The Fourth of July celebration is continuing around here, as several of the lady superstars  have been kind enough to grace us with Stars and Stripes-themed 'shoots.  I'm especially pleased to see this set from the Knockouts, as it's been awhile since we've gotten major photoshoots from the brand, excepting the massive gear 'shoot from a few months back. Prior to that, we saw the KO's do a number of awesome themed photoshoots, but they haven't had a set focused on fashion for ages. This one rectifies that dearth by including both a theme and fashion! That's the way to a stylish girl's heart!
First up is Laurel, who blasted on to the scene last year and grabbed the Silver Snap honor for photoshoot of the year with a single scintillating shot. She's got a good one in the running for 2017 as well with this thoroughly Americana-inspired look. She paired a solid red string bikini top with denim cutoff shorts. I love the extra dimension she brought to the look via her denim vest - the suggestion and shadow make it stand out from an ordinary string bikini 'shoot. She added a dash of glam with her crystal statement necklace  - love that! And naturally, any good cowgirl would wear her boots with her glam, so ta-da! Caramel Western boots it is. Her long and loose banana-curled hair gives this a completely classic country-bombshell vibe, aided and abetted by her joyously confident pose. So much fun!
McKenzie brings a fashionista's heart to her ensemble. While she starts with the iconic white tank and blue denim skirt combo - the latter given a suitably modern spin with fraying and distressing - she makes it super trendy with asymmetric red suede ankle booties (fabulous!) and a starred-and-striped kimono: yaaaaaaaas, girl! I'm all in for this injection of trendy modernity in streetwear into Knockouts fashion. It makes a classic look come alive with freshness and spunk.  She is proving her slot on my One To Watch list is well-deserved! More please :) She also earns props for her pose - it's a standard, but she nails it! Actually, she nails every pose...as does Laurel. And their back-to-back snap together is an unquestionable shoot highlight.
I always love Gail's distinctive sense of style and this look is no exception. She combines an on-trend ruffled star-and-stripe bikini top with medium-wash denim shorts. The chevron waist and flawless fit of the latter makes them scalding hot, even with a minimal amount of distressing and skin-peek. She completes the look with boldly geometric  heeled sandal booties in bright white - a perfectly summer-appropriate (and ttly on-trend) conclusion. The look is has a crisp, classy punch and it's trademark Gail. I love it from head to toe. And her aaaaaahmazing pose is only helping that love :) I wish we had gotten a few more shots from her, as her looking backward pose is killer as well!
The set rounds out with Allie. It doesn't get much more iconic than her half-starred/half-striped bikini top. She paired it with rolled deep-blue wash denim shorts that she left half un-zipped and open in a distinctly 90's-throwback look. While I'd probably opt for a fully-zipped set-up if I were wearing this look in real life, Allie's flirty styling helps this editorial look by elongating her line and accentuating her hips. Like Laurel, she reached for Western-tinged booties to finish the ensemble. Allie's represent the super-hot-lately nod to the theme, as opposed to Laurel's full-on iteration, but they work equally well, lending a current edge to her outfit. This pose isn't my favorite of Allie's set; there's something about her stance that's just a touch off.  Happily, her other snaps are much stronger, with her poses in front of the American flag being highlights.

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.

