Unfug It Up: Katie Cassidy

Cover up the front - turtleneck it. I think that would allow for the length (or lack thereof) and the openness of the back.

I love it, EXCEPT for the back. I feel like the open back pushes it into "Too Much" territory.

I'm not normally a fan of complicated up-dos but I really like it on her. I like the neck of the dress, hate the sleeves and leathery V.
Get rid of the puffs, pull up the neck-line (and use a different fabric to the odd leather), burn those shoes (or melt them down), watch an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation just for the hilarity, followed by Star Trek: Voyager just to see how a body suit is REALLY done by Seven of Nine.

Yes, I love Star Trek. I still hate those shoes.

Those shoes remind me of some other REALLY high weird ones (I think Nina Ricci?) I saw in September Vogue along with an article about how to work out specifically to wear them without damaging your feet. Thanks ADubs - because we're all going to hire trainers for our high heels.

Agree w/you about it being too much. Would be great if not for the shoes, the back and the spray tan.

love, love the hair. betty draper was the first thing i thought of also! the updo really compliments her face. she needs to lose the sleeves, change the shoes to platforms, make the hem slightly longer and lose the open back. then she would be sleek and chic.

To unfug this, just pick 3 elements to discard and she'll look better. It is like one of those "write your own ending" kids' mystery books. If you like the drama of the sleeves, then lengthen the dress, shorten the depth of the V-neck, cover the back. If you like the V-neck, lengthen the dress, bag the sleeves, cover the back. You get the idea. I personally like the back, so I'd change the sleeves & V-neck for sure. The shoes don't offend me, but I don't love them. The updo doesn't go with this outfit at all, even though it is a pretty style. It belongs with something more classic. Her whole looks her is totally distracting. Way too much going on.

Egads, lose the shoes! Seriously, lose them, like forever. I like the up-do but not with this outfit. It would work with something more formal. The puffy sleeves are a bit much, maybe have a friend just mash them down occasionally as you work the room.

...and it wouldn't be LA without it.

Remove the "nouveau shoulder pads" sleeves, drop the hem to an above the knee sheath, change up the fussy little bag to an oversized seventies clutch (to match the valley of the dolls hair) and then she's there. I'd even keep the shoes. So Kubrick.

And, a philly cheese steak sandwich once a week wouldn't go amiss.

Close up the back OR the front, just pick one. And lose that silly huge ring and the shoes. Love the clutch and the 'do, though.

are you kidding? I covet those shoes. Almost as much as the ones by United Nude, the ones designed by architects? The sleeves on this dress ruin the it. Otehrwise stunning, I say.

Either the neck or the shoulders, not both. The shoes are abominable. I have a general objection to the "belt." A garment should appear to fit magically, you should not be able to see the inner workings. Maybe the shiny v-neck is supposed to be subtle? Like, sequins or feathers, along with everything else, would be too much, but gosh darn it, it just needs SOMETHING?

Oh, Honey, No, that's a bad hair- hat. Chop off the shoulderpad-sleeves and kick off those absurd shoes and I like the rest, bosom and back acreage and all, she has the figure for it. But yikes! Check out that spray tan, it's rubbing off behind her knees and missed her feet. It didn't want to get near those shoes, either, I suppose.

I loved Commander Riker.

What I'm mostly noticing is how unhealthily thin this girl is. The best way for her to look good is to avoid malnourishment.

Either the neck or the shoulders, not both. The shoes are abominable. I have a general objection to the "belt." A garment should appear to fit magically, you should not be able to see the inner workings. Maybe the shiny v-neck is supposed to be subtle? Like, sequins or feathers, along with everything else, would be too much, but gosh darn it, it just needs SOMETHING?

Removing the poofy sleeves would give it a bit of a tuxedo look and - with an inch or so added to the skirt - that would be quite classy, even with the sort-of-beehive (which I really like on her actually). Do that and I wouldn't mind the back. The fastener doesn't bother me but it isn't necessary and I think the peep-toe shoes are perfect for the outfit if you replace the CRAZY HEEL with a nice retro-heel instead.

