Extraordinary Merry Christmas - Part 2 of 2 - Merry Christmas

The holidays mean a lot of things. Presents, candy, parties, eggnog. All of these things are great. But for those of us who love fashion, it also means festive sweaters, sparkly accessories and pretty dresses. And Glee delivered on all of those fronts.

Artie finds himself perpetually on my Worst Dressed list, but Christmas is the one and only time of year when his grandpa sweaters become not only appropriate, but charming.

So. Many. Reindeer. I’d love to know how he manages to store so many sweaters. There are boys in the glee club who dress for the holidays more stylishly though, and I’d like to nominate Blaine for best dressed male.

The velvet blazer he rocked during the opening number? Divine. Among Blaine’s many talents are pulling off a bow tie and shooting Kurt sideways glances. See?

I wish he’d look at me that way…OK, getting off track. Blaine even knows how to out-sweater Artie.

Kurt looks cute here, but his best moment came during “All I Want For Christmas Is You”.

All I want for Christmas is for Kurt to dress like a candycane all year round.

The ladies of New Directions really brought it this week, though. How many beautiful retro dresses does Rachel Berry own?

Despite not being a fan of her Heidi braids, I love how Rachel looks here – red is such a good color on her. Quinn looks adorable in that polka-dot dress. Oh, and Tina is also there. Wearing a plaid coat?

Doesn’t matter, because the spotlight was shining on Mercedes, who belted out a Mariah Christmas tune while wearing a gorgeous purple dress.

Stunning. This may be the best she’s ever looked. She also expressed her holiday spirit through pops of red and sparkly accessories.

 

Another red dress on Rachel! Her selfish holiday wish list might have been ugly, but her wardrobe sure isn’t.

Check out how cute she looks in this sweater:

I think I liked this polka dot number even more, especially with the adorable hat.

And the blue dress she wore to perform with Blaine? So sophisticated.

Blaine looks incredibly adorable in that suit and sweater.

I think Rachel really outdid herself with the dress she wore to sing “River” though.

I’m green with envy over that green dress. (Bad joke, I know).

Now, onto the Christmas television special. Artie was directing, and he did an…interesting job. Here’s a look at the opening credits:

Kurt and Blaine look the best, of course. And they got to host the show! It was all done in black and white like a Judy Garland Christmas special.

I loved the retro vibe they went for here, and the wink-wink-nudge-nudge sense of humor they used to approach the special.

While most of New Directions were filming the TV show, Sam and Quinn made good on their promise to Sue to visit the soup kitchen. Quinn manages to make an apron look cute with her fuzzy sweater.

They weren’t alone for long, though. After learning a lesson about Christmas spirit from “Itchy the Elf” (again, poor Rory) the whole gang headed over the soup kitchen…but not until after the plug had been pulled on the special, so I guess it wasn’t THAT selfless. Anyway, I’ll forgive them just because they look so cute. I mean, Puck in this hat?

Only Noah Puckerman could pull that off.

Will and Emma looked like they stepped right out of a bad Saturday Night Live skit, but at least Emma’s shirt is pretty.

Everyone got together to sing “Let Them Know It’s Christmastime”, because I know when I’m interacting with homeless people I like to sing songs that ask them to feed the world.

I love Rachel’s patterned coat, and the fact that Finn is wearing something other than a hoodie in a bland color. (Take note, Sam.) Kurt and Blaine look adorable as always, and even Tina has impressed me with her hot pink coat! It’s a Christmas miracle!

After learning an important lesson about the true meaning of Christmas (HANUKKAH?), Rachel realized she’d been really greedy and selfish. She and Finn returned their Christmas gifts and donated the money to the charity Sam and Rory were collecting for.

Rory finally looks good! And Sam looks…OK! Hey, at least it looks like he might be wearing a festive sweater under that jacket. Probably an early Christmas gift from Artie. Blah blah blah, it’s better to give than to receive, etc…can we please talk about how great Rachel looks instead?

I am in love with that coat. The flirty skirt? The bows? Her hat? It was cute enough to make me forget how horrible she was throughout the whole episode.

Well y’all, if nothing else this episode of Glee certainly inspired me to break out my own festive outfits. Happy Holidays!

