Here we have another one of those 'shoots that I walk the love-don't love line on. The fashion is either already seen or barely able to be seen. Either way, it pretty much precludes a review of it. On the happier side, the theme of this set is even more up my alley than the superheroes one. The Big Dub had a field day with Photoshop to show off the "spirit animal"..in some cases, spirit material :) of several of the divas. The choices were on point and executed quote well. Money was an obvious pairing with Sasha Banks and she definitely rocks the Lady Warbucks feel. The crazy colors of this gear works perfectly to add color to this snap..although thematically, I might have preferred her bedazzled trench coat. The spinning gears represent Becky's magic-infused steampunk persona. Her expression in this snap is top notch and the angle is gorgeous! I hope she keeps that on file for shoots that are to come in future. Quite possibly my favorite piece of the three are the soaring ravens exploding from Paige's rebel heart. Although she may draw the line at feeding on death as they do, they're dark spirit and deep connection to rebirth parallels her never-say-die attitude. The artistic execution of this snap is especially compelling. The choice of her jumping pose harmonizes beautifully with the birds' flight.
Just recently, I read a quote over at one of my favorite blogs, TaySwiftStyle.com - Questions section, which captured one of my beliefs about photoshoots for the divas..uh..cough...superstars. Apols, ladies ;). Sarah was discussing Glee when she said "I'm a strong believer that a show's fashion can speak volumes and can create storyline through its subjects just as much as dialogue or even music". But I think her words apply to 'shoots as well. We see the ladies on tv, we get o know they're wrestling personas. To really flesh out their characters, however, and to really bring depth to the action, the avenue of the photoshoot is unsurpassed. How many divas teased and developed a heel turn via a sudden switch in the their fashion? We've seen WWE recently veer away from fashion-style shoots and it's a nice change...but I wouldn't want them to become a lost art, either. They offer too much potential to be relegated to some attic of forgotten media. In fact, if anything, I think the Powers That WWE have possibly even been guilty of under-utilizing the potential of 'shoots to add dimension to what we know of the ladies. We've seen flashes of it in the past: AJ"s fashion always firmly reflected her nerdy-geek leanings, spiced with 90's grunge. We saw hints of the business woman and the just-married dreamer, but primarily, her fashion conveyed her particular, specific character. While AJ stayed true to one persona throughout her career, Michelle McCool metamorphosized from wallflower personal trainer, to bright-eyed All-American girl, to crazy chick to glamourous Mean Girl. Her fashion reflected this, shifting from workout gear, to classic sexy pieces, to black monochrome ensembles to sequined tanks and OTK boots. There was a direct connection between the changes we saw on tv and the fashion we saw in her 'shoots that emphasized and reinforced the changes, and created a connection with character during non-tv time. It was a subtle, but meaningful gesture that brought added impact to each variation Michelle made. Lana is one of the current divas who made use of 'shoots in a similar way, shifting from Ice Queen to rock n'roll girl as her on-screen relationship with Rusev cycled. It was - as it always is - mad fun to watch the shift in each era through the lens of her style. Just as fashion is the art we use in daily life to describe ourselves to the world, so too it is the vehicle through which the superstars convey who they are to us throught their careers. And the photoshoot is the delivery module :). So, all you wrestling promotions: keep 'em comin'!
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May was a sweet month for WWE fashion! Among other notable events, we saw Natalya give the hot and trendy choker a try, paired with this zip-front top. It Chokers work fabulously with lower necklines, like this deep-v. Nattie accented it with hoop earrings for a touch of shine.
I'm always on the lookout for new divas (oopps...superstars!) who bring a sense of fashion to the ring. This gear from Peyton Royce caught my eye, due both to the design and the unusual color combination. Mint with plum is a unique pairing and I love the way the two cool tones complement each other. The mint gets a wonderful zing from the fruity purple shade - it looks good enough to eat! :) The cross-body piece is also a fun choice of design. It's practical, but not common. The textural accents add dimension and sprinkle the extra color throughout the look, while the sheer insets add another layer of intrigue. This is quite an intricate gear set for a lady who isn't yet on the main roster, making me think Peyton is definitely one to keep an eye on as far as fashion goes! Stephanie took her turn at the menswear-esque suiting look, pairing a powerful blazer with leather skinny pants. Like Renee's ivory WrestleMania suit, this jacket creates an instant impression. Note, though, how much higher the stance is on Steph's jacket, creating an empire waist. The similar long cut with the different higher stance keep Steph's look a touch boxier, but equally strong and confident. Pairing it with leather brings even more edge, but that is softened just enough by her white shirt and half up-do. Her pendant enhances the v-neckline of her blouse and helps balance the look. This pairing is much riskier than many that we've seen on Steph. I love seeing her step outside her comfort zone with her fashion and the boldness of this outfit works really well, in addition to suiting her on-camera persona. This gear from Charlotte reprises the design of WrestleMania gear, but switches the colors. Instead of blue accented with silver, it's a study in black, with the blue retained as just an accent color. The design is still attractive and the center floral stars are just mesmerizing, but I find the black a tad dull after the glorious