Things That Are Awesome, Vol. 57

leo

The weekly roundup of internet awesomeness:

  1. David Sedaris comes out with a new book in April. Can’t wait!
  2. 25 Handy Words That Simply Don’t Exist in English. My favorite is #1, because I could use it so, so frequently.
  3. Awesome prank: the drive-thru “ghost.” I love the employee who immediately decided to Instagram the moment.
  4. These are on point: Honest Titles for Oscar Nominated Movies.
  5. When my best friend sent me a link to this article, it pretty much made my week: The 26 Most Puzzling Pictures of Leonardo DiCaprio. So, so, so many gems.
  6. And another great Buzzfeed compilation: The 25 Most Embarrassing Destiny’s Child Coordinated Looks.
  7. Prabal Gurung is making a collection for Target. AHHHHH. It’s Jason Wu madness all over again.
  8. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler killed it at the Globes, further reinforcing my belief that we should all try to be more like them in all facets of life.
  9. If you posed the question, “If Laura were a character from Friends, who would she be?” to the people who know me best, I guarantee what everyone would answer: Chandler. Hands down. Thus, I love this article: Everything I Need to Know, I Learned from Chandler Bing.
  10. Who’s getting excited for Game of Thrones season 3? (Me). In preparation, let’s listen to the GoT kids beat box the show’s theme song. They are all adorable.

(Image via Buzzfeed)

Golden Globes 2013: Fashion Recap

Recently, I’ve found awards shows themselves fairly awful (bad hosts, cringe-worthy jokes, terrible acceptance speeches). In those instances, the red carpet has been the most interesting part of the night for me. However, this year’s Golden Globes reversed that trend – with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as hosts and awesome acceptance speeches from people like Jennifer Lawrence and Adele, the Globes themselves were pretty entertaining this year. The red carpet, however? Not so great. I was bored by almost every look, and even the looks I loved weren’t as wow-worthy as dresses from years past. That said, I’m still going to talk about the fashions anyway. Obviously.

Best Dressed:

best - watts, moore, dockery

  • Naomi Watts: I love this color on Watts – the deep red was just gorgeous. The cut of the dress (which you can’t see that well from this photo) was also really nice, and I liked her hair a lot – it had an old school, 1920s vibe that seemed to be on trend last night.
  • Julianne Moore: You can always count on Moore to wear something striking on the red carpet, and this was no exception. You might hear “black and white dress” and think “boring!,” but the way the white stripe was incorporated into the dress and the cut of the shoulders made this so visually interesting. I think Moore takes the overall best dressed crown.
  • Michelle Dockery: I can’t think of one thing Dockery has ever worn on the red carpet that I liked so, most of all, I’m just relieved to see her in something fabulous…finally. This look is risky and unique, but it paid off. Great hair, too.

Honorable Mention:

honorable mention - mcphee, field, poehler

  • Katherine McPhee: I don’t know much about McPhee, but my impression was that she had sort of a wholesome persona, so I liked seeing her play against type with this daring dress. Also, her hair and makeup were styled perfectly to complement the look.
  • Sally Field: I love that Sally Field shows up, looking fantastic, and really shows some of these younger, misguided actresses how it’s done. Navy is the perfect color for her, and this dress is classy but not stuffy. Her hair is a bit messy though.
  • Amy Poehler: On a night where nearly everyone bored me, I was mostly excited to see something unique come down the red carpet, and this is nothing if not unique. This fit well and looked sharp – plus, I liked her side swept hair and cool necklace.