A)K-Cass is wicked hot. No denying.

2) What's hot in the Next Generation is still hot in This Generation.

iii) OK...so it's a little much, but how else is MP 2.0 going to hang on to viewers until Amanda Woodward returns?

I don't really mind the "Waitress at Guinan's" look - and while I hate the shoes, they kind of go with the sleeves, in a jigsaw puzzle sort of way.

I'd close up the back of the dress, lengthen it by an inch and lose the purse. She can stow her lipstick and housekey in the sleeves.

The dress could have been much more interesting if you'd make it a little longer and if you'd take away the naked back. It's definitely too sexy and almost akward to look at.

I like the front, leather and all... Close uf the back and nix that weird standup half collar. And make it longer. I am my mother.

I also vote to nix the purse and get a more traditional shoe. The shoe should have a classic silhouette but could be a color.

I like the hair.

It's just too short and that belt in the back is stupid. Make it full length and you would have a winner. Extra bonus: the shoes would be covered up.

There is no one thing in particular I dislike here--it's just, as you say above, that it's TOO MUCH happening at once.

So to fix her, I would recommend that she pick her one or two favorites from the list of six major quirks, and plain-ify the other items:
- The beeeeg hair bun.
- The weird shoe heels.
- The weird open back with strippy strap.
- The deeeeep v-neck accentuated by the trim.
- The wingy sleeves.
- The supersupershort skirt.

One or two would be okay and provide interest; all six are not okay.

Make it 2 inches longer, close up the back, and get her some better shoes and it would be great.

The shoes...no. The hair...yes. The sleeves...yes. The back...no. The "idea"...sure, why not. Looks great from the front. From the back, not so much.

Huh, on my computer that neckline looks exactly like satin, not leather -- not leathery at all. Too much reflection. That said, it still does nothing to help.

Yeah, there's just too much going on, too many details. Hair works, collar works, but raise the V and put a different kind of detail there. Sleeves OR backless, not both.

The shoes puzzle me. They look ok from the front, but the weirdness from the side or back is just too much weirdness. I don't get what's attractive about an illusion a woman is walking on her toes.

Ditch the awful sleeves and shoes all together. Drop the hemline a little and add a statement necklace. The hair rocks.

You're right. That dress is all over the place...I'd say cut off the sleeves (they are weird--kind of matronly), make it a halter with a low back, and get rid of the weird back strap (what is the deal with that?!). And get rid of the weird Mandarin collar that is only visible from the back. I agree that the shoes are ugly, and I would either pair this with a black (ordinary) pump or some really cool pumps with an interesting design. I like the v-neck, so I wouldn't change that.

This is something I would expect to see Joanna Lumley wearing while playing Patsy Stone.

The tatoos are not elegant. She's so pretty; the tatoos cheapen her.

If she is not working as a hostess in Guinan's enterprise cantina, then there is nothing so fabulous here to save. Start over on everything except the hair, and give the shoes to the Klingons to be used as weapons.

for starters: HATE the shoes.....
it all looks too space aged, taken together.
in the real world, i think one should keep the space age-y stuff to a "one piece" per outfit minimum....
if you arent posh spice, you cant wear those shoes!
the sleeves....hate
the hair...ummm...looks like she could have better matched her hair piece to her natural hair....
i think she looks good in black...
there! i said something nice about this outfit....
the v-neck looks like satin to me (rather than the klassy leather possibility) but either way, it kinda sucks...

(1) match your hair to your hair pieces
(2) dont wear princessy puff sleeves with a trampy dress...looks costumey
(3)dont borrow shoes from posh spice's last season shoe closet
...hopefully someone else has a better idea to fix it...i say start all over

I love everything about this, except the weird fastener thing on the back. I would probably just do away with the backlessness altogether.

Other than that I love this and would wear it. And yes I am a Star Trek fan. Ha.

