Breaking the Code - Part 1 of 3 - R U A?

Much like Kate last week, I was so caught up in the dramz that I didn't notice a lot of the fashion until a second viewing. Now, that's some SERIOUS DRAMZ because I didn't notice several NOTABLE FASHION PIECES this week, but we'll get into that in a bit.
So, this week on THE SCARIEST SHOW ON TV: Mona's being harassed by A (or is she secretly A and pretending to be harassed?) which brings her closer to Hanna. Emily is sad Maya's gone MIA (or is she secretly A?) which brings her closer to Crazy Paige. Aria comes clean to her friends about Ezra (IS HE A?) and then he totally dumps her. Spencer gets drunk and makes a pass at Cute Wren (IS HE A??) and then goes off to possibly be killed by Melissa (WHO IS PROBABLY A!!). Oh, and Ashley and Ella form the beginnings of Pretty Little Liars, Sr., as they finally notice their daughters have been stalked/harassed for like 10 years now.

This week brings the usual amount of creeptastic "A" suspects, starting with Skeezy Garrett and his M&Ms of doooooom:

Remember Ian and his creepy breakfast foods habit? The milk glass of doom? Did the NAT club sit around like ANTM contestants, practicing their best angles for creepy stalker eating/drinking?

Flashback Melissa is like, "Am I late for NAT snacktime? Dammit, I was really craving M&MS."

Cute outfit/terrifying body language. Have we seen Spencer wearing that belt? Maybe Melissa turned into "A" because she got fed up with Spencer borrowing her prepster accessories. Anyway, this screencap is creepy as anything, so I don't blame the PLLS for being like: 

Melissa is straight up creepy, you guys. I have serious concerns about Spencer leaving with her at the end of the episode.

And not just because she's wearing a matching skirt and scarf. Or is it all one thing? A shirtscarf? Either way, it's straight up fug and she can't blame pregnancy hormones because SHE'S TOTALLY EVIL.

Mona may not be totally evil, but she's totally suspicious this week. Why would A suddenly begin picking on her, unless she's secretly in league with A and trying to gain Hanna's trust? Anyway, her first outfit was That's So Mona:

Weirdly fitting green camo skirt with one of Spencer's preppy belts and one of Ashley's silk blouses? That's So Mona!

Trying to decide between fug...

... and fuglier?

That's So Mona!

That's also the ugliest dress ever. I don't blame Hanna for being like, "Whatevs, they're both cute," because Mona needs a military-scale fashion intervention to save her style. Hanna has more important things to do than try and talk some sense into the girl considers this drapery nightmare any sort of option.

The more freaked out Mona gets about A, the curlier her hair gets and the weirder her outfits become. She was in full-on 80s drag the next day at school...

To be fair, so was everybody else. Clearly it was Messed Up 80s Cocktail Dress Day at Rosewood, but we'll get into that in Part 2. And 3. (OH MY GOD ARIA)

Emily had the (welcome?) return of her former psycho stalker/bully/closeted girlfriend, Crazy Paige!

Paige looks SO much cuter with her bob grown out. Her low-key outfit complements Emily's laidback style. I don't know if I'm shipping Em/Paige because Maya was so creepy last week, or if it's because Paige was so cute this week. But Crazy Eyes pulled out all the stops to woo her gay mentor. Too bad about that unfortunately-timed kiss, though.

Speaking of awkward moments, Spencer gave Aria a run for her money by going after her own older man.

Hey, at least we know this guy's not A, right? 

OK, OK, so Spencer actually put the moves on Dr. Wren, bringing us as close as possible to gratuitous male shirtlessness this week.

He's so cute, you guys. I mean, look how happy he is getting hit on by Drunk!Spencer (but what human being wouldn't have a grin like that if they were in his position?)

Remember she's like, 16 or something, bro. #jailbait

I'm glad Wren brought the cuteness this week, because it was not a very stylish week for the menfolk. Ezra, you broke Aria's heart; then you wear a jacket with patches on the elbows? 

