Mary J. lets the color do the talking.


One of you once coined a very good rule of thumb: if you can't describe an outfit in a single sentence, there's generally a problem. Jessica Seinfeld should have taken note.


Jullianna Margulies: a stark twist on the LBD.


Dayssi Kanavo demonstrates that draped ruffles are kind of like conjugating a French verb: if the first one is, the second one isn't. Or, in this case, shouldn't be.


I'm glad that, like me, Joy Bryant appreciates the style of Mrs. Roper. But she's taken it to another level entirely.


If you're going to do disco sparkle, Hilary Rhoda shows how it's done: total glam.


Selita Ebanks' outfit is definitely in my 2009 top ten. I am almost blinded by the beauty.


Tinsley Mortimer demonstrates total socialite confident chic - digging the mini for a gala.


Maggie Rizer does glam 30s society bride - always a good thing!


Paulina Porizkova is skewing a tad Valley of the Dolls, no?


Whereas Thalia is totally Casino!

[Images via Getty]

[New York, October 20. Image via INF]

The Good:
Do I even need to say it? Joy shut. It. Down.
Am I slightly obsessed with Celerie Kemble's name to the point of seriously considering naming a doll after her?? Maybe. But my admiration for her diaphanous gown is sincere.
I mean, if you're gonna do a red benefit gown, do a red benefit gown. Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos.
Kind of digging how, from the neck up, Nanette Lepore just rolled out of bed, yet is wearing this rad boho frock. It's stupidly rebellious in a way my inner 14-year-old appreciates.


The Bad:
There's a lot to be said for the "Go Big Or Go Home" school of "Bad." Deborah Bancroft showcases this spirit with what may or may not be a satin shower curtain.
This, ladies and germs, is what we like to call a "scroll-down fug." Julianne Moore's shoes are covered in moss.
I can see how in theory — like, lying on the bed — this is pretty. Guess Tory Burch thought so too.
Normally Blake Lively's pretty infallible because she does fresh and young so well. But this Buckingham-Nicks look is not only neither, it's kinda benefit-inappropriate, no? You'd think Serena would know that!
I get how a little peep of skin is supposed to be sexier than revealing too much, but it can't just be a random patch, like on Stephanie LaCava 's.
I'm aware I've brought up the My Fair Lady "Ascot" scene like three times this week and it's Wednesday, but if the shoe fits...or, in the case of Jamee Gregory, the double bow tie...

Images via Getty

The Good:
Sometimes I wish you could see "Bad" first (I know that would screw with the whole title reference) so that you could appreciate what a breath of fresh air Joy Bryant's divine ensemble is after some of this evening's fashions.

I'm sure Eva Amurri would far rather I didn't describe her as Susan Sarandon's daughter. All in good time, my dear. And your dress is lovely.

Digging Monet Mazur's use of belt.

Ditto Michelle Trachtenberg's groovy clutch.

Not my favorite look on Rachel Bilson, but I do think she's one of the few who could pull this off.

The Bad:
There is a certain horrible perfection to Rachel Zoe in this Return to the Valley of the Dolls hideosity.

You think Gretchen Mol's doing okay. And then you hit the shoes.

You can probably guess, but this pan refers to the center of the sandwich, one Melissa Gellman Weiss.

Tara Subkoff: Qhat is your motivation?!

The Ugly:
I understand that E.V. Day is an artist and therefore above the laws of normal aesthetic standards. This is why she gets her own category.

[Images via Getty.]

The Good:

Felicity Huffman keeps it simple and showcases toned shoulders.

Gabrielle Union's little summer dress is pretty cute. She should take her hands out of her pockets, though.

Love the color and drape of Joy Bryant's dress. Beachy keen!

Love the color of Becki Newton's dress, too! Just one piece can look so chic.

Sanaa Lathan, golden girl. She looks so great in this dress I'm willing to forgive the borderline shoes.

Rachel Bilson's jacket and skirt seem sophisticated, but I'm torn on the shoes. They're sort of cool and new and different and they're sort of horrifying. I like the rest so much I'm erring on the side of Good.

The Bad:

Maria Cross: Meh. The shoes are too heavy, in my opinion. A thin-strap sandal for a more bare look might be better.

Yeah, I don't know, Mena Suvari. Part of me likes the Pat Benatar thing she's got going, the other part of me winces, because how long can we do '80s?

Amy Smart is a lovely lady, but this dress is bad. The neckline is bad, the belt is bad and I think the fabric is bad.

Is Elizabeth Banks wearing a wardrobe castoff from Sophia Coppola's Virgin Suicides?

Zoe Saldana's hemline is a gynecologist's dream.

Nicky Hiton looks awkward, like an overgrown baby doll.

I think Lost alum Maggie Grace looks pretty but the satin shorts are killing me. They're super cute if you're playing the role of Miss Adelaide is Guys And Dolls, but otherwise, no.

I like Kelly Rutherford's blouse. I like Kelly Rutherford's skirt. I love Kelly Rutherford's shoes. I do not like them all together. Maybe if the blouse wasn't quite so buttoned up and the skirt were longer? I don't know.

The Ugly:

Sophia Bush is gorgeous; this weird zippered apron dress and chunky brown shoes are not.

Oh, Whitney Port. So many trends, so little time.

[Images via FilmMagic.]

The Good:

Olivia Wilde played lezebel on The OC and now she's on House. I think she is super pretty and I like this sleek, city-chic outfit.

