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American Idol Rundown: The Top 12 Girls

BuzzSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:34:01 PST

Maybe it was all the hype about this being the best Top 24 ever. Maybe it was all the promises about things being different this year. But after watching the first two performance nights of this season's American Idol, I'm awfully let down. Maybe there's still some great talent hidden away in there - and it is possible, if the voters do the right thing in these early rounds, that we'll end up with a strong Top 12. It's just that after the boys failed to wow me on Tuesday, I wanted something more from the girls on Wednesday, and I didn't get it.

There were some good performances tucked away in there, though, among all the disappointments. Speaking of disappointments: With all the hype about Carly Smithson's former career (which might have even included working with Randy Jackson), why did Idol decide to give her the prime spot at the end of the night last night? You'd think they'd be a little more careful about how that might look.

Don't forget to vote for which girls are going home, and to see my take on the night's performances, just

read more. Kristy Lee Cook - First of all, she's been really styled up since her audition. She looks good! Her rendition of "Rescue Me" was very cutesy, though, with a lot of twitching and winking and playing to the camera. It also wasn't a song that required much from her voice, and she seemed to only give it the minimum. I know she was sick, but she still hasn't wowed me since her audition. Randy said it wasn't great, Paula said part of being a performer is making sure to never show how you really feel, and Simon said there wasn't much to remember her by. Joanne Borgella - I was looking forward to hear her take on "Say a Little Prayer," even though it seems like a song for a soul singer (which is exactly what she said in her interview package that she's not). Parts of it were OK, but it was hard to hear her on the quieter and lower parts, and her voice didn't have much richness to it. Randy said she seemed nervous, Paula seemed to agree, and Simon thought the beginning was OK but hated the end. Of course, Randy hated the beginning and loved the end, so thats not much for poor Joanne to go on. Alaina Whitaker - I didn't remember her from the early rounds, and she seemed very young talking to Seacrest, so I was worried about her taking the stage. I didn't need to be. Her rendition of "I Love You More Today than Yesterday" - a holdover from guys' night; are there only 20 songs from the '60s? - was energetic and fun, and she can really belt it out more than I was expecting. The judges just seemed happy to see someone look alive up there, with Simon ragging on the song but saying if she can make an awful song good, she'll be great with better material. Amanda Overmyer - Amanda's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I really like her, and I'm glad she took a risk on this first night. Her song was a little weird, with a lot of muttering and scatting, but I don't think that was her fault, and she seems really committed to her rock-ness (ahem, Robbie Carrico). Randy liked her bluesy rock voice, Paula called her the real deal, and Simon thought it was all over the place but praised her anyway. Also, her talking about her awkward dancing in the Top 24 video made me a fan for life. Amy Davis - Ohhh no. At the risk of sounding like Paula, Amy is a gorgeous girl, and she had this cool swoopy hair thing going on, and I'm sure she's very nice, but this song hurt my ears. She always seemed just a little off the note, either too high or too low, and it seemed to go on for five minutes. Randy called her on the pitchiness, Paula babbled about her looks, and Simon said it was dull and cabaret. Brooke White - Quick poll: Is Brooke's good-girl attitude cute or grating? I'm leaning cute so far, but I could see myself shifting to the other side. Her "Happy Together" was way peppy, with a cool twangy thing to her her voice; I just wish she'd moved around and really tried to sell it rather than staying put at the mic. Randy said she made him like it by the end, Paula said she knows Brooke is an original, and Simon praised her but said he doesn't want her to be so nicey-nice the whole time. Alexandrea Lushington - So, OK. I'm of two minds on this one. On the one hand, after seeing so many nervous singers, I'm glad Alexandrea decided to really go all-out with her performance, from outfit to intro to strutting around the stage. On the other hand, I kind of wish she'd just been a little more still, because her voice is definitely unpolished and I'm not sure she was concentrating on the singing. Randy loved it, though, and Paula was glad Alexandrea thought out how to present the song. Simon came down hard, though, saying it reminded him of a bad '60s musical. Kady Malloy - Impersonation girl! She started in a chair, because nobody's listening to me when I say that's the ultimate Idol red flag. Just don't sit down, OK? It's always bad news. She actually started out fine, but about halfway through the song seemed to go very, very wrong and pitchy and warbly and weird. Randy said it seemed like she lost concentration, Paula said she's still looking for Kady's real personality, and Simon said it's weird that Kady has so much energy impersonating others but the only thing that could impersonate her was "a pencil." Oof. Asia'h Epperson - Can we talk about her high, high hair in the interview package? OK. She toned it down on stage, though, and I really liked her energy on "Take Another Little Piece of my Heart." Her voice isn't what I expect to come out of her, but it's very husky and deep and cool and made "heart" sound like "art." Randy was impressed that she did her thing with the song, Paula was into it, and Simon was glad to see her let go and called it his favorite of the night. Ramiele Malubay - I wish I'd recognized this song sooner, because I spent the first half just trying to figure out what she was singing. She seemed competent enough on the verse, though, and by the time the chorus kicked in, she was definitely on. I get the whole "big big voice in teeny teeny body" thing, and it's going to get old, but I bet she'll be safe for a good long while. Randy love-loved the way she held back at first before the power notes, Paula called her a force to be reckoned with, and Simon said she outsang everyone else on stage. Syesha Mercado - I initially had a theory that either Syesha or Asia'h, but not both, would make it to the Top 12. Now I'm starting to think there's room for both. I still think Syesha gets screechy on the power notes, but "Tobacco Road" as interesting and even got Paula drumming at the end. Randy said it wasn't his favorite but was still good, Paula applauded her for being consistent, and Simon called her one of the most talented in the competition. Carly Smithson - As I mentioned, she got the pimp spot, and it seems like a bad idea, because what a letdown. She seemed like a lounge singer (or, worse, a hotel bar singer), and she seemed to be missing some of the bigger notes (but I've thought that about her the whole time, and the judges haven't said anything about it, so maybe I'm wrong). Randy called it "the best vocal of the Top 24," which is enough to make even a non-conspiracy theorist into one; Paula also said everything was perfect. Thankfully, Simon said he didn't get it and was let down. My favorites: Alaina, Amanda, Asia'h, Syesha In trouble: Kristy Lee, Joanne, Kady, Amy Going home: Joanne, Amy Photos courtesy of Fox

