As I Lay Dying, Part 2 of 2: The Girls

Katherine’s first appearance in the episode is as a figment of Damon’s imagination. She uses what may be the best line ever to draw Damon into her boudoir: she asks him to help her unknot her corset strings. She may be evil, but you have to admit – the girl’s good.

She reappears again in a gorgeous dusky periwinkle dress. Damon’s done a nice job of hallucinating a good wardrobe for her.

My favorite part is the glittery beading down the sides of the bodice – as if Nina Dobrev wasn’t tiny enough, it makes her waist look ridiculously dainty.

In real life, Katherine sticks to her usual solid top, skinny jeans and booties. Given that she can’t leave Alaric’s apartment and Klaus’s sadistic streak, I would have loved if he had given her a completely different wardrobe to wear while locked up.

The other doppelganger also sticks to her usual look – essentially, a less sexy version of what Katherine would wear. Dark fitted jeans, a navy top, and Converse. I do love her leather jacket though … again, a nice change from the standard black.

Per usual, Caroline looks adorable in her cropped jacket and skinny jeans. My only problem is her boots, which look gigantic. Whether this is because her legs are crazy skinny or because the boots are too wide, I’m not sure. Either way, it screws up an otherwise cute, delicate look.

The biggest problem I have with this episode is that I couldn’t get a single clear shot of Bonnie’s outfit. This matters only because, now that she’s an all-powerful badass, she’s starting to dress less like a daughter of the Earth and more like the rockstar that she has become. She’s still wearing a flowery top, but it’s a little more fitted and there’s no visible empire waist. Huge developments for this girl.

As always, Mayor Lockwood rocks a sexy fitted suit and an impeccable bitch face.

And of course, the biggest shocker of the episode: the return of Anna and Vicky, in the form of either ghosts or hallucinations.

I will say this: at least the afterlife has great hair stylists. Vicky’s hair is looking all kinds of amazing.

And so ends season two of The Vampire Diaries: with Stefan about to go all Angelus, Damon and Elena embroiled in sexual tension, and Jeremy hallucinating the ghosts of his ex-girlfriends.

How many months till fall again?

The Sun Also Rises - Part 2 of 2 - Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves

Now that I think about it, my title may not be the best representation of the what happens with the ladies in this episode. Although, when you look back, they are the ones taking care of business. As usual.

Time to add one more body to growing pile of dead characters. Later, Jules! At least you’re dying while wearing a killer denim jacket. P.S. - your hair has never looked better. Lazers!

I included this photo because they are standing in my dream apartment. Exposed brick, butcher block counter tops and Barbra Walters-esque soft lighting. Oh, by the way, this isn’t Elena - it’s Katherine. How do I know? The cleavage.

Greta also made her departure in this episode which is too bad because as far as evil witches go, she was totally hot. Maybe it’s the attitude or maybe it was the limitless supply of power but girl was working her role as Klaus’ witch for hire.

 

Come on! When did we ever catch Bonnie in an outfit like that? The leather, the earrings, the beads...my god the earrings. Why does television always kill my favourite characters?!?

 
Remember the sad faces I threw out earlier? It’s over this lady: Aunt Jenna. She looks so demure and sad but you probably would too if you were made a vampire against your will.

Funny how as soon as she was made a vampire she adopted their uniform of a fitted jacket, understated tee and tight, dark pants. At least she looks good.

There she is. Remember this face as a lesson when confronted by the possibility of becoming a legal guardian for your niece whose life has been plagued by death and sorrow. This will be your face when you’re on the brink of death. Wow that’s depressing...who remembers the Royal Wedding!??!

 

Switching gears to the more frilly of the ladies, it’s time for Caroline! First off, I love this coat and its ruffles at the back. Chic in the face of certain death; that’s probably a requirement of Mystic Falls residents. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve found an attractive, wounded werewolf at my front door.

Caroline’s coat in full view is much more impressive. What’s ever more impressive than that is how she kept a cream coloured coat stain free after running through the woods and fending off werewolf attacks.

What were her BFFs up to while she was tending to Tyler’s wounds? Nothing serious, just trying to find a spell that would save Elena from dying (again) and attempting to kill the first vampire in existence. Apparently, working under a deadline makes Bonnie shed her usual layers.

So what does Bonnie do once she’s figured out some kind of plan? She goes all Halle Berry in the X-Men films and lays down the business for Klaus and Greta. Don’t get me wrong, I think Bonnie’s blazer is great but it’s just not as cool as Greta’s leather jacket.

