I am already super excited to see Crazy Rich Asians. The costuming is extravagant, plus that velvet suit is bang on trend. The last couple of months has been dominated by Lady Bird chat, the woman of the hour Greta Gerwig deservedly getting a lot of attention. This black and white Bust cover is giving me a lot of Frances Ha feelings. My favorite kind.This is how to do a debut issue. New British Vogue Editor-In-Chief, Edward Enniful made a huge splash with a striking cover starring Model of the Year, Adwoa Aboah. Evoking classic ’80s cover shots without feeling derivative.

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Out of the Box: Look of the Week

10 Nov

The trickle of film celebrations has turned into a stream and this is a bumper Look of the Week. Fabulous frocks, ladysuits and stunning December issues celebrating the good things about this year. Yes, there are some good things among the garbage.  At the 21st annual Hollywood Awards, Zoe Kazan’s Gucci botanical frock is a delight. I can see Kazan in a lot of the new Gucci pieces and this is right in my style wheelhouse. Also to file under outfits that I adore; the ladysuit! Noomi Rapace mixes a lace cami with menswear inspiration and not only picks a great color suit, but doubles down with her pumps.And for an entirely different take on the ladysuit. Kate Mara’s metallic Burberry number is giving futuristic retro vibes.I can’t see a slip dress and not think about the ’90s. Throw a white baby doll tee under it/cardigan over it with Cons for that season 1 Felicity vibe and then heat things up without one a la Felicity in the season 2 premiere.

Tatiana Maslany has opted for the latter at the Hollywood Film Awards in Diane von Furstenberg. Throwing all the flame emojis in Viola Davis’ direction because this iridescent Alberta Ferretti gown is smoking hot.Emily V. Gordon continues to impress with her range of floral frocks and this Saloni London number is another hit. As are her shoes. And as a fan of a suit outside of the usual black/grey/brown/navy spectrum, I am very much here for Kumail Nanjiani’s choice here.

Hopefully we will continue to see the Big Sick team getting fêted and it is one of my favorite films of 2017. Wearing vintage Balmain to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Patron of the Artists Awards is Tracee Ellis Ross and once again her love of fashion goes deep and far back. Love the pop of red on her bag and pumps.
The LACMA Art + Film Gala was presented by Gucci so it is ruffles and lace for Kerry Washington, in a distinctive look. I continue to be enamored with everything Gucci is doing right now.

Also a good time to mention that I spoke to Scandal costume designer Lyn Paolo last week and you can read that here.

Karen O spits rainbows and this Yeah Yeah Yeahs reunion is giving me all those undergraduate feelings. *digs out “Pin” poster*Drawing hearts around this photo of Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan at a screening of Lady Bird and Ronan is driving my desire to get some velvet pants.

I mentioned on Twitter that when I saw this photo of Allison Janney, my jaw hit the floor. Two days later and it is still having the same effect. Everything I love about a women in a tuxedo is on display here. The Cut continues their run of excellent profiles of women I find very interesting and this Aidy Bryant one is now different. The shoot itself is also fabulous and just because Bryant is not a sample size; it doesn’t mean she shouldn’t look as high fashion as anyone else who appears in these editorials. Something she discusses in the interview and she recalls having to wear her own clothes when she did a shoot with her SNL co-stars:

“It was just humiliating. The other girls had racks of clothes to choose from and were wearing these thousand-dollar dresses, and I had two sacks or like one matronly mother-of-the-bride dress. Those were the first times where I was like, Something is different here and this isn’t fair. This is a fucked-up situation, and it’s purely because of my body. Not because I’m less funny — it’s my body. It’s the only reason that I’m treated differently right now. And it lit a fucking fire in me.”

The original reason behind starting this blog was to discuss costume influence on my own style and Bryant’s costuming in The Big Sick ticks all those boxes. Fuck having to compromise on what you wear just because you’re not a size 6. Teen Vogue will cease to have a print copy next year and while it is the digital platform that has made this magazine one to watch for, I am still sad to see this one depart the print landscape. Over the years there have been some stunning covers (this Amandla Stenberg made a huge impact on me) and this Hillary Clinton cover (HRC is also the guest-editor of this issue) is pure art.
Another case of my jaw hitting the floor this week and Edward Enniful’s first edition of UK Vogue as the new editor-in-chief, is making a huge impression with this stunning shot of Adwoa Aboah. I can’t stop staring and I cannot wait until I get my hands on a copy.