Worst Dressed:

worst - chastain, weisz miller

  • Jessica Chastain: Chastain is so hit-or-miss on the Red Carpet; it seems like she either kills it or is a total train wreck. And, sad to say, it was the latter here. I wasn’t a fan of this dress’s color, but it was the fit that I really found atrocious. Her hairstyle was also a bit scary. Good to see her win, though – she deserved it.
  • Rachel Weisz: When I first saw Weisz on TV, I only saw her top half, and I thought this might be a winner – it looked like a classic dress, and her hair is beautiful. Then the camera panned down and…yikes. The sheer polka dot overlay is downright tacky. Still, you can’t feel too bad for Weisz – she gets to go home with Daniel Craig, which pretty much makes her the biggest winner of all.
  • Sienna Miller: People always claim that Miller is some sort of brilliant fashionista but, honestly, how many great red carpet moments has she had? I can’t think of any, and she certainly didn’t have one tonight; I hated that this was two pieces and the floral bits looked tacky and cheap, as though a kindergartner had glued them atop the dress as a craft project.

Other Fashion Awards of Note:

washington, deschanel, adams

  • The “Girl, Where’s Your Train?” Award: I loved almost everything about Kerry Washington‘s dress – except for the length. It would have been even more striking if it had a nice, dramatic train. Still, this is a solid look – and Washington looks great with bangs.
  • Most Expected: Big puffy princess skirt. Precious nails. Retro-ish hairstyle. We’ve seen it before from Zooey Deschanel, but it still looked good, despite its predictability.
  • Worst Color Choice: The silhouette of Amy Adams‘s dress is beautiful (if a bit too tight), but I loathe the color – it matches her skin almost perfectly, and I just don’t think that’s a flattering situation for anyone. If this had been a bold – or, hell, any – color, this probably would have been a best dressed for me.

danes, adele, lawrence

  • Best Post-Baby Rebound: You guys, Claire Danes had a baby a month ago. I repeat: one month ago. She looks fantastic. This dress is simple (which is no surprise coming from her), but she looks wonderful.
  • Second Best Post-Baby Rebound: Adele also had a baby recently and also looks fantastic. This was a pretty basic black gown, but the collar added some interest. I also loved her updo. Plus, she high-fived Daniel Craig after she won her award, which was adorable. Unrelated to how she looked on the red carpet, but adorable nonetheless.
  • Most Awkward Bust: I almost loved Jennifer Lawrence‘s look, but I just can’t handle what was going on with the top half. The pointy bra top was almost reminiscent of Madonna, which is never a good thing.

dunham, hough, bacarin

  • Best Glamming Up: The red carpet doesn’t seem to be Lena Dunham‘s natural habitat, but she cleaned up really nicely last night. Her gown was simple (verging on boring), but the rich brown color and the pleating work added just enough pizzazz. It was also great to see her win two awards, and her onstage shout out to Chad Lowe was one of my favorite jokes.
  • Tackiest: I’m sorry, Julianne Hough – you seem like a nice person, but from the awful hairstyle to the crazy, gold-bedazzled, overly-tulled ball gown, this look was just wrong.
  • Most Funereal: There was so much dark material here that it looked like Morena Baccarin was preparing to attend a very fancy funeral. I also think that this look – particularly the sheer material covering her arms – is much too old for her.

hathaway, zeta jones, lopez

  • The “Nice Dress, but I’m Already Sick of You” Award: First, I have to get this off my chest: my Anne Hathaway annoyance was temporarily put on hold after I saw Les Mis and realized she really was that good, but it’s now back in full force – something about her just screams “insincere” to me. When she acted so shocked to win last night, I just thought, “come on! We all KNEW you were going to win.” However, I will have to come to terms with her, because I know she will be popping up on every red carpet for the next few weeks. Speaking of which, her dress. My verdict: fine. It was good, but not great. Beautiful, but not very dramatic or special. Try harder for the Oscars, Annie.
  • Best Retro Glamour: There seemed to be a lot of Downton Abbey-inspired creations on the red carpet last night, but Catherine Zeta-Jones just might have had my favorite one of all. Someone like her is just born to exude old Hollywood glamour, and last night was no exception. The dress was gorgeous; I especially loved the beautiful beading.
  • Most Attention-Seeking: I know this is going to sound harsh, but…please go away, Jennifer Lopez. You weren’t nominated for anything and, let’s be real, you’re barely relevant as an actress anymore. Something about this attention-seeking number just grated on me; why not let the actual nominees shine on the red carpet? Not everything has to be about you.

