The Naked Truth - Part 1 of 2 - Raincoats and the Principal's Office

At the school sleepover event (aptly named Truth Up) the PLLs discover a few truths - some of which they wish they'd never discovered. Hanna and her acute observation skills uncovered none other than Kate as the sender of that naked pic. Spencer realizes that Jason and her have more in common than dysfunctional families. Oh, wait, they are family. Half-siblings, to be more exact. In less shocking but still relevant news: Hanna and Caleb are adorable, Caleb's determination to crack Hanna's phone leads to A targeting him - or rather, his laptop - the PLL moms (minus Emily's) bond over coffee and a slight dislike over Ali, Holden is most definitely a part of fight club, Jenna and Noel are beyond creepy, and Emily teams up with Mona against Mr. Tamborelli to make up the most unlikely of friendships. Mona, apparently, knows a lot about computers and the school...not to mention school officials. Hmm...

Let's start off with the mysterious red trench that Spencer picked up with the mysterious claim ticket. For some reason, I can totally see Ali wearing something like this, with sunglasses and dark skinny jeans. I may need to invest in a red trench coat myself.

We here at YKYLF love to talk about the PLL's gorgeous manes of hair perfection but our second favorite topic? Nail color! Love how always on-trend the PLL Make-up department is, but especially love how realistic they are as well... teenagers with chipped polish is so typical.

Aria has been bringing us some funky accessories lately. This quirky Marc Jacobs Grosbeak Fauna necklace coordinates perfectly with her outfit, which I love. That printed dress and neon belt pair wonderfully well. The belt is a great accessory piece that speaks to the ever-growing neon trend. But this is Aria, so of course she adds...

A pair of matching Jeffrey Campbell neon clogs. It looks like something you'd wear to an 80s gardening party.

Back in prepster territory, Spencer's got her ever-present watch and her perfectly double cuffed sweaters. The outfit itself is classic Spence, although I'm still trying to work out whether or not that plaid shirt belongs to Toby.

Spencer: "I thought we'd agreed to leave the slouchy sweaters behind, Emily?"

 Emily: "It's my signature. Duh."

I would really like a peek into Emily's closet and dresser. How does she keep all those oversized tees organized? There must a room somewhere in the Marin house devoted solely to Emily's t-shirts...and maybe Hanna's old fat clothes. 

Like mother like daughter, no? Love Ashley's well-tailored, work-approriate, frankly-kind of expected-but-still-great, dress. Especially love Hanna's red top - the shoulders with the mini fringes are adorable. But overall, they're both still dressed impeccably.

And on the opposite side - it's quite clear boring, nondescript outfits run in the Randall family. (Also: Kate's kicked puppy dog face? A+. I almost believed her. Almost.)

Because I can't help but think that Ashley is checking out Isabel's ring and thinking, "My diamond was bigger."

Hanna couldn't quite last playing the sophisticated, resposible step-sister and decided to just wear a blanket off of one shoulder...that is not a fur-trimmed poncho, mmkay?

Ashley, however always stays in her put-together, structured looks. She undoubtedly has the best style of any mother in the TV world. She looks perfectly coiffed even though she's at home and doubting her daughter's innocence.

The Naked Truth - Part 2 of 2 - School Sleeopver

This girl has the magical ability to pull off outfits that would look ridiculous on anyone else - the cutout leggings and frayed cropped denim jacket somehow just work for her. Like really, do you know anyone else who wears cut-out leggings on a regular basis?? Maybe Rihanna...?

Once again, we have the exceptional Ashely Marin. Even if she's chaperoning a school sleepover, she is expertly dressed. Ella should really take a few notes from her and learn how to tailor her clothes...just sayin'. 

And this gorgeous leather jacket that totally puts her in Vampire Diaries leagues.

::sigh:: Oh, Caleb. How I love your smug smirks. And your subtle color coordination between your Converse and jacket. This boy could wear anything...or nothing...I would still be smitten.

Whoa! Emily actually accessorized a bit over her t-shirt. While it's pretty standard fare for Em, the combat boots and split-zip sweater are awesome.

And Hanna took the off the blanket! Love how she paired this leather jacket with an otherwise very casual outfit - it was very reminiscent of the one she wore to watch the Katy Perry concert/say good bye to Caleb.

Then we have Holden, who definitely needs tips from Caleb. The T-shirt/long sleeved combo only works when you're eight and under. As for his sleepover outfit? He may have gotten confused with camping...where did he come from again? What, you say? They didn't have school sleepovers there?  (Love the chambray, though).

