We may not all have antebellum mansions to frolic about in, but fortunately, we don't need one to borrow a bit of inspiration from Naomi's look in her next-to-latest WWE 'shoot. Her pairing of brassy stripes with feminine tulle amped up the quirky, fierce energy in the 'shoot, especially when finished with sparkling bow-embellished heels and her glowing lime hair. But, take the styling out of the photoshoot and it stands on its own rather well. The bold, vaguely modernist statement of a striped top acts as an anchor for the frilly effervescence of the tulle skirt, making for a  playfully chic combination we can definitely borrow! Step 1: grab your favorite tulle skirt! :) ..."But Brie, what if I don't have a tulle skirt?!" *horrorstruck* It's ok, I swear!  Breathe :) Just reach for a skirt with a femme feel: lace, embroidery, florals, even just a simple, solid piece in a floaty fabric like silk or chiffon will do. All better? :) Hugs! Step 2: grab a striped top! You do have one of those, right? A knit tee tends to be my first thought when I envision stripes, but don't forget about striped blouses or button-downs. Their more polished connotation plays perfectly for this look. Next: warmth! If you need another layer, add a twill military jacket (a classic leather biker will work too) for some extra attitude over a tee or bring in the sweetness of a button cardigan over a collared top. Important: if your skirt has a narrow waistband that doesn't provide enough definition, you can visually widen it by adding a belt. Feel free to blouson your top over it. Last up are the shoes.  If you need a little more edge to feel like you, a heeled boot will do the trick. For maxi skirts, make sure the boot shaft is higher than the skirt's hemline. For all others, make sure there is a gap between the top of the boot and the skirt's hem (unless you're doing OTKs under a midi or knee skirt (a perfectly stunning look, darling ;)); in that case, follow the suggestion for maxi skirts. If you're feeling sophisticated, go with a simple, iconic black pump.  Laidback, but still fabulous? Try a pointy-toed ballet flat.  I hope this inspires you to pair something striped and something femme sometime soon. Happy styling! XO

When Renee wore this look, the pairing caught my eye, even though I felt that the graphic tee was a shade too laidback to pair with a formal tuxedo blazer. My immediate remedy for that was to envision going with a basic, non-graphic tee instead. If you own a tuxedo blazer, that is one avenue you should totally explore! If you don't own a tuxedo blazer, nbd. If you own one and don't feel like wearing it, also nbd. The non-tuxedo blazer lends itself nicely to this look. Caveat: skip the bombers, moto and biker jackets, cute super-cropped styles and similar blazer-dodges here. Go for the real McCoy  - a straight-up, unapologetic suiting blazer. You need the polish and unexpected formality here - it's what creates the distinctive punch in this look. Don't be afraid to give a double-breasted version a try - this is a perfect look  to show its powerful vibe. Color thoughts: if your graphic tee is predominantly neutral, like this one, go for a splash of color in your blazer if that suits your mood. This plum shade is kind of amazing, eh? I'm loving the dusty complement of a pinch of olive with it too!  If your tee has a variety of color  - or you've placed a moratorium on color for some undetermined length of time :) - stick with a neutral topper. Also, feel free to skip the graphics altogether. It's all good. Pair your chosen tee and blazer with slim-straight or skinny jeans. Finish the look with ankle booties that are tall enough to tuck your jeans into; mid-calf booties are just right, but any shaft height that clears your ankle bone by 2-3 inches will do nicely. Heels: not necessary, but perfectly acceptable :). The feel of this look is casual cool-girl - think off-duty actress running out for coffee. Or you :) Happy styling, loves!