hayek, hudson, longoria

  • Best Little Black Dress: Does Salma Hayek age? I’m beginning to think not. She looked great, and this dress was a good choice for her. Sure, it’s simple, but I think on someone like her, it’s enough to make an impact.
  • Split Decision: At first, I really disliked Kate Hudson‘s dress – the gold collar, in particular, threw me off. However, upon further consideration, this look is actually growing on me. She looks pretty chic, and I like the black and gold combo. But, I do think her hair should have been pulled back – it’s fighting with that collar for attention. All in all, I’m torn between loving and hating this look.
  • Most Outrageous Slit: There were a couple dresses with crazy high slits last night, but I think Eva Longoria‘s takes the cake and, overall, I was not a fan of her look. Honey, Angelina Jolie you are not.

If you watched the Golden Globes, what did you think? Who wore your favorite looks?

(Images via People and Entertainment Weekly)

Things That Are Awesome, Vol. 56

edith with googly eyes

This week’s roundup of all that is awesome on the internets:

  1. The 50 Funniest Tweets of 2012. So, so good.
  2. I wish more people watched Happy Endings. Maybe this Happy Endings’ Happy Wordplay video will convince you to do just that.
  3. I marathon watched Homeland over my break (which I’m still on, grad school for the win!), and this article is on point: The Stages of Getting Addicted to Homeland. The Carrie/Brody relationship is when I began to become disenchanted with the show too, but nonetheless it’s still completely addictive and I understand why everyone’s hooked (including myself). And Saul is just the best, so naturally this line from the article was my favorite: “Love Saul. Think Saul is the best character on TV and you want to nuzzle in his beard.”
  4. I know this video is kind of old, but I’ve had the link in my inbox forever and just got around to watching now – and it was as amazing as I thought it would be: Look at This Instagram.
  5. Even though I don’t think I’m quite fancy enough to pull off a list like this, I still love Kate Spade’s list of New Year’s Resolutions.
  6. I’m sure there will be many more Downton-related tumblrs over the course of the season, so here’s to the first of many: Edith with Googly Eyes. As per usual, poor Edith.
  7. This sounds fascinating: Frida Kahlo’s closet, which was locked for 58 years, is now on display. Who wants to go to Mexico City with me?
  8. My excitement over Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosting the Golden Globes is no secret. In preparation for the awesomeness of tomorrow night, you should probably review their best onscreen moments together.
  9. Vogue UK’s study of Kate Middleton’s style. I want everything in her wardrobe.
  10. Celebrities Read Mean Tweets About Themselves. Lots of gems here, but I liked the Christina Applegate one the best.

(Image via Edith with Googly Eyes)

Things That Are Awesome, Vol. 55

tinkerbell tailor solider spy

The first awesome list of the new year:

  1. The Mindy Project started a bit slow, but it’s definitely become one of my favorite shows – and it should be one of yours, too. In case you need convincing: 15 Reasons to Let The Mindy Project into Your Heart.
  2. This article is awesome: 22 Terrible Things That Must End in 2013. Of course, I will never quit Instagramming my food, but all the other things on the list should definitely go.
  3. Singer Woody Guthrie’s 1942 list of New Year’s Resolutions (or “New Years Rulin’s,” in his words) is so charming. Numbers 15, 31, and 33 make me happy.
  4. I cannot wait to watch this year’s Golden Globes. This is why. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler make everything better.
  5. Simple but brilliant: 40 Tricks You Must Know for a Much Better 2013.
  6. I have been mildly (or, perhaps, majorly) obsessed with Eddie Redmayne since watching Les Mis on Christmas day. I find him good looking in a super unconventional way, and apparently I’m not the only one: Is Eddie Redmayne Hot? (Spoiler alert: the conclusion is “yes”).
  7. The movies of 2012, all mashed up together. I’m a sucker for stuff like this.
  8. How have I never seen this before?! Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt dancing to “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?”
  9. Are you feeling sad? Look at This Fucking Puppy. Makes everything better.
  10. This gives me chills: The Letter M.