I say change the person wearing all of that. Katie Cassidy has nowhere near enough presence/quirkiness/fierceness/whatever to pull off that much look, and awful spray tan just emphasizes it.

Picture Posh or Rihanna or even Beyonce in all that getup. See? Much better. Now it fits.

I'm not quite as strict about the lowcut OR legs rule as you are, especially when the wearer is a girl in her early 20s with a great bod. I would kill the sleeves (make it sleeveless), fill in the back, get rid of the weird shoe heels, and change her hair to make it wavy and with one of those messy off-center buns at the nape of her neck.

I think she looks awesome from the front (could stand an inch or two on the hem though), but with all of the clevege and leg, the back should be closed. And I would definitely swap out for some tamer (/less ugly) shoes.

I just hate the back. But I totally agree with the person who suggested imagining Rihanna in this, or Posh. Yes. They could pull it off.

I do love the hair. I think she's great on MP.

An ankle tattoo is like a PERMANENT ANKLET. NOOOO.

Oh, hell NO. I hate those sleeves. They look like they should be adorning a particularly mournful rack of lamb. Once they go, the outfit looks much more sane. Make the back look normal, and it's a nice outfit.

The shoes, on the other hand, are ridiculous and unforgivable. They are "interesting" without being attractive, and she's one slight incline away from a wicked ankle sprain.

Those shoes are a crime against cute shoes!!! Whose freaking idea was that? The puffed sleeves don't bother me as much as the weird leather v. Love the hair, it works on her. But yes, she does look like she belongs in the Star Trek!!! :)

I only WISH I could look that hot in a small black dress and high heels. That being said, I hate the shoes and want the back to be covered up too. I love the puffy sleeves and the deep v-neckline and short hem. The sleeves and collar and cinderella up-do give it enough quirk to make the LBD interesting and fashiony. If she had been wearing one of those Herve Leger bandage dresses with those shoes and hair, I think I'd want to gouge my eyes out. Over all, I'd say well done.

I think it's really the elaborately-formal hair and makeup which push this into "too much" territory. Take down the bouffant from hell and that pretty-pretty-princess-pink lipstick, go with a messy/edgy bob and about 20 times less eyeliner, and you'll be fine.

If you're going to go with the Space Waitress look, then you have to go all the way. Space Waitress Dress and Prom Queen Hair and Makeup make strange bedfellows. And not in the good way.

What?! You're a trekkie?!

Maybe she got confused and put on her "Star Trek: TNG cocktail waitress costume" instead of her dress...
I totally dig Star Trek, but I don't know if she's pulling it off.

I loved this when I first saw the pics, I think it is amazingly over-the-top fab.

this is what I expect from all cast members of CW's Melrose Place, fully dramatic, fully skanky

She has too much latitude with the sleeves and longitude with the hair. If she keeps her arms down, she could be the poster girl for Crucifictorious.

P.S. Hate the shoes.

Lose the sleeves, lose the shoes, and put her back as Ruby in Supernatural, and I'd be thrilled. The new Ruby sucks. Katie Cassidy had SASS.

I love her hair, so pretty.

The open back of this dress is pure fug. Hate. Close it up, mash the sleeves a bit, 2 inches more on the hem, and lose the shoes.

It's in the rule books, honey, interesting and unusual elements in your dress means simple shoes. Matchy matchy is never good even when matching crazy.

Her gross tan must go. Orange is not a flesh tone.

So many of the fashion world's ills could be solved if people would just listen to three little words...

Put. It. Away.

Easy!

Lose the open back. Add 3 inches to the hem. Swap the shoes for something less new-age, and remove the hair hat. Done!

Dinsdale, loved those books and love your take on it here. great stuff.
-C

I LOVE the hair!

your hair should not be bigger than your dress. ever.

The shoes are beyond fug, I like the hair though. I agree with most everyone, change the back and lose the orange glow.

I'm digging it all. Except the heels on the shoes - they're cool shoes, just not with this.

The up-do is gorgeous and classy. The dress is neither. The shoes are hideosities.

