As is usual for Total Divas-returns-time, the ladies got a promo 'shoot to highlight it. Usually these are stocked full of amazing fashion, but I confess to being a bit underwhelmed by this season's choices. Eva Marie's look paired a sheer-inset bodysuit with OTKs, a hot, but somewhat expected look. My favorite part of this is the au courant twist of the bomber jacket topper, as it brings a new dimension to a pairing we've seen explored fairly often. Maryse's dress is a silver metallic sheath with a fabulous square neck and some ruched details It's precisely the kind of piece we'd have seen her do in her Million Dollar Couple days, with added heapings of crystal. Here it's pretty and successful..I was just hoping for mind-blowing. The closest we get to that are her incroyable strappy heels, which are simply everything and which I need to see again. Need. Naomi's silver skirt is a standout piece and a 'shoot highlight, hitting just the right trend note. I'd have liked to see the styling tweaked a touch. First, a blacktop would have grounded it better and let the skirt have the deserved spotlight. Second, I wish the skirt had been rotated slightly to show a touch less leg, switching the focus more to the stylishness and a little less to the sexiness. This was so close to being killer that just...:'( shucks. Nikki's flowing, wide-banded top is similar - the piece itself is amazing: dramatic, unusual, and envelope-pushing. But the bikini briefs? Nah, girlie. Black leggings and peeptoe booties? Yes, please. Ditto with Brie's look. The graphic tank works perfectly and if it were paired with a tulle-embellished skirt, I'd be all over it as the best look of the 'shoot. Instead, we a get a tulle wrap over the (two-for-one special?) bikini briefs. I get that sex sells, but sometimes we want to buy something else. As with Maryse's look, Brie's is redeemed a good deal by those fantastic heels. Those are fab and def need to come to play in future! Natalya's print dress buddies up with Maryse's look in impression: it's fun, it's chic, it works. But it's nice-age more than slay-age. She gets props for her pose, though - hers is one of the best in the line-up: powerful, confident and flirty all at once. Paige's black bodysuit aired with leather OTKs suffers from the same redundancy as Eva Marie's look, without the redeeming bomber jacket. I think I could get into this look if she'd tossed a black trench over her shoulders. And no, I am not going to exit stage left without remarking on how killer those boots are. Those are HAWT in every possible way. Like so many other pieces in this 'shoot, I hope to see them again, perhaps restyled with blue denim, a lace-up top and a biker jacket. Despite having a vaguely superhero-esque feel, Lana's metallic-wrapped bodysuit succeeds among the best of the looks here. It ties nicely together, it has a degree of unexpectedness, it shows enough but not too much and it has a hint of risk-taking to hold our attention. Her favorite lace-up style pumps complete the look with fashion awareness.
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This simple outfit from Barbie packed a lot of impact, so much that we did an Inspiration Board look with it. There's just something cool and chic about the combo of gray with black! The gray cropped sweater exudes coziness, with the shorter silhouette providing just a hint of flirtation. Even more fun is the foldover detail at the collar - I love distinctive touches like that! Barbie paired this Intermix piece with Frame denim jeans. Her OTKs, which add the shot of fierceness to this look -as they always do! - are from Sam Edelman, a surprisingly budget-friendly choice from Barbie, but which is a jazz. I always get a thrill to realize that I can own the same piece as a favorite diva, without mortgaging my first-born for it ;).
