The maxi dress is such a great summer outfit - so easy, work appropriate or play appropriate, simple to change from day to night and cray comfy. Prints just make it that much more fun. Florals, dots, toiles: they all add a different vibe to
the standard monochrome look. They also open up some new ground for throwing in that twist that creates the stylish je ne se quoi that makes a look stand out. The way Charlotte took this semi-floral print dress and made it work overtime by dressing down with flat sandals is a look I can totally get behind! Don't you just get so tired of pants sometimes? A maxi makes a great way to change things up. Char went with a simple metallic thong, which works perfectly with the femme, floaty vibe of her cap-sleeve, full-length piece. It's easy to gravitate to certain neutrals; I reach for metallics plenty often myself. And here, their shine hits just the right balance of fancy and carefree. On the other hand, you can easily branch out into more unusual pairings. While a neutral is a safe choice with a multi-colored floral, you can make a bigger splash by choosing one of the colors in the print for your shoe shade. Don't fear a tangential tone, either. The red in this dress is quite muted, but a vibrant cherry tone looks fab and makes a distinctive statement. So, fire things up: accent soft spring green with bright lime, pale aqua with neon turquoise, light mauve with magenta. The obvious choice for this black and blue print would be a black sandal. Chic, but who hasn't done it? And it takes the look in a more somber direction. For a lighter, summery twist, consider a so-hot-right-now bright white sandal instead. Go with a fierce, strappy style that brings some attitude, or a try carefree espadrille. The contrast of the white against the blue and black gives the look a big pop. A standout color (think orange, bright pink, yellow) would work similarly. Or, do a neutral... but an unexpected one! Instead of pairing this polka dot dress with classic navy or white, go with a jute-toned shoe. Give it a vintage beach-resort vibe with sandals, or a modern cool-girl feel via sneakers. Whatever you choose, try making a shoe change-up part of it. Think of what you usually do and wear anything but. Surprise yourself. Experiment! And have fun :) Happy styling, loves!
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Soooooo believe it or not, this is the last of the Catch-ups. I'm sort of in shock myself..kinda felt like I'd never get through it all :).
Nikki kicks off the ending with a bright royal blue iteration of the Self Portrait lace dress we've previously seen her wear in white. I like the piece just as much in this shade! The gorgeous lace is feminine and lighthearted, perfect as a sundress when styled with neutral wedge sandals, as Nikki as here, or as a fancier piece when done with pointy pumps or more formal sandals, as we've seen her do in the past. Next up is a super-cute pairing that infuses the best of now with some trademark Nikki stylings. She paired a sleeveless lace peplum blouse with a modern-vintage aesthetic with black skinny jeans. The black ribbon at her neck makes a fun way to connect her top and pants. While Nikki has used it like a necklace, with a loose knot, it could also be done in a bow to up the throwback vibe. Red pointy pumps add that dash of Nikki-esque spice and really pop the look. I wouldn't have minded seeing her carry that color upward with a bright lip. This polka dotted mermaid midi skirt gave me immediate #tbt vibes to the Bella's late 2013 50's pin-up era withere they were all about the high waists, polka dots and hair scarf bows. Nikki keeps the look a little more polished here, pairing the skirt with a simple black scoopneck top and a slim gold choker. A burgundy and gold chain-strap purse adds a bit of modern attitude and brings in her trademark shot of red. She continues her black-and-white streak by pairing this minimalist ruffled sheath with simple black ankle-strap heels and a black tote for Bridal Fashion Week. I love the pristine, edited feeling of this look - it acts as a palate-cleanser after all the lace, pleats and other embellishments we've seen lately. Sometimes, the plainest ensemble has the strongest impact! Her trusty Prada boots are back in evidence with yet another look, this time a super-chill long-sleeved sheath dress from Veronica Beard. The bold presence of the ankle boots injects some attitude into this relaxed look. I'm still loving the chain handle on her bag, although I would have loved if she's gone for a chocolate, nude or mixed-browns hued one to tie in with her shoes. Lana reprised her MITB look in a full photoshoot for us, something I love because it allows us to really savor all the intricate details of her gear. This silver and blue ensemble is a fabulous development of the silhouette she created for her Wrestlemania debut.The bodysuit and glamorous push-up bra remain, while side cutouts provide a new element of intrigue. I adore the contrast between the glittering central fabric and the smooth, metallic sheen of the piping! There's so much variation - from sparkled silver to satin silver, from sky-blue glitter to solid electric blue that the color scheme feels tastefully complex, while still retaining the strong harmony that makes it instantly accessible. Gone are the feminine floral embellishments. They've been replaced by a sharpened-hourglass graphic with a mechanical-engineering vibe that's streamlined, powerful and modern - like something you'd find adorning a race car. It brings a fascinating edginess to the glamour of the glittery fabric. Lana's love affair with metallic boots makes perfect sense when you see it here, paired with this gear. The fierceness of the flat, metallic OTK completes this look perfectly. Lana added a bright coral lip, which brings just the right does of warmth to this cool-hued look. Not satisfied with slaying us via gear, she also included several snaps with her ombre-sequined over-gown. The halter+choker design reinforces the glamorous, beauty-contestant vibe, but it's the thigh-high slit that really caught my attention! It's deep enough to be daring, but there's no fear of wardrobe malfunctions with the bodysuit below, so we're free to savor the sexiness -and there's plenty of that! Unlike many current renditions of the high slit, the showy aspect of Lana's is minimized by her boots so it feels neither attention-seeking nor trashy nor brazen; it's just HAWT and nothing but the hawt! Well played, Lana! Her poses are solid as always, with standards interspersed with a few of the gems she always manages to create, the one-legged-blowing-a-kiss is a particular fave of mine because...balance! Like, for real. That is so not easy. PS her blonde beachy waves are crave-worthy. Synopsis: another Lana 'shoot, another slaying. She's too good.