Gail got to meet up with a number of her friends this spring and there was some serious fashion involved! Before we get to that, though, Eva was doing some fun fashion things, as well.
First, she's keeping her own NEM line trend-heavy with this pretty striped choker top. It melds both on-point stripes and the smoking hot, not-going-anywhere off-shoulder silhouette. I love the fresh, summery feel of the piece, which Eva enhanced by pairing it with beige denim. That color story always makes me think of sun-soaked beach promenades! In a related NEM note, the company has recently introduced active-wear! Primarily in black and white with futuristic sheer and satin-y contrasting panels, it has the same modern, confident vibe as the rest of the NEM line. So, def be sure you check that out :) Next, she received the opportunity to walk the runway for made-in-the-USA evening-wear brand Stello. The company launched its Sir Stello menswear line this spring and Eva modelled this black suit on the catwalk. Overall I really enjoy the way this piece was styled, with the wide leather corset belt (although I could have done without the dangling suspender straps) and the pants tucked in to Eva's lace-up booties. Even thought the clothes are masculine, the way they are accessorized and used highlights the feminine form and fluidity. The contrast feels surprising, without being tacky or aiming for shock value and I could 100% see this styling being used like off-runway.
Gail met up with Christy and Brooke around Wrestlemania and the ladies three were looking fine! I need to just take a moment and rave over what an amazing job Brooke has done - her post-baby body is unbelievable! And this pretty ivory dress highlights every curve! I love her bold eyes and soft rose lip shade. And I reeeaaally wish I had gotten to see her shoes. Actually, that's true for all three ladies. Work on that for next time for me, huh, Lovelies? ;) j/k. I'm thrilled we got to see some fashion, any fashion, from them all actually. Christy paired a feminine and on-trend blush choker-cutout blouse with her usual dose of rocker edge via a metallic gold pencil skirt. I love how she always injects something unexpected and which feels very much "her" into a look! Gail looked classy and chic in a blakc satin dress with a gorgeous strapless silhouette and sweetheart neckline. A gold statement collar necklace ramped up her look. Is this #GirlSquadGoals or what?

Ok, so I know Wrestlemania is this weekend (Go Taker! sorry - had to get that in there ;)) and I promise I will abso def cover AAAAALLLL the fashion from that. Doing so in a timely fashion is #Goals.  I feel like all I'm doing is apologizing lately; I feel so badly for not keeping up. My life is just crazier than I could ever have imagined right now. You wouldn't believe how many posts I have in the planning and partial stages that I just cant get to grrrr. Anyway, I'm here, I'm working, and I *will* get to it all somehow.  'k  'nuff b!tch*ng. FASHION. Let's do it.
A few of these Masterposts are going to be combos because some of these ladies only share tidbits with us, but whatever, right? We'll enjoy and smidgeon we get! First up is Alexa with a couple of cute outfits. The first is a look that reprises a styling we've previously seen: mini skirt+boots+leather jacet. Here, she used a polka dot mini and topped it with a slogan tee. This pairing is has such a great girl-meets-tough vibe! And I totally love the way it suits Alexa's personality. Her tights make it cool-weather friendly. Plus, it utilizes a skirt in such a carefree, laidback way that it makes it easy to vary the ubiquitous leggings scene. The coup de grace is her studded knit hat, which brings a big statement pop, while still carrying the chill-rocker chick feel - kind of like a 90's Avril Lavigne. She switches things up for her next look, going with black denim. Another slogan tee tops it , but she goes for a white, black and red varsity jacket/bomber, instead of leather. A taupe studded knit add brings the attitude here in a similar way to her previous use of one. I could have been a shade happier if she's done black again instead of the taupe, but the rest of her outfit is so neutral that it works. Wedge sneakers finish the look with sporty flair.
Allie also graced us with a trio of fab put-togethers. The first is a gorgeous crop top and maxi skirt pairing in black, accented with sheer fabric and crystals. This is such a great way to do an evening look - it's restrained, with just enough glamour to have presence. Her side braid is gorgeous, as is her bold eyes-meet-pale lips make-up. Anyone looking for prom inspiration could start here! Allie's next outfit incorporates her favorite peplum-style top, paired with black leggings and sage suede OTKs. The stunning square neckline of her top lends itself to a wide choker. The look is on-trend and super cute. PS it could easily be finished with black leather pointy OTKS too ;). Her last outfit reaches back to late summer, but I had to call out this lovely combo of scalloped lace and blue denim. It's frothy, but casual, feminine but confident and I love it! I'd complete this look with nude pointy pumps.