Hold On To Sixteen - Part 1 of 2 - Wrong Directions

It’s Sectionals time, y’all! New Directions and The Troubletones are competing against each other, but that’s not the only drama brewing at McKinley High. Finn and Rachel rescued Sam from his gig as a stripper in Kentucky so he could come back to Ohio to help New Directions win Sectionals, Quinn crafted a plan to out Shelby and Puck’s fling so that Shelby would get fired, and Tina confronted Mike’s dad about supporting Mike’s dancing dreams. Finn and Blaine managed to put their past conflicts aside to kick butt at Sectionals and, despite a questionable performance, they did just that - New Directions won, and a few defeated members of The Troubletones came back to join them. Aaaaand, that’s what you missed on Glee!

I’ll be honest: I did not like this episode. Glee has been touch and go all season, and this episode was the culmination of a few storylines that just weren’t working for me. In particular, Quinn. Girlfriend is a hot mess emotionally, but at least she’s started dressing well again.

She may be a bitch who’s trying to steal back the baby she put up for adoption, but she’s a bitch in a gorgeous hat.

Not only is Quinn trying desperately to get Baby Beth back, but she’s also trying to get Sam back. She basically threw herself at him - but Sam has his sights set on Mercedes.

Again, at least she’s dressed well for her self-destructive downward spiral. I love her yellow shrug and striped skirt.

Quinn finally realized what a psycho she’s been, mostly thanks to Rachel.

Is Quinn dressed in white because she’s a good person again? It’s a lovely dress, though not particularly appropriate for Ohio in the fall. Rachel looks great too, in her color-blocked skirt and tam. Very artiste chic, which is what she’s hoping NYADA will want. Oh, and Quinn’s future plans? Well now that she’s stopped eying teenage motherhood as a legitimate option, she has her sights set on Yale. Yes, Quinn at Yale. In the drama program. Because no one at this school has plans to do anything other than perform. The world needs marine biologists and public relations assistants too, you know!

Speaking of Rachel, she was all out of sorts this week since she was banned from performing in Sectionals. First she and Finn took a road trip down to visit Sam, a.k.a. "White Chocolate". This is what they discovered:

You know what? Totally worth the ridiculous plot point. I’ll look at Chord Overstreet without his shirt on any day, and the performance was well worth it just to see Rachel make these faces:

Girlfriend went from excitement to shock to disgust in about the amount of time it took Finn to form the thought "Ew." Nice coat, though. Rachel really knows how to rock plaid. Here’s a better look at Rachel’s coat as she tries to convince Sam not to continue with his career as a male exotic dancer.

Rachel is saying "You’re better than this!" Finn is thinking "I shouldn’t have eaten those 4 day old nachos from that truck stop."

Sam does decide to return to Ohio with them, where he treated New Directions to a performance of "Red Solo Cup", a classic country ode to a plastic beverage container. Kurt was less than thrilled.

Oh Kurt, never change. And that scarf looks fabulous.

You know what else was fabulous? Kurt telling that smirking meerkat Sebastian to back the hell off. He gave him total Bitchface.

I’ve never been more proud, even though that lopsided collar and studded lapel are atrocious.

But seriously, a guy’s gotta fight for his boyfriend when his boyfriend is this cute.

An old man sweater! What a nice departure from Blaine’s typical hipster wardrobe. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But it’s nice to branch out every once in a while.

Just look how hot Blaine looked when he was boxing!

Although, weirdly pale, right? Like he’s an extra in the cast of Twilight or something?

Speaking of vampires, let’s check in with Tina! (Figgins thinks she’s a vampire, so that was totally a legit segue.) Tina went to visit Mike Chang’s dad to give him some parenting tips. She arrived dressed like Wednesday Adams.

Seriously, Tina? Enough with the collars already. Unbelievably, Mike’s dad actually took what Tina said to heart and showed up at Sectionals to support Mike. Sorry Glee, but if there was a way of convincing Mike’s dad to be more supportive of his dance career, Wednesday Adams and that brutally boring Sectionals number were not it.

And with that, let’s get to Sectionals! I didn’t love New Directions’ Jackson family medley (how come they get to perform three songs when everyone else performs only one?) but I did love their costumes. So chic!

Rachel was banned from performing, but she could still attend as an audience member. And her black and white dress matched the New Directions! I like seeing Rachel dressed up and not looking like a toddler.

Also in the audience was Emma. We didn’t get a great look at her outfit, but I’m sure it was très adorable.

I love the detailing at the neckline of her sweater. This show needs more Emma Pillsbury! This site needs more Emma Pillsbury!