Aria, sweetie? You're better off without him. Seriously. Elbow patches? On a khaki Members Only-ish jacket? Really? I'm horrified not only that he's wearing that, but that someone sewed that, and a store sold it. Ultimately, however, Ezra was the one to purchase it, which tells you everything you need to know about his taste.

Holden can do martial arts, Aria! And he would never wear a jacket like this. #justsayin

Over My Dead Body - Part 2 of 2 - Hey there, Pretty Eyes!

So, basically, anybody on this show could be A, right? Literally ANYBODY. Because that clue the waitress gives about "pretty eyes" could work for just about anyone.

Let's work through this week's suspects, shall we?

Exhibit A (ahem, pardon the pun): Alison herself!

She may or may not have been a hallucination that appeared to Emily after the incident with the car and the gas in the garage. She was wearing a pretty un-Alison sort of outfit, with boots, jeans and a pretty tank. Usually she's all Sookie'd out in sundresses and things, but this outfit is fairly practical.

Does that mean Emily was dreaming of Alison dressing like her, or does it mean that Alison has started wearing pants? Who knows?

Eyes: Pretty. Other clues? Has name beginning with the letter A. Possible obstacle to being A? She is dead. (... OR IS SHE?)

Exhibit B: Maya!

The world's oldest teenager reappeared again this week, to tell Emily that she wants to just be friends for the time being. I don't know how convincing that argument is when you're wearing a see-through shirt with a visible black bra.

Eyes: Pretty. Other clues? Was she really off at Bible camp this whole time, or was she lurking around being A? Possible obstacle to being A: she has real feelings for Emily, and I can't imagine her wrecking Emily's swim team career with steroids.

Exhibit C: Jackie!

Ezra's ex is behaving like a crazy person, trying to get him back by whatever means necessary. And she thought nobody would notice her plagiarized French paper? Has she met Detective Spencer Hastings?

This meh purple top and meh jeans really are no competition for Aria's wackadoo wardrobe. If you're trying to steal a guy from a girl with 10-tonne earrings, I think you need to step it up in the style department.

Eyes? Meh. Other clues? Meh. Obstacles to being A? She'd be messing with Aria way more if she was A. Aria's really come out unscathed, for the most part, by A's schemes.

Exhibit D: Jason!

Alison's (and maybe Spencer's?) hottie ex-underwear model debuted a shorter 'do this week that made him look kind of like he wandered in from the set of a 2004 episode of One Tree Hill.

I mean, he looks cute, but less cute. Somehow. I think he may need to go shorter, or something. Or take off his shirt...yeah...he needs to just take off his shirt. 

Eyes: Pretty-ish. Other clues: General stalkerishness, mysterious goings-on in his house. Obstacles to being A: if he was A, he could force Aria to break up with Ezra to be with him. Which hasn't happened. Also, he seems kinda nice.

Exhibit E: Ezra!

Aria's boyfriend/ex-teacher may seem squeaky clean, but he did show up in Rosewood at the same time that A started stalking the girls. He used to wear suits and vests as a high school teacher, but now is a jeans-wearing college professor.

Looks more like a college student than a professor, but whatevs. Eyes? Pretty. Other clues? See above re: appeared in Rosewood at the same time that A began creeping. Aria gets less hassles than the other PLLs, indicating A may like her best. Obstacles to being A? The show's writers would be massacred by angry Ezria fans if it turns out their entire relationship was a lie.

Exhibit F: Toby

Spencer's (ex-)BF casually mentioned that his brake lines were cut, as if that wasn't OBVIOUSLY the work of somebody out to get him. And then he weirdly starts wondering, out of nowhere, what their babies would look like? I'm a fan of Toby's usually, but he was weirdly creepy this week.

And on top of that, he wore this out-of-character and wildly unattractive purple button-down shirt to visit Spencer in jail. 

Eyes: Pretty. Other clues: Weird behaviour this week. Befriended first Emily, then Spencer, indicating a need to get close to the PLLs one way or another. May blame them for sending him to jail over The Jenna Thing. Obstacles to being A: Wants to rebuild his reputation after being accused of killing Ali, so why would he mess that up through psychological warfare with the PLLs?

Exhibit G: Garrett and Jenna.