The Big Dub has decided to honor the lady champs of Smackdown with their own gallery, just as they did with the lady belt-holders of Raw. Perhaps I'm a bit optimistic in terming it a "gallery" - ti's really only one snap form each diva. As fan of the Blue Brand, I feel rather gypped. Why not two shots, hmm?? Or three, as the Raw gals got? Playing a bit of favoritism here, WWE? It's not appreciated. What this ...mini collection....gives us is an hors d'ouevre, a smackerel of Smackdown, a tiny taste...just enough to whet our appetite and allow us to appreciate the fantastic gear each of these wrestlers has and how stunning they are and how awesome the belt looks as an accessory and then...boom...everything is over. Finis, finito, caput. Gypped, indeed! Certainly Becky nails the sideways pose and looks gorgeous doing it! Bonus points for the plum shorts and the studded crisscross belt - fabulous color and a bit of edge always make for a win in my world! Perhaps she'll try a blue shade that matches the background in the belt next ;). Alexa definitely rocks the heck out of this red gear- the basically neutral black and silver pairing accent it perfectly, adding just enough interest and pop, but not enough to be distracting. Also, please explain how Alexa manages to look so insanely pretty and so dang cute at the same time? #GreatMysteries. PS I'm the teensiest bit jealous. Like, I'm not 100% green yet but getting there :) Just kidding. Naomi makes this simple pose work brilliantly - the way she's tipped her head takes it out of "high school photo" category and into "Top Model" category and her smile is amazingly lovely - authentic and sweet and sunshine-y. This gear is fantastic as well...I will break it down in detail when we get the full look at it (coming soon to a blog near you), but even with this preview, I'm loving the mix of colors and the graphic print - it's strident, but not too crazy. A+ on the lime nail shade and I'm still loving that emerald-silver-sparkle eyeshadow. I can't get over how divine that looks on her! Ogh, the fabulosity!

 How I wish Maryse had been with WWE at the right time to do that Favorite Black dress 'shoot!  That would have been a fashionista's dream come true *cue wispy daydream music*.  Fortunately, we get to see a wide selection of her choices in the genre, even if we don't have the privilege of knowing which is her fave. It's a look she gravitates to periodically throughout every season. I often find myself shying away from dresses during the colder months because I have this concept that they're not as warm as other options, but sometimes I get awfully tired of pants and even maxi skirts. Maryse offers us a reminder that, with a few minor additions, the LBD is just as appropriate for winter as for the other three seasons. Maryse topped her bodycon piece with a glittering sequined blazer - definitely something to consider for a night out or other special occasion (or when you're just feeling fancy ;)). If sequins aren't your thing, other elements of her choice can provide the main inspiration. Instead of a sequined blazer, try an on-trend double breasted one instead to create power and boldness. Enhance that vibe with touches of leopard: a hat, wide belt or printed flats. A blazer isn't the only topper for an LBD, though! Long trench coats and dusters are super hot right now and lend themselves perfectly to adding a bit of warmth and chic to an LBD. A neutral is probably in your closet - the wise and iconic choice! - but if you are brave enough to be the proud owner of a statement color, feel free to rock that as well; the LBD is versatile like that ;). The key to this look is to leave the coat open so that it swirls around you, creating movement and mystery. If you're a fan of the draped-over-shoulders look, that works fabulously, as does wearing it with your arms through the sleeves, so pick your passion :). I'm loving this particular styling right now - the feeling created by the open coat is just amazingly fun! Keep the whole look minimal and complete it with simple black kitten heel pumps, or dress it down with block-heeled ankle boots. Lastly, you can skip the whole coat/blazer debate if you want to: go with a vest instead! Layer a suede or leather piece over a sheath for an urban vibe or choose a floatier A-line silhouette and top it with fur or velvet for a more 70's bohemian feel. Round off the look with OTKs or chunky-heeled ankle boots.

