Finally - I am back to FashionHaps again! Sorry it's been such a drought, loves! XO
Barbie took the pajamas-as-daywear trend to heart with this LBD from Meshki Boutique. The drapey shape and wrap styling give a strong impression of a silk bathrobe. I can't say this would be my first choice to grab off a hanger and wear (also I would need to glue it in place for fear of a strong wind), but Barbie pulls it off, mainly because of the simplicity of her styling. Fabulous, minimalist ankle straps, super-slim necklaces and pin-straight hair complete the look - nothing to get in the way of the dress' unmistakable sexy statement. And that's enough to keep it on the side of [daringly!] chic. Next up is a super casual pairing of a black bodysuit and cutoff jean shorts. I like Barbie's choice of a light denim wash here - it keeps the look from being overly dark and autumnal. I'm also a huge fan of her knee-high lace-up gladiators; the drama of the shoes gives this simple look a big dose of cool. Barbie completed the look with a cowboy hat, which look fantastic on her. I would have preferred the breezy, it-girl vibes of a Panama hat with her sandals and paired ankle booties with this Western-style head-wear. It was back to formality with her glittering Kourvoiseur dress. The patterning, sequins and slim straps gives me something of a Gatsby-era vibe. I applaud Barbie's decision to pull her hair back - the refined styling let the gown have center stage. We've seen similar pieces often enough before, but this is nicely done, as we'd expect from Barbie. I'm hoping she completed the styling with her nude ankle straps sandals, but they might be the clear sandals she's favored so much lately. I'm hoping it's the former. The same hope exists with her next look, a white mock-neck cropped top paired with beige cropped pants. The color, silhouette and lace-up detail all combine to make these pants a hit with me. Her top is a bit less so, due the thin-ness of the fabric allowing the edge of her bra to be extremely visible. It breaks the line of the outfit and looks somewhat unkempt, which is unfortunate because overall, the look exudes an easy, modern sensuality. As a bonus, it would translate nicely to fall with the addition of beige ankle booties. She went with white and cropped on top again for her next look, but the styling of this piece is quite different: rather than a minimalist tee, this is a feminine blouse with trendy flowing sleeves and a graceful v-neck. Barbie reprised the flowy-ness on the bottom with wide-leg pants in a cranberry shade. I just can't commit to the Fandom Of The Front-Slit pants, but leaving that aside, this color is magnificent and the high-waisted, wide-leg style is has a soft elegance. There's a good bit of motion and fabric in the combination of these two pieces, making the strongly defined waist a crucial aspect of the pairing. It acts as a grounding point for all the swirl of the sleeves and pants. Barbie's nude ankle straps complete the look, which works nicely. White sandals would have been quite fab here as well.
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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. How do you make the sophisticated venom of an editorial work for actual life? These are the kind of style perplexities that occupy the fashionista in my brain. Barbie's incredible python-printed wrap dress with its charmeuse accents is an incredible mix of color and pattern with a rippling undercurrent of luxury and danger. Barbie plays against the purple-tinged black shades of the print with her flame lipstick, giving the whole look a hypnotic easy sophistication. It's a complex, intense concept to translate from page and screen to the real world. The trick is to smudge certain elements, while retaining the punch. If you're the brilliant and stylish owner of a python wrap dress, this would be the time to dig it out :). Add red heels and lips - and maybe a black satin sash :) - and you're good to go. But, if not, well...there's more than one way to skin a snake (metaphorical comment - no snakes were harmed by this phrasing. Promise!). Color swapping opens up a lot more options: try a red dress of any simple iteration. You're looking for a plain-canvas type of piece which relies on its vibrant color for effect. A wrap piece will do, as will an unembellished sheath or A-line. Avoid frills (ruffles, lace, etc). The more edited the silhouette, the more powerful a backdrop it will be for the coup de grace: your snake-print heels. The black and white combo makes a big statement and serves as a bold, fresh twist on standard black, white or nude. No snake-print pumps? Try a snake belt, or snake-printed scarf as a sash or choker. Finish with edgy black sandal booties. None of the above? Recreate the vibe with another black-and-white pattern, like chic stripes, racy zebra, dramatic harlequin checks - almost any daring and/or strident black-and-white pattern will do. Or, go with a warmer but equally fierce variation using leopard accessories. Alternatively, choose a black, charcoal or white dress based on the above-outlined principles. Red lip. Red sash or belt, printed shoes (or vice versa!). Super-sleek hair please: pin-straight and face-framing, slicked back, chignon. This is also a flawless spot to play with a smoky eye or deep plum nails (or both! ;)). I hope this inspires you to inject a bit of venom into one of your upcoming looks :) Happy fashioning !
During the other many WM events Gail ran into Barbie and Alicia as well. I reviewed Barbie's look previously here. Seeing this bag though, I will add that I wish she had chosen a more interesting piece, something with color or a cleaner, edgier style instead of this bulky, tufted affair. Foxy indulged her 70's casual-glam side with this (sadly sold out) Colorblock Plisse Maxi dress from BCBG Max Azria. Her chestnut suede bag adds to the earthy-luxe vibe perfectly, while her bold gold lariat necklace brought in her usual touch of off-beat uniqueness. I'm imagining a pair of coordinating chunky-heeled wedges to finish :). Christy was in attendance as well, wearing punk-tinged faded-gray skinny denim, topped with a mod-meets-vintage dotted sheer-yoked black shirt. She completed the look with sporty black high-top sneakers and added a hint of flash with her silver necklace. The simple color palette helped to harmonize a look that spanned a number of genres. Gail's ensemble started with a micro-crystal embellished asymmetrical halter top. She balanced its wide, swingy shape with slim, black shorts and strappy lace-up sandals.