And the RETURN of Jason!! So he many not look anything like Spencer, but he's certainly got the Hastings prep thing down.

Creepy, creepy, mysterious Jenna. She could really use a few new things to keep her whole "I'm-so-misunderstood-and-mistreated" thing going. 1) New sunglasses. 2) A new less-creepy boyfriend. 3) More sartorially pleasing choices.

In suprising new that I never thought would escape my lips because I'm not usually a fan of Mona's outfits, but this one? LOVE. The top is gorgeous - filigree lace in a silvery-gold, and those boots are awesome.
(I'm still in awe.)

I love seeing flashback!fashion, if only to point out how much the characters have grown, style-wise. Well in this case, it seems Spencer's trying to fit into clothes she grew out of when she was ten.

Back to real time--my favourite outfit, by far - the printed dress had the most adorable ruffles, and cardigan and hunter green belt were awesome. I think the real winner was the over-the-knee socks paired with the boots. Spencer's got the great legs to pull that look off without looking like she's working the corner. 

Veronica could stand to take a page out of Spencer's book. This is pretty standard Veronica fare. Not digging the printed shirt. It looks more like a table runner; let's step it up V. 

I still can't decide whether I admire Kate's admittedly genius move, or think she's crazier than A (wait - no one is crazier than A). Also can't decide which is more boring - the grey or the stripes.

Pretty normal sleepwear for teenage girls - raise your hands if you're surprised Aria didn't show up in a floor-length black vintage nightie from Iceland, or something, though.

And I will admit, this ending was by far the creepiest A has been yet. Wandering around a high school filled with sleeping kids? That's my biggest fear coming to fruition. No, not the sleeping in a school part, but the someone doing shady businesss while I'm sleeping part. YIKES! The countdown to the big A reveal begins now...

A Kiss Before Lying: Part 2 of 2 - White Lies

Everyone on this show is lying about something. Just how much lying they do is the question. These are the folks who've definitely got secrets and are probably lying by omission - rather than outright lying to their friends about their teacher boyfriends (ahem, Aria) or about what happened to the info on the flash drive (ahem, all y'all Liars lying to Hanna) or lying to themselves about how that poncho was a good idea (I'm looking at you Aria). Poor Hanna was totes out of the lying loop this week. Which probably explains this top and the amount of casual wear. 

You're probably all, that top's not so bad. Which is what I thought. Until I re-watched the episode and discovered it may actually one of the least flattering tops in her closet.

And on the day her Evil Stepsister comes to town, what does she wear?

 

Her bra. With what was not an entirely flattering dress. Which is a suprisingly amateur move from Hanna. You want to show Evil Stepsister you're All That and a Bag of Chips. Not show her that you own a floral bra.

Then again, it's not like Kate tried real hard to be fashion forward on the first day of school. Unless she thought Rosewood exists in a 1989 timewarp.

Which, if she had met Aria, totally makes sense that she would think this. But as they haven't yet met, she has no excuse for dressing like Heather Chandler.

After day one at the school, she seems to figure it out: don't dress like the 80s and don't dress like your stepsister's friends and you'll probably look like a normal teenage girl.

Probably because she's feeling all left out and lonely, Hanna is heavily into the non-descript causal wear this episode.

 

Cute. Not very Hanna-esque, but not horrible either. It's a classy kind of look for chilling out to watch the Notebook and think nasty thoughts about your friends who are looking at secret videos without you.

And like Spencer, Hannah is in on the need for a Mystery Trench.

 

One of the secrets of the Mystery Trench is that it makes your ill-advised dress look way cuter. And covers your bra a bit.

Hanna did get a flashback this week. And in soft-focus flashback-land, we see that Hanna's friends were really awful friends for letting her dress like this.

 

Seriously girls? You couldn't have told her the peasant skirt was a bad idea?

Alison, aside from being kind of a bitch to Hanna, was too busy rocking the dark wig as Vivian Darkbloom, anagram of Vladimir Nabakov, to comment on Hefty Hanna's choice in skirts.

We're headed down some kind of Lolita path here kids. I don't know what, but it's possible the Ezra-Aria story wasn't enough May-December around these parts. Speaking of Ezra, he was busy proving why he shouldn't be allowed to date your teenage daughter.