Despite getting seriously out-performed by The Troubletones, New Directions won Sectionals. To celebrate, they all met in the auditorium for a celebratory song - and, thank god, it was not another rendition of "Red Solo Cup".

Blaine looks super cute here, but who put the Irish kid in a bowling shirt? Hasn’t he ever heard of Charlie Sheen? Charlie Sheen is just one of many reasons why no one should be wearing a bowling shirt. It’s the opposite of #winning.

I also have to call into question what Kurt is wearing.

Shorts and boots? With a cap? What, is he on his way to audition for the role of Oliver Twist? "Please sir, I want some more PANTS - because these shorts just aren’t cutting it." Right?

I Kissed a Girl - Part 1 of 3 - E.T.

Scandal, illicit love affairs, red/white/blue ensembles—if that doesn’t smell like politics, I don’t know what does.  Kurt dabbles with the idea of rigging the senior class president votes, but decides against it.  Enter Rachel and her inability to count past 4.  She stuffs the boxes with a bazillion more ballots than there are seniors, and is subsequently suspended from school and Sectionals. 

Coach Beiste’s budding love affair with Coach Cooter comes to a screeching halt when Sue gets it into her head that some man candy is the key to winning the election.  It doesn’t work.  Burt Hummel wins!  Meanwhile, Puck offers some horizontal comfort to Shelby, but cray-cray Quinn declares she wants to get preggo with Puck again.  And after some much needed musical support from both glee clubs, Santana finally comes out to her family about her sexuality and her relationship with Brittany—or should I say Madame President? And that's what you missed on Glee!

Katy might’ve been all about the Extra-Terrestrial, but for the kiddos at McKinley, it’s all about Election Time.  Having lost the lead in West Side Story, Kurt is desperate to add “senior class president” to his NYADA application.  And apparently, nothing says “Vote for Kurt” quite like bouffant hair and a bizarre studded pseudo-bandana. 

His outfit to serenade Santana isn't much better.

 

Seriously?  It looks like Kurt's trying to escape from a Snuggie.   And while I can appreciate how put-together Blaine is, his look is a wee bit reminiscent of a barbershop pole.

I think I like him better in casual wear.  You can never go wrong with a mustard cardigan and apart from the bedroom eyes he’s making at Kurt in the last picture, he looks so sporty-chic in this track jacket. 

Now, here’s the Kurt I know and love.  The piping on the shirt makes the white pop and I like the collar on the vest.  The belt seems a bit awkward, but I’ll take it over the Snuggie snafu.  

Kurt usually looks his best when his outfits are a bit more tailored and refined, but this poncho and jeggings combo does look awfully cozy.  And I don’t know about you, whenever something bums me out, like losing a class election or the lead in the school musical, I like to get into my sweats, too…all that’s missing is a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.

As his biggest campaign supporter, Rachel must be totally swamped because she forgot what November in Ohio is like.  You know, cold enough that she could be forgiven for stealing Kurt’s half-turtleneck to stay warm.   At first glance, I thought I liked this dress (it was the pink and I can’t resist a good bow), but after staring at it for another ten seconds, it’s a bit too cutesy and Easter Sunday for me.

I like that she did go for something a bit darker…

...I just wish it were a darker sweater.  Or parka. 

Despite the fact that she’s going to get pneumonia in five minutes, I really like this outfit.  The charcoal color of the dress contrasts nicely with the white detail along the bodice and I love that she’s wearing a red beret to lend some color to the outfit.  But it’s a bit ironic that she’ll wear a hat but not tights…  

Oh, thank God, she found a sweater.  Red really is a good color on her, the pattern along the hem gives it a fun retro-feel, and I love how flouncy the skirt is.  

With his girlfriend scheming, his step-bro running for senior class president, and his stepfather running for Congress, it’s no wonder Finn doesn’t have time to think about his wardrobe.  So it looks like Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are for blue outfits.

And Tuesdays and Thursdays are for flannel. 

And on the other side of the ballot is Brittany and her first lady, Santana.  They’re back in their boring Cheerios uniforms, but after-hours Santana jazzes things up with her edgy-feminine style.  The fitted blazer and printed black dress is a great combo, but what I’m totally digging are her ankle boots.  