This is an obvious choice, after their scene this week where they seemed to be confessing to something... but what? Killing Ali? Placing the anonymous call that trapped the PLLs with the shovel? These two are either A, working for A, working with A, Ali's killers, or just two deeply creepy people.

And Garrett, for the first time, looked kind of hot to me this week. Maybe it's because we now know he's truly, truly evil and only became a cop for nefarious reasons?

And I'd like to mention because I haven't yet, that Garrett used to be on a Canadian/Australian sci-fi teen soap called Guinevere Jones playing the reincarnation of Lancelot. And I still harbor some resentment towards him for stealing the reincarnation of Guinevere from the reincarnation of Arthur. Basically, I always knew he was up to no good, so this week's reveal wasn't that big a surprise. 

Oh, and Jenna still has the prettiest hair of any blind girl on TV. And a fabulous sense of style for someone who can't see what she's putting on in the morning. Does Toby help her pick out her outfits? Or are they somehow done up with Braille?

Eyes: Garrett - pretty. Jenna - covered in sunglasses and scarred (or are they??). Other clues? EVERYTHING. Obstacles to being A: they seem like an obvious choice now, and the show wouldn't be that obvious. (...OR WOULD IT?)

Wildcards:

Any of these tertiary characters could be A, but that would just be weird.

Officer McCreepy!

He's baaack! Remember him? He's the police officer who was obsessed with proving the PLLs killed Ali, and then started sleeping with Hanna's Mom until he disappeared off the show for basically an entire season. Remember him? I only do because I recapped the pilot a few months ago.

Ashley is like, "Ugh, I had forgotten about him too. Please don't let us have any scenes together."

Dr. Wren!

He has pretty eyes! He behaves inappropriately and has reasons for wanting Spencer to break up with Toby. Plus, his British accent could be construed as being somewhat evil, in a James Bond villain sort of way.

Isabelle!

OK, there's basically no way that she's A, but I wanted to include this picture of her in her wedding dress that Hanna puked on last week. Yay for dry-cleaning! [I thought Tom (maybe? or someone else) said that they had cleaned Isabelle's dress...but this isnt the same one from last week...plot continuity mistake? --Ed. Kate]

Caleb!

He has pretty eyes (and a pretty everything else) but I'm pretty sure he isn't A for the same reasons that I've excluded Ezra and Toby. The fans would FREAK! OUT! if any of these boys were shown to be A. And the psychological manipulation A uses seems like it would come from a girl, somehow.

And Caleb got his hair cut this week too, I think. Like Jason, it wasn't a good decision and I hope he takes lots of vitamins to grow it back out to mid-90s Jordan Catalano lengths ASAP. And then takes off his shirt. Call me!

And I will see you bitches for the Halloween special, which CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH! - A

Save the Date - Part 2 of 2 - The Umms, Uh-ohs, and ACCCCKKs!!

I've made my love for Caleb pretty well-known, but I'm getting a little tired of drab wardrobe. Maybe he should just be shirtless all the time...?

It's official. Ella does not own any other pair of footwear. She probably can't afford it, somebody has to pay for all of Aria's accessories.

I know this is supposed to be workout gear but this "sweatshirt" looks a little like hemp. And we all know what people who hemp do...counterintuitive, no?

Now, I just recently graduated from college and never in my four years did I see a professor wear a suit and tie. Maybe a tie here or a sport coat there, but not together. Ezra does know that he could go the casual route? 

EWWW. EWWW. EWWW. I'm not sure why I was so disgusted by this--I mean, Jenna is a pretty girl, but I almost had to close my eyes. I guess I had the same reaction as the PLLs. I really need to be not so involved in this show like it is my own life...oh well. 

She still has the SAME sunglasses from season 1. On the plus side, she's wearing a taupe colored jacket with a wide collar that has the beginnings of cuteness. I wish we could have seen the rest of it. 

What. the. hell? I don't understand this outfit; I don't want to understand this outfit. It's like the top is a cheerleader vest and the skirt is verging on the edge of poodle skirt territory. And of course, over-the-knee socks and hi-tops are the perfect additions! Not. 