Impact has been a good bit off the radar over the last year in terms of photoshoots. It's a shame after the great run they had under Christy Hemme's direction and the launch of the website completely dedicated to the KO's that really gave them a chance to break free and stretch their wings. While we wait for the company regroup and (hopefully! ..as in preeettttty pleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaase!) get back to giving us photos again, we can thank our Kim's trip through her archives for giving us this little trip down memory lane - n AMAZING gear from Gail Kim at the time of one of her many KO's title wins. Gail began to do some really unique and special things with her gear during her second WWE run and she continued that fantabulousness, albeit with a much darker vision, when she returned to Impact.  She nailed the sweet spot between trendy and tough, with a dash of romantic thrown in to spice things up. Lace and leather became trademark fabrics for her. We watched her evolution through various shades of lace with top+shorts combos and then, one day, she decided to knock us all out of our seats and on to our keisters when she debuted her one-piece variation, which evolved into various combinations of cutouts and sheers, accented with lace and leather. Oh, and finished with lace-up OTK boots. This set showcased exactly that kind of  killer pairing: a deep-v front bodysuit (shove over Ariana - Gail done it first!) done with black lace set over a stunning shade of bright turquoise. The effect was mesmerizing, beautiful, bold and sexy as all Hel..sinki :). Floral lace shorts reprised the black lace-over-turquoise shading that dropped jaws everywhere, while a patent belt at Gail's  waist brought even more attitude to an already scalding silhouette. After all that, those incroyable OTK boots were just icing on our fashion cake! But Gail didn't stop with her gear - she slayed a sitting pose or two as well, just to remind us that our undying devotion wasn't in the least misplaced. Bon temps, bon temps!
 
PS lots more posts coming this week, loves! I've got FashionHaps up the yin-yang and more all prepped and ready to be write up for your enjoyment, so stick close :)

Jumpsuits and risky pants seem to have reached consensus-status among the divas this fall. Cathy, along with Barbie, gave us a pair of them and handled both excellently. Her first was a navy square-neck piece with wide straps (I LOVE those for hiding bra straps!) and a subtly sexy front notch. The matte fabric of this piece keeps it slightly to the casual side, so Cathy ramped up the look by pairing it with strappy nude sandals. If you thought that was good, her next choice was even better: a stunning forest green satin piece, chosen for the Heroes Gala. First, I’m in love with this color right now – it’s luxe, elegant and looks stunning! Second, the high cross design of this piece is dramatic and sexy, especially with the little peekaboo situation just about her waist. The side buttons add just a touch of flash, which Cathy accentuated with jeweled fan earrings that make just enough of a statement. Her bright cranberry lip brings a festive touch to this fantastic look.
Carmella hopped on board the daring-pants-plus-neutrals vehicle and, as with both other ladies who have tried it, the pairing succeeds nicely. These windowpane-printed pants could get too busy in a hurry, but matched with this deep-v top and black leather jacket (I love how she got in a touch of her trademark leopard print via the collar!), they come off funky and experimentally modern. If I could swap anything, it would be her boots. I’m giving her a bye on this one because I suspect this was a rainy day (I would probably lean toward a knee-height version myself for a bit more polish), but for non-inclement weather, ankle booties with a block heel or flat OTK’s would give this pairing a little fiercer finish.
We know Brandi for many of her more formal looks, but she also rocks casual style. This simple pairing of an ivory peplum sweater with black leggings and flat ankle boots has just the kind of laidback, confident femininity that’s perfect for fall…or the post-holiday winter chill ;). On a more familiar note is this blush dress, paired with nude platform pumps. Brandi is a master at picking chic classics with a twist and this piece is a #HowItsDone101. This iconic silhouette gets an update from the wrap effect and the crossed front detail, which has the added benefit of accentuating the waist and creating the hourglass shape. Her color story of mixed pale neutrals keeps this fresh and modern.
Maryse also explored the wrap-look option with this Want My Look piece. (Aside: the wrap dress reflects the current 70’s trend, as that was the decade in which designer Diane von Furstenberg brought it to the forefront of fashion). This low scoop-neck silhouette pushes sexy to its limits, while Maryse adds attitude by finishing it with black suede OTKs from Sam Edelman. She brings an extra touch of attitude and drama by topping it with a metallic trench, a twisted-classic piece from Femme LA, which I love her use of! The sheen adds interest and chic to a simply sexy black monochrome look and gives it a powerful flair. Her blackberry lip brings a darker vibe to the look, which, while it might be harsh for day-time wear, works well for the drama of an evening ensemble.