But where is Elena in all of this you ask? Trapped in a ring of fire; I don’t imagine this is what Mr. Cash envisioned when he wrote the song. Nothing particularly stands out with Elena’s wardrobe, as with mostly everyone else, because it’s all utilitarian in this episode. You can hardly wear anything fashion forward when battling Klaus but at least everyone looks presentable.

I can’t imagine why there are vampire obsessed people in the world. There’s nothing sexual about this at all. NOTHING.

As I said earlier, guess who miraculously survives death? Here’s another hint: she’s wearing a purple top and is being watched over by a Salvatore brother.

Jeremy was looking pretty dapper in his funeral attire but Elena is drop dead gorgeous in this photo. Too soon? Even though she looks like she was shrink wrapped into this dress it’s totally working for her.

So what was my favourite choice for the ladies of Mystic Falls? All of their black dresses! Again, it’s sad that it took some serious deaths to get them all dressed up and fancified but I can’t help myself. Neither can Bonnie it looks like and she was so close to leaving billowy fabrics behind.

Oh my god there is only one episode left! Also, this episdoe and the last are titled after two iconic American novels by Hemingway and Faulkner respectively. What does that have to do with fashion? Nothing but who says you can't have fun and learn. Until next time friends!

The Last Dance, Part 1 of 3 - Before the dance

It's Decade Dance time! The Salvatore brothers sign over the family house to Elena to keep her safe. She gets cabin fever real fast and heads out to school despite an evil supposedly unkillable vampire being after her. Alaric isn't actually Alaric, he's Klaus. Sort of. It's a witchy thing. And he's kidnapped Katherine and has her stabbing herself repeatedly in the leg.  Meanwhile, in a bit of a misguided scooby gang scene, the good guys give away all their secrets to Klaus because they think he's Alaric (oops!). At the 1960s Decade Dance, Alaric/Klaus plays them all like a fiddle...that is, except for Bonnie and Damon. Those two may hate each other, but they came up with a pretty good plan to kill (not really!) Bonnie and fool Alaric/Klaus. And Elena, trouble magnet that she is, decides to pay a visit to the dead (not really!) vampire they keep in the basement.

Oh Alaric/Klaus! You kind of wrote this post for me. As he sifts through Alaric's closet, he ponders, "who is this guy? Safari Sam?"

I always thought Alaric was more woodsy Maine than safari, but clearly Klaus is on the same page as the YKYLF staff. His question to Katherine about what to wear is "bad? or badder?"

Based on Katherine's advice, he went for bad, since Alaric looks better in dark colours.

If Alaric survives this whole ordeal, I hope for his sake he forgets that he was possessed by an evil Original vampire. But I also hope that if he remembers anything, he remembers that he does look better in dark colours and that maybe his wardrobe sucks. If Buffy taught us anything, it's that vampire slayers don't need to dress like they're on safari.

Meanwhile, Katherine is once again stuck in the same dress for an extended period of time.

Oh Katherine, honey, I know. You feel disgusting and you'd kill a man to get your hands on a curling iron.

While Klaus is over criticizing Alaric's wardrobe and torturing Katherine (all before his morning coffee), a lawyer is signing over the Salvatore family home to Elena, who is just kicking back in a basic grey t-shirt, leggings and what appear to be some pretty cool boots.

Boots that kind of make her legs look like toothpicks. It's like she borrowed boots from Damon.

I'm impressed with the lawyer though. He knows his place and not once did he look suspicious that the homeowners were waiting outside while a minor signed the deed to their home.

While I do enjoy the leather jackets, I wonder why they don't expand their horizons just a little bit.

Elena's had to grow up pretty fast for teenager, what with three dead parents, an invasion of vampires and werewolves, and being a doppleganger that can make or break the curse for all vampires.  I don't know if that's growing up or post-traumatic stress. Whatever, like any minor who gets her own house she totally invites her best friend over for the signing. 

Bonnie's style baffles me. She wears those flowy empire waisted tops to show us how connected she is to the Earth, but then puts them with cute jackets that seem to have some serious detailing.

Elena clearly thinks a safe house is neato idea and figures she'll sleep at night (although - what about the rest of her family? And has anyone told her legal guardian she's moved in with her boyfriend and his sexier older brother?), but she also figures she needs to get to school. Heaven forbid she should stay in and get cabin fever. I don't know about you, but I'd take a marathon game of euchre with Damon over school any day (euchre may or may not be a euphemism. I'll let you decide).

