DivaDebbi's 2015 Emmy's Report Card

Well, as always, it was a long night. I've never been enamored with host Andy Samberg and found his mostly juvenile humor, on par with that other one time Emmy wonder Seth McFarland.  The combination of network, cable and live streaming shows makes it all feel like a jumble with variety and news shows somehow garnering too much attention and dozens of feet on stage accepting awards.

I sooo loved that Jon Hamm slithered up to the stage on his belly. YES, in Mad Men's last season, they finally threw Hamm the Best Actor bone he has long deserved.  I swear, had he not won, I would have stayed in bed all day with the covers over my head in protest. I am bitterly disappointed that Elizabeth Moss did not win in the Best Actress Category.  I'm sure Viola Davis, who is an incredible talent, does a fine job on How To Get Away With Murder, but I have invested all of 20 minutes into watching this overwrought Shondra Rhimes drama, vs. 8 seasons with the magnificent Moss and I think she was utterly deserving.

Oh Well.

But let's face it...we are in for the clothes and if your reading this, you like my award show postmortems, so let's get to it, shall we?

Trends soon become apparent on the Red Carpet and last night we saw no shortage of every color in the rainbow, some to great effect others, not so much. Personally, I prefered the deeper hued, more fall like dresses.  So what if it was 106 degrees. Cut outs, Asymetric necklines and chains also made an appearance.

Overall, I was underwhelmed, to say the least. For me there were only 5 A list standouts.  Much was made of Kerry Washington's ripped from Marc Jacobs runway chain mail dress.  It was sexy, but somehow didn't feel like an Emmy dress to me, and it's going to take me a bit to warm up to those 80's shoulders.  Still and all, she made the grade with my gratitude, for finally giving up on wearing Prada or Miu Miu, several of which have landed her on the Worst Dressed lists from seasons past and getting her Red Carpet mojo back. Thank you Lord.

The good was good and the bad was atrocious...Let's roll:

The A Team:

Ellie Kemper, sunny and charming in Naeem Khan

Lena Headey, breathtaking in Zuhair Murad

Jamie Alexander looking fierce and beautiful in Armani Prive

Sarah Hyland looking sleek and sophisticated in Zac Posen

Kerry Washington in Marc Jacobs though I still think it would
 have been more appropriate at a festive party, rather than the Emmy's

The B Team: 
Pretty but not extraordinary included: Julia Louis Dreyfuss, Emma Roberts, a much improved Sarah Paulson, the gorgeous, but oh so predictable Sophia Vergara, in yet another skin tight, strapless gown, Laverne Cox in Calvin Klein, Lady Gaga in a divine Brandon Maxwell, marred, IMO by that fact that she is a human ink blot. Taraji P. Henson in Alexander Wang. Tina Fey, looking sleek in Antonio Berardi and the always tasteful Christine Baranski.

The C Team:
Both Maggie Gyllenhaal and Elizabeth Moss chose Peter Copping for Oscar de La Renta. I thought they looked prom-y and deja vu.

I was also not on board with Elizabeth's platinum Adele Hair
Click here to see the Polyvore set I styled of Lizzie for the Emmy's. I vote for me. You?

The D Team:
Doesn't it just astound how many dresses miss the mark, despite having all the designer talent and top stylists vying to dress them?

Trainwrecks. Bed head had no place on the Red Carpet.

Besides Amy Poehler and Amy Schumer both looking wildly unkempt, let's add, Natasia Lyon and Taryn Manning to this list. I am very particular who I think looks well in strapless dresses.  For the most part, I think they look best on the Natalie Portman's and Cate Blanchett's of the world. This Zac Posen would never have been my choice for Amy Schumer, though the color is lovely on her.

The wtF Team:

Lizzie's Night

Lizzie's Night by divadebbi featuring a herringbone wallpaper

Givenchy vintage black dress / Gianvito Rossi khaki shoes, $505 / Chanel special occasion clutch / Kimberly McDonald 18k white gold jewelry / Christian Louboutin lips lipstick, $93 / Marc Jacobs flower fragrance / 

I am an enormous fan of Elizabeth Moss, particularly her extraordinary work on Matt Weiner's Mad Men. 

Since its inception, I have been a rabid fan of the series. It is amazing that in 7 years, neither Jon Hamm, Elizabeth Moss, or Christina Hendricks have  never received an Emmy and even less probable that the spectacular John Slattery was never even nominated. 