China Chow keeps it simple and showcases her shoulders. Some people just don't need lots of jewelry.

Rawr! Jacqueline Bisset is a stone cold fox in a leather jacket and pencil skirt.

This column makes Joy Bryant look like a tigergoddess.

Beth Ditto from The Gossip! She's a performer. She's on stage. Therefore this is good. At a premiere or a quiet brunch, a red sequin jumpsuit would not be appropriate.

I don't really know who Rose Apodaca is (Google says a fashion journalist?) but I like that she's got the ovaries to rock something weird and cool that no one else is wearing.

I think Eve's dress is good! Flowy, goddess-y. Let's look at it from another angle.

Yeah, it's good.

Well you can't wear this to work at a law firm or even to a restaurant where you might have a pasta dinner, but this is Janet Jackson and this is a work of art and therefore it is good. As long as she doesn't try to light any candles.

We interrupt this post to bring you a picture of Vidal Sasson, who is 80 years old and still a handsome devil.
You may now return to your regularly scheduled critique.

The Bad:

I'm not feeling the pattern of the dress Tracee Ross is wearing.

Rebecca De Mornay's tube dress and doo-doo brown pashmina seem sad.

Ioan Gruffudd is ridiculously hot (did you see him in King Arthur with Clive Owen?) but this outfit rubs me the wrong way. I mean, those are jeans, right? With scuffed round-toe boots? Sigh.

Animal print made Joy Bryant glow; it just makes Lady Victoria Hervey look washed out.

Cat Deely is wearing the same dress Natalie my best friend from 7th grade wore to our semi-formal in the '80s, and not in a good way.

The Ugly:

Green is good, but this dress is drowning Kelly Lynch.

Ew. Ew. Ew. Jay Manuel. Of America's Next Top Model. How can someone who supposedly has good taste pic something so awful? Maybe cream and ivory are in his "palette" but matching your jacket and pants to your hair is just odd.

Magda Berliner is a designer who needs a makeover.

[Images via Getty.]

The Good:
I'm always a sucker for a picture of a big sister and a little brother, like this one of Eva Amurri and Jack Robbins. Love her skirt. Also: how much do they look like their parents?


Big yes to the drop-waist on Famke Janssen's dress.


Ok, Hana Soukupova, I get it already: You're a model. You are perfect.


I'll have what Helena Christensen is having. Even if it's safari wear.


Joy Bryant is a dream in her very modern and very sophisticated pants-and-jacket pairing. Love the silhouette. Love the colors. Want the necklace. Now.


I know I should hate Leelee Sobieski's dress, but I can't help but love it.


Maggie Rizer: Keeping it real, playing to her hair.


Gwyneth's dress: See-through or not?




The Bad:
Is anyone else surprised to learn that Tracey Ullman is the Burberry trench-wearing type?


Bebe Neuwirth: When headbands and bad fashion happen to good people.


Carol Alt: When too much satin and bad necklines happen to good people.


Is Diana Ross wearing galoshes? And leggings?


And is Elettra Wiedman wearing them too??


Liv Tyler disappoints with a sad sack of a dress paired with flesh-tone shoes.


Tory Burch: Furthering my belief that no one dresses worse than fashion designers.


Terrence Howard and his son are both dressed as Indiana Jones. Also, is his daughter carrying a clutch? Or a Trapper-Keeper?




The Ugly:
I do believe Kelly Bensimon is wearing wet boots with that most unfortunate dress.

[Images via Getty.]

The Good: They call Emmy Rossum mellow yellow? Maybe this could be the new alternate color for bridal: I'm newly inspired. Kim Raver also wears something that would be a prettier wedding dress than anything I've seen in this week's bridal shows. Sometimes I wonder if Georgina Chapman is the only fashion designer who actually knows how to dress herself. I'm all about the Morticia Addams look on Hana Soukupova. Hell has frozen over: I like what Tinsley Mortimer is wearing. Yay for pretty Virginia Madsen and her pretty dress.

The Bad: Eva Amurri, why must you hide what God gave you? Jennifer Missoni shows how young women Miley Cyrus' age should dress. (Of course, Missoni's 23, not 15.) Joy Bryant channels Miss Scarlett and wears the drapes. Kate Lee Joel dresses like Miss Haversham would've before she entered her later years. I like that she tried out something different, but something about Leighton Meester's look just isn't working. Also, does anyone else think Meester looks totally different in her real life (or, er, at least on the red carpet) than she does on Gossip Girl? Marghertia Missoni's whole look is 10% overdesigned.

The Ugly: Most of the time, I hang my head in shame for loving Mary-Kate Olsen's look. Today is not one of those days. It's Medusa! Oh sorry: It's just Rachel Zoe.

[Images via Getty.]

[New York, New York; April 14. Image via INFdaily.com.]>/p>

The Good:
Joy Bryant is radiant in white. Get me this dress! Please.

Mo'Nique is fierce in blue — and with her man.

Salli Richardson makes casual look classy.

Gina Ravera's detailed shift? Adorable.

The Bad:
Brooke Lyons: The dress doesn't flatter the boobs; pageant hair, pageant stance. The fantastic color can't save this look.

Erin Cummings' dress is just much too much in all the wrong ways.

Nicole Ari Parker: Too short, too tight, too white.

The Ugly:
Cindy Margolis: Aghhhhh! Shield your eyes!

Rachel Nichols: Death warmed over? And what's with the sheer black stockings? Ay.

[All photos via FilmMagic.]