Dancing With The Stars Fashion: Best And Worst Costumes, Part 2

Which outfits almost outshined the dancers? We pick our best and worst from the second half of the season.
Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani perform a dance on the eighth season of 'Dancing with the Stars'
Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani perform a dance on the eighth season of 'Dancing with the Stars' - ABC
Maisy Fernandez

With the current season of Dancing With the Stars entering its last episodes next week, we have to admit we're going to miss our twice-weekly appointment with the dancers and their eye-popping ensembles. Gawking at the sparkles is half the fun, after all.

dwts photosSee this season's costumes on Dancing with the Stars

We've already looked at the greatest and most hideous costumes from the first half of the season. Now, while we sum up the second half, we eagerly anticipate the finale episode outfits, which are sure to dazzle ... or nauseate.

BEST

5. Edyta Sliwinska got to go out on a high note, when she and celeb partner Lawrence Taylor were voted off on April 21. In her last dance on April 20, she wore a gorgeous, long, flowy, ombre gown in hues ranging from navy to light blue. It was my favorite outfit of the entire season -- both show stopping and wearable in real life -- and ironically, Taylor had a hand in its design.

4. April 20 was also a good night for Chelsie Hightower, who wore a long, halter-style coral floral-print gown with a cross-cross back. The color was gorgeous against her tanned skin, and her hair -- fixed in loose curls -- looked lovely and angelic. She admitted that Ty wanted to dress her in a pair of cut-off shorts, so she ended up taking charge of the dress design. Thank God.

3. Melissa Rycroft was smoldering in a red-trimmed, black, sequined sheath with asymmetrical neck and hemlines -- again on April 20. A lone flower detail was a nice touch on the bottom of the dress. And her dark, sultry eye makeup and lipstick, combined with a sleek side bun 'do, was styling at its best. Eat your heart out, Jason Mesnick.

2. We loved Shawn Johnson's whole look during the Argentine tango on May 11. Her long-sleeved, backless dress was short with an asymmetrical hemline, which she wore over the top of classic fishnet stockings with a seam down the back. The black, lace-overlay dress had black and royal purple sequined flowers, and her corresponding purple eyeshadow and hair decoration was a very grown-up look for Johnson.

1. The gymnast scored another hit that same night with her black and white halter dress. Nobody else in the competition could have pulled this off without looking ridiculous. But this A-line, knee-length frock with a flared, hot pink undercoat; her two ponytails with hot pink bows; and the black and white, heeled wingtip shoes were perfect for 17-year-old Johnson. It suited her age, the energetic dance (the jive), and her bubbly personality.

WORST

5. Good Lord in heaven. Words cannot describe how mind-blowingly ugly the costumes were for Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke on April 27. Neon green and royal blue came together in outfits that clearly were not inspired by the phrase "less is more." There were giant polka dots. And netting. A bra top with a dangling front tie and sport coat collar. Sequined suspenders. Marini's pants were pulled up like Urkel, and his bangs were lacquered up taller than mine in my senior picture. *Shudder.*

4. What is it with Rycroft and these overwhelming crisscross patterns she keeps getting shafted with? If you watch, you've seen the hideous, lattice-inspired costume she's photographed in for the opening. Then on May 4, she wore a sequined bra and underwear/skirt outfit with a huge, sparkling Xs across her neck and below her bellybutton. She looked like an unfinished game of tic-tac-toe.

3. Was Burke going to a black-tie charity event or to the boudoir for wedding night consummation on May 11? She could have done both in her schizophrenic gown, which was sparkly, somewhat classy and streamlined on top; chiffon, semi-transparent, with a fluffy feather boa around the hemline. She actually scored a two-fer this night, because a little later, she showed up in a royal purple outfit that was a lot like the first, except it was shorter with fluffier trim and had a big slit opening across the chest. Frederick's Of Hollywood called, and they want their nighties back.

2. Honestly, what was going on with Hightower's disgusting waltz gown on May 11? From the bosom down, it was a gross, silky seafoam green with a smattering of sequins. And it was topped by white mesh sleeves that looked more like orthopedic support hose than part of a dress. The final visual assault came courtesy of a thick, silver, glitter belt that kept sliding around her body during the dance, before finally ending up backward. The whole thing looked like a Barbie dress from the 1970s -- but even a 1970s eight-year-old would know that nobody looks good in that color, wearing old people's socks on their arms. Not even a real-life Barbie.

1. Are they trying to punish Rycroft for being as cute as a button? Because I can't think of any other reason for her May 11 costume, in which the accessories alone were totally over the top. She had on bulky rhinestone cuff bracelets; a thick rhinestone choker; body glitter; huge chandelier earrings; a glittery, floral tattoo-like design across her entire lower back; and a Michael Jackson hat (sequined band, natch) that stayed affixed to her head, even during a dip. This all was piled on top of one of the most hideous ensembles to date: A black bra that connected with a small, vertical strip to a black, knee-length skirt -- both of which were covered in dangling, quarter-sized sequins. I was so distracted I couldn't even concentrate on what the hell she was doing.


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