Rachel Comey Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:30:27 PST

Rachel Comey showed us her sophisticated side for Fall '12, streamlining her usual quirk factor with a modern, refreshing twist. "Normally for Fall we dive into print and pattern and color," said Comey. "This time, I pulled all of that out and cleared the air." With that in mind, the designer showcased laser-cut cotton dresses and wool felt tops, digital-print knee-length skirts, pretty prints, and shiny boxy leather tops. Color pops included an oversized bright orange coat and dress and even a heart-print dress doused in hot pink. Comey's shoes, a cult favorite amongst many, included quirky-cool black-and-white cap-toe loafers, flatforms, and chunky ankle boots. To finish, Comey closed out the show with an array of cocktail-appropriate black dresses, ranging from a simple, slinky halter-neck LBD to a shimmering full-skirted version. More details on the collection below.

Trends: Laser-cut tops, full-skirt dresses, metallic, digital and watercolor prints.
Colors: Black, gray, hot pink, bright orange.
Key Piece: Rachel's laser-cut tops and dresses exuded a light structural quality we can't wait to try on come Fall '12.
Accessories: Black-and-white cap-toe loafers, flatform boots, clear plastic skinny belts, sheer metallic socks.
Who Would Wear It: Girls who crave quirky yet sophisticated pieces like Kate Bosworth, Whitney Port, and Leighton Meester.

10 Crosby Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:16:03 PST

Derek Lam's new venture, 10 Crosby, has fulfilled its cool-girl status for Fall '12. The third collection from the line, 10 Crosby showed plenty of bold prints, sharp tailoring, and just the right amount of femininity to please every downtown girl. Inspired by the classic holiday flick Home Alone, Lam and design director Liz Giardina envisioned what the 10 Crosby girl would wear on a snowy Winter day. With that thought in mind, the two created silky printed palazzo pants, cozy peplum cardigans, fox-fur vests, and pajama-inspired tops tempered with tailored poplin shirt dresses and sharp trousers. We especially love the chambray shirt dress and chunky peplum cardigan combo. More defining moments below, then check out the complete collection lookbook, starring Belgian beauty Hanne Gaby Odiele.

Trends: Bold prints, palazzo pants, sheer, plaid, peplum.
Colors: Red, nude, gray, green, brown.
Key Piece: We love the chic structured shirt dress and gray peplum sweater combination.
Accessories: Loafers, ankle-strap sandals, pumps, skinny belts, sling-back platform mules.
Who Would Wear It: Girls who like polish with an edge like Olivia Palermo, Amanda Brooks, and Kate Bosworth.