If you ever told me I was going to be loving a look with fringe and suspenders, I would have suggested you start looking for your lost mind. But here I am, loving it. And it's all due to Foxy Fierce. I can't imagine anyone else pulling off this daring look that indeed combines suspender pants with a leather vest and black suede fringed OTKs. It sounds like it can't possibly work, like it ought to be a complete hot mess. But it doesn't. And I LOVE it. It's creative, and daring. It's risk-taking that Foxy pulls off like a boss! The monochrome palette works to tie everything together and the disparate textures brings visual interest over and above the instant impact of the envelope-pushing suspender styling. This is brilliant and fierce. Reason #1846845262 why I fangirl over Foxy. Soooo, since I was kind of so-so about this particular application of velvet for warm weather, I guess it begs the question: how would you do it, Brie? Well, for starters, I'd happily borrow Barbie's sugary combo of pale pink (or at least golden nude ;)) and light wash denim! Lately, fashion has been appropriating traditionally winter fabrics, material by material, and reinterpreting them for the warmer months. It started a couple years back with leather, then suede and, as of this year, velvet. Most winter fabrics are weighty types, intended to provide warmth. The newer iterations generally have less heft and more drape, but they still carry a presence that can be challenging for high temps and sultry days. The trick is not to go overboard with them. To that end, do your velvet in shots, not kegs: a velvet tee or cami tops denim nicely. I've re-envisioned Barbie's pairing with slightly darker denim for a slightly more tart composition and added a grounding neutral. Bone peep-toe booties fill this role with the cami, black pointy-toe flats with the tee. I also love the idea of a black cross-body bag to reiterate the splash of black in a carefree (and practical! :) ) way. If a top is still too much velvet for your taste, consider the femme drama of velvet sandals! Because the hint of color is subtler here than when it's a larger piece of your look, super-pale denim is totally acceptable. Go for an on-trend crisp white shirt above. I love the coquettishness of a seen-everywhere off-the-shoulder blouse (ruffles, eyelet, lace and other ladylike embellishments = totally acceptable, even encouraged :)). If you haven't embraced said trend yet (or never will :)), try an iconic button-down in oxford or broadcloth. It will give you a crisper, more pointed vibe than the blouse. Since velvet, with its luxurious feel and sheen-y finish, is still a formal fabric, keep the baubletry to a minimum for this casual styling - a slim lariat or narrow choker is the most you need.
If you are head-over-chunky-heels for Barbie's peep-toe OTK booties, you are in luck bigly. They are the Galle boot by Guess. They are done in both the black (as modeled by Barbie) and a lighter (i.e. perfect for summer) gray. Add a massive dose of fierce luxe to knit dresses, cotton a-line pieces, mini skirts and shorts all through summer and then keep on with denim or leggings right into the autumn :) The Galle can be had here at 6pm.com...and they won't even hurt your piggy bank too much - bonus! :)
If you're pretty sure you've seen this dress before, I don't blame you. There has been so much use of the sheer-meets-something effect by stars in recent years, it's easy to get blasé about the look. The lighting makes this piece from Barbie (for the Star Magazine red carpet) appear to be sequined, but it's actually laced used in a similar way to sequin-covering-sheer dresses that were ubiquitous from 2012-2014. As a fan of freshness, I applaud the update of the lace and, while I'm a little over the sheer trend as done this way, this whole look is flawlessly put-together. The nude sandals, the polished-but-not-exceptionally-fancy low bun: it's all seamlessly stellar. She went with white again for her Easter style and I love everything about this dress...until we get to the loose, crinkled mock-neck. Like, what the? If only the dress had stopped 3 inches lower! Her high bun would have been dangerously refined, but workable with a different neckline. With this one, well, I'll give it a pass because the neckline really can't be redeemed, at least from what I can see at this angle. As with her previous dress, I'm on board for the nude sandal pairing - it's a lovely look. It's safe, but safe is what you want to be for a traditional holiday like Easter. That being said, I could have totally gotten behind spiking this look with bright heels - lemon, aqua, or even a subtler statement like blush or metallic gold.
Next, we get a bevy of looks from Brandi, including dipping all the way back into February for this metallic printed dress from Blackcake Clothing. She grounded this piece nicely with black pointy-toe pumps - the right choice for late winter. Chunky-heeled sandals would do nicely for summer. A wide bracelet added a solid gleam, but Brandi really gave the look some flash with her super-fun bag: a tasseled, lightning-bolt-accented piece. I love the quirky impulse behind this choice! Next up is a foray into jewel tones with an amethyst sheath dress. Instead of the expected black, she pairs it with taupe pieces - suede OTKs and a moto jacket. The softer neutral brightens this deep hue nicely and gives it a more feminine vibe then a fierce black combo. From there, she gives us a jaw-dropper: what looks to be a sneak peek at a photoshoot (oh, I hope so!). She pairs a black mockneck bodysuit with gorgeous burgundy velvet OTKs (ssly, is it possible to get a phrase that sounds more luxurious than "burgundy velvet"?). The look gets a twist that reminds me of something Maryse would do - feminine and sexy floral lace stockings. I love the way the textures of the delicate lace and plush velvet play off the smooth knit of her bodysuit. And leaning-back pose is killer! Her fun side is again in evidence with this sunshine-y orange romper. I love love love bright colors for warm weather, so I'm thrilled by this choice :). Brandi keeps the bright vibe going by finishing the look with black booties featuring an on-trend sprinkling of stars. As with her lightning-bolt purse, I love the playful vibe of this styling! |
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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