BECAUSE MAKING OUT WHILE DRIVING IS A BAD IDEA. Sheesh. I shouldn't have to yell that at a dude in his 20s.

Further on the Dudes front, we were short on our much loved gratuitous male shirtlessness. Toby is MIA. So are Jason's abs. Noel's around, but as usual, he's looking kind of creepy. 

And he also appears to be a firm believer of the mantra "Everybody in Gap".

While I'm still not impressed with the driving and making out, I am impressed with the mad style Ezra brought to a stuffy, dude-only scotch swillin'  faculty event. Check out this jacket.

 

I like the detail on the pockets, but what really got me was the collar.

Nicely done, Ezra. I believe I see a sweater vest in there and that wasn't necessary. But I'll pretend I didn't see it because you've got suede on your collar. I almost thought that style was why you were getting promoted from brand new professor to Associate Dean, cheesing off at least 17 tenured professors in the process. But oh no! No, that was the work of one Byron Montgomery.

'Check and mate. Enjoy the career move to New Orleans, no where near my teenage daughter." Well played, Byron. Well played.

I Must Confess - Part 2 of 2 - I Must Be a Supporting Character

Let's start off this section with the most amazing creation of gown that ever existed, shall we? Actually I don't even have words...

Not that I'm congratulating myself (well, ok I am) but isn't this shot of twirling Hanna so cool?! Too bad that this was right before she barfed all over it. 

I would like to take this moment now to compare these two moms. Both wear bland, boring, neutral colors but if you must do so also take Ashley's lead. Her dress and jacket are tailored perfectly and that shade of gray contrasts nicely with her red hair. Ella, on the other hand, wears a baggy, shapeless top, and the color does not complement her features at all. Thumbs down. 

This image of Ashley having a glass of wine with her microwave dinner was just the most depressing thing I have ever seen.
Dear God,
please don't let me grow up into this. 
Love,
Kate 

Dr. Sullivan is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. Not only for her no-nonesense, yet accepting-of-everyone attitude; but for her impeccable style. Highly appropriate for a psychologist with a little trendy thrown in the mix. I really hope 'A' didn't actually kill her...

Jenna is finally wearing some color but can we just get rid of these sunglasses already?? I don't mean to be inappropriate here, but how does a blind girl get hair this fabulous?? How much would it be to hire the PLL hairstylists full-time for my personal, everyday use? Can't be too expensive, right?

This Kate girl reminds me so much of Katie Cassidy, my mind can't help to wander and be slightly sad that they canceled the Melrose Place remake--I was probably the one of four people who watched it. Anywho, I love the purple top but purple and black together? Not loving it. Girls with the name "Kate" really should know how to style themselves better...I demand a re-wardrobing for this girl! 

The return of Maya. Looks like she lost some accessories and that Vanessa Abrams-ness at boot camp or rehab or wherever she was. 

Garrett looks really creepy. He wears the blues a lot better than this off-duty look. 

Regina! Best dressed Grandma. Ever. She knows what works and sticks to it. Even that visitor badge on blue jacket looks pretty fab. 

Alison always looks perfect. No wonder the girls all secretly hated her. 

In my mini-recap I said we had zero male shirtlessness, but as I was gathering my screenshots I came across this little tidbit of male skin. I can't believe Spencer's dad didn't notice that Toby's shirt was mostly unbuttoned--what did he think Spencer and Toby were doing?? 

Touched by an A-ngel - Part 1 of 1 - Horses, and Bridesmaids, and Creepers, oh my!

Episode Synopsis:  This show officially scares me, and A has definitely entered creepy-beyond-belief territory. While A wreaks havoc in Emily's life, Jackie and Jason drive a wedge between Aria and Ezra, only to have it backfire when the two decide to tell everyone about their relationship. Which comes at the worst time, because Ella thinks Spencer is dating Ezra, while Spence was really just warning Ezra because she and Toby have discovered the N.A.T. club, aka Ian's little club of pervs - Jason and Garrett. Meanwhile, Hanna tries playing nice with her soon-to-be-stepsister, but Kate lives up to the evil step-sister stereotype.

I don't think we've seen Ashley in a bad outfit yet. Is there a YKYLF award for best dressed character who never fails to be best dressed? (Though I love her, you've got to admit even Blair Waldorf has some misses.) No exception this episode, with this lovely fitted black number, with some awesome ruffle detailing.