Box Office: Tom Cruise Completes His Mission

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:06:09 PST

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol reaped the benefits of wide release, and won the weekend box office with $29.5 million. Behind it was last week's champ, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, which garnered $20.2 million in its second weekend out. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo debuted in third with $12.7 million, closely followed by Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, which took in $12.7 million. Completing the top five was The Adventures of Tintin, which opened to $9.7 million.

Matt Damon's We Bought a Zoo only earned $9.4 million in its first weekend, while War Horse made $7.5 million in its Christmas Day release.

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

What to TiVo: Wednesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:59:35 PST

8:00 The Middle (repeat)
8:30 Suburgatory (repeat)
9:00 Modern Family (repeat)
9:30 Happy Endings (repeat)
10:00 Revenge (repeat)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (repeat)

8:00 A Home for the Holidays With Martina McBride (new)
9:00 Criminal Minds (repeat)
10:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (repeat)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (new, with guest Jon Huntsman)
12:37 Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guests Jason Lee and Felicity Jones)

8:00 The X Factor (new, season finale part 1)
9:30 I Hate My Teenage Daughter (new)

8:00 Who's Still Standing (new)
8:30 A Michael Bublé Christmas (repeat)
9:00 Harry's Law (repeat)
10:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (repeat)
11:35 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guests Thomas Haden Church and Ernie Brown Jr.)
12:35 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guests Louis C.K. and Paula Patton)

8:00 Gossip Girl (repeat)
9:00 Gaga by Gaultier (repeat)

See Miranda and Orlando, Jay-Z, Kanye, and Beyoncé in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show!

Allie Merriam — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:37:15 PST

The Victoria's Secret runway extravaganza airs on CBS this evening! In honor of the big TV event, we're taking a look back at the show which was recorded at NYC's Lexington Avenue Armory on Nov. 9.

Between the musical acts and the amazing costumes on the angels, Nov. 9th was a night to remember. Candice Swanepoel was the first down the catwalk in the "Ballet" portion of the show, the first of six-themed sections that also included "Super Angels," "Passion," "Angels Aquatic," "I Put a Spell on You," and "Club Pink." They strutted, interestingly enough, to the song "You Make Me Want to Die" from Taylor Momsen's band, The Pretty Reckless! Candice was followed by Anja Rubik, Lily Aldridge, Alessandra Ambrosio, Chanel Iman, Doutzen Kroes, Adriana Lima, Miranda Kerr, and many more! This was a unique year from the company since they introduced at least 12 new models to the lineup.

It was hard to compete with the over-the-top outfits, gems, and wings, but the musical acts nearly did so. Kanye West was finally able to perform for VS after canceling his 2007 appearance after the sudden death of his mother, Donda West. He dedicated the event to her saying, "I lost my superhero, but now she's my superangel." Kanye went on to sing "Stronger" as the Angels walked by him on stage, then Jay-Z came out for an amazing duo on their Watch the Throne song "N*ggas in Paris." Beyoncé Knowles even came out to see Jay in action, taking a front-row seat only for the duration of the track. Jay and Kanye got the fashion crowd on their feet, and Orlando Bloom was seen doing a little fist pumping!

Orlando was front and center to cheer on his wife, Miranda. It was Miranda's first time on the VS runway since giving birth to Flynn at the beginning of the year. She took multiple turns down the catwalk and finally wore Victoria's Secret's $2.5 million Fantasy Treasure Bra. Orlando gave Miranda a couple of standing ovations, as one of the most enthusiastic famous attendees, which also included Stephen Dorff, Lake Bell, Maxwell, Jack Huston, Lala Vasquez, and Gossip Girl's Matthew Settle.

In addition to Jay and Kanye, Maroon 5 performed "Moves Like Jagger" and lead singer Adam Levine broke from the band temporarily to place a big kiss on the cheek of his angel girlfriend, Anne V. Earlier in the day while backstage, Anne V said she and Adam planned the moment. She said, "I'm a model, he's a singer, we're just doing our jobs and just happen to be together, so maybe we'll do a cute moment but nothing crazy. I'm very excited to have him next to me, it's very special." Nicki Minaj wrapped things up with a rendition of "Super Bass," with newcomer Karlie Kloss closing the show in her fluorescent wings.