I love this dress, every last inch of it. The shoes, on the other hand.... not so much.

I just saw Betty Draper in Rome last night, so I had the same thought. I hate the shoes. The dress, meh, what 17 year old doesn't want to wear that to prom?

Because this girl's primary act is skinny, I'm not particularly offended by all the flesh. On someone who doesn't have a lot of curves, it plays more bold than trampy. The subtle make-up and lack of jewelry helps her steer clear of Tramp Boulevard too. The shoes aren't trampy either, they're just horrible. But it's still too much. I think the hair is fun if she gets rid of either the open back or the hugely plummeting neckline, but it doesn't work with any amount of skin, except legs, because either way the torso skin is competing with the hair. The shoulders don't work with everything else. I would like the shoulders if she didn't have the hair or the open back, but I think they'd be too severe without some cleavage. I think my favorite fix for this would be to put a normal back on it, keep the cleavage, keep the leg, but lose the hair and shoes, but there are a lot of little tweeks that could improve it.

Ditch the sleeves and the shoes and I think it works. She's young enough and cute enough to pull the rest of it off.

Love. It. HOT. But, I'm a guy..

Well, Ok, yeah, the shoes are kinda weird

Give the girl a biscuit. With some gravy.

Ditch the sleeves and lower the hem a bit and we're in business.

Mostly, though, I am commenting to thank you for the Star Trek TNG reference. Thank you.

... AND she borrowed one of Bai Ling's bandaids!

I refuse to believe this is not Blake Lively. And I love the hair. If the V-neck was a little less deep I would like the dress, and the shoes would be OK if the heel where in the correct position. They do look fine from the front, though.

get rid of all the volume! the hair, the sleeves, the weird cuff collar at the back of the neck. take off the rings and lose the platform on the shoe and turn it into a closed toe.

also give the heel a stiletto instead of that contraption.

and laser out the tattoos, it think it makes it look cheap.

the back is pushing the boundaries but it can stay.

Dinsdale said pick any three elements, and that's exactly it. I say: lose the sleeve, lengthen the hem (maybe a dita von teese low calf-length) and normal shoes.

EASY! Make it sleeveless, add a couple of inches to the hem, and raise the back enough that the odd strap thing disappears.

I love the hair, clutch and the dress. It fits her. She's making an effort. The shoes with a different heel would be great. What I hate and no one has really mentioned it, is the tats. A great clean line ruined by tats

is anyone else worried about how skinny her legs are? ...no? alright then.

I'm sorry, I love love love the shoes. Fug girls do you know who makes them?

Can I just say I LOVE THE SHOES!!! I WANT the shoes. WHERE can I get the shoes???

On the other hand, if I had the shoes, I'd wear them with a much plainer outfit so that they could be the focus.

The shoes from the front look fine-peep toes are sexy imo- just lose the crazy heels. The satin or leather trim is ridiculous- lose that, then lengthen the dress by two inches or so. Hair and makeup are fine. Love the clutch

I like the shoes, but they're overkill with the rest of this, I think.

Lose the sleeves, lose the fussy hair, lose the weird shiny V, lose the shoes, lose the nasty spray tan, and she's good to go.

Also, Katie honey, you might want to try eating. Because I think you might be at the stage where you start hallucinating things. It's the only possible explanation for why you decided to wear all this out of the house. Or, if you're not into eating, can you at least drop your hems a bit? Those legs are way too skinny and, how shall I put this, not looking as good as they might.

I heart those big shoulders. I think lose the plunging front (and the gross pleather/satin border) and back, keeping it demure enough on top to balance out the micro-hem, which I dig. Meh to the shoes.

Love: hair, makeup, front of the dress (if the shiny part is satin, not leather), clutch.

Hate: shoes, back of the dress, stupid green (?) fingernail polish, fake tan (although I do understand the urge to not be super pale in front of all those cameras, still.. a bit of moderation, please)

Fix: different shoes (something pretty -- an ankle-strap sandal? maybe in a color or metalic?) and add a back to the dress.

the only good things about this outfit are the colour and the hair. everything else needs to be thrown away and started again.

sure, show your back - but not your chest too.
sure, show your chest - but not your legs too.
sure, wear "directional" shoes - but not with "directional" shoulders too.