The First Time, Part 1 of 2: Red Hot Love

Episode Synopsis:  Love and love really is in the air this week at McKinley.  Everyone's either thinking about it, singing about it, or dare we say...doing it?  Oh, we dare!  With the school production of West Side Story looming, Rachel and Blaine are forced to do something about their lacking "passions".  Rachel acts like her usual self and puts her ambition in front of her relationship, while Blaine and Kurt get into a small tiff thanks to Blaine's not so secret admirer, Sebastian (who, for the record, I so do not like).  But all's well that ends well and not only is the play a hit, but our two power couples knock it out of the park as well (wink, wink).  It looks like Coach Bieste also found love this week with Hottie McHottie, Cooter.  How sweet!  Also sweet, no sight of Schuester's ooglay sweater vests, or Sue's track suits.  And that's what you missed on Glee!

This week's episode left me extremely underwhelmed.  There was hardly any singing, Brittany-isms were lacking, AND there were maybe three good outfits.  And when there were about a million different choices to pick from, that is pretty darn sad.

Quinn, I feel as sad as you look because this is the only outfit we saw you in this week (the play costume, while cute, doesn't count).  I think the reason for this is because you continue to chose to wear those god awful boots.  Don't think you slipped under the radar this week, I can see the tops of them peeking out from under the desk.  Regardless, I still love your butterfly dress with shrug.  The dress fits you like perfection, your hair is still cute and sassy, and even though you're frowning, you still look pretty.  Now, just get rid of the boots!

This was my favorite outfit of Rachel's.  It's unfortunate she didn't come out from behind the desk.  She's totes channeling Madeleine, the little Parisian girl who is always getting into trouble.  I love this grey dress with red buttons and matching red beret.  And her bangs don't even look half bad.  Très chic!

I also really think that I would like this outfit a lot if only I could see the whole thing.  But I'm digging the colors and the pattern. 

Work it girl, work it!  Santana definitely has the va-va-voom factor.  Smokin' hot in this red dress, and look how well it twirls!  I would so love to play dress up and dance around my room in that!  Unfortunately, I can't say that I'm digging the hair. I get it's the style for her character, but I think they could have made it a little more flattering.

But here, Santana's hair looks lovely while still being period-appropriate.  Rachel also has great locks, although I absolutely hate her dress and those hideous stockings...but the hair!  It's enough to make me forget about the dress.  Kind of.  OK, no, not enough. 

Santana and Puck are so stinking hot, they just need to go make babies and the make the world a more beautiful place.  Really.  Go.  Now.

Puck always looks yum, but with this black suit and red shirt he looks so spiffy I didn't even notice how atrocious his accent was.  He just made my heart go a flutter and my knees go weak.

Ahhh!  I don't know what's worse: Tina trying to wear color, or Tina dressing like Wednesday Addams.  Both are just so equivocally wrong.  Her wardrobe should never be presented to society.  And my biggest question is, what is up with her collars?  Does she just have one oversized white collar that she wears as a necklace with every single dress or shirt she owns?  I'm so sorry that I have to be showing you this, but just think of it as a lesson in what not to wear. 

OK but whoa, look at this!  Tina's hair is gorge!  The perfect curl, the rose by her ear!  I LOVE it!  She looks so pretty!  Do I have enough exclamation points?  I just can't get over that I am actually excited by something Tina is wearing! Must dispatch more exclamation points!  !!!!!!!

All I have to say is, thank god for Emma.  In a school where no one knows when to take off their construction boots, or dress for the appropriate season, or not wear the same argyle sweater vest every day, Emma is able to provide some pep and fashion savvy-ness.  Thank.  The.  Lord she has yet to be influenced by everyone else's poor sartorial choices.  Here she is absolutely blossoming in this floral print dress.  The colors are great on her and it fits her perfectly. 

Blaine looks like he just walked out of a Ralph Lauren catalogue here.  I love it.  Though it does look a little too similar to his Dalton Academy uniform.  Is he perhaps having second thoughts about leaving? 

Of course he's not, because he has Kurt and the two of them make everyone else look like the scum between Alfalfa's toes.  Honestly, they are just so swoon-worthy from the way they dress to how perfect they are for each other.  Le sigh.

Hands down one of my favorite outfits this week.  Maybe even my favorite outfit.  Kurt looks so sophisticated, so chic, so absolutely awesome!  I am in love with his jeans, and the vest and white shirt combo.  Oh Kurt, pretty please with a cherry on top, can we be best friends?