blue as a main shade. I wonder if a stronger accent color, or something more surprising - like a holograph material- wouldn't have worked a little better for a darker statement look. Eva Marie attended the Bellami Hair red carpet event along with Maryse. Eva glowed in a sequined suit. Going cami-free works for a formal night event and I love the way her polished, slick ponytail added a more refined vibe to her look. She added a spark of color with red, suede ankle straps sandals - love those shoes! And the extra color is a nice way to throw a twist into this look, which could easily have been an expected black monochrome ensemble. Nikki brought a really cool twist to this look via her shoes. Which, of course, is of no interest to me whatsoever. *hears word "shoes", comes sprinting in from far distant spot and screeches to a halt in front of whoever said "shoes" with expectant grin and slight smell of burning rubber* :) Pencil skirts are a forever classic, definitely worth adding to your wardrobe. They're sleek, polished and feminine. The knee length Nikki has chosen is a versatile one and the best starting point for a collection. I would recommend going with either a traditional neutral, or your signature color. Nikki went with a beautiful lapis shade that's a touch brighter than standard navy, but just as practical. She topped hers with a flawlessly tailored lace statement blazer. If you have one of those, by all means, break it out! As an alternative, I metamorphosized that element into a more affordable - and find-able! :) - lace cardigan. A crocheted piece will work too. Slip a matching cami underneath. And now, the exciting part: SHOOOOOOOES. Nikki spiced this look up by going with boldly striped pumps. The playful print offsets the refined quality of her skirt and the delicacy of the lace. The navy ankle straps shown here are a perfect example of coordinating without matching - the navy shade echoes the cobalt, without being an exact duplicate. Stripes are having a moment right now, but mosaic or other geometric prints are sportive options, as are florals - don't be afraid of incorporating footwear with multiple colors! I'm especially loving the summery pop of orange with the blue - even a tiny bit (echoed via a bold ring) carries a big punch. Yellow would work similarly, as would classic cherry red. This is also an outfit where flats are completely do-able. If you have a pair of fresh n' funky ones, try them out with this look :). Tiny stud earrings carry the color upwards. Hope this inspires you to try a pencil skirt with a printed shoe (there's that word again :)) sometime soon, loves! Happy fashioning!
It looks like the Big Dub intended this set to be a play on the idea of X-Men, timed to the release of the new movie. They have done themed shoots the last few years - like, remember when the Divas all did 'shoots in the costume of a legendary superstar? I am beginning to develop a theory that movies are the theme for this year. So, I'm putting that out there. I have mixed feelings about this genre of photo gallery. I appreciate the artistry of it and the look that's coming through is really cool visually and quite unique. On the flip side, though, it basically feels like a digitally modified version of an existing photo, as if they took an outtake from a previous 'shoot and went to town with Photoshop. So, it feels a smidge staid, even though it looks amazing. Also, it doesn't explore - or even allow us to see- much fashion. So, from a fashion blogger's viewpoint, it's somewhat frustrating.
That being said, Sasha's look with the added lightning bolts comes out really well. One of my favorite aspects is getting to visualize her with pink hair! I've been slowly coming to the idea that her red might benefit from a switch-up. Perhaps pink is the way to go :). I could probably get behind sun yellow too. I'm sure you're shocked by that ;)...but it looks kinda fab in my mind's eye. Anyway, *slaps self back to reality and out of mind's eye* Paige's spherically swirling power also has a really cool look to it. The dark-light contrasts bring in a lot of depth and a hyper-reality vibe. I applaud her powerful, mega-smoky eye look. I might have preferred something a bit more exotic for her lips - an ice blue or metallic gold. Why not push the envelope - it is a superhero set, after all :) First, I have to register my thanks with Velvet Sky for releasing real, actual photoshoot-type photos right now. It feels like it's been pulling teeth to get (m)any out of the major networks. Trust the ladies themselves to get the job done ;). We find Velvet donning pink in this new series of snaps (available for purchase on her RatedV.net website). Having had such incredible success with electrical-tape-as-clothing in the past, Vel's decided to give us another round (and she's wearing TapOut gloves. See? Synchronistic wordplay! Or karma! ...or kismet!...or something ;)) of it. I really have to just take a moment and sit in awe of the fact that someone can look so ...AAAfreakinMAZING wearing essentially about six yards of adhesive-backed plastic. Just...can't even. How does she DO that? The shots are scalding hot...duh, it's Velvet. They also constitute an exploration of a beautiful pale rose pink we haven't seen her play with much recently, but which is a gorgeous choice. Bright pink heels and carnation-hued boxing gloves serve as the only accessories...and clearly, are all that's needed. Her fuscia lips add a flush of color. Lastly, the lighting in these shots is also something special - the white-gold haze throws beautiful shadows and highlights. Vel also does pink with a dash of fierce in her final newly-released shot. She pairs a ruffled mini (is there a word for a mini-er than mini skirt? :)) with a lacy pink bra, set over a black underlayer. Plaid suspenders make a fun 90's throwback detail, while her black laced heels bring *that attitude* hard. I also love the way her hair looks in this shot - it seems to have been softly pinned in the back and the angle shows off the soft glamour of the style. The contrasting lavender background is a wonderful choice - it's complementary, but still allows the pink-and-black to pop off of it. Maybe Vel will explore lavender and lilac for us next time around :)