Also? The back has a small keyhole, which seems completely unnecessary. 

 

The whole "escaping-from-my-mistake-of-an-engagement" rendezvous with Ashley is definitely not doing as much for the Mister as it is for Ashley. He seems disheveled. Are his clothes representing a connection to his life and emotional state of mind? Or maybe that's a little deep for this show...

Wren had to be included for two reasons: 1) He's supposed to an intern or resident or something, obviously in Med school and he's the only one of the entire cast that actually looks to be high school age in real life. 2) I'm loving this minty green and khaki together. Working these colors into my wardrobe ASAP.  

Ready for the CREEPY????

It's safe to say that A is completely and utterly psychotic. Who in their right mind hides in a morgue? Under a sheet? Like a dead person? 

However...

...the chest of this person appears to be flat. Can we assume A is male?

Blind Dates - Part 1 of 1 - Nosey Little Worker Bees

Episode Synopsis:  Who knew High School could be this hard and filled with this much drama??!  I'm guessing Ali did [or planned it], and she wanted to make sure her pretty little friends didn't miss out on any of the hardships.  'A' was full of tricks this week, from stealing Melissa's wedding ring and replacing it with a horseshoe, to trashing the therapist's office, to sending Emily some nice college gear, to an extremely disturbing end scene involving Ian.  No sign of Ezra this week as Ella officially took over his classes.  But it's OK, Jason satisfied our shirtless male quota for this week.  And Caleb made a nice comeback when he and Hanna went on a pseudo double-date with Lucas and Danielle.  At the end of this week, our Liars were left even more confused than before, but one thing is for certain, they aren't the only ones keeping secrets in Rosewood these days...

This week the girls were up to their usual business of being nosey and looking for answers, people, things... Aria for Mike [though why not Ezra?], Emily for her conscious, Hanna for closure, and Spencer for Melissa's ring/Ian/how to save the world.  With all that work it's a little difficult to keep on top of your fashion game, but for the most part [please keep that phrase "most part" in mind] the girls did a decent job. Still, they left us with some questions...

What am I wearing on my head?

Yes, Aria, that is the exact same question I asked myself and the exact same face I made when I saw you sporting this up-do and bandana.  Did you suddenly decide to start your own cleaning service?  Or join a gang?  And let's not get into the velour green jacket.  Moving on.

Now this is much better.  I actually love this outfit, while the shirt is pretty loose, the belt makes it more form-fitting and I love the stripes on the back.  It's a very cute, well put together outfit.  And I LOVE the bag, even if I could fit an entire village in there. 

And to top it off, I love the accessories!  Even though at first I thought I hated the purple boots, after staring at them for way too long, I've decided they totally work.  I'm not sure that I'll run out and buy a pair, but they're pretty to look at.  And the black oversized star earrings are so Aria, and aren't loud enough to take away from the outfit like some of her other obnoxiously oversized ear accessories.

Hmm, I wonder what happened to the rest of my sleeves?

I wonder that too Aria.  But unfortunately, I don't think you're going to find the answer on your phone.  Your best bet is to go back into your closet and just find another shirt to wear.

  

How creepy was this sign?  Is 'A' really getting this good or is it just a total coincidence? 

Should we be creeped out?

Uhh, heck yeah!  I'm not really a fan of Spencer's all black look, and I don't really like the over the shoulder bag either.  I think it makes her look way too mom-ish.  Hanna's cropped jacket is not a winner in my book, she's worn it before and I never liked it.  But I like the rest of the outfit and from this angle the jacket doesn't look too bad.  This girl has got some fierce boots though.  Emily is not exciting in her plaid button down and jeans look, but she is wearing some cute ankle boots.  And Aria?  Again, moving on. 

Sometimes I think Hanna looks so much like Ali it's scary.  Case in point below.  Especially in the first picture, her hair and her facial expression.  Scary.  But this outfit is definitely not scary.  I love the bright, multi-colored shirt with white jeans.  And her peep-toe blush pumps are to die for.  [That may not be the best choice of words, but that's how great they are].  LOVE this look Hanna, gorge!