With Maria's advent on Smackdown, the WWE took some time to traipse down memory lane by excavating some of her past photoshoots from the vault. Scrolling through the gallery, several things struck me. First, what completely amazing bikinis Maria picks out! The star-spangled mint one was a piece I fell for at first sight! It really doesn't get much more glam than that! At the opposite end of the spectrum is this denim-esque one, with it's girl-next-door quality. Maria, of course, spiked it by adding lemon yellow platform sandals to the mix, but the swimsuit is seriously fab in and of itself. Next, one thing the gallery really highlights is the innate sense of drama in Maria's style. Even when she does a basically classic outfit (like her black tee and jeans look), she still manages to inject attitude and flamboyance somewhere, somehow. With that outfit, it's a crystal belt and a pair of black and crystal bracelets. With her gold-edged red gown, which she wore while picking up her 2009 Slammy for Diva Of The Year, she added a golden hair band, embellished with a huge, but delicate filigree butterfly in front of her poofed half updo. There's always a splash of the unexpected, a shot of panache, something attention-grabbing. While she's perfectly happy to explore over-the-top scenarios - and manages to slay them far more often than not - the funky true-to-self passion in her style keeps it perpetually surprising and engaging. It's something I can't help but love and respect! Lastly, it's noteworthy how many current trends she managed to touch on, six, seven, eight years before their resurgence. Ruffles? Check. Off the shoulder tops? Check. High-waisted, wide-leg pants? Check. One-piece swimsuits? Check. The girl is a fashion tsunami. Translation: style maven worth paying attention to! I'm so glad she's staying on our screens :)
Something about high summer makes me think of LayCool. Their urban-glam aesthetic just lends itself to parties under the sun, running on into steamy nights, when you want to be casual but not bland. Fashion has moved on a bit from 2009 and there is no doubt the stylish ladies of LayCool would have adjusted their looks appropriately. I'm thinking they'd have gravitated to a vibe similar to Hailee Steinfeld's recent turn in Julien MacDonald on the daily. Given that we don't have a multitude of newly devised tv and 'shoot looks to inspire us, as in their glory days, what's a fierce girl with an ever-LayCool heart to do? Metamorphosize that storied past forward into the right now, of course!
The Famous and Flawless set of 'shoots were some of my favorite LayCool looks, nailing their style sensibilities perfectly. This one, with its tank-and-shorts combo, is made for summertime. It adds glam to a basic white tank and black cut-off denim pairing by going with a sequined version on top. If you're recreating this, there's no need to be tied to the color choices: pretty much any shade of sequins will work just as well. For fitted pieces, try the LayCool full tuck; go with a front or side half-tuck if your tank is boxier. The ladies styled this look with the leather OTK boots that were fashion's craze at the time. Right now, I can't help but think they would have embraced the athleisure trend and ditched the boots for a totally fab pair of high-top sneakers. Since they are LayCool, they'd have gone with these Guiseppe Zanotti's, but those of us not willing to spend a month's earnings on one pair of shoes can 100% do this look with any streamlined pair of black sneakers. Tone down the lashings of glam by swapping the studded belt for simple leather in white or black. As an alternative to sequins, consider a metallic tank - Michelle and Layla would def give that their stamp of approval! If a cleaner palette is more your thing, consider a tank or tee with a metallic or sequined embellishment, rather than full-on shine. As with the above and below, keep the palette simple (no floral prints, no dots), stay with tanks or tees (no cami's). Racerbacks allowed. Eschew feminine embellishments (no ruffles, please). Add a bandeau under sheer, drapey pieces for coverage and an au courant vibe. Consider skipping the starkness of the black denim and going with blue of any hue. Feel free to up the fierce with a studded belt, or keep it coolly chic with plain leather. LayCool would likely have left us drooling by completing the look with something likely these insanely fantasmic DSquared sandal booties. If you happen to own a pair of insanely fantasmic sandal booties, feel free to unleash killage accordingly. Alternatively, play up the tougher side of this look by finishing it with urban or Western-inspired hardware-embellished chunky-heeled booties. Still too much glam? No prob. Keep it simple, keep it black. Tank (studs and other touches of metal or crystal = allowed, but 100% unembellished is also completely workable). Add skinny denim. Lend some pizzazz with a statement belt: be-crystalled, be-studded, be-sequined. A charmeuse satin or sequined scarf at the waist works too. Finish with a spark via silver strappy sandals. LayCool's choice would be something like these Gianvito Rossi Portofino heels with the haute-couture feel of their super-high ankle strap setting, but nearly anything shiny and strappy (except flip flops! :)) will work nicely. Happy warm-weather-holiday styling, Fancies! Nikki was experimenting with the whole satin slipdress vehicle again in this March snap. If it's possible, I love this one even more! The belted, A-line shape of this Alexander Wang dress is a more accessible silhouette for this beautiful, though wayward, material. This iteration highlights her curves equally well and looks fabulously chic. It looks like Nikki's having tons of fun wearing it too! :) She popped the look in her favorite way: via a shot of bright red, in this case done with pointy pumps. I might have enjoyed a brighter lip to carry that lovely color upwards.