(Image via Buzzfeed)

Things That Are Awesome, Vol. 48

The weekly-ish roundup of awesome internet finds:

  1. In celebration of PBS, home of Downton Abbey, Rick Steves, Sesame Street, and plenty of other quality programming I both enjoyed as a child and enjoy now.
  2. This will go down in history as one of the best decisions ever: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will host the Golden Globes. I can’t even.
  3. Speaking of which, here are 17 Other Things Amy Poehler and Tina Fey Should Run.
  4. This is incredibly cool: Date Stamp Art. Simple, but brilliant.
  5. One thing I always hear about Homeland is that people love to watch because Claire Danes is an epic crier. This seems like an odd detail to fixate on, but after looking at this board on Pinterest, I guess it’s true.
  6. If This Post Makes You Laugh, Then You’re a Terrible Person. These are all great, but for some reason number 8 (pictured above) just killed me.
  7. These pictures of Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward make me smile. You can just tell how in love they were.
  8. The 200 Greatest Arrested Development Quotes. Man, what a brilliant show.
  9. I love a good “Call Your Girlfriend” cover, and this one – by girls who are 8 and 12! – is excellent. Plus, they’re on Nashville which is an equally excellent show that everyone should be watching. Get on it.
  10. And finally, this tweet, via Rebel Wilson, made me laugh out loud:

(Image via Buzzfeed)

Emmys 2012: Fashion Recap

Around this time of year, guys get super pumped about Fantasy Football. This always baffles me, because I kind of detest professional football. Then, it hit me: red carpets are my Fantasy Football. Everyone’s gotta have their thing, right? Thus, I feel completely justified in obsessing over each celebrity’s outfit and writing this blog post.

The Emmys, as a telecast, were kind of awful this year. The jokes were stale, the acceptance speeches were rushed, and almost nobody I like won an award (except for Damian Lewis – yay!). The only thing that redeemed the night for me was the fashion; I thought there were a lot of solid looks (and, naturally, some awful ones too – but those are also amusing in their own way). Let’s discuss:

My Best Dressed:

  • Emilia Clarke: I liked how unique this dress was – very modern and fresh and cool. I’m also a big fan of the bold purple florals; it reminded me of Kate Middleton’s recent Prabal Gurung (which I also loved).
  • Heidi Klum: Way to kill it, Frau Klum. I seriously saw this dress and typed “HEIDI KLUM” in all caps in my notes. I mean, Heidi is just completely shutting it down – gorgeous color, lovely hair, perfect draping, the works. This was clearly meant to be a “take that, Seal” dress and it totally succeeded.
  • Tina Fey: For years, Tina Fey’s red carpet dresses have either left me sad or bored. This year, I say: finally! This dress was perfect – I loved the deep burgundy color, and the baroque detailing on top was beautiful. Get it, Liz Lemon.

Honorable Mentions:

There were a lot of great looks last night, and I had a hard time narrowing down my best dressed list to three. So, here are three other looks I adored:

  • Zooey Deschanel: I am so glad Zooey went with a ballgown over an “I’m quirky” cocktail dress with tights, as she is wont to do. This was very Cinderella-esque, but in the best possible way. I loved her hairstyle and the pale powder blue color of the dress.
  • Amy Poehler: Similarly to Tina Fey, Amy Poehler’s red carpet looks are usually tragic, making me pumped that she broke out of the rut. And similar to Heidi Klum, Poehler proved the rule that the best thing you can do for your style is go through a breakup. This was a beautiful dress, and her hair has never looked better.
  • Kerry Washington: I just adored the color of this dress – perfection (though I think it looked far more fabulous on television than it does in this photograph). In any case, this look was stunning – the exact right dress for her.

