Any time I get