Kim: If we have any Marvel fans reading... *I raise my hand*... You're probably going to immediately recognize who Rosemary is dressing up as... *Raises my other hand*. She's bringing the darkness with this Venom look. The coolest part of this costume is without a doubt the face paint. The big, gaping mouth going all the way down her neck, with an even longer and twisted tongue, completed with lots of sharp, fang-like teeth. She also continued the black face paint down her chest to match up with the black body suit. And I mean a full on body suit, no cuts outs or sheer material, with long sleeves and everything. We've got the spider logo in silver right in the middle, and the hood with Venom's eyes is a haunting touch.  The final pieces of this costume are the knee high black boots, and the black leather gloves. I will call her poses very spidery, with her arms outstretched and her hands curled. Her facial expressions are so calm, and yet chilling. She isn't smiling, I mean come on it would mess up the paint, so for these shots it's all in the eyes.

Kim: The Impact shoots just keep on comin'! Allie is up next, and her costume is so... dang... cute! Like, it's definitely flirtatious, and a little sexy, but it's also just so adorable. I love how so many different materials are brought together to make this costume work. We've got the satin bunny ears that tie into the long, black satin gloves. So classy! The white lace body suit contrasts with the black frilly panties, but not in a bad way. They work so well together! I also love how she layered the bodysuit over a black bra, which again brings the shorts and the top together. And oh my gosh, we got a shoe shot! Thank you! Nothing too fancy here, but you can rarely go wrong with a simple pair of strappy black stilettos. We get a pop of sparkle with that crystal tie, and of course, it wouldn't be a bunny costume without a fluffy tail.

Kim: Alright so... this might be my favourite Halloween shoot from the Knockouts. Ava Storie as Little Red Riding Hood. Her costume is absolutely adorable, the red satin material mixed with the white lace is so feminine and gorgeous. The red and white plaid corset top fits her perfectly and the plain red criss cross is such a nice detail. Of course, she wouldn't be little red without her hood, and this one is the best match as it's made from the same material as her skirt. I love that we get a mixture of poses with the hood up and down. The little bow in the front is another small detail that might not be huge, but ties everything together... no pun intended ;) I haven't seen a whole lot of shoots from Ava before, but her poses here make it seem like this is effortless for her. From playing with her hair, to a straight on smile, to a side glace surprise, being in front of the camera is like second nature for this Knockout.

Kim: Happy Halloween, all! The day is upon us, and we've got more spooky themed photos from the Impact Knockouts to review. First we had Laurel, now we've got Sienna. First off, I'm sad I could only find 2 photos of hers to review. Maybe more will pop up, but for now I'll work with what I've got. Sienna is dressed as the cruel villain from 101 Dalmatians, Cruella De Vil. There are two things you need to pull of this look; the hair and the coat. Sienna has both! Now, her black bodysuit is a big change from the more traditional black dress the character wore in the movie. But that's the joy of Halloween, things don't need to be done exactly the same. You can put your own spin on things. I think all the straps and cut-outs are very intriguing and totally catch your eye. The black gloves are also a switch from the full arm red, but we do get the pop of colour with her lipstick. Like I said in the beginning, I wish we had more shots to review. I think there could have been more unique and creative poses she could have done, however, the Disney fan inside me is still pretty happy to see one of the most chilling characters be given some spotlight.

WWE didn’t see fit to grace us with a real title ‘shoot for Natalya. Fortunately, she shared a bunch of snaps on her Instagram which let us create our very own. I’ve already raved over this glorious gear, but it’s Nattie’s poses which really let me know that this ‘shoot, had it been released, would have been special. They’re unique and stunning and everything a belt ‘shoot should be. Future wearers, take note: this is how it is done. It’s clear she’s had plenty of time to conceive of how to approach the set and she hasn’t wasted it. Even with the standard backdrop-less presentation, her joy is palpable. She demonstrates it through her ecstatic skyward glances and with athleticism, through a jumping shot which avoids the trap of silliness and comes off as a genuine and powerful gesture. She brings a raw sexiness to the snaps as she caresses the belt, hugging it to her body and brushing it with her lips. These shots are the fullest embodiment of a queen at the height of her competence, with all her lessons learned, debts paid, skills honed and nothing left but to savor her reign and her challengers’ inability to end it. I’m feeling that right along with her, as I have long rooted for another title run for her. She has more than earned it and it’s so thrilling to see it come to fruition that I want nothing more than to enjoy it and be taken on this incredible, sinuous, glamorous, confident journey by her. And,  of course, to soak up each new stunning iteration of her gear. :). I thought the black and crystal Versace-inspired piece would be almost impossible to top, but I confess: the extravagance and intense beauty of this one has won me over completely.
Congrats, girl!

