If you've been craving the palette-cleansing effect of an all (or mostly all) white ensemble, now's the time! Draw some inspiration from Cathy's look and start with a simple piece: a sheath dress with a cutout, a breezy denim mini dress, or a ruffled knit frock. White monochrome combos like a tee and flared jeans or a feminine blouse and pencil skirt are 100% workable starting points as well. The key to a super-clean, blank canvas look like this is the accessories. Theprimary trend for this summer is white everything, including shoes and bags, which keeps the styling really brisk and refreshing. If you're going that route, make sure to add visual interest to the look with a contrasting texture - think eyelet or lace espadrilles with denim, or a sheer/semi-sheer blouse (and suitable underlayer ;)) with knit track pants. Add a pure white bag, or bring in tiny hints of soft color by choosing one with embroidery or appliqué. This one happens to be Fendi, but if dropping nearly three grand on a bag isn't something you feel like doing (I mean, geez, why not? ;)), get a plain white one and add your own flowers by pinning on silk flower heads (most will pop right off the step, but wire cutters work too). It'll look just as fab and it'll be the colors and styles you choose. (Hint: flatter flowers, like sunflowers, dahlias, anemones and zinnias will translate most easily. Stay away from rose *buds*. Fully open roses can work, though - the less upwardly poofy and more open, the better.
As fall approaches, adding touches of black to the predominantly white outfit has become a stronger trend. Consider incorporating a piece which includes black in the design (black shoulder ties or neck bows, for example), or add a black belt or bag and shoes. No need to get crazy with the complements - just one or two pieces are all you need to create the iconic contrast. Alternatively, bring more colors to the look by choosing two coordinating hues and doing an accessory in each. I love the idea of using one pastel and one stronger shade: blush with bright aqua, powder blue with azalea, butter with grape, mint with cobalt. The softer color recedes somewhat compared to the bolder one, so the overall effect is softer, but very summer-ready. Work with a bag and shoes, shoes and jewels, a scarf and bracelet, a belt and a hat -pretty much any two accessories are all you need to create the vibe. Tie is all together with a multicolored third piece if that appeals to you ...or don't! The look works either way, so pick your passion :) Happy styling!
0 Comments
If you took one look at Summer's impeccably cool ankle booties and went head-over-heels, I can totally join your tumble. These urban-cowboy-esque heeled lovelies are Jeffrey Campbell's Cromwell, a classic Western-themed ankle bootie that gets a boost of unfussy modernity from its deep side slits. If that wasn't enough fun, there's a hint of flash from the metallic accents at the toe and heel. The gritty fierceness is married with the practicality of a low block heel, turning them into a pair that's wearable from festival season through fall pumpkin fetes and even on into winter. They're offered in plain black leather, as well as black or blush suede, python, taupe velvet or taupe suede (all at Nordstrom) (black & taupe suede also at Shopbop).
Back when the Big Dub took their Summer Skin seriously and didn't just dash off a crumb to the anniversary with a mere four photoshoots *ahem*, they gave just about every diva on the roster their own day of swim snaps. I remember how freakin' amazing that summer was, waiting to see who was going to be next and what they had chosen for swimwear and the locations and just...ogh...so much fantasticness! That - and I can hardly believe this because it seems like this blog's been my baby forevs - was back in the days before I was a fashion writer. So, although I got to savor and be inspired by each 'shoot, I didn't get to review them. Remedying that as we speak :)...or rather as we share thoughts electronically via various networks. It's so funny to think back to those moments - I had a different car, different laptop to race to wwe.com on, different hair color, same love of wrestling in general and divas in particular (thank Maria and Michelle for that; they hooked me). The continual and unprecedented 'shoot releases kept the whole summer lit...not that lit was in common usage then :). It made a huge impression on me because it coincided with the first summer I was a huge diva fan. I don't remember what order the snaps came out in, but I do remember raving over Maria's, Maryse's (some things never change ;)) ... Maria's set was as diverse as her fashion is, ranging through some girl-next-door blue denim-esque and skull-accented, rocker chick piece before getting to the heart and soul of her fashion: glam. This mint-and-gold set had me drooling with it's shining beauty. Maria went heavy with gold statement jewelry, adding plenty of va-voom to an already attention-getting look. She pushed her poses to the dramatic limits - sometimes blowing right over them, but whatever :) - now that's how you work some bamboo! And thennnnn, she busted out the bikini I can't forget. Well, ok, maybe I can forget those metallic boy shorts, but that triangle top covered in massive silver paillettes? Never. Oh, and there was a star charm dangling off the center. I still want that piece. Her roll-front side-pony was about as glam as glamour gets. And there were also stud bracelets. Not sure my heart ever left that shoot. So maje.
Then again, Maryse didn't go easy on the heartstrings with her looks. She included sequined sets in magenta and red, a pure white bikini shot in the spray, a glittering blue bikini and then these two: a black triangle set covered with crystals and the curveball of the line-up: a floral-printed french top paired with white bottoms which boasted super-long side ties. It was basically a "You'll need oxygen for this" set of snaps from stem to stern, but these two stood out particularly for the backgrounds and poses. The black bikini was shot with Maryse perched on an outcropping of rocks. It looked challenging, but that brought out the best in her, as she draped herself over the rocks for a stunning series of shots. The floral bikini was shot primarily on the beach, with Maryse half-in/half-out of the water. Her poses, all the way from laying in the sand to kneeling in the foam evoke quintessential summer. Eva Marie announced last week that she and WWE have parted ways. We're sad to see her go, but can't say we're surprised. Miss All Red Black Everything hasn't really been active in the ring for the past year and between her new movie Inconceivable, her NEM fashion brand and new projects in the works, she's clearly finding opportunities and success outside of WWE. The company, of course, needs it's talent to wrestle and generally works out arrangements that let Superstars whose commitments take them away from ring too long out of contracts. Happily, the parting appears amicable - Eva doesn't discount the possibility of returning to wrestling in the future. We wish her the best and have no doubt that with her big dreams and work ethic her star will keep on rising!
Oooookay..since the Big Dub has just released a finale of unreleased snaps from these last four photoshoots, I assume that "Summer Skin 2.0" has officially concluded. Booo! Four divas? You're kidding, right? I call serious gyp-age! And now, before my rant goes into unprintables and bleeps, let's talk about Maryse.
She graced us with two bikinis and a one-piece. I was particularly struck by her choices for the bikinis. Both pieces had wonderful, saturated summer colors - cherry red and bright aqua , but beyond that, both swimsuits are very simple. I was surprised by that because we've often seen Maryse reach for be-crystalled, sequined and otherwise-embellished pieces that bring a lot of energy to a 'shoot in and of themselves. The iconic red bikini pairs a french top with absolutely plain bottoms. Maryse naturally rocks it, because she is Maryse, but I'd have some reservations about recommending this set to the general populace. Her silver statement cuff and the trendy pink-red combo created by her lavender-pink nails add some spark. Even so, the look is a tad short of punch on its own. Consequently, it's the poses where Maryse injects her own formidable panache and personality that work the best. When she does a simple stance in front of palm leaves, the set feels uninspiring. When she plays with her hair and looks down as she laughs, it steals the show. |
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
Categories
All
Photos used for criticism and comment under US Copyright Act Section 107.
|