Vests were the order of this particular autumn day in the Bellaverse. Brie combined a fur one (since it's Brie, I have no doubt of it's being faux fur!) with black leggings and black suede OTKs. There's a pleasing simplicity to this monochromatic look, which she breaks up with her burgundy leather choker (I could have been perfectly happy to have that in black as well) and her desert rose lip, which brings a lovely flush of warmth to this ensemble, without the harshness of red. Nikki went for a similar shade, with the same gorgeous effect, as she paired a ruffled cropped vest with studded leather pants. The contrast of the feminine (and spot on-trend) ruffles with the tougher vibe of the studs is stellar and gives the outfit its je ne se quoi. Like Brie, she includes a choker (barely visible in this shot - sorry ;(). Hers is black and works flawlessly. I'm also a fan of the way her dark nails bring a gothic edge to the look. It's wonderful to see Brooke back on our scene, this time repping autumn-hot houndstooth via this cropped top, which we also saw her wear in Dec 2015. While she matched it with a skirt then, this time, she re-styled it with leggings and a tuxedo jacket. the whole look had a modern, graphic vibe, with the houndstooth creating an almost pixelated quality. It's a very different feel from the sexy, schoolgirl-esque aura she drew from the piece last time! This is such a great demo in how to re-use and re-work wardrobe items - something I am a huge fan of! Her metallic pumps add a perfect contrasting hint of flash. Cathy attended NXT Takeover in this stunning blue-meet-sheer mini dress. The intricate, delicate pattern is beautiful, especially done in this incredible electric blue! She paired it with OTKs, which have become a fashion staple over the last few years, with a particular resurgence this season. They bring a nice twist of attitude to this sweet-n-chic frock. This drapey sweater look from Michelle is a perfect post-holiday, pre-spring look. Even more exciting, it utilizes a dusty olive shade that’s making some serious waves in fashion right now. The crucial aspect to getting that flawless chilled fierce look here is to slouchy on top. Use a bateau or scoopneck sweater that shows skin on its own, or can be positioned off the shoulder, like Michelle’s. Layer a tank or wool base layer beneath for warmth. You’re also looking for a boxy cut that will kiss your curves – a knit piece is just the right fabric to do that with! This is also a place where you can think about borrowing from the guys – steal your bf’s, brother’s or dad’s…or go all out and grab one of your own in the men’s dept. The larger, square cut will give you that drapey fit. Another option is to use a wrap (I’m a fan of cashmere, but wool blend wraps will also work, as will cotton). You can toss it over one shoulder (belt it for extra security) or let it slide seductively off one shoulder (like the pic, but looser ). Note: all of these can be done with any neutral if olive isn’t in your possession or isn’t your thing. Gray, beige and ivory all top my list :). Add leggings or skinny jeans and finish off the look with OTKs: suede or leather, flat or heeled – it’s all good, so pick your passion! For any option but the wrap, consider accenting the look with a bold choker (or tier a couple of skinny ones for a completely custom variation ;)). I hope this inspires you during this rather bland time period in fashion, lovelies! XO
Well this sure was a departure for Michelle! She’s never been one to do a whole lot of print, but she went hard for it here. The pic doesn’t let us see if this stylized floral pattern is set on a top or a dress, but either way, it’s a surprise! The colors in this piece caught me off-guard as well: mustard, rich olive – these are not shades we usually see Michi gravitate toward. But they work really well with her skin tone and I’m always on board for when the ladies try new things, so I’m in for this look! – especially because a) this halter silhouette is amazeballs on her and b) she “took” my advice ;) and swapped her braids for this chic bun. A pair of her trademark bangles adds a hint of flash.