Thank God our Breaking Bad days are behind us. For sure, it's Jon's night.  My fingers are crossed for Lizzie's too...

Polyvore ran a contest on how we would style our favorite Emmy pick.  I imagined Lizzie in this very "modern" vintage Givenchy gown, with classic Gianvito Rossi shoes and this limited edition Chanel Clutch. Who wouldn't want to discreetly or not slip out Christian Louboutin's gorgeous lipstick for a quick touch up?

I'm saving up my energy for my DivaDebbi Loves and Loathes blog. Even when I'm not quite in the mood, I find I can't resist, so do peek back and see if picked yours.

xox,
DD

P.S.  Well, I'm doubly disappointed! Elizabeth Moss did not win and I really disliked her prom-y Oscar de la Renta gown and platinum "Adele" bob. The off shade of blonde robs Elizabeth of all of her beauty. I much prefered the way I styled her...How about you???

Elizabeth Moss in Oscar de la Renta

Mad Men: The End of the Era

Peggy takes no prisoners--at last
Elizabeth Moss at her finest

I appreciate a timely ending...Kudos to Matt Weiner and his team for not overstaying their welcome and much more of course. Still, my heart is a bit heavy that the Mad Men journey is truly over.

For those of us devoted viewers, who have invested 8+ years in this phenomenal series, the rewards have been rich.  The arc of each key cast members story, (ahhhh Peggy!), has taken us through the Kennedy and MLK assassinations, the Black Out of '65, Vietnam, the Moonwalk and scads of sex, drugs and rock and roll.  Booze and cigarettes, are so ingrained in the series, they should have been listed in the cast credits each week.

It was inevitable, that either the lungs or the liver, would ring the death knell, for one of the main characters. Bets ran high for Don or Roger.  I don't know anyone, myself included, or took bets on Bets.  The minute she tripped up those steps, I knew she was a goner. Heartbreaking...

Sally and Betty, cigarette ever in hand,  (even up to the end!) precursor to her advanced lung cancer

A particular joy, has been watching Kiernan Shipka grow up before our eyes, as Sally Draper. As the progeny of Betty and Don Draper, she has borne witness to her parents flaws, excesses and debauchery, first hand.

Not surprisingly, she is cynical, brutally direct and mature, beyond her years.  It will serve her well, as she now has to face Betty's untimely death.  Betty was always remote.  Soon she will be a ghost.  Tragically, Sally, still a teen, will have to bear all the burdens of being a motherless daughter.  I imagine her re-reading Betty's final instructions throughout her lifetime, looking for little clues to help her grasp strands of the woman her mother was.  Heartbreaking....

Don Draper--heading West

So, how will it all end?  Over the last two years of Don, shedding his persona like a snake. Like all of us, Don seeks peace and contentment.  Material wealth has never defined him. His life, as the mythical creation, 'Genius Ad Man, Don Draper' is a farce he no longer wants to perpetuate.

Don loves to work and he loves California.  I've long envisioned him leaving everything behind and opening Dick's Auto Body out West. Don has been a fairly deplorable father, but he does love his children. With Betty gone and Henry, her second husband hapless, Don will pack up the Draper kids and move them all to California...but no, it won't be Beverly....Dick seeks a simpler life and he will finally have it.

Joan Halloway/Christina Hendricks

Christina Hendricks by divadebbi featuring a creed fragrance

For the last five years, I have been a hardcore devotee of Mad Men.  Everything about this brilliantly, complex show intrigues me; the characters, their back stories, the 60's, the clothes, the history and the amazing journey creator Matt Weiner plunges us into each week.  (For those of you who are also MM addicts, do visit Basket of Kisses. You have not a clue how truly rich this mosaic is, until you read the intelligent analysis each week by sisters Deborah and Roberta Lipp and there well chosen commentators).

As we head into the last third of the 5th season, I'm already trying to savor what's left of it, instead of dwelling on the impossibly long hiatus between seasons. 

Sunday nights episode, "Christmas Waltz", featured and incredibly poignant, witty and charming afternoon and tipsy evening spent together by fan favorites "Don" and "Joan".

Portrayed by the magnificent Jon Hamm and the equally gorgeous bombshell Christina Hendricks, it was gorgeous eye candy, but smart and touching. MM at its very best.

I was inspired to create this homage to Joan/Christina.  She enchants me.

xox,

DD

Eyeshadow

Shu uemura mascara

Diptyque fragrance

Creed fragrance