She gave us a pair of wintry looks from her visit to Lake Tahoe - it was still chilly there, apparently, even though technically this could have been considered spring. First up is a black, flutter-sleeved sweater from Elizabeth and James. This piece is fantastic! Simple, yet dramatic, it's one of those flawless canvases that looks amazing right now and will retain its sophistication for years to come. Nikki paired it with caramel leather Rag & Bone pants and finished the look with the chocolate lace-up boots (x Prada) we saw her wear earlier with her navy slipdress. I love how they can look so on point with two completely different outfits! This highlight of this look, though, has to be her black fur scarf and fur-trimmed hat! (Do you think Lana is jealous? - How about a little Ravishing Nikki? ;)) I love the textural drama of these accessories; they take this ensemble to a whole other level. Next up is black monochrome look which is noteworthy primarily for its incorporation of this lace-inset hoodie from Alexander McQueen [id by fashionofthedivas]. The glorified sweatshirt is a super cool piece for sure, but beyond that, this look is basically workout-wear with boots. Hum ho. I'd have loved moto pants instead of leggings for a more interesting alternative. It's a rare miss from this style queen. NBD, c'est la vie. She's right back on track with this scorching red fit-and-flare dress from Topshop. I love pretty waist tie and the way she vamped up the styling by unbuttoning the top to create a semi-deep plunge. Her Prada boots are on duty again, working fabulously in yet another look. This time, they're adding interest and modernity to a throwback silhouette. A narrow station choker adds the tiniest hint of embellishment, while her flushed-nude make-up complements the look perfectly, without distracting from its standout feature: that gorgeous color! Oh. My. Wordy. This dress tho! Nikki rocked her signature shade of vibrant red on the red carpet of the WINawards with Brie back in February. I'm wild over the minimalist chic of this gown! The 70's-tinged one-shoulder design, the just-high-enough side slit, the flawless fit: this is amazing from head to toe! The polished pony has been the hairstyle of the season and Nikki employs it to brilliant effect here, where it highlights her bare shoulder and lets the gorgeous, pure styling this gown take center stage. Drop earrings add a tiny touch of sparkle, while nude peeptoe pumps completed the look with subtle sophistication. This is the Nikki-style I adore into forever!
And then....she. Did. THIS. Please come back later. I am officially slayed right now. Like..sjnfhmmojduefuewoj. 100%. Every word I have is SLAYED. I've been searching my entire life so far for an absolutely perfect yellow gown and Nikki found it for me. And wore it to the Oscars. And then the world ended. This insanely enviable gown is by Fouad Sarkis Couture and I am going to marry it. Where do I even start? The architectural ruffles at the shoulders and bust? The modern-meets-vintage adornments at the hips? The classic mermaid shape? The sweet-dreams-are-made-of-this color? I love it - EVERY bit of it. And it fits Nikki to perfection. Two other styling notes: I love her complex updo with its wavy tendrils. I wish it been done with just a teensy bit more softness and height, but it's intended effect - polished romanticism to counteract the gown's frothiness - is laudable, and a goal it achieved. Also, she gets huge props for finishing the look with silver mirror-finish shoes (by made-in-Italy brand Genny) instead of the more expected black, although I might have leaned toward the quiet, light formality of a simple sandal. Girlfriend goes form strength to strength - her next offering is a navy slipdress by Dion Lee, styled with lace-up boots for a 90's-grunge-gone-2017-luxe vibe. I love the interplay of the opulent silk with the downtown toughness of her boots! And the squared-out high-low hem makes a fun and interesting detail, adding an architectural solidity to the drape-y fabric. Satin, especially in a fabric like this which doesn't have much heft or stiffness, is notoriously difficult to pull off and Nikki does an excellent job of it. Her bauble-free, minimalist styling is textbook 90's and the simplicity is extremely effective. Next up is a floral maxi by Meghan Fabulous [id by fashionofthedivas]. I adore the vintage vibe of the long, slightly puffed sleeves, while the wrap style brings a more modern aesthetic. The background of this snap really makes it special, as the grass-covered field and the grape terrace in the background create a free-spirited, untrammeled canvas for the exuberance of a twirling Nikki. I love the attitude and emotion in this snap as much as the fashion :) |
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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