While the whole world has been obsessing over burgundy suede OTKs, Lana did her own trendsetting thing and went for navy suede ones. They have all the unexpectedness and luxurious feel of the burgundy, but with a cooler vibe, which works wonderfully with her denim topper. I love the interplay of casual denim with this sleek ivory bodycon, although I would be happier with a different silhouette. A cropped jacket would have a similar feel to this oversized, distressed coat, while being a touch more harmonious. Then again, it wouldn’t have the same quirk factor, so there is that to be considered ;). Her next offering –a similar twist on laidback luxury- works even better. Her pairing of cutoff denim shorts with a tank that announces that she is “Fierce”, caramel OTKs and an absolutely fabulous ivory faux fur coat benefits from a carelessly-filthy-rich rocker vibe (rocker anything is a growing trend for 2017). I can see a modern-day urban Stevie Nicks slaying a look like this. And I’m pretty sure Lana could sell out stadiums just as easily ;). Speaking of that whole burgundy OTK happening, Mandy has been one of WWE’s foremost proponents of said boots. We’ve seen her do them with jeans quite often, but here, she pairs them with a denim pencil skirt and reinforces the color with a gorgeous plaid button-down. I love the shades and texture in this outfit and would recreate it in a heartbeat, with one caveat: Mandy often chooses to push the sexy side of her looks to the edge. That works fantastically for WWE, but in the everyday world, it comes off closer to the trashtastic line than I would generally recommend. To make this look more user-friendly, stay with a just-above-the-knee pencil skirt; as long as you have two inches of skin between the top of your boot and the bottom of your skirt, the proportion will work. Alternatively, you could opt for knee-length denim, perhaps with a classy-height side slit to show off those glorious OTK’s a bit more ;). We haven’t had many looks from Natalya pop up on fashion radar lately, so this stunner is a welcome addition! It’s exactly what I’d expect from Natalya: current, classy and incredibly chic! Her sheer-inset midi sheath dress (by Elizabeth and James) has the effect of modernist art, with her curves as the canvas. She topped the dress with a ruffled biker jacket from Alexander McQueen, a magnificent piece that’s a crave-worthy combination of frills and attitude. Its complex aesthetic works brilliantly over the clean-lined minimalism of the dress. She finished the look with simple black leather Stuart Weitzman boots. A black monochrome palette united the ensemble, while Nattie injected a playful, vivacious vibe with her half up-do and candy pink lips. Jumpsuits and risky pants seem to have reached consensus-status among the divas this fall. Cathy, along with Barbie, gave us a pair of them and handled both excellently. Her first was a navy square-neck piece with wide straps (I LOVE those for hiding bra straps!) and a subtly sexy front notch. The matte fabric of this piece keeps it slightly to the casual side, so Cathy ramped up the look by pairing it with strappy nude sandals. If you thought that was good, her next choice was even better: a stunning forest green satin piece, chosen for the Heroes Gala. First, I’m in love with this color right now – it’s luxe, elegant and looks stunning! Second, the high cross design of this piece is dramatic and sexy, especially with the little peekaboo situation just about her waist. The side buttons add just a touch of flash, which Cathy accentuated with jeweled fan earrings that make just enough of a statement. Her bright cranberry lip brings a festive touch to this fantastic look.
Carmella hopped on board the daring-pants-plus-neutrals vehicle and, as with both other ladies who have tried it, the pairing succeeds nicely. These windowpane-printed pants could get too busy in a hurry, but matched with this deep-v top and black leather jacket (I love how she got in a touch of her trademark leopard print via the collar!), they come off funky and experimentally modern. If I could swap anything, it would be her boots. I’m giving her a bye on this one because I suspect this was a rainy day (I would probably lean toward a knee-height version myself for a bit more polish), but for non-inclement weather, ankle booties with a block heel or flat OTK’s would give this pairing a little fiercer finish. We know Brandi for many of her more formal looks, but she also rocks casual style. This simple pairing of an ivory peplum sweater with black leggings and flat ankle boots has just the kind of laidback, confident femininity that’s perfect for fall…or the post-holiday winter chill ;). On a more familiar note is this blush dress, paired with nude platform pumps. Brandi is a master at picking chic classics with a twist and this piece is a #HowItsDone101. This iconic silhouette gets an update from the wrap effect and the crossed front detail, which has the added benefit of accentuating the waist and creating the hourglass shape. Her color story of mixed pale neutrals keeps this fresh and modern. Maryse also explored the wrap-look option with this Want My Look piece. (Aside: the wrap dress reflects the current 70’s trend, as that was the decade in which designer Diane von Furstenberg brought it to the forefront of fashion). This low scoop-neck silhouette pushes sexy to its limits, while Maryse adds attitude by finishing it with black suede OTKs from Sam Edelman. She brings an extra touch of attitude and drama by topping it with a metallic trench, a twisted-classic piece from Femme LA, which I love her use of! The sheen adds interest and chic to a simply sexy black monochrome look and gives it a powerful flair. Her blackberry lip brings a darker vibe to the look, which, while it might be harsh for day-time wear, works well for the drama of an evening ensemble. You know that weird, blank space between the end of the holiday season and spring, where everything is blah? Let’s see if we can fill it with fashion! ;) I have a lot…like A. LOT….of catching up to do. So, let’s see if I can get it all jammed in. Are ya with me?