My Worst Dressed:

  • Ashley Judd: I swear, I can remember a time when Ashley Judd was a red carpet all-star (exhibit A). Her past glories make this look particularly tragic; it is terrifying from head (that awful hair) to toe (the weird way the dress fans out at the bottom). Glamorous Ashley, please come back to us.
  • Lena Headey: I am oh so sad about this look because Lena Headey is awesome and should look fierce on the red carpet, but she never does. I just don’t even know what to say about the top of this dress – it’s a messy gothic catastrophe.
  • Ginnifer Goodwin: I know it’s Ginnifer’s thing to wear avant-garde looks on the red carpet and I give her props for being daring, but this looks like a toddler glued red crepe paper atop a sheer gown. She’s so pretty; what a shame.

Other Fashion Awards of Note:

  • Best Beading: The top of Nicole Kidman’s dress is just to die for (get it?!). I’m less sold about the overall effect of her look, however – something just seems missing to me. I also would have preferred to see her hair in an updo or pulled back into a sleek ponytail.
  • Most Striking: I don’t think many people could pull this dress off, but Julianne Moore totally can (and did). Her red hair with that stark yellow dress was unexpected but amazing.
  • Most Expected Yet Still Awesome: Seriously, what else is Sofia Vergara going to wear to the Emmys? This is totally her kind of dress: curve-hugging, sparkly, and attention-grabbing, but she looks great, like a fabulous Colombian mermaid. I don’t think most people could handle this much sparkle, but she can.

  • Best Old School Glamour: I always find it interesting how the ladies of Mad Men (particularly Elisabeth Moss and Christina Hendricks) often end up dressing in classic, glamorous outfits, almost channeling their show. Jessica Pare clearly did the same, and I loved the effect: a simple but gorgeous dress and absolutely perfect hair. Seriously, love the hair.
  • Most Wonderfully True to Herself: I was so curious to see what Lena Dunham would wear, as she seems like someone who probably feels super awkward walking the red carpet. She did a nice job picking an Emmy-appropriate dress that still felt true to her. Also, her haircut is fantastic and her makeup looked great.
  • Best Indie Vibes: I loved how Leslie Mann’s dress had almost a bohemian vibe, yet still felt glamorous. I loved the vibrant yellow skirt and thought the green jewelry added just the right touch.

  • Most Adorable: Seriously, I just want to put Kiernan Shipka in my pocket. This dress was adorable – cute color, and look at her tiny little bag!
  • Best Neon: I know neon has been trendy of late, but it never seemed like something that could (or should) translate to the red carpet. But I liked Julie Bowen’s dress; she was definitely pulling the neon off. Not so sure about her hair though – maybe a tad too beachy?
  • Best Color: There’s nothing revolutionary about the silhouette of Archie Panjabi’s dress, but I’m semi-obsessed with its color. Seriously beautiful.

  • The Maize & Blue Award of Excellence: Anyone who wears Michigan colors on the red carpet grabs my attention, and I (mostly) liked Hayden Panettiere’s blue and gold Marchesa. I like the blue fabric at the bottom of the dress, but I’m less sold on the piece that’s draped over the top; it felt like a bit much.
  • The Sleek & Stunning Award: This dress was so simple, but I thought Edie Falco killed it. I love the effect of the gold belt, and she chose the perfect hairstyle for this dress.
  • Best Floral Touches: I adored Sarah Hyland’s dress overall, but it was the straps, with their delicate flower details, that truly sold me on the look. Her hair, however, feels a bit “prom” to me.

