JL-D here usually wears something fairly sleek, so I thought this was a fun departure for her.
But the more I look it, the weirder it seems that the dress is designed with that bridal drop-waisted hem, and then they added a dark horizontal line at her natural waist (it’s not really a belt, per se, but… what is it? A banner? Is that advertising space for sale?). Those appear at odds with one another, and I wish the skirt started at the stripe and not down around her hips because that gives this a very dated, Disney Princess quality. Also, this year it felt like one or the other of us kept saying, “I just wish [insert name here] had on stronger lipstick.” Loads of people ended up going so light on the lippy that it blunted their overall looks, and this was one of them — seriously, I keep thinking maybe Elaine just got caught in a hardcore makeout session in the limo and so it all smeared off onto her husband’s face.
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Comments (25):
It’s a frightfully grand dress, almost something Marie Antoinette would wear!
She has saved it from going over the top by minimizing accessories, using a severely muted color palate (which totally suits her), and having a simple hairstyle. It’s flattering, and not too much. Even the light lipstick works in that context.
I like it but I wish it didnt have the drop waist going on. But really, if you insist on wearing black lace over nude, take note. This is how it should be done.
Beautiful dress, sort of princess-y, but that’s OK. I agree that she needs a stronger lippy. And better hair — that center-part, slicked-back look was awful on Jessica Chastain, and it’s not doing JL-D any favors, either.
I just cherish her I want Veep back right nowww.
“Oh, this old thing?”
I liked this so much more on TV, but seeing it photos now I’m not a fan. I too wish the drop waist wasn’t there. And the dress is so big, and she has such a small frame, that I feel like it’s swallowing her.
My brains have been addled from watching too much Lark Rise to Candleford on YouTube, y’all, but that dropped, corseted waist WITH a belt or ribbon accent is VERY Victorian.
I get that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I think it makes JLD look pretty slender. Also, please note that the upper deck is FITTING PROPERLY. She looks neither strangled nor in imminent danger of a wardrobe malfunction Certain People need to pay attention.
As per @Stefanie – black lace, nude – this!
And girlfriend needs to snap her clutch – I’m afraid her Altoids and blotting papers might fall out.
I would LOVE it if there were no belt. Oh, and PLEASE do not wear that color, it looks like vomit. I would have gone with another one, maybe pastel purple?
The color and weird dirty rag “print” are so ghastly I can’t even look at it, forget look at any of the construction issues. Blergh.
On TV, it looked much more brown and rich, and less dirty…I think the flash is washing it out a bit. I loved this. I think a higher waist might have stumpified her.
Cinderella going to the ball after sweeping sooty chimneys. Horrible print.
I really wanted to like this. I don’t. She is a Little Lady. Very Petite. The Petitest. This Is Fug.
She looks BEAUTIFUL and I love the dress, but I think it’s too much for her! Since she’s so petite, this dress overwhelms her and weirdly widens her! So, beautiful woman and beautiful dress, but not right for each other! I’d die to see this dress on Christina Hendricks! And, yes, Julia needs lipstick STAT!
Vera Wang always does that damn drop waist and sash combo and it’s so stupid. She did it for the “gorgeous” wedding dress Kate Hudson wore in Bride Wars too. Drop waists and sashes do not go together. Pick one.
I think it looks vaguely like mold. Ick.
The dress is gorgeous, except for that stupid black band around the waist. The bodice is beautifully fitted, and the dropped waist echoes the classical Victorian silhouette, which is perfect for the overall shape of the dress.
Lose the stupid black band, and it’s a total win.
Maybe this is an “hombre waist.” Designed to look like a man’s belt, but just stumpifying and useless.
Something about the proportions of the dropped waist is slightly off, just a half an inch higher might have been better, but that is a mere quibble.
Looks like puffy camouflage…why make a target bigger?!
Vintage, like something they dragged up from the wreckage of the Titanic.
Either the black belt or the dropped waist should’ve been um, dropped.
She could have done more steampunk and that would take it up a notch. Like it.
Is it just me or is that dropped waist mirroring her very exaggerated chin?
Don’t erase your lips, it makes you look freakish. Either as if you have no mouth, or if you’re smiling, as if you’re baring your teeth agressively. Such a ghoulish look. There’s a difference between pale lips and flesh-colored, invisible lips. Why would you do this? Lips are your friend.
That “belt” looks like the seaweed sah on a piece of sushi.