Eva can really nail certain looks and this simple gray dress fits that category. The gray mélange fabric is sleek, yet not super-formal, due to the visual texture. She pairs the look with black pumps and finishes it with a stunning, formal up-do, which adds an extra bit of polish that make sit appropriate for a party or an evening dinner date. I’m pretty sure you all know how I feel about yellow anything, even yellow used in combination. Alicia has used this incredible powder blue + banana yellow combo in her gear before, but I still have to take a moment to stop call it out now. I LOVE it! The yellow adds a fabulous spike of sunshine to the cool blue. I love the design of this gear anyway – the complex pairing of mesh and sheer and satin and sexy and modern: it’s just amazzzzzzing. But when Foxy does it with a pinch of yellow, well, I’m in seventh heaven. *happy, savoring sigh* Speaking of fun gear, this set from Bayley reflects the metamorphosis she’s been in the process of lately. It’s an excellent direction to be going in, as it combines the lighthearted effervescence of her previous iterations with a touch of more mature restraint. The end result is pairings that reflect her goofy, joyous persona, while still being aesthetically pleasing. This particular combo spikes red and cobalt with black and silver. The look is clean and cool and the overall fish-scale patterning ties the whole thing together. Setting the stars above that pattern makes them pop out, putting special focus on them. This is such a great example of how well thought-out complex gear needs to be, in determining colors, placements and harmonies. This one is a gem! From gear, we make an about-face to this lovely, floaty gown from Maria, worn for he sister’s wedding. We don’t often see Maria in a piece as minimal as this – her intrinsic style sense is much more dramatic and glamorous, but she looks equally gorgeous in this simple silhouette. I’m also loving this soft blush color on her. The whole look is sweet and feminine, and I’m really loving how well it works on her! Speaking of things we don’t often see, how about houndstooth pants from Maryse? I have to say, I wouldn’t have selected anything as bold as this and made the prediction that she would wear it. An attention-getting pattern like this can be tricky to style. Maryse (as I would definitely predict) hit on one of the ways that works: keep everything else simple and neutral and let the strong statement come solely form the pants. She does so by pairing them with a graphic sweatshirt and beanie, all in predominantly black, and rounding things off with black OTK boots. The whole combo works nicely. I enjoy a surprising fashion choice when it’s styled well. Props to Maryse for pulling this off! Her next look, for the STARS Gala at Universal Studios, is much more in keeping with what we know of her fashion: forward-looking and chic! This white satin tuxedo dress is by BCBG Max Azria. Her pointy toe suede pumps in nude are Louboutin. Versace designed her metallic clutch. This look is flawless! It hits all the right notes with its lightness, its formality and its subtle edginess. It’s noteworthy to me that Maryse mentions she styled it herself, something she does for many events. While some of the ladies have switched to employing a professional stylist for certain occasions, Maryse puts her own sensibilities out there, in much the same way as Blake lively. Both ladies get mad respect form me for that, even more so because their choices are so consistently excellent. |
Welcome to the place where wrestling & fashion join hands. Inspiration. Reviews. Musings. Retros. FASHION. Covering and craving gear to gowns since 2011. May the Fierce be with you! ;) Peace & Glitter!
AuthorBrie: shoe-lover :) fashion-lover and generally glamorous semi-dork Archives
July 2019
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