Unfortunately, I can not say the same thing about this one.  I hate the red choker collar.  Hanna said she wasn't ready for the mom gig yet, but this outfit definitely makes her look like a mom trying to dress young and hip.  It's a very mature shirt and definitely not appropriate for a movie date. 

Is this something I can wear out in public?

Hanna, let me put it simply.  N-O.  This should not be worn in public.  I don't even know what this is, is it a sexy robe?  Should it have been a sheer shawl instead?  Is it a choir robe?  I think it's a little too Mrs. Robinson in seduction mode, and I don't think seducing your therapist is what you're trying to do. 

Here's a much better look at Hanna's gorgeous top, I love these colors together and the pattern is super fun.  Emily's top however, I am not such a fan of.  Even though I like the over-sized, off the shoulder look, something about the way this falls on her is turning me off it. 

But oOo-La-La, look at Em wearing a skirt, and a short skirt at that!  That would definitely not meet my High School's skirt-must-be-to-your-finger-tips rule!   

Here's a better look at Emily's cute ankle boots, and I love her bag as well.  All these girls seem to love these extra-large bags, I wonder what exactly they're hiding in there? 

[Obviously they're hiding more secrets in there...these girls have so much shady business going on, there's no way their hair (their exceptionally fabulous, jealousy-inducing hair, that is) can hold them all --Ed. Kate]

Honestly, how great are my legs?

Honestly, they're seriously fab, and you always seem to wear the right pants to accentuate just how great they are.  If I had to guess, I'd say you have this particular pair of pants in five different colors and just rotate them.  I also really love this slouchy, hunter green, open sweater.  It looks so comfy and cozy, I'd be OK if you gave it to me.  But I could do without the belt, it's not really serving any purpose and would be better left hanging on your belt holder in your closet.  The boots and the bag however, are wonderfully awesome.  I know you only asked me about your legs, but I have to give my full input.

I know this picture is really dark so it's hard to tell, but I love Spencer's ruffle top with blazer so, so much.  She looks super chic and ready to take on the world.

Why am I so happy, you ask?

Yes, Samara I do ask that.  Let me guess.  Is it because all that unnecessary sheer material down the front of your shirt actually kept you quite cool in the super humid pool area while watching Emily kick some major butt?  Who cares if it's a little ugly and fits you funny and doesn't go well with your jeans, it was extremely practical right?  Yes, that's what I thought. 

Side note, I'd really like to have some more information on this Samara chick. 

Nothing really special out of our moms this week.  Ashley is back in her drab grey.  Ella needs to roll up her sleeves a little more because they look funny, and she needs to do away with that silk top.  I'm not sure why Aria told her she looked "nice, very nice".  The best of of the three goes to the Dr.  I like the extra-wide sleeves and the long beaded necklace.  She looks appropriately dressed for a therapist. 

But apparently it doesn't matter how well you dress on the job, it only matters that you keep mum on just about everything.  'A' made that loud and clear when he/she trashed the room and left this chilling message.  Things are starting to get a little too scary for my liking, so scary that sometimes I'm actually too afraid to watch this show.  Did I mention it's on ABC Family?  Yeah, I'm a loser. 

I have nothing to say here other than, THANK GOD society has made it acceptable for this to be on TV for our oogling enjoyment.  ::Sigh::  ::Swoon:: 

Oh Wren, I'm so glad you're back so you can show these guys how to dress!  I mean as much as I love Lucas' goofiness, and Caleb's sexy bad boy-ness, at the end of the day I'm a sucker for the preppy boy.  Wren, you pull this look off perfectly.  I'm still not convinced you're 100% innocent, and I don't know why you're suddenly back in the picture, but for now I'm not going to ask too many questions. 

So we should definitely be scared now right?

After that blood curdling scream?!  Hello, what's wrong with you, why are you stopping to ask this?! You should RUN like a bat out of hell!!