The last of this batch of Kim's hard drive excavations is a look back at one of my favorite recent photoshoots: WWE's homage to the Little Black Dress! A trip of divas posed for us in their favorite noire frock and gave us some insight as to why it inspired so much love. The snippet quotes made these snaps especially memorable and engaging because the ladies were able to communicate their thoughts via the printed word, as well as through their photos. As a devotee of classical fashion, a focus on the LBD naturally gave me great joy :). And the feeling just intensified while scrolling through the stars' choices.  One over-arching standout theme for me was how authentically each dress represented each diva's sense of style. Rosa's bodycon selection was a blend of modernity, sparkle and seduction, combining a form-fitting silhouette with sheer insets and touches of crystal embellishment. The piece looked amazing on her and it was easy to tell from her sultry poses that Rosa was feeling its effect She nailed a variety of them - sitting, standing, glancing sideways, a cheeky smile, playing with her hair -all flirty, fun and hot!  There's just something about putting on that perfect outfit that makes you feel like you rock the world, am I right?  She finished the look with a fab pair of black leather Rockstud pumps, a favorite shoe of Rosa's...and mine! ;) There's no need to add much in the way of accessories due to the multiple fabrics and crystals in the dress and Rosa wisely left well enough alone.
Layla's fashion definitely hit high gear during her time in LayCool, and it retained that aura of fierce glamour after the duo's break-up. She showcased that theme with her favorite dress, a stud-accented sheath which mixed stud sizes and metals with impunity, creating flash and shimmer befitting a Flawless One. One of my favorite things about this dress is the to-the-knee length; it's brings polish and maturity to the look. LayCool was fond of shorter hems, which paired better with their trademark OTKs, so this longer style was a nice evolution. She accessorized with statement earrings, which could have been a bit much with all the metallic going on below, but they're rescued by her loose hair; it partially obscures them, allowing just hints of shine to show through, which works perfectly. Gold metallic pumps complete her outfit. The massive platforms were spot on for that moment in fashion; I might go with suede ankle booties or black leather pointy toe heels right now :). As with Rosa, the dress inspired Lay to take some extra risks with her poses, resulting in a bunch of unique and intriguing snaps.
Natalya has a host of killer black dresses, but she chose this as her favorite and it's not hard to see why! Its cut flawlessly, kissing every curve, without ever showing too much - an especially praise-worthy feat for a piece done in a satin fabric like this, which can be terribly unforgiving if cut wrong. The sheen of the satin elevates this dress and gives it more refinement than, say, a wool or knit cotton fabric. Along with the dramatic scoop-neck, this elegant cloth creates just the right distinctive flair.  I'm a huge fan of this piece because the simplicity of it will allow it to hold up well over time - even though this 'shoot was several years ago, she could pull this out today and wear it and it would look as current as it did then. The same will be true five, ten and fifteen years from now.  Nattie described it as "timeless" and I heartily concur! Because it's so simple, she added slim but bold earrings and several touches of delicate jewelry which enhance the look just enough. Nude pointy-toe pumps were a perfect finish, adding a touch of edge and extending her leg line - a smart fashion choice with a longer mid-length silhouette. I also adore her hairstyle - it's a more dramatic version of the poofed half-do I was loving at this year's Rumble, so no surprises there :). Equally unsurprising is Nattie's slayage of her poses - she's competent and confident in front of the camera and with an LBD as additional inspiration, there was no stopping her!

And there were still more great looks from the Rumble!
Bayley gets serious props for the main shade of her gear, a fabulous mint green that we don't see very often in WWE. With the bubblegum pink and lemon yellow graphic print additions, it's like an ice cream shop you can wear! :) Sometimes Bay's gear can get a little too busy for my taste, but she shows just enough restraint here to make this gear appealing. The front lace-up detail is one of my favorite features. I'm also loving her on-trend and so-right-for-her sparkly bomber - super cute! I could probably survive without the colorful fringe, but it does bring even mooooore color to her look :) and, more importantly, some really fun movement!
Charlotte's cape had the Black Swan vibe going on again, this time with a halo-like hood framing her face. The patterned lining coordinated with her gear flawlessly. Her outerwear is simply incredible! And her ringwear follows suit; this variation was done in an entrancing ice blue, set off with quantities of glistening crystals set in an almost floral-like pattern. The icy shimmer received a bit of grounding from the black piping - a perfect touch which gave a nice edge to the look, as well as coordinating with her magnificent cape.

There's been a definite injection of country-girl style into WWE since the return of Mickie James! She shows it off here as she pairs a pretty swing top, accented with sequins, with classic blue jeans and - what else? :) - cowboy boots! I love the softness of her top - the combination of floaty -ness and sparkle is delicate and playful. Mickie's choice of light blue denim complements it perfectly, keeping the whole look light, right down to those daring embellished boots. There's a lot going on here, but the soft, simple palette pulls it all together.
Renee showcases a magnificent tuxedo blazer in this look from late January. This piece is classic and versatile because of its fit and colors, while the tuxedo lapel and black buttons are just the right touches to make it distinctive. She  paired it with leather leggings, which add a fab tough vibe and a graphic tee - the only part of the look I'm sort of meh about. I love graphic tee for the casual urban cool it brings to an outfit but here, it feels just a smidgeon too casual. A plain tee (I'm thinking red to show off those lapels ;)) would have a similar effect, while harmonizing a bit more. She gets serious props for the smoky eye, though - I love the way they bring out the boldness and attitude in this outfit!