You know, not only can these guys sing and dance until the cows come home, but they also look pretty sharp!  Work it, boys!

The First Time, Part 2 of 2: Cold as Ice

This episode was pretty much the Rachel and Blaine show, which I normally wouldn't complain too much about, but this week there was too much bad(da) and not enough bing.  

Please answer me this, why does no one at McKinley ever dress appropriately for the season we are in?  Seriously, they're in Ohio and we're on the verge of winter.  Why is Rachel wearing a bright yellow summer dress?  I mean don't get me wrong, I love the color it looks great on her as does the dress, but it's so not appropriate for the season!  And Blaine, just because you're at McKinley now does not mean that you have to start dressing like Schue.  Yes, you look a lot better in the sweater vest than Schue does, but you shouldn't make it a habit. 

The hills are alive with the sound of music...

Yes, Rachel, this is what happens when you let Artie pick out your clothes.

OK, will you totally judge me if I say that I think this is so hideous it's actually kind of cute?  I'd probably judge me.  Humor me.  I would never wear this out in public, but Rachel can actually pull it off quite well.

There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home.  Gosh I wish the good witch of McKinley (Emma) could make those shoes go home.

This dress looks like Rachel pulled it off one of her dollies from home.  If Rachel is highly considering going off to college next year, she needs to learn to stop dressing like she's in kindergarten.

I went back and forth on Rachel's 'get lucky' dress.  But in the end I decided I really liked the material and was a big fan of the black lace on the collar.  It obviously fits her well (because lets be honest, what doesn't look good on Lea Michele) and the color is flattering.  Too bad it didn't bring her much luck.

I think it's because the dress was longer than the Nile and she had those unfortunate white knee highs on. 

 

Little Red Riding Hood?  Why does she insist on wearing white socks with her ballet flats?  Why?!  There is nothing I like about this outfit.  Rachel darling, you're lucky Finn has such a poor fashion sense or else you wouldn't be getting so lucky.

Me-ow, easy tiger!  How many cats did Kurt have to skin for this outfit?  I really wish Blaine would have tried to rip off all Kurt's clothes. 

I actually think if he just would have went with the tie I would have really liked it, but since he paired it with five other different felines, my eyes are on overload.

Thank goodness he decided to change into this much more acceptable ensemble before going to the gay bar.  Even in that surrounding I think he would have been made into kitty litter with his previous outfit.

I don't think I hate the maroon pants and henley t-shirt look here, but I definitely don't love it.  And he looks a lot like Greg Brady, which I don't think is a positive, as much as I love the Brady family.

Um excuse me Blaine, what happened to the rest of your pants?  And are you auditioning for the new Mr. Rogers?

No, really.  What happened to the rest of your pants?  Is Ohio also a major flood zone?  Is that why you've had your hems snatched on all your pants?

Aside from the too-short pants, I'm digging this disheveled look Blaine's got going on.  He looks rugged and sexy, even if he is a Schuester in training.

Let's play a game.  Can you please identify this Glee character by only looking at his or her legs? 

Where are the rest of your pants?!  You're making me shake my fists at the fashion gods.  How can they let something like this be allowed in public?! 

If you guessed Blaine, you are correct.  He does look super cute though, almost enough to forgive and forget.  I said almost.

Ah... it looks like a 96 pack of crayons threw up onto an innocent pile of yarn.  That poor, unfortunate yarn, it had no idea what was to become of its fate.  Such a waste of material.  In this economy we just can't stand to waste precious material on such monstrosities as this.  We should start a campaign for an end to wasting material on such ugly sweaters that even a fashion-less grandpa wouldn't be caught dead in. 

 

I love Emma's outfit here, from her white and black polka dotted scarf all the way down to her t-strap pumps.  Not even Artie's throw-up sweater can distract me from Emma's A+ outfit.

I must say, Mike cleans up very nicely.  I'm so glad he decided to go against his dad's wishes and follow his passion.  Quinn and Brittany actually don't look half bad in their costumes, and I like the red lipstick on both of them.

If Quinn wore her hair curly like this all the time, I would like it short a lot more.  As for Brittany, she needs to start wearing her hair down more often.  And I actually like her light blue dress.  I don't think I'd find myself wearing it to any parties any time soon, but I wouldn't trash it if someone else showed up at the party wearing it. 

Or at least, I wouldn't trash it within ear shot.