 

Can You Hear Me Now - Part 1 of 2 - The Kids

Episode Synopsis: Determined to free themselves from A's reign of terror, our favourite Pretty Little Liars decide to block all texts, calls, and e-mails from A. Only to find out that getting rid of A is about as difficult as getting rid of their problems. Aria struggles to hide both her secret (Ezra) and her father's (Meredith), while Emily grapples with the kiss she and Maya shared at Noel's party. Hanna, after crashing Sean's dad's car, is visited by her own dad - who has plenty of surprises himself (a step-mother and a step-sister for Hanna!). Spencer's family is in New York (Melissa needed some retail therapy), but having the house to herself means uninvited guests - and not just the drunk, love-proclaiming British kind.

A typical outfit for any teenager. Loose, flowy handkerchief tank, leggings, and Converse for a hint of punk. Love the print of the tank, and just this once, I'll forgive the whole leggings-as-pants deal (because, really, they aren't too bad in this case).

Here, though...well...there's so much wrong with this outfit, I don't know where to begin. But let's dive in anyway.

First, the too-short mini is most definitely not school-appropriate. Neither is her top, which is a few centimetres short of being a belly-top (yeah). Not to mention, it utilizes about three different fabrics in one garment - the odd peach sleve trim, the olive silk at the bottom (which is strangely pleated), and the woven print. Yech. But Aria's polish and purse? Snaps!

Love the juxtaposition of the seafoam green, butterfly printed silk and leather jacket. I do not, however, love the pairing of the top and a skirt.

A perfect casual, relaxed outfit for Emily - loose, off-the-shoulder top and cuffed jean shorts. If only I could pull of that look. Le sigh.

The coral peasant blouse (with embroidery, no less) and khakis are definitely Emily, but also definitely a resounding NO! Maya was right about the scarf, though. It did make the entire outfit better.

More inappropriateness (do I sound old, or what?). In my day we never wore such short skirts to school. Nevertheless, Emily makes this work with a decidedly more casual salmon sweater.

Now get off my lawn and turn down that rock and roll!

Getting tired of the leggings-as-pants theme (leggings not pictured), but the kelly green top looks lovely on Hanna, non?

I just adore this outfit. The navy and white stripes, the wide braided belt, the gold jewellery, that bag (!!!)…perfection. Plus, no leggings!

Another winner for Hanna, even if Spencer was right about the jacket not really being her. It's still a lovely blazer, and pairing it with the sheer flowy skirt, statement jewellery, and black purse, it was perfect for a night at Jolly Rogers.

I've been trying to figure this outfit out, but the top just confuses me. The wide lace sleeves and print may have contributed to that. Or, it could be that this seems more at home in Aria's closet than Hanna's. What do you think?

Hanna's clearly got an affinity for wide belts - this teal one pairs nicely with the floral print and cardigan.

I can't decide if I love or hate Spencer's overly preppy outfits. She makes it work, though. The khaki shorts and polo would be too much on anyone else, but on Spencer? Just right. Croquet and G&Ts, anyone?

I'll have to let you guys weigh in on this one, because the jumper and ruffled sleeves make me cringe. But the tweed and print are fab together. Hmm..

This one is a definite love. The loose fit is perfect with the wide camel belt, but what really caught my eye is the cat print (adorable) paired with the pearls (gorgeous).

No sweats and hoods for Spencer. Her version of loungewear includes cuffed jeans and a brown henley instead.

So, I don't really like Kate. It may have to do with her wearing that tweed dress with that high-necked, ruffled cream top. It looks constrictive and I'm getting a tight feeling across my chest just looking at it. Next, please.

I swear Maya looks like Vanessa Abrahams from the back, but V would never be seen in a leaf burb like Rosewood. Thank goodness. Not sure about what to think of the vest and top combo. Is that even a vest? Love the mustard bag, though.

Just love the combo of the bubblegum pink and blue - so fitting for someone who works at a cupcake shop!

Not my favourite outfit of Maya's. It's probably because there's a double layer of fringe on her boots. Yee-haw!

I was hoping for some great outfits from Wren. I mean, he is British after all. But even though his accent may be swoon-worthy, his outfits? Not so much.

So this is Toby before he became loveable (aka, helped out the PLLs and showed us how adorable Spencer/Toby can be). In a word: yawn. In a few more words: jeans, leather jackets, and flannel.