Elle Women in Hollywood: The Cover Stars

Lady Gaga

Stefani, there are no Ks in Lady Gaga. Or Stefani Germanotta. You therefore CANNOT become a Kardashian, no matter how weirdly bronzed and made up and poorly bleached you are. Psst: Have a come-to-Jesus with your makeup artist and/or spray tanner before the Oscars. Trust me.

Lady Gaga in Marc Jacobs

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/WWD/REX/Shutterstock (9933443ct) Lady Gaga Elle Women in Hollywood, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 15 Oct 2018

Are we about to find out that Lady Gaga is really just a 13-year old girl who made a wish in a Zoltan machine?

Charlize Theron in Dior

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/WWD/REX/Shutterstock (9933443cm) Charlize Theron Elle Women in Hollywood, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 15 Oct 2018

She looks largely fab. I don't like the boots with the skirt -- you lose them both, a bit -- and the blouse would be perfectly chic without being opened low enough for the bra. But the leather and the bazer and the lip are all good. The jacket, in fact, is probably why I like this so much. It's SUCH an exemplary red.

Yara Shahidi in Calvin Klein

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/WWD/REX/Shutterstock (9933443ey) Yara Shahidi Elle Women in Hollywood, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 15 Oct 2018

When I saw that it said CALVIN KLEIN on the step-and-repeat, I got very nervous, because that rarely ends happily these days. However, this is better than the stuff they made her wear in the photographs. The back-ribbons seem even MORE treacherous than Rachel Broshahan's because she could STEP on them and compromise herself. But the sunny yellow is nice on her.

Sarah Paulson in Calvin Klein

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/WWD/REX/Shutterstock (9933443cb) Sarah Paulson Elle Women in Hollywood, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 15 Oct 2018

And then we came CRASHING DOWN to CK's batshit reality. This took a second to undertand. It is a mid-length green leather skirt, a white tank or shirt, and then a fringe top over it with a face printed on it. TERRIBLY confusing and needlessly wrinkle-inducing to my face. But she carries it off with aplomb. Sarah Paulson right now is pulling off weird-ass fashion choices better than Lady Gaga, once the QUEEN of weird-ass fashion choices.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/WWD/REX/Shutterstock (9933443bz) Sarah Paulson Elle Women in Hollywood, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 15 Oct 2018

That is a lot of makeup, weirdly blended, though. And what is happening to her right earlobe? Is the earring caught on her hair?

Keira Knightley in Chanel

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/WWD/REX/Shutterstock (9933443be) Keira Knightley Elle Women in Hollywood, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 15 Oct 2018

I really wish we couldn't see the hem of the bodice underneath the tulle. It should all just sort of flow together, no? As is, it's the product of someone who mixed and matched David's Bridal separates for the wedding party.

Shonda Rhimes

This looks aggressively fine, but I don't think it does Shonda any favors. The length is awkward, the top is cockamamie, and none of it flatters her lovely proportions. She's definitely worn better.

Mia Farrow and Ronan Farrow

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/WWD/REX/Shutterstock (9933443ai) Ronan Farrow and Mia Farrow Elle Women in Hollywood, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 15 Oct 2018

I'm including Ronan in the cover stars bit, because Elle came as close as it could to making him one. I still find the exultation of Mia questionable, as came up in the post and the comments about the covers, but Ronan's work was legitimate, and someone noted there that maybe a better way to include him would be honoring the women who went on the record with him.