Ella and Dr. Sullivan seem to be thinking along similar wavelengths this episode, with their tailored black pants and square-ish handbags. Dr. Sullivan has amazing taste in jewellery, too. She's wearing four pieces here, yet it doesn't look overdone or tacky (::coughVanessaAbramscough::).

Loved the equestrian outfits in this episode, especially Kate's. Her blazer is the perfect length, and the brooch is a tasteful touch. (Also noteworthy: Mona's hilarious french accent...we really need some audio clips!)

Although, I wouldn't call those earrings tasteful. Tacky might be a better word - no one wears such huge diamonds (real or otherwise) on their ears whilst riding. Colossal diamonds are best kept to fingers - just as Blair Waldorf-soon-to-be-Grimaldi. (This recap is rife with Blair references.)

I love the outfit - the tie front is a nice touch, as is the beaded detailing on her vest - but hate the accessories. Giant pearl earrings paired with strings of pearls? Well, Kate's already acting like a politician's wife - pleasant on the outside, but undeniably cutthroat -  why not dress like one as well?

Just like Ashley's outfits are always perfectly elegant, Hanna's lounging outfits are always perfectly casual-yet-cute. Especially love the fringed top with the hoodie.

Do not, however, love this Miha top that looks as though it's got three different sets of necklaces pinned onto it. Hannakins, you are not a jewellery rack.

Gratuitous shot of the gorgeous and very bridal appropriate dressing room - maybe it was to distract from the awful bridesmaid dress? Love the chandelier, the ornate mirror, and even the dainty little side table. As for Hanna's bridesmaid dress… it doesn't fit, it's a hideous color, looks as though it's been made out of low-quality garbage bags… but it's not that bad. Ever seen Monster-in-Law? Isabel could've put her stepdaughter in that horrible peach frock - this is a nicer alternative, even if Mona decreed it so bad "Kate Moss would look like a water buffalo in [it]". Well, Kate Moss would look like tacky in your outfit, Mona. The rainbow belt? The oddly color-blocked (though very on trend, snaps to Mona!) top, gold cuff and weird cut-out booties aren't cohesive in the slightest.

I think we'll all agree Hanna looks fantastic in everything - even jodphurs (which not a lot of people can pull off). And I loved Mona's addition of a scarf to her outfit, even if the effect was more air hostess than equestrian.

Jackie's not making a good impression on me - and not just because she's come close to putting a wedge between Ezra and Aria. But mostly because she wears frumpy floral blouses with orange camisoles. No, just no.

I'm on Editor Kate's side with this - I should despise this outfit. Firstly, because those are jeggings and jeggings should be outlawed (they lead to worse things, like triple-scoop neck Ts. College Humor, anyone?). Secondly, because she's wearing denim/denim with a belt she picked up at a Mexican flee market - maybe along with that Mexican blanket/tunic. But it's Spencer, and only she could pull off a long-sleeved denim button up that has the shoulders cut off. It's a bit like Regina, in Mean Girls. She wore a tank top with cut holes over her breasts and it became a trend - maybe cut out shoulders will too? (God, I hope not.)

Poor Em. You really can't fault the girl for always wearing boring loose Ts or grinding her teeth in her sleep when A's running around, picking all the letters out of her cereal (creepy)and giving her massages (super creepy).

Favorite outfit of the week. The black booties are covet-worthy, the printed bouse (I think those are mice? I'm not sure) adorable, and the backpack just fabulous. Oh, and because I didn't want to continue writing sonnets about how much I love Aria's outfit, I decided to write about her hair as well -

So casual, yet gorgeous, and looks so effortless (yeah, right. It would take me hours to get my hair like this).

We were (unfortunately) deprived of any gratuitous male shirtlessness this week; instead, the theme of the boys' photoset is "PLL males carrying things". Ezra, with his adorable collared-and-sweater set, carrying boring brochures. Toby, wearing something I hope will not become a staple (I don't think we can stand another Humphrey), carrying Ian's basketball - slightly morbid, but not really. And finally, Jason in a boring Jason outfit (he should just keep the shirt off, really) carrying Ali's box of old things - quite morbid.

While we may not get an abundance of couture every week (this isn't GG, le sigh), we do get to see some fantastic manicures. Aria's egg's robin blue nails with the random glittered nail are incredibly Aria, while Hanna's white-out nails with the polka dot pattern are adorably cute.

 

Also of interest: the backpacks. Especially love Aria's studded one. Sigh, if only I attended a fictional school that didn't require a backpack to lug around fifty pound textbooks.