DO OVER!

Better shoes and no sleeves, and we're in business.

Whoa. There are too many things going on up there. She should have stopped at one, maybe two.

Demi-hive and backless?

Interesting sleeves and demi-hive?

Clearly I'm loving the demi-hive. I could be persuaded to accept the interesting sleeves and backlessness with the demi-hive if she banishes the chesticle, crotchtacular and weird shoe show.

Wear the top of this dress as a top.
Wear exact fabric black high waisted elephant trousers over- the waist starts at that dresses back belt.

Keep shoes, & hair as is!

I think you're under-weighting the redeeming value of the sleeves. The rest of the outfit is off in several ways, but the the theoretical notion of a black dress with awesome sleeves is.. awesome!

I love love love your Star Trek references! They make me so very happy.

As for the dress - I think it's just got too much going on. One or two of the details could have been great (and maybe the whole thing in a more flattering color?)

I love love LOVE the front of all this. The shoes, the neckline, the shoulders.. it makes me want to work out for 7 months and buy it. And then she turns around and a tear gently rolls down my cheek. My suggestion for the back? Just.. not that.

The shoes are the only part of this outfit that aren't fugly, but they need to be worn with something that won't compete with them.

And ewwww that hair. >_<

Them shoes have blown my little mind.

Other than that I can only say,

"..."

Cover up that tattoo.

With a closed back, I would love this dress. I think the big sleeves balance her hair and her legs are pretty darn nice. Plus her cleavage is firmly in place. A big chested girl couldn't do this, but I think she looks good. Nice make-up too.

If you going to keep the hair, which she should, then get rid of those afterthought sleeves and make the whole dress floor length. That way she can bare the cleavage, bare the back, and live up to that debutante hair. Oh, and ditch those freak-show shoes.

Lose the rings. I love the hair; it's prim nature balances the dress's sexy factor. She's really rocking a difficult dress. For the record, I think the shoes are flippin' awesome.

The hair plus sleeves is too much puffery. Since I like the hair better than the sleeves, remove them. Otherwise, carry on.

She should eat something. Everyday.

From first picture: she can either have the hair or the puffy sleeves, but not both and probably best choose former over the latter. Despite the fact that it reminds me of the hairdos my sister and her friends used to have done for end-of-year dance concerts in the 70s.

From second picture: the shoes are really stupid, go away shoes.

I like the sleeves. I didn't at first, but the minute I laid eyes on the shoes, I went moderne. So ditch the v-neck, make it a simple jewel neckline, and ditch that strap from the middle of her back. The rings look silly, so they could disappear, and the clutch could be replaced with something in black silk that looks a little like the sleeves. But not too much. The shoes I like, can't imagine why everyone's in such a tizz about them. Keep the hair, tone down the harsh eyeliner.

I think the sleeves are actually quite nice, and her hair is lovely. The black looks great against that background, which really has nothing to do with her sartorial choices. :P

I feel like the front would work a bit better with a V that was not so low - it would make the lines of the dress flow better. And the open back is meh... maybe make it only go halfway down the back?

Those shoes are atrocities committed on my eyeballs. And I really don't like her blue ring. Other than that, nice!

Too short, too bare, so barely there at all. I whole lotta UN-look and those "look at möi" shoes are a little too try-hardy austentatious...

The girl inside all that is a bit meh, as well as those sleeves, prom hairdo and lack of boobage. Shoes, however, are huuuuuuuge <3!!!!!

Love the dress and the hair, not the shoes..

This post could use the tanorexia tag. Lord, she's orange.

I think Marissa nailed it with the first comment. Everything else could work if the dress wasn't diving deep in the front.

But I also hate the shoes. From the front they are cute, but the heel produces a physical reaction of disgust in me.