Are you ready for a fashion blast? I can not even believe that I have so much catching up to do; would you think that there could be stuff from October I haven’t reviewed yet?! Omg.  And we have all the exciting year end things this month too, lovelies. So, hang on to your stilettos because my plan is a giant, whirlwind catch-up which means tooonnnnnnnnsssss of fashion coming your way.
 We’ll start it with Gail, who looks fierce and fab in this pretty pink dress, toughened up with a leather moto jacket. She gives it a trendy and casual touch with a scarf twisted at her neck and then ramps up the fierce quotient with mid-calf peeptoe booties. I love how Gail balanced the sweet, feminine of pink with strong, mature accessories. This combo feels confident and polished. She goes from strength to strength, as her next offering is this emerald green gown, chosen for this year’s SkyBall, an American Airlines fundraiser for military families at which her husband was cooking. This piece is a magnificent choice: the lattice-work details make is current and sexy, the sheer insets keep it classy and the color takes it over the top into an absolute smash! It’s an amazing shade on Gail and I hope we see her try more of it soon! Everything about this styling is flawless, including her sideswept hair. It’s so much fun seeing her completely nail a red carpet look!
Pink was front and center a lot in October, as Lana reached for some during her trial of plaid. This is an unusual and vibrant variation of the classic and often mellow-colored pattern and it was a surprise to me to see it on Lana. It seems to be a sign of her more laidback tv aesthetic, also suggested by her long and loose hair style. I’m on board with the hair for sure; the jury’s still out on the plaid ;)
Mandy made us look twice with this Instagram shot, which paired a sporty cropped v-neck tee, bedecked with black graphic accents, with a leather mini skirt. OTK boots completed the ensemble. There’s a lot that great about this look: the classic color combo, the athletic-meets-fierce vibe, the play on knit vs. smooth texture. Between the deep v and the super-short skirt, though, Mandy’s pushing the sexy on all fronts. It’s a bit too much for my taste; I’d tend toward choosing one or the other, as it’s very easy to get into trashtastic territory when you’re skimming so close to that line. With a knee-length skirt (and shorter boots) or a higher neck cropped top, this look would be more balanced. As ubiquitous as chokers are getting at the moment, I like Mandy’s use of it here; it helps to harmonize the look.
How about this killer shot from Emma? She has been tearing it up lately during her time off for an injury, so stick around for a bunch more amazing snaps from her. In the meantime, I am loving this square-studded long-sleeved crop top paired with boy shorts –this is about as sexy as workout wear gets!! Give me studs I promise you, I will get waaaay more serious about gym time! ;) Emma’s pose is slayage overdrive. Her hair is on point. The black-on-black color palette, echoed by her dark nails, has a bring-it-on attitude that’s just flawless (and motivating!) for weights, cardio or what have you. The amazing pic is one of the first teasers of Emma’s makeover into Emmalina, an athletic vixen with a very old-school diva vibe – a blend of sex and athleticism. If this is typical of the style of girlfriend’s new persona, Emmalina’s fashion is going to eclipse Emma’s in no time.

One amazing thing about fashion: it’s always there for you. It never lets you down. No matter what’s going on in your life, you can escape to fashion. It can be your solace when times are tough, your way to celebrate when they’re good and your  personal  form of expression and comfort every day in between.  And, we’ve got a special treat today! After a big drought of Knockouts’ fashion, we’ve got a boatload of it to review! So, settle in and enjoy :-)
When Gail was inducted into the Knockouts’ Hall Of Fame, Christy and Taryn were on hand to congratulate her. Gail looked aaaamazing in her coral gown with its daring front slit. I love this color on her, as well as the chic simplicity of this piece. The color and hint of sex appeal bring just enough drama to the look, which she completed with gorgeous metallic gold strappy sandals. Everything about this look is spot on.

Maria’s inner beast? Oh that creature’s a sexy thang for sure! And what mythological beats was sexier than the sultry, come-hither sirens who lounged on sharp rocks at beach-side and lured sailors into wreckage with their songs? I’m sure many a man (and likely a number of women ;)) have been lured into dangerous territory by Maria. If you inner beast shares that talent for temptation, dress  her up for Halloween in a ruffled skirt (or use a dark neutral skirt or pair of pants and add a sparkling net hip shawl), paired with a glittering top. Try a sequin bikini, bra top or cami, or go for something with feathers (the sirens of legend were part bird).  You could also bring the winged concept in with a feathered headband or earrings. Alternatively, try a seashell crown and/or pendant. Stay with cool shades: blue-greens, blues and purples, accented with touches of sandy beige or taupe. Finish the look with (what else?) flip flops :)