I’ve been working super hard on a massive new Melange post. Coming this week for ya, loves! XO
Maria was cool and casual in her black and red graphic tee and leggings. I love how she put a rocker-cool spin on this look with her leather vest and, most of all, those super hot ankle boots! A little hardware always gets my attention ;). For her summer tv appearance, she ditched casual for glam, showing off this silver sequined dress with a tulip front. The cutesy vibe of her lipstick-kiss pumps wouldn’t have been my first choice as a pairing from a fashion standpoint, but they’re a perfect way to convey her character, so I’m giving them the ok here. They definitely add a whimsical touch to this fancy piece, which makes the look stand out from the ordinary. She doubled down on that theme with her next look, a pairing of black kabooty shorts with a sequined Betty Boop tee and lipstick-kiss leather jacket in blush. The whole ensemble is so over-the-top and almost cartoonish that only Maria could pull this off successfully. Her massive, fearless personality carries this look: it doesn’t wear her, she wears it. And she channels it into a faux serious sexy lovefest. I’m completely in awe of how she makes something so wrong seem exactly right. And she earns bonus points for the on-trend fishnets.
We saw Maryse wear this BCBG cape dress alone with nude pointy pumps and layered over a sheer piece with Rockstud pumps, but here she lighten the look up by completing it with Nudist ankle strap sandals. They have  a barely-there quality (hence the name ;)) which really highlights the sleek softness of this dress. I’m also 100% in for her self-wrapped pony, which looks amazing on her and is rapidly becoming one of my favorite hairstyles. I also want to express my delight for Maryse and Miz and their forthcoming bundle of joy. Congrats to them!

Kim: Halloween is quickly approaching, in fact it's coming up in just a few nights, and we've got a fun costume shoot to review from Laurel Van Ness. Donning the red, blue, and gold, she is being her own hero as Wonder Woman. There are multiple ways someone can represent this fearless superhero, from the traditional comic book character to the recent movie adaptation. Laurel went more so with a classic look, but still made it unique. From top to bottom, we start with the signature gold headband, holding back her hair which is styled in some beautiful curls. Her gold and red top is tied into her high waisted, bright blue shorts covered in little while stars, by a big gold waist piece. The final touches are the gold gauntlets on her wrists and a bright pop of red on her lips. Laurel nailed some amazing superhero poses, like the side view of her crossed arms, to really send this shoot home. Wonder Woman is personally my favourite superhero, and Laurel did a fantastic job of bringing her justice in these photos.