  • The Christina Hendricks Junior Award: Kat Dennings was wearing a pretty (albeit simple) dress but – let’s be honest – that’s not what’s pulling focus here. Maybe you should reign those ladies in a bit, girlfriend.
  • Best Hair: I love Christina Hendricks’s hair – perfect old school Hollywood glamour. I sort of like her dress, but the belt does not thrill me.
  • Worst Hair: Oh dear lord. Connie Britton should fire whoever did this to her hair. I mean, I just can’t. This makes me particularly sad because Connie Britton is awesome (she’s Tami Taylor, y’all!). Sidenote: I also thought this dress – and particularly its halter top – was a poor choice.

  • Most Dull, Round 1: I’m so sad about this dress; Emily VanCamp should be a red carpet all-star. This tweet pretty much sums up my frustration.
  • Most Dull, Round 2: I wish Kristen Wiig would embrace color; her red carpet looks tend to be drab. This dress is kind of delicate and pretty, but it’s also sort of blah.
  • Most Unnecessarily Matronly: I loved Mayim Bialik’s hair, but her dress has way too much fabric. I was rooting for her to have a “Rachel Leigh Cook in She’s All That” moment (aka, geeky girl goes sexy). Alas, it was not to be.

  • Best Use of a Bedsheet: I feel like Claire Danes just thought, “Screw it. I’m pregnant, so I’m just gonna drape a bed sheet over my bump and call it a day.” It’s not a terrible dress, per se, but it could use some tailoring or a little more pizazz.
  • Most Gothic: What I like about January Jones is that she is always daring on the red carpet; even when she misses, you could never accuse her of playing it safe. I’m on the fence about this look: it’s dramatic and striking, but maybe just a little too dramatic. Also, can we talk about her makeup? For a pale girl, she’s wearing far too much black makeup, and the effect is slightly terrifying.
  • Most Reminiscent of My Grandmother’s Couch: The title of the award says it all: Julianna Marguiles is wearing a dress whose fabric strongly resembles a couch my grandmother used to own. The thing is, though, I can’t decide if that makes this dress tacky or fabulous. When I initially saw it, I thought “hell, no,” but the dress is actually growing on me. I think I will call this one a winner.

  • Most Reminiscent of a Space Alien: Dear Zosia Mamet, your dress is really strange. I know you are quirky, but there’s quirky and then there’s…weird. And this is definitely the latter. Just odd.
  • Most Disappointing: Michelle Dockery’s dress saddens me; I wanted her to have a “wow” fashion moment, but it apparently was not in the cards. This dress looks dull and wrinkled.
  • The “I Can’t Believe That’s My Girl!” Award: Dear Anna Chlumsky, you look so freaking glamorous! I can’t believe it. Where has time gone?

Who were your red carpet favorites?

(Photos via People, Huffington Post, and Suicide Blonde)

Things That Are Awesome, Vol. 41

The weekly roundup of internet finds:

  1. I wrote about something quite similar myself awhile ago (see this), but it bears repeating: When Did I Get Older Than Monica Geller? And how do I make it stop?
  2. More Friends-related awesomeness: Everything I Need to Know, I Learned from Phoebe Buffay. This is actually all quite true.
  3. Survival Guide for Dating a Law Student. Besides the fact that I personally do not care for Law & Order, all of these are true.
  4. The extended first look at Cloud Atlas is beautiful. I can’t remember the last time a movie looked half as ambitious as this one.
  5. I’ve always had a soft spot for Andy Roddick, though after awhile, it became almost unbearable to root for him. Joe Posnanski explains why in this great article, There’s No Room in the Stratosphere.
  6. The Wander Blog is very cool – great graphics, great messages.
  7. I’m Sick of Summer. I totally agree with this article; right around this time of year, I start craving autumn hardcore.
  8. I love this compilation of Amy Poehler quotations. She’s one of my favorite funny (and intelligent and beautiful) ladies.
  9. My love for Nathan Adrian, spawned during the Olympics, continues via his Twitter account. Tell me this tweet – and the accompanying picture – is not completely adorable.
  10. This trailer for Homeland Season 2 gives me chills. I don’t think I’ve mentioned it before, but Damian Lewis is one of my favorite actors. So good.

