It amazes me that we're already at the end of 2016 and I'm doing year-in-review stuff! Gah...where did all those months go?! And yet, I'm so excited for the fashion coming down the pike in 2017 and covering it all with and for all of you! And yes, I will catch up on all the November and December fashion that ended up on hold while life tsumani'd me ;). I want to extend my sincerest and deepest thanks and appreciation to all of you for all the reads, hits, likes, tweets, re-tweets and votes. I love fashion and writing about it and sharing it, so thank you for making my little forum for doing that come alive and for sharing this diva-fierce journey with me! Best wishes to you all today, tomorrow and throughout the upcoming stylish year :)
XO
~Brie

It's time to take a trip down memory lane, Fancies.  Ok, very recent memory lane :) We're taking a look back at the trends that dominated, that made 2016 what it was in fashion. The looks that made it fabulous, luxurious and chill. The looks that slayed you and made you crave trying them (or not ;)). And we're paying tribute to the ladies who brought them to life for us! So settle in with a nice caramel macchiatto and relive 2016 :)

As a blogger, questions periodically float around in your brain like mini asteroids. Do readers want to see more of something? Would this be a good idea? Should I wear plaid with leather? Ok, not that last one ;) But on the rest, I'm reaching out for a little feedback on the two things I'd really really like to know your thoughts on as far as the site. And if you have other thoughts you'd like to share, please feel free to blather away in the comments! I promise to read every single one. XO

We have a surpise...and a you-could-have-guessed it. Are you ready? ;)

It's that most wonderful time of the year again, Fancies: the time when we give the gift of recognition to the very best photoshoots of the year! We pick the nominees, but to narrow it down to the sole, ultimate, number one of the year, your help is required! We need you. We can't do it without you. So, help us choose...The One.
This year presented some unprecedented challenges. First, in the Knockouts category, there were very few full photoshoots at all. We therefore had to make use of a couple that were one-shot 'shoots, which I have always preferred not to include, but this year simply have so few other options that it's the most reasonable solution. In a similar vein, many of the Divas snaps this year were part of combo 'shoots, so I've made the decision to consider each lady superstar's set as an individual 'shoot.  All that being acknowledged, there were plenty of moments which wowed us, inspired us, sent us reeling into transports of delight. Who, may you ask, accomplished all this? I'm thrilled to announce this year's list of Silver Snap Awards Nominees:

If you're looking for a holiday or New Year's outfit, Renee's fabulous Belle Epoch Free People dress is in stock at Free People..and it's not a budget-buster. Score, right?! Done in the season's hottest fabric - velvet - and a fantastic slipdress silhouette that's spot on the current 90's trend, this dress is both on point and beautiful! You can choose Renee's burgundy shade, or a magnificent deep green, as well as classic neutrals like black or gray. Style it her way - with booties - or block-heeled ankle strap pumps.

And then, there was November :)
Maria made waves in this cobalt sequined dress, embellished with side cutouts for an extra bit of va-va-voom. This is one of those colors I absolutely adore - it looks amazing on everyone, everywhere. My only reservation with this look is the way Maria styled it, with her brassiere visible. It looks a little sloppy to my eye. And while it's acceptable for an entertainment industry event, like Impact, there are a lot of places where it wouldn't be at all appropriate. I'd lean toward going with a less dramatic bra here and letting that gorgeous dress take center stage.
We also got a couple of peeks at Rosa's style this month. The first is a simple date night ensemble which combines a sexy off-shoulder lace-top tee from L'Agence with black pants. Her fun wide choker is by Bree Layne. The complex textures of the lace and ruffles bring interest to this monochrome look. Rosa kept her accessories minimal: a silver statement watch does it all, bringing a hint of flash and strength to the outfit. We don't get to see her shoes :'(, but I'm thinking a fierce pair of heels would be just the ticket. Her next offering is a dramatic, modern mesh-detailed top and skirt by Alexander Wang, whose designs tend to be minimal, but avant-garde. For example, while mesh can often be delicate, this open weave is done with wide crosspieces, making the vibe bold and powerful. Rosa plays up that feel with her dark lips. With all the toughness and intensity, I might have liked it if she'd gone with a softer hairstyle, like a braided headband or a low ponytail with tendrils. I really love that she took the risk on a edgy designer like this, though - it's so fab to see!
Nikki's look from her visit to the Churchill War Rooms (the basement complex which housed the British government command center from 1939-1945 during World War II) looks to be the same as the one from her earlier photo with Brie. It's worth of seeing twice, though ;) and it's a little clearer here. She paired a black maxi skirt with a stunning lace and chiffon bow blouse (close-up below) by Lurelly. This silk top is utterly magnificent! It boasts elegant puffed sleeves, a frothy sheer bow and a bandeau-detail of French lace. I can see why Nikki loved it; so do I!  Dress it up, as Nikki has, with a maxi or tuxedo pants, dress it down with denim: this is a classically feminine piece with modern sultriness that will be chic for decades...at least! The only trick is what to wear underneath. I would probably lean toward a strapless caimsole in nude or black. As if that blouse isn't enough to leave us collectively screaming, Nikki topped the whole ensemble with a burgundy fur stole. This is sophistication at its best. I'm going to go have a freak out moment over there in the corner now. Bye.

As promised, a closer look at Steph's outfit is at the far right. This pic really shows off how well it's put together!
I'm completely loving this outfit from Mandy as well! She pairs a white cropped turtleneck with blue jeans, gives it a touch of flash with her Hermes belt and then makes it totally winter appropriate with her faux fur vest. The lightness of this still-wintry color palette, as well as the casual glamour of the styling makes it an instant hit with me! Her make-up is soft and natural and creates a girl-next-door vibe and her high ponytail is super-cute! That's one of my favorite placements for a pony - it's polished, fun and sp pretty!
Michelle may not be wrestling any more, but she's clearly kept abreast of fashion trends in a way that would be totally LayCool-approved! She pairs black leggings, which were a fave of hers throughout that era with a slouchy olive sweater, draped off of one shoulder for a sexy vibe. She added an of-the-moment choker to keep the look trendy and finished it with her Louis Vuitton Seduction boots that took the Divas' Fashion Universe by storm back in 2010 when she debuted them. They're proof now that a classic never goes out of style and the zippered details (which allow the boots to switch betwen ankle, knee and OTK height) add a distinctive edgy fierceness to this casually trendy look. The only thing on my wish list is that Michelle ease up on the braids a tad; they're pretty, but in this case look the tiniest bit harsh ..and she's been doing variations of them almost nonstop since April.
Maria was also feeling the casual feels in this October snap, where she paired a simple black tee with gray distressed denim. I'm a fan of the unique color choice  of her jeans; it makes a fun change-up! She layered a multi-striped shirt over tee for warmth and an unusual way to play with both color and proportion (love that!) and then topped the look with a black leather biker jacket. Finally, she added a big pop of color with red ankle boots!  The whole theory of this outfit completely works for me. In practice, I might have leaned toward a solid red, red stripe or red plaid shirt to infuse the color throughout the outfit. But the basic principles work perfectly. (And PS, you could mellow out the drama a touch by going with black boots, if you wanted to create the look without the boldness of red footwear.)