Zaila Avant-garde
I want to start with this young lady, the first Black American winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee (in 1998, we had a winner from Jamaica). And apparently holds three Guinness world records for basketball dribbling?!? She sounds awesome.
Naomi Osaka in Louis Vuitton
This top makes a BIT more sense when you see it full-on. It has maybe 25 percent too much sleeve length action, but Naomi is selling the heck out of it.
Nina Dobrev in Versace
And now it's... noted sports fan Nina Dobrev?!? Okay. (She's not even in Dior, despite being one of their new faces.) She is maybe dating Shaun White, so perhaps her agents created some synergy here, though he didn't attend that I saw. She looks nice, but this needs a red lip, right?
Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James
I did not watch Bachelor Matt's season but it was hard to escape him on the Internet when it aired. Presumably he's been working on this beard for a long time, but part of me hopes it's a face wig, just for what a pure random delight that would be. I like his suit well enough; y'all know by now that sockless is rarely my jam, but its all better than her sheer situation, which at this point is just unimaginative and tired. Much like The Bachelor. ZING.
Anthony Mackie
Anthony hosted, and went with a minimalist look. I feel like... it's hard to argue this, but also, it's a snore and he himself does not seem to be. Spice it up, good sir.
Zach Levi
Jessica and I spent some time trying to dissect why Zach looks different. I've decided his eyebrows are too light, and between that and the bronzer and the suit, he's gone monochrome.
Alexandra Daddario in Brandon Maxwell
This outfit is DEEPLY committed to making sure her ankles are plenty covered and her abs are ventilated. Friends don't let friends get ankle hypothermia.
Sasha Banks
The Internet tells me Sasha is a wrestler, and I believe she co-hosted the red carpet. I have never seen chain mail look quite like this.
Ally Love
Ally, a popular Peloton personality, also did some on-camera work. I really like her, and don't think this outfit is as cool as she is. But THAT HEAD.
Vernon Davis
Classic and handsome.
LeSean McCoy
I appreciate his sparkly shoes. I wonder how many times I've written that exact sentence on this here website.
Jared Butler
His pants are too short, and I KNOW I have written THAT exact sentence a bajilion times. The suit itself is so good! Maybe it's the combo of ankle-length and loafers? Would it work better with kicks?
Kurt Warner
The man matched his shoelaces to his suit. That is PRECISE.
DeAndre Hopkins and fam
DeAndre's mom was blinded in an acid attack almost 20 years ago; I read an SI article when he was coming up with the Texans about how she's therefore never seen him catch a TD pass but she's been there for all of them. She now runs a domestic violence non-profit. I cannot believe the Texans let him go.
Tyler Campbell, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Johnny Juzang
Jessica, your UCLA Bruin basketball stars are representing well! I admire the bag. (I LOVE THEM SO MUCH! I CAN'T BELIEVE AND AM THRILLED JOHNNY ISN'T LEAVING FOR THE DRAFT!!!!! TYLER LOOKS AWESOME! Okay, bye. - J)
Maya Moore, Jonathan Irons
Maya Moore took a step back from WNBA stardom to help free Jonathan Irons from a wrongful conviction, and it WORKED, and now they are married. They look so happy, and she looks beautiful; I just wish I could tell if her dress is doing that on purpose or if it got bunched up.
Chloe Kim and Mikaela Shiffrin
That giant tie would drive me nuts.
Jason Pierre-Paul
DAPPER, sir. (JPP lost a finger in a fireworks accident in 2015 but eventually was able to return to the field and keep playing. There's some added poignancy to that this year, because an NHL goalie died after someone's mortar went awry at a July 4 party. Friends, leave the fireworks to people who are NOT doing them in their own yards.)
Paige Bueckers
Paige won for her achievements on the UConn women's basketball team, and used her speech to pay tribute to Black female athletes and call out the inequalities in coverage of and appreciation for them. Is it wrong that I wish she'd brushed her hair beforehand?
Mika Boorem
In a more random moment: Fans of Blue Crush, this pre-party moment with Mika Boorem is for you.
Kyra Green
Kyra was one of the breakout personalities on Love Island USA season one -- YES, for those of us who watch, there ARE breakout personalities -- and now she's wearing those boots. It's not the future I wanted for her. That also appears to be a blazer and sweatpants shorts. An ACTUAL sweatsuit.
Eugena Washington
And in more reality TV news, it's Eugena, formerly of ANTM. I could leave the shoes but her commitment to vaguely '80s eyewear is cute on her.
Robin Roberts in D&G
Robin cohosted, wearing something that I can only describe as a shower curtain you might find at Z Gallerie. And it turned out to be D&G, so.