(Image via Little Reminders of Love)

Things That Are Awesome, Vol. 16

(photo from here)

Your weekly dose of awesome:

  1. I feel like I say this every time I post one of these lists, but this video is my new favorite, ever. Zooey Deschanel + Joseph Gordon Levitt = adorable overload. And Joseph Gordon Levitt’s voice is so good! Who knew?
  2. I know this happened a few weeks back, but Jimmy Fallon hosting SNL = one of the best things to happen in awhile. Also, the Jimmy Fallon/Tina Fey/Seth Meyers/Amy Poehler joke-off is pure brilliance. These guys should be together in everything, always.
  3. I’m pretty sure Ryan Gosling is overexposed at this point (and no, I’m not talking about all those shirtless scenes in Crazy Stupid Love, ba dum bum), but I still love this. Also, I get all the jokes, which makes me feel like a silly law school nerd. Also, he’s tasty. (That last sentence was unnecessary, I know.)
  4. Wisconsin has been pulling some shenanigans lately, but we all know that Michigan is the only mitten state.
  5. A speculative list of Jay-Z’s 99 problems. Too good.
  6. SNL’s Taran Killam recreates Robyn’s Call Your Girlfriend. I love this song, and I give him major props for basically having the video memorized. And for doing it in a super-confined space. And for wearing a fluffy cropped shirt.
  7. Zeitgeist 2011: Year in Review. This video is so well-done (and I love the song – Sooner or Later, by Mat Kearney).
  8. The trailer for the Dark Knight Rises looks intense and awesome.
  9. Tennis players as children. Too cute. I think baby Andre is the most fun. And one more tennis thing – If you don’t watch tennis, then this is probably not very funny. But if you do watch it (perhaps obsessively), then it’s downright hilarious.
  10. A seal crying. Awwwwww. Is this not the most heartbreaking thing you’ve ever seen?

And in case you missed it: the Awesome Archives

Things That Are Awesome, Vol. 4

This week’s list of general awesomeness:

  1. Adele’s I Found a Boy. Pretty much EVERY damn song on 21 is incredible, but this is the one I’m loving the most at the moment.
  2. More on Adele – this cover of Someone Like You is so haunting and beautiful.
  3. Fall in Ann Arbor. It’s not this colorful yet, but it will be soon, and I can’t wait.
  4. I bought a new shade of nailpolish for autumn – Essie’s Aperitif. In the bottle it looks like an autumn-ish red orange, but it actually comes out pure red. Nonetheless, I love it. I always feel fancier when I have my fingernails painted.
  5. Mindy Kaling is awesome, and this article proves it. Cannot wait to read her book when it comes out!
  6. And more Mindy Kaling – an article she penned, “Flick Chicks.” Love that she simultaneously professes her love for romantic comedies while also lamenting some of their more unfortunate cliches. I feel the same way.
  7. This video. So joyful and happy. Totally made me want to visit Berlin again, and soon.
  8. The trailer for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. True confession: sometimes I cry just watching a movie preview. Ahem, not that that happened here.
  9. Though apparently it will never happen, we can all dream of Kate Middleton on the cover of Vogue, can’t we? This mock-up of such a cover made me smile.
  10. Amy Poehler is awesome. The end.

Want more awesome? Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3

Emmys: Fashion Roundup

On Sunday, a few hours before the Emmys, I made a horrific discovery: my cable package does not include E!. Now, I never really watch E!, so that would explain why I went almost a month living here without discovering the problem. However, E! is essential viewing on exactly three occasions: the Emmys, the Oscars, and the Golden Globes. Why, you ask? Red carpet coverage, of course.

(Sidenote: it’s possible that E! may also be essential viewing when you’ve hit rock bottom in terms of productivity and, deep in the throes of procrastination, decide you absolutely must start keeping up with those damn Kardashians. But we’ll pretend that’s never happened).