A Reader Recipe: Buttercup Squash and Apple Soup

Fit Community — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 04:06:02 PST

FitSugar reader For the Love of Fiber has a healthy recipe to warm you up on a cold day. She shares it with us in our Healthy Recipe group in the Fit Community.

This soup offers up a lot of flexibility, ingredient-wise. Since buttercup squash might not be readily available at your local store or farmer’s market, it can be swapped out for butternut squash or even pumpkin.

If you haven’t jumped on the coconut oil train yet: 1. What are waiting for? and 2. Extra virgin olive oil or butter can be used in lieu of it. Finally, your broth can be either chicken or vegetable. Obviously, if you’re going for a vegetarian soup, choose the latter. I used both because of what I had on hand: remaining chicken broth from a previous recipe, and a mind-blowing vegetable broth fresh off the stove that was made from vegetable scraps (carrot and sweet potato peelings, garlic and onion ends, herb stems, celery stalks, asparagus pieces, and bell pepper ribs) that would have otherwise been composted. It was a fantastic idea I stumbled upon from the kitchn. And because this girl hates to waste, I roasted up the seeds Sweet ‘N Salty Pumpkin-style, and used them to garnish the soup. So green, it’s scary. Oh, and it’s gluten-free. Hi-Yooo!

See the recipe after the break!

Emma Stone Talks Red Hair, Beauty, and Her Favorite Red Carpet Moment

Jaime Richards — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:00:41 PST

Since bursting on the scene in 2007's Superbad, Emma Stone has truly made a name for herself. Not only has she hosted Saturday Night Live twice, she's also been nominated for a Golden Globe and is currently receiving plenty of Oscar buzz for her turn in The Help. Now, Emma has a whole new role: a global ambassador for Revlon. But when it comes down to it, Emma is just as down to earth and awesome as you'd expect. From her first attempts at makeup to how she inadvertently became a redhead, find out this and more when you keep reading.

Link Time: Supermodels Sing Duran Duran, Offbeat Designer Muses, and More

FabSugar — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:45:36 PST

See Duran Duran's supermodel packed "Girl Panic" video - FashionIndie
The most offbeat designer muses - The Daily Beast
Getting to know Marisa Berenson - Stylelist
How to wear white jeans like a pro - College Fashion
The top 11 bridal moments of 2011 - InStyle
See which mother-daughter duo is modeling for H&M - HuffPo Style
What city's residents spend the most on clothes? - The Cut
How men feel about your patterned tights - The Gloss
4,000 reasons to stay in today - Style.com
Alexander Wang's Spring '12 bags hit Moda Operandi - Purse Blog

Soleil Moon Frye Shares Her Favorite Birthday Party Tips

Guest Writer — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:33:02 PDT

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Soleil Moon Frye, Target's mommy ambassador, author of Happy Chaos, and mom to Poet, 6, and Jagger, 3. This week Soleil shares her tips on bringing her kids into the kitchen.

I'm a huge holiday person, and birthday celebrations are especially important to me. It's not about the presents - my favorite memories from childhood birthdays are of my mom showering me with attention, filling the day with my favorite foods, and making me feel special and loved.

I'm not sure anything will ever top Johnny Depp crashing my 12th birthday (a special surprise from a mutual friend), but I'm determined to create similarly unforgettable birthday experiences for my girls.

For Poet’s fifth birthday, we had a Grease-themed party and went for a full-out, '50s-style event. It’s possible to be elaborate without being expensive - for the Grease party I found discounted Halloween costumes and spandex pants online, then scooped up festive and affordable party supply essentials at Target. My friends set up a makeup station and sprayed the girls' hair into wild Grease-era styles. If you’re willing to play DJ on your iPod, a dance party is free!

Here are some other fun, budget-friendly ideas:

DIY goodie bags: Fill large mason jars with candy and let kids decorate brown paper to-go sacks with stamps and stickers.
Treasure hunt: Scatter little toys and treats around the yard or park, and send the kids to go find them. Works every time!
Crafts: Buy a bunch of inexpensive picture frames and let the kids decorate them with paint, stickers, and glitter. If you’re a fan of Polaroid cameras like I am, snap photos of each guest with the birthday boy or girl to go in frames as a memory of the day.
Philanthropy: It's never too early to introduce kids to the concept of giving back and instill a sense of compassion and awareness. Have guests bring toys for kids in need or donate the crafts made at the party to a local children’s hospital.

Keep reading for Soleil's tips for ensuring smooth sailing at your party!