There is a scene in Call My By Your Name that takes place in front of a bunch of magazines and I ended up in a Google image hole of Vogue Italia covers from 1983 and it reminds me of that period. The Samira Wiley Out 100 cover from three years ago is still one I think about. Such a stunning image and again this annual issue delivers. Jonathan Groff has had another really strong year and he gives great casual sweater pose.Also having an incredible year is Emmy award winning Lena Waithe. This cover is fabulous and I love how confident her gaze is here.

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Out of the Box: Look of the Week

27 Oct

Bold pattern and color dominate this week’s “Out of the Box” rundown with stripes, florals and a variety of other fun prints. We’re in the pre movie award season gauntlet and magazines continue to celebrate the best of the year (even though it is only October).

Oh, and Stranger Things is back today, but I am sure you are probably already aware of this.

For all things Halloween TV from teen shows in the ’90s check out my round-up here. And I also interviewed 1922 costume designer Claudia Da Ponte about dressing for horror.“Women like looking sexy, but it doesn’t mean we want to fuck you.” Stitch Cate Blanchett’s words onto a cushion and I will visit your Etsy store. At the InStyle Awards, Cate Blanchett gave a blistering speech and as with last week’s Elle celebration, this is exactly the kind of thing I need to hear right now.

Blanchett was given the Style Icon Award and her striped Givenchy frock shows exactly why this was the right choice; she looks cool af posing next to Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi and he is also showing off his trademark sartorial prowess.  One of my favorite designers is Mary Katrantzou as her looks are never boring; this is once again the case at the InStyle Awards and this mixed textured frock on Lauren Cohan is serving up a heap of dramatic flair. Great lip color from the Walking Dead star too.Happy Stranger Things Day! At the premiere last night the younger teens show how to do the whole red carpet thing as they continue to embrace the fun side of fashion. From colorful pants to all the flashy accouterments; they have this thing down. Caleb McLaughlin has the perfect answer to the LA heatwave in shorts and Finn Wolfhard is giving off super ’70s vibes in a Prada turtleneck and suit.

Joined by season 2 newcomer Sadie Sink dressed in a very cute Chanel. Millie Bobby Brown’s leather Calvin Klein frock is maybe not the best idea considering the weather and it is a slightly more edgy look than her usual offerings, but it still feels age appropriate. Of course they all have stylists, but their individual personalities are still shining through. Combining two of my favorite trends—florals and ladysuits—is Kerry Washington at the 2017 GLSEN Respect Awards in Roberto Cavalli Resort 2018. This is a lot of suit to pull of and Washington does just that.

My only quibble is I wish it was hemmed slightly higher as we’re probably missing out on some fabulous shoes. Issa Rae joined CoverGirl senior vice president Ukonwa Ojo at the Fast Company Innovation Festival and both women went super colorful with their outfit choices; bold tones are not just for summer.

Ojo paired her canary yellow with leopard print pumps and Rae has gone full sequin trend in Diane von Furstenberg. It reminds me of another Issa Rae stunning outfit from 2017.Wearing all Kate Spade New York at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund show is a very fun spin on the whole preppy look and this is a sartorial path Laverne Cox doesn’t often take. It is a super cute look on her and I am definitely coveting this dress.Jenna Coleman could step right into the 1960s scenes of Outlander in this head-to-toe Burberry ensemble at the BAFTA Breakthrough Brits reception. It is also part Audrey Horne school uniform chic with a dash of ’90s with those red laced boots. A very fun segment on Late Night with Seth Meyers is “Jokes Seth Can’t Tell” and the latest edition is no different.

I would also very much like to know where Amber Ruffin’s shirt is from because it is an astronomical delight. In other excellent Amber Ruffin news; she is looking to making the switch from late night to prime time and I am thrilled.Bookending this week’s “Out of the Box” with Cate Blanchett. Here she shares the cover of Australian Vogue with Thor: Ragnarok co-star Chris Hemsworth. A shot that is both moody in focus but fun in fashion and set-up. Also this new Thor is ridiculously enjoyable and had me laughing throughout. Some really fabulous costuming from Mayes C. Rubeo.

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Out of the Box: Look of the Week

20 Oct

The last couple of weeks have been exhausting and each new day a different person tells a harrowing story about their experiences working in Hollywood. It is important that these stories are finally getting told and I’m sure this is just the beginning. My hope is that it will have a positive impact on industries that stretch far beyond just the entertainment one.

