The New Normal - Part 1 of 2 - The Braidy Bunch
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 8:01AM Ann Foster - Staff Editor Episode synopsis: Sparks are flying this week between the usual suspects, as well as some new and intriguing combinations. Aria worries when Mr. Fitz and her father clash at parent-teacher interviews. Hanna warms to the total hottie hiding in her basement when Caleb helps prove that her mother's latest client is probably conning her. MVP goes to Pam, whose Mama Bear instincts override her homophobia as she confronts a homophobic bully and reconciles with her daughter. Spencer finally decodes Toby's braille message, and they have a hand-holding moment. Aria forgives Hanna for doing A's bidding. And Paige kisses Emily.
Honestly, you guys? Most of this was a blur. I think my brain imploded somewhere around this point.
"He likes lace."
Forget blindness. The moment with the Liars stumbled upon Jenna being fitted for a negligee to seduce her STEPBROTHER, I was tempted to gauge out my own eyes.
Anyway, tonight's episode featured some really cute (...and some not so cute) Bohemian style, starting off with the cute braids worn by a number of the main cast.
Kate singled out Spencer's magic side-braid (how does she keep it so neat?), which she wore with a kind of funky country-club matron look early on in the episode.
Right. The thing is, Spencer is one of those people able to wear outfits that would make anybody else look insane. Something about her charisma. But let's be objective and break this outfit down a little, OK?
Crazy low-heeled nude coloured pumps. Black leggings (or possibly ankle-length jeggings, which makes me think: why does that type of pant even exist?)
Big black plastic earrings. White collared shirt and (admittedly cute) cream-coloured cardigan.
Against all odds, she pulls this off. On me, I would look like a 60-year-old country club matron. But Spencer looks cute.
She also looks cute on a shopping trip with the other girls, in a green knit poncho/cape, her hair uncharacteristically loose, with a headband.
Less cute is this outfit, featuring lavender Keds worn with acid-wash mauve ankle-zipper jeggings. Less cute, but still cute because it's Spencer, Fashion Goddess. Imagine Hanna or Emily trying to pull this off. Not so much, right?
Speaking of Hanna, she was channeling the 60s this week, first with an adorable floral-print minidress.
I mean, this is maybe a bit dressy for breakfast. But do you have Caleb living in your basement? No? Then you can't blame her for knocking it out of the park first thing in the morning.
She went for a boho-style look later on in the day that, while respectable, also seemed to have been stolen from Aria's closet last week.
Cute peasant top. Cute braids in her hair. But... let's take a look at that jacket, shall we?
Oh, honey, no. I know you're in financial trouble, but was it really such a good idea to just buy 1/8th of the jacket?
I'd rather forget her other outfit this week, where she proves that only Spencer can pull off the 60-year-old matron look and still appear stylish.
Blanche Devereaux called. She wants her blouse back.
And is it any surprise that Aria embraced the boho trend this week? It's interesting that, just as her relationship with Ezra seems its most solid, she starts dressing even more youthfully than before. Exhibit A: pigtails.
I really dig her little pocketwatch necklace here. But compared to the va-va-voom of her red mini for her museum date with Ezra, this ensemble really reminds us how young she really is. How young? Exhibit B, matching top and headband. As Kate pointed out in the live Tweet, Aria, you're not five.
But how cute were she and Ezra back at his apartment when he brought back their takeout dinner? I can only assume she hid her silver sparkley backpack in order to make him forget he's dating a toddler.
I kid. That bag is kind of... yeah, no, sorry. It's all kinds of fug. Aria more than makes up for it when she wears my vote for best outfit this week, her blue Paddington Bear coat.
Furry trim? Cute above-the-knee retro 60s length? Cute toggle front closure? WIN. (Also, it's hard to see in this photo, but this is the scene when she wore her hair in a braid, too).
And because it's not an episode of PLL if Aria doesn't change clothes 25 times (while Emily slumps around in maybe 2 outfits), we have her ode to Rastafarian couture.
It's really quite cute. I wonder if she and Hanna bought their peasant tops at the same time (before fleeing at the sight of Jenna being dressed in lingerie).
The fourth entry in the Braidy Bunch is my second-favourite styled person of the week, Ella Montgomery!
She also has the shiniest, prettiest hair on the show.
And I love, love, loved her military-style jacket with the little heart-shaped buttons.
Here's a long shot:
I bet she and Aria borrow clothes back and forth all the time. Or did, before she moved out.