Are ya loving you some Maryse, lately? We're kicking this FH off with a breakdown of a series of her recent looks! One thing she's been doing a lot on tv lately is re-using her main pieces, while making them look different via alternating underlayers and accessories. It's a formula we've seen Maryse employ before and one which I thoroughly espouse. Great fashion requires too much effort and energy to find to wear it once or twice and then ditch it and quality fashion is too expensive to do so. When I find pieces I love, I want to keep them perpetually! That requires a touch of creativity, but following Maryse's example let you do it and never feel bored. This gray lace-embellished statement trench might just be my favorite of her mainstay eye-catchers. It's dramatic, feminine and sexy! Maryse has switched up the feel in a couple of ways. This first look is all about the sexy side (spiked with glam, of course ;)), with her cat-scratch-detail bodysuit and lace-up OTKs. The whole vibe centers around showing peeks of skin in various ways, but never too much at once. It's flirty and seductive. Her sparking crystal statement necklace and belt buckle lend a luxurious vibe that adds a power and haughtiness to all that temptation. This lady's shine will not be dimmed! Her next pairing uses the coat as a contrast piece to a simple black bodysuit with a plunging v-neckline. That detail is accentuated by a bold, architectural necklace. As with the first look, her lace-up boots finish off this combo, letting laciness - in all it's glory - take center stage. Her last tv outfit uses a similar simple one-piece underlayer, this time in steel gray, topped by a truly killer coat. This leather trench is accented with a bevy of huge studs at the lapels, closure and wrists for a fierce af rocker vibe. In this case, the gray beneath works to bring extra dimension via the additional color. Leather+suede OTK's, which echo her trench's rebellious attitude, close out the outfit. We've seen her pair those with the gray lace coat in the past and I'd be willing to be we'll see the lace-up OTKs with the studded topper in the future! Our last Maryse look is from the Bellami Hair red carpet event: this simple mock-neck gown...with a not-so-simple an oh-so-sexy side lace-up cutout. It's cool and pristine in this shade of bright white. And if it looks a little familiar..well, it should! Barbie wore this same dress in red not too long ago. I have - unsuprisingly :) - been head-over-stilettos for Maryse's tv look ever since she re-debuted. It's a fabulous combination of audacity, temptation and fierceness. Her formula is to pair a bodysuit with OTK boots and top it all off with a statement coat, generally of trench or duster length. Her favorite accents include rebellious studs or elegant, sexy lace. These combos are crave-worthy under spotlights...but a little trickier to re-create in real life. I brainstormed on this challenge for a bit and came to the conclusion that light layers would do the trick here, giving the same impression of a complex mix of elements, while allowing the modesty factor to be addressed as needed. So, simple things first: start this look with black leggings (or sateen skinny pants, if you're daring ;)) Next, pick out your layers. While Maryse goes for statement coats, they are often the most expensive pieces in a wardrobe. If you're trying to be practical, go for a more classic topper (possibly with a hint of unique embellishment - a ruffle-detailed trench, a pleated A-line-shape piece or a simple duster -which is such a fun and head-turning piece on it's own that no embellishment is required). By staying with a plainer piece, you'll get more from your investment by being able to wear it with a greater variety of looks and through a multitude of trends. (Check out Bebe and Asos for these kind of pieces). Once you have a curated collection of basics in your wardrobe and are just looking for a special splurge, that's when you go for the statement piece. (Take a look at Free People for that kind of thing; they generally offer some really spectacular options each season). If you want to go half-and-half, like basic-but-with-a-detail, try Anthropologie or ModCloth.). Bring the drama to the look with your underlayers. The one to go really wild with is your cami (feel free to do a bustier instead ;)). Play with full-on lace, jacquard fabric, all-over sequins, stud accents, lace-up details...really push the envelope! Don't hold back - remember, it's going to be partially covered anyway, which will mute whatever the embellishment is. The only rule is: neutrals. Stay in the black, gray, earthen gold, flax, tan, white, ivory color family. Note: the first two are closest in spirit to Maryse. The next layer can be a light, longer cardigan (for fall, chilly nights or air conditioning), or a tunic-length button-front top (for sweltering days). It should bring some small detail to the look: an asymmetrical hem, an open-weave pattern or sheer fabric, or some bit of embellishment: crochet, lace, ruffle(s), scallop trim. If it's super-steamy outside, this can even be your top layer. Belt or sash it, or wear the tunic with just one or two buttons done up wherever you want the visual waist to be. The alternating textures between layers echo the depth of Maryse's look, while your base layer brings the fierce (and possibly the sultry, depending on what you've picked), aided and abetted by your skinny pants. If you need to amp it up a bit, add a statement necklace or bold belt (you can switch out the trench's for one of your own, or work with both). Finish the look off with chic black flats or simple heeled sandals and voila: you're a double for Maryse. Hope you've been working on that hair flip ;). XOs
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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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Photos used for criticism and comment under US Copyright Act Section 107.
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