Just read the rest of the comments and POSH, ARE YOU READING THIS? You could totally rock this outfit.

close it in the back, lose the shoes for some in a bright color, and ditch the hairdo. dear lord, she looks like she had her hair done for a wedding.

She should switch the back so that it's a somewhat (though not too) lowcut back, lose the leather on the front, lengthen the skirt a bit and make it more a-line, and wear a pair of elegant black heels. And as for the sleeves, I like the idea but not the execution. They need to go, I guess.

Make it more modern (but not space-age).

Take off the giant hair bun and add Blake Lively's long ponytail. I don't think Betty Draper in Rome works with this dress!

Get rid of the dumb shoes and add some cagey, strappy, platform ones.

Edgier makeup - NOT pink lipstick, orange OR french black eyes and nude lips.

Fantastic hair! Reminds me of Audrey Hepburn. The shoes...The horror. The dress - cover the back, there is absolutely no need for so much naked. And lose the leather in the front.

I think Dinsdale up there had the right idea: pick any three details to keep and dump the rest. It doesn't matter which three you choose. There is just too much going on.

I think the hair's a little much, but I like the idea of some sort of up-do to balance out the sleeves. I actually really like the dress - it might be better with less of an open back, but overall, eez goood!

Just get rid of the shoes, ugh. Like you said, total Enterprise coffee shop waitress vibe, which I wasn't getting until I saw the heels. Those ruin it.

Shoes. I like. Aren't they the United Nude office chair ones? Love those. The Marc Jacobs incarnation irks me too, but only because they're a blatant rip-off of Jan Jansen, who did those floaty shoes back in the 70s.
Back to the case a hand: love the shoes, love the hair, ditch the dress. Just.. replace it. The space-age Guinan sleeves don't jibe with me.

I think you're right that it's just the combination of EVERYTHING that makes this too much.

I like the front of the dress and I like the back of the dress, but not together. I like the hair, but not with that dress. (her head does not need to mimic the sleeves). I like the shoes, but not with everything else.

So to solve this particular outfit, I'd just make the back of the dress solid and do something more boring with the hair. It should definitely be up, just not in a beehive. She can keep the shoes, because I think once you change the hair, they're less space waitress. (I like that front the front they're cute, normal peep toes, but when she turns, you see they're something a little different, just as the dress is a twist on the LBD -- so you get the coming and going with the outfit.)

Take the wig off and put some shoes on. And there you go! What about spray-tan abuse? Is it so common we have to accept the fug?
And not to forget - somebody bring her a really nice medium-rare filet steak and some potates. Eat gal!

I think it is the sleeves/heels combo that is taking this to a sci-fi convention near you.

I think EITHER the sleeves OR the satin/leather V-neck would be fine, but not both. I don't like the strap in the back, but I understand it needs that to hold the dress to her so her boobs don't fall out of the front - spray adhesive can only do so much, and should be unobtrusive IMHO. So the back isn't great, but it doesn't really harsh me. The hair is OK too.

I like the risk of the shoes. If everything is the same, then everyone looks the same right? Without the sleeves I would love the shoes. With the sleeves, I agree, it's just a bit too much.

I don't like the sleeves, but I understand that you can't just wear the same LBD everywhere; there has to be some variation. Without the V-satin/leather they would be OK.

I would keep the heels, lose the sleeves, make it into a halter dress with an open back (which would lose the strap), and call it a day.

This entire thing has just made me miss her on Supernatural, not gonna lie. I think if it had a full back and normal shoes it'd be ace.

I like the front view, it looks like a 30's carhop, except I don't think those existed.

She looks great- except for those darn heels!

I think Flah's comments earlier were right on the money: ditch the sleeves, drop the dress to floor length and put on some shoes which are less edgy.

I love the whole look - I'd wear it if I was 10 years younger and 20 pounds lighter!

The shoes, the hair, the poofy sleeves- any one of them could entice Liz Lemon to shout, "That's a deal breaker!" This look is beyond saving.