Barbie celebrated Swim Week Miami, including attending the SI Swimsuit party, with a triad of fab looks. Latex is having a (growing) fashion moment and Barbie hopped on the trend in a simple black dress from Meshki Boutique that garnered extra seduction  thanks to the smooth sheen of its fabric. This likely reminds you of Nikki Bella’s 2016 ESPY’s look and, indeed, the dresses are quite similar, with one exception: Barbie’s is cut straight at the neckline, instead of having the sweetheart shape. Both ladies styled the piece with ankle-strap heels. While Nikki went for a bold, studded pair, Barbie chose a slimmer version. She also wore her hair in a polished high, self-wrapped ponytail, which I love: it shows of her shoulders and fits the sleek look of the dress flawlessly. Hoop earrings add a hint of trendy shine.  Her next look pairs a square-neck crop top Meshki Boutique with the Multi Snake Split Trousers from Pretty Little Thing. I still can’t get behind the double front slit, but I love the riotous mutli-hued fabric -it’s def there to party! I also give props to Barbie for seamlessly mixing affordable pieces into her look. Nudist-type heels in beige finish the outfit, while a low pony gives the styling a more casual vibe. There’s nothing casual about her SI Swimsuit party dress, though! The piece, from Elie Madi via For The Stars Fashion House, features glittering sequined scroll-work set over a translucent  nude base. While I am very much over the sheer trend, I can’t help but admit that this dress is a showstopper! It manages to be that just-right blend of gorgeous and sexy, and still feels like a fresh take on the overdone sheer look. I love every inch of Barbie’s beauty look, from the slightly right-of-center part (with enough volume to be more stunning than severe) to her her dewy-meets-smoky eye (I have always adored the fresh glow of the dewy look) to her sand-pink lip shade. Barbie looks utterly amazing!
After Barbie’s darkness and shine, we head into a blaze of color from Brandi. First up is a lemon yellow halter maxi from Show Me Your Mumu that must feel like wearing sunshine! I’m wild over the color and the simple silhouette is versatile, comfortable and beautiful. Can’t ask for more than that :). Brandi completed the look with multi-color slingback wedges and a Louis Vuitton bag that strikes the only darker note in the styling. I don’t mind the grounding effect, but I could see a beige tote working nicely as well.  Equally praiseworthy is her next offering, a pumpkin cold-shoulder gown with ruffled sleeves. With the bright color, statement sleeves and flawless fit, it reminds me strongly of Angela Sarafyan’s look at this year’s Emmy’s. Brandi’s gown is Julea Domani x Zeena Zaki. She accented it with slender touches of  gold in earrings and a bangle. The warmth of the metallic echoed that of the dress and provided just the right subtle statement, while her rose lip shade brought a perfect extra pop of color.

The ladies of WWE gave us a huuuuge range of fashion as they attended ComicCon this summer. Noelle kept things simple and straightforward by pairing a deep blush cropped halter top with a black pencil skirt. It’s nicely polished and put together for this kind of event and consequently gets a thumbs up from me. We don’t get to see her shoes, but blush sandals would seem to be the most intuitive choice. I can also see adding a touch of hardware with a chain-handled bag for a little extra va-voom. Renee styled leather overalls in a unique way, leaving one side un-buckled for a drapey, casual twist on the standard approach. She layered a bright graphic tee below. Since her styling made her overalls more casual, I think I would have preferred the contrast of a fancier top – a bright silk button-down, multi-color striped tee or band-collared blouse -, but this shade of intense aqua looks marvelous on Renee. I also give her massive props for the creative silhouette. She completed the look with peep-toe ankle boots for just the right dose of fierce. I was shocked to see Becky choose such a formal piece as this metallic jumpsuit; it’s a far cry from the casual attire she often reaches for. It’s not inappropriate, however, and I’m really excited to see her in something so daring. The one-shoulder detail gives it a nice touch of uniqueness and the space-age vibe is quite intriguing. The only thing on my wishlist is that she had finished the look with the grounded fierceness of black: an ankle strap pump, pointy ankle boots, strappy sandals. Charlotte was gorgeous in this cobalt blue mini dress with its fluttery front. I love how perfect this piece is for her body shape; she’s really solidified her game on that front over the last year or so. This type of dress, with its boxier silhouette, really looks best when it’s quite short. The piece accomplishes that while concurrently maintining its professionalism via the high-low hem. Charlotte’s Maddye boots ( x Steve Madden) complete this look in soft, summery style.

Are you ready for super-simple? How about being a boxer, à la Summer? The only prop you really need is a pair of boxing gloves – check out Amazon for an affordable pair (like these. Note that the weight and color make a big difference in the price). Then, grab a hoodie, a sports bra, running shorts, a towel and a water bottle. Summer went with bright neon colors, which adds intensity to the look and makes it stand out. Alternatively, Sasha’s snaps form this same shoot were done in carbon grays and black, with just one pop of deep purple, so consider that option if you’re feeling a bit badder  :). Last item: sneakers! Pick up an authentic pair (like these) or use any pair of high-top, lightweight ones you already own (no flatforms please :)). Brush up on your air-punching skills before the big day and be sure to finish the look with plenty of attitude ‘cuz you know you’re a knockout, right? ;) Ok, how easy was that?