It's rare these days that a television show not called 30 Rock, The Office or Gossip Girl can illicit strong emotional reactions from me, but apparently I'm growing soft in my old age. Thursday last, with an Entertainment Weekly in my lap and a falafel pita to my right, I happened to glance up at the TV at the exact moment Wilhelmina Slater busted out this delight:

I might have gasped. Or squeed. Or hyperventilated - in a good way. Suffice it to say, an unfamiliar sound escaped my throat and I giggled with glee. Had Christmas come early this year? Was everything coming up Milhouse? Could the Ugly Betty wardrobe supervisor read my mind? (If not, let me put this out there: presumably Betty has been working at Mode for about 18 months. I'm all for the suspension of disbelief, but there is no way some kind samaritan from the beauty department wouldn't have attacked those deranged caterpillar brows with Herculean tweezers and offered her a hairbrush. Also, is a musical makeover montage a la Devil Wears Prada too much to ask?)

Still confused and wondering why I was so tickled by such a conspicuous (not to mention impractical) hunting ensemble? Well, the only other person ballsy enough to wear red tartan plaid whilst attempting to remain invisible to potential predators is none other than Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan.

As such, I have no choice but to assume that Wilhelmina Slater has been watching copious amounts of Dynasty on DVD in an attempt to brush up on her blackmailing / conniving / kidnapping / catfighting / murdering / multiple marrying / champagne tossing / accent affecting skills. That, or a higher-up at ABC is overly invested in my continued viewership.

Whatever the reason, I raise my glass to you, costume department, and wish you much continued success.

PS Honourable mentions to Ms. Angela Bower for this enchanting Dickensian guise.

Images courtesy of abc.com

Posted by KATHERINE