Bonnie, who has a different jacket every week, seems to question her friend's need to constantly wear the leather jacket. But if you live in the Salvatore house, you must wear leather.  At least Bonnie's been a good influence on one Gilbert.

Ah Jeremy, still looking like a teenager, just a slightly more stylish one. Good work, Bonnie!

Now, here's the thing I don't get. I know he looks like Alaric, but...

...you'd think they'd notice his erratic behaviour. Like, forgetting what he's been teaching all week and what actually happened in the '60s.  At the very least, they should have taken him aside after class to ask if he was doing some day drinking by spiking the coffee with Baileys.  I guess Elena has more important things on her mind.

Decade Dance! I bet you thought I was going to say, "evil Original vampire who wants to kill her because she's some kind of mystical doppleganger", but no, it's a dance. I mean, who can think about evil vampires when you've got a chance to dress up?

Elsewhere at school, Caroline is also sporting a leather jacket.

I love her jacket, but what is it about this town and leather? It's like they're being outfitted by that Project Runway contestant who would only use leather for every challenge.

And while I usually love Caroline, I want to smack her for not noticing her boyfriend is turning out to be a giant vampire hating jerk.

I think he's wearing leather as well. Maybe suede. Some kind of cowhide. Regardless, Matt, you are not a cowboy. Ditch the hide, ditch the plaid and find something that fits.

And Caroline's vampire hating mom? Well, I don't know whether to feel bad for her or to applaud the costume department for keeping it real and not making the Sheriff's uniform more flattering.

Because those are some seriously high waisted, mom pants. My guess is they're made of a horrible fabric. She must be dying in them.

I will give props to the costume department for sometimes getting it right, like with Sheriff pants or teenagers. Because this week's extra, Dana, was totally dressed like most teens I see.

Poor Dana. Any extra that gets a name is bound to meet a horrible death within the week.  But even though she was the bearer of bad news and warned Elena that evil Klaus will be at the dance, Elena's mind was still on one thing.

Yay! Decade Dance! How can you not want to go to a dance when your boyfriend's family has kept everything, neatly labelled by era, from the past 100 years. What kind of storage place does that house have? Because it really should look like an episode of Hoarders if they've kept that much stuff.

And the Decade Dance brings up the really important questions in Elena's life. Like, how much do I actually want to live? And how much do I value my family and friends' lives? And more importantly: sexy hippie or Twiggy?

I vote Twiggy, but Elena never listens to anyone.

Over at Alaric's, Klaus' witchy friend is helping him get ready with what I like to call a "pre-game drink".

I question this witch's choice in tops, but he looks to be built like a brick shithouse (or a hockey player), and it's not easy to dress that frame.

Alaric/Klaus was in search of something vintage, but no go. Just a monochromatic drawer full of sweaters from the Gap and Banana Republic.

But Alaric's drawers are more than what they seem (not a euphemism!).

I guess this is why Jenna never got a drawer at Alaric's place.

The Last Dance, Part 2 of 3 - it's the 60s, can you dig it?

It's time for the Decade Dance! And holy cow! Does the Mystic Falls ever know how to throw a dance.

Seriously? I want to see what these guys do for Prom. Because that is some serious coin spent on a themed dance.

So what did Elena decide on?

 

"Sexy hippie" apparently. Except...she's less hippie, more mod. But after watching this episode, I think I've come to the conclusion that the 60s really were a confusing time, because no one was on the same page at this dance.

Since it is a high school dance, let's give out some awards. Best costume? Caroline Forbes as Jackie O...well, Jackie Kennedy.

The judges only criticism of her outfit is she didn't find better fitting gloves. These make her hands look like she's got serial killer gloves on.

Best couple costume? Well that one goes to Caroline Forbes as well. Good work at making Matt's suit look like he's in costume.

Best Last Minute Costume goes to Alaric/Klaus. For an evil vampire who just showed up in a strange town, in a strange dude's body, he figured out pretty fast how to put together a sleek mod outfit for the dance.

Klaus as Alaric seems like way more fun than Alaric as himself. I would totally party with this Alaric. He looks like he's going to cut a rug at any time. I bet he can do the mashed potato, the Freddie and the Frug.

He seems pretty proud of himself. And considering what he had to work with in Alaric's closet, he should be.

Next award is for Best Use of Paisley.