Anyway. Since I didn’t get to see any of the red carpet stuff, and since I won’t get to see the Fashion Police recap show tonight, I thought I’d amuse myself by handing out my own red carpet awards

Best Dressed: My Top Three

I’m guessing two out of my three top looks aren’t ones that everyone would pick. But, I’m pretty sure everyone can get on board with Nina Dobrev – the color, the sculptural neckline, and the fantastic ruffled bottom.

Now, as for the other two. Next up, we have Heidi Klum. I just think this dress is really fun. Yes, the gigantic ruffle is a bit over the top, but it looks really fierce (yes, yes, Christian Siriano designed the dress and I couldn’t resist dropping in his signature catchphrase). Also, the muted color is really working for her.

And my final fave – Heather Morris. This look is strange in that I really love it, but I can’t quite put my finger on why. I think it’s because it’s pretty unique, but not so odd as to be unattractive. Also, I really love the color and her hair and makeup are fantastic.

The “Zzzzzzzzz” Award:

I always like what Kate Winslet wears, but at the same time…. Wait, hold on, I fell asleep for a quick second there. What was I going to say? Oh yeah, it’s always so boring! Yeah, you look good, but boringly so. Ramp it up a bit, Kate.

The “Why, God, why???” Award:

Gwyneth Paltrow is clearly beautiful, but her fashion choices are always so unfortunate. Evidence? Her Oscar-winning night (such an ill-fitting top!), her McQueen disaster (please wear a bra!), and her most recent Oscar dress (I know a lot of people loved this, but I cannot get on board). This outfit continues the trend. What’s with the crop top? Does she think she’s at, like, the VMAs? Also, this is sad because I like the color/pattern/overall shape of the dress, so if it had all been one piece, I might have really loved it.

The “Most Unflattering Dress on an Otherwise Awesome Human Being” Award:

I freaking love Amy Poehler. And she’s cute, so why is she wearing such an unattractive dress? Not flattering at all! I feel like she and Tina Fey both have this slightly awkward comedian thing going on, where they don’t want to look super girly-girly in dresses and instead opt for quirkier options. But this was just not the way to go. Plus, it’s kind of space alien-y, no?

The “Most Unwelcome Flashback to the ’80s” Award:

I just do not understand the trend with shoulder pads. Lea Michele, you are usually awesome on the red carpet (exhibit A, exhibit B, exhibit C), but I cannot get behind this look. Plus, didn’t Anne Hathaway already do shoulder pads earlier this year, and do them way better? Although, I have to say I did feel bad for Lea last night – wouldn’t it be hard to walk down the red carpet and pose without feeling a teeny bit self-conscious about this?

The “We Get It Already!” Award:

This one goes to Christina Hendricks. Oh, Christina, we get it: you are fabulous, and you have curves, and you love your curves. I’m completely on board with that (you are awesome!). But, ahem, your fabulousness is pretty much spilling out everywhere and making us all a little uncomfortable, k? Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

The “Best Dressed Significant Other” Award:

I loved Jennifer Westfeldt‘s look – I think it was really the color that I appreciated the most. I also loved the sparkly (but not too loud) belt and how flowy the dress was. Plus, she looks so happy! I mean, I would be too if I got to go home with Jon Hamm.

The “Please Try a Little Harder” Award:

At first glance, I thought I really loved Katie Holmes‘s outfit. Then I looked a little closer and decided it just wasn’t put-together enough for this occasion. The top part doesn’t fit very well; it’s baggy in the wrong places. And her hair? Kinda looks like she threw it up into a messy ponytail on her way to yoga class or something.

The “It Looks Like a Wrinkly Bedsheet” Award:

I generally love Dianna Agron‘s style. However, this is just…no. It’s a striking color, to be sure, but it does not fit her! And, doesn’t it kinda look like she grabbed a silk sheet, draped it around herself, and pinned it in a few places? I’m pretty sure that this is something my sister and I could have fashioned while playing dress-up back in the day.