Some of these accounts of sexual harassment and assault were shared at Elle’s annual ‘Women in Hollywood’ event and the unveiling of these covers last week was a bright moment. It is worth your time to read the speeches by Reese Witherspoon, Ava DuVernay, Kristin Stewart and Jennifer Lawrence.

Hot steaming angry tears have fallen down my face a lot this week and it feels weird in a way to flip this back to a fashion post, but honestly it is what I need right now. And seeing women celebrating other women brings me so much joy in this garbage fire week/month/year.

In other things that brought me joy (but also made me sob) check out the Halt and Catch Fire season finale and the essay I wrote for Collider about the end of this show.
Some of the posed shots at the Elle ‘Women in Hollywood’ celebration took place in front of this semi-futuristic metallic backdrop and Yara Shahidi’s Chanel ensemble was already great, but looks even better here. Plus this dress has pockets and we all know how I feel about this. Those shoes are also divine.We’re going to be seeing a lot more from A Wrinkle in Time teen star Storm Reid and the heart emblazoned Reem Acra frock is a mix of adorable cool. Love that she’s not wearing stacked heels and this is the kind of shoe I should opt for, rather than failing to wear a pair of heels for an entire evening. The Big Sick is one of my favorite movies of 2017 and writer Emily V. Gordon continues to give great pattern at fancy events. This is such a fabulous fall floral look.
Color blocked Calvin Klein is just the thing—even if it errs on the side of too sheer—and Julia Garner’s got an excellent blue bag to match. Top marks for the bold lipstick too.Tracee Ellis Ross at the polo is a match made in fashion fun heaven and as she mentions on Instagram these items are all from her wardrobe; her fave Céline pants (that color!) and an Agnes B button-down from high school. Yep, high school.

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TONIGHT ~ all new @blackishabc at 9/8c #blackish

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From the fabulous posing on Insta collection this week; Tracee Ellis Ross shows that her Black-ish character is just as stylish and I would very much love this oversized green Tomorrowland chunky knit in my closet.

Last Sunday, Gina Rodriguez and Eiza González hosted a lunch with other Latina actresses and industry figures including Eva Longoria, Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Fumero, Rosario Dawson and America Ferrera. Also in attendance were a number of Rodriguez’s Jane the Virgin co-stars Yara Martinez, Andrea Navedo, Ivonne Coll and Justina Machado.

It was heartwarming—especially after the last few weeks—to see Rodriguez and González hosting a super positive event like this.

We’re Going to Need More Wine is on my book list (and a phrase I say often) and also Gabrielle Union is making me want to invest in velvet pants more than I already did and I’ve been coveting a velvet suit hard.

And while I’m on the subject of velvet; here’s Rami Malek for Shortlist in the perfect Dior velvet. 

Also Mr. Robot has got off to a promising start and is featured in my Halloween costume TV inspiration round-up. 

Allure has been crushing it this year and the last time Kerry Washington graced this magazine’s cover I commented that it was one of her best (and she has been on many magazine covers). I’m gonna say the same thing again as this image and the accompanying editorial are captivating and disarming in the best possible way.

The interview is also full of gems including what it means to play Olivia Pope; “For her to be three-dimensional and complex and fully human and not anybody’s stereotype or caricature is a big deal.” She also discusses the current political climate and beauty standards. With the latter she mentions how black women are judged by the way they wear their hair saying, “I like to wear my natural texture, especially now because I have children and I want them to know that their hair is perfect as it is. They don’t have to change it or straighten it. They can, but they don’t have to.”

She talks about filming Scandal while pregnant (sadly there is no mention of my Fitz’s knee as a bump barrier) and what it means for her now the show is ending. You can read the full interview here.

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Out of the Box: Look of the Week

22 Sep

The Emmys red carpet delivered a number of standout looks including Tessa Thompson’s swishy rainbow dream and Lena Waithe’s gold-leaf jacket; the perfect style complement to go with her gold statue.

This is a pattern heavy time of year, much to my delight. So get ready for more fashion week looks, premieres, magazine editorials and one final 2017 Emmy Awards stunner.Alison Brie co-hosted Glamour x Tory Burch Women to Watch event and this entire Tory Burch look is the perfect look for a lunchtime shindig. Also, I need that bag in my life.More Tory Burch and a good week for pleats; if I worked in a fancy office, I would definitely want to borrow this outfit from America Ferrera. Dear White People’s Logan Browning gets the most ’70s of the Tory Burch looks and of course I love everything about this metallic floral number with a strong collar. Fabulous gold wedge sandals too. Kerry Washington was feted at the Women Making History Awards and gives great ’80s polka dot—see also this Zoë Kravitz in Vogue— wearing Carolina Herrera. For more in wacky fun outfits look no further than Zendaya in a Christian Siraino jumpsuit, serving up full flares. Love that she is wearing her specs to this event too. Gucci at Milan Fashion Week showcased so many wild patterns that continue to lean into my fave style decade—yep, the ’70s—and Dakota Johnson is in a dream of a dress. Continuing the theme of more out there dress choices and as with a lot of Louis Vuitton ensembles, I should probably hate this, but don’t. And I can’t even claim Michelle Williams blindness here. It kind of looks like a shirt/blazer hybrid giving me more reasons to scrunch my nose up and yet I find it charming. Also to be filed under charming is Domhnall Gleeson at the Goodbye Christopher Robin London premiere. He is everywhere at the moment and one of my favorite things about Gleeson is he plays so many different kinds of characters—last week I did a Domhnall double with mother! and American Made.

Of course he is in Burberry and of course he looks great. I do miss the beard though.Following on from the pink sheer socks Keri Russell wore and Kirsten Dunst is trying this style out in black as she promotes Woodshock. After all the fancy pants looks from the Emmys, this has been a great time for daytime sartorial delights and talk show outfits.

And because you know I have strong feelings about this relationship. Plus, Kirsten Dunst’s mother also sounds amazing.Another week, another fabulous Maggie Gyllenhaal editorial as she talks The Deuce with Harper’s Bazaar. An office themed photoshoot and I definitely raised an eyebrow at their choice of headline. But the piece talks about the research Gyllenhaal did for The Deuce in a way that continues to show how much thought she put into her performance as Candy and her role as producer:

“What is the story you’re telling, and how can this be fit into it, and how does she shift and change? How is she empowered and disempowered? How do those affect each other? We talked about all of that. I think it was important to me—because it is such a delicate subject matter in 2017—to be a part of the storytelling, and to have a guarantee that I would be a part of the storytelling.”For Variety, Sterling K. Brown crushes his sock color choice and how to pose when you’ve won Emmys two years in a row.

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Best of the 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards Red Carpet

6 Jun

Awards they keep on coming and in New York last night it was time to honor the fashion designers. For a full list of the CFDA Fashion Award recipients head here and below you will find our favorite looks of the night; worn by the stars celebrating the designers who make them look so good.

This includes some award season favorites and other TV Ate My Wardrobe staples. Big trends of the night include a whole lot of shimmer, shades of yellow and ’70s inspiration continuing its recent domination. Award season wasn’t even that long ago, but we’ve missed the presence of Janelle Monáe’s in these parts. Elevating any black and white ensemble and making pretty much anything work including this Christian Siriano half jacket jumpsuit number.

Monáe was honored for her contributions to the Women’s March in February – along with Gloria Steinem and Cecile Richards – and she gave a blistering speech. Part of which you can watch below.

You can read the whole thing here.Rodarte delivers another delightfully eccentric creation and it is far from an easy outfit to pull off, but Gabrielle Union is doing just that.

The 1970s influence continues to be strong in the fashion world, much to my delight and Union’s curls lean into this trend. Bella Hadid in a fabulous fuchsia Off White blazer frock and this is giving me so many Sydney Bristow disguise feelings. I always have a soft spot for Diane Von Furstenberg and this triple offering on Haim is leaning into all the things I love about this brand. Plus stripes and polka dots. I’m not totally feeling these ankle boots, but that is a personal preference thing with white boots (unless they are on Kevin Garvey). Mary Elizabeth Winstead gives off an air of elegance in a chartreuse yellow Lela Rose, switching things up from some of the edgier looks of the night. Also adding some sparkle and a strong berry lip. Two of my favorite things.A metallic Grecian vibe for Lupita Nyong’o in Jason Wu and this dress manages to be both simple and exquisite. A touch of shimmer and Kerry Washington is on point in more ways than one in yellow Atelier Prabal Gurung.

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#cfda

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Kerry Washington also gave great behind the scenes photos and choice of companions. Plus a close-up of Janelle Monáe’s earrings is the icing on the Insta cake.Rounding things off with the delightful Matt Bomer and yes he’s not wearing any socks, which I know can be a deal breaker when it comes to dudes in suits. And asides from some pant crinkles – even dudes need a steam station – this olive Todd Snyder suit is a hit.

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