Excellent work Jeremy! Elena bought Bonnie's excuse that you were mopey about having to wear a costume for a reason. It's because you're generally mopey and against joining in on things like costumes. I think there was a Halloween episode where you went to the party in a hoodie, so the fact that you broke out paisley and a vest?  That might even get you Most Improved Dance Attendee as well.

The award for Most Confused by the 60s goes to Elena and Bonnie. Excellent costumes ladies, but you are not sexy hippies.

No, I wager that with those boots, your more mod than anything. Just because you've got a peace sign on, doesn't make you a hippie. Bonnie's boots however? They get an award all on their own.

Speaking of peace sign jewelery, I'm going to give Elena the award for Peace, Love and Corniness.

Damon didn't really try that hard, he just unbuttoned his shirt a little. But we'll give him Sexiest Chaperone award.

High school dances would have been so much better if this guy showed up at your dance to "chaperone".

Not quite the gratuitous shot of Damon's chest and abs that we've come to expect. But I'll take it.

And now for the moment where Stefan realizes that this is actually a costume party:

Ooooh...so that's why Elena was rooting through the box marked "'60s era outifts".

Damon, having lived through the '60s looks like he's not impressed with the teens of Mystic Falls. Stefan, who also lived through the '60s, but tends towards being a stick in the mud, is realizing this party would be way more fun if he actually dressed the part. 

And we have a few runner up prizes for our Extras. Like Dana in her adorable crocheted dress.

I know more than one girl who would maim to have that in their wardrobe this summer. And considering she's in Mystic Falls, she might actually get maimed or killed for her outfit.

And then there's the dude who realized he could wear his marching band jacket and look cool at the same time.

Props to you, random Sargeant Pepper fan. You weren't the only one at the dance who thought of this, but then, your friends in the marching band were probably all thinking the same thing. So that's okay. It was a better choice than the girl who wore an I Dream of Jeannie outfit (I wish I had a picture of that one for you).

As I mentioned, the '60s were really confusing. Even more so when you didn't live through them. So I guess I can forgive Chad from Third Period for this outfit.

It's got more a Scarface vibe going on than '60s. But hey! Klaus thought Watergate happened in the '60s.

He did try to make up for it by forming a little gang. When they came out to talk to Jeremy, they definitely tried hard to give it that West Side Story/Outsiders sort of feeling. A few well timed snaps and I totally would have bought them as a gang in the '60s

Again with the confusion over how to dress for the decade. Tied dyed guy looks like he phoned it in and the other guy looks like he didn't even bother to dress up.

Finally, I'm going to give an award for Most Melodramatic Death at a High School Dance.

I'm glad Bonnie didn't die, if only so her final scenes weren't so over the top and cheesy. Bonnie deserves a better death than that. Although the sparks were a nice touch. She'll have to remember that when she tries to kill Klaus for reals.

The Last Dance, Part 3 of 3 - Party's over

Oh man, your best friend dying is a bummer way to end a dance. But it's not like she wasn't warned. However, I will give it to Elena: girl has got eye makeup that just won't quit.

Seriously? What is she using? Because she was sobbing pretty hard over Bonnie and there isn't even a little bit of movement in her eyeliner or mascara. Even Stefan is amazed.

Actually, same goes to Bonnie. She used her powers until she dropped dead and still, not a raccoon eye in sight!

In fact, other than her hair being a little messy (which is to be expected when you travel in the trunk of a car), Bonnie's looking pretty darn good for being resurrected from the dead. She must have cast a spell on their eye makeup. I would totally do that if I were a teenage witch.

After the party is when we finally get a good shot of Damon's pants.

Leather! Of course he's wearing leather pants to a dance full of teenagers. How else was he going to make the girls swoon? The unbuttoned shirt is an average Thursday for Damon. Leather pants are what really make the outfit. 

His best accessory, other than his abs, are really his eyes. Those eyes are why some of us here at YKYLF refer to him as Smoulderhalder.

Elena, I don't know what you're doing trying to fight this guy. He doesn't even need vervain. Just give in already.

I'm going to show more appreciation to the costume department at Vampire Diaries for Elena's choice in loungewear.

 It looks like she went for an American Apparel t-shirt with Lululemon yoga pants. Pretty much how most of us dress for hanging out at home. I would have been a little dismayed if she started wearing sexytime PJs now that she's living with the Salvatores. Although, maybe she chose this outfit because it was more practical for unkilling an Original vampire.

I don't get it. I know the vampire is going to go all gross when he dies, but why does his clothes go all to tatters? Elijah is going to be pissed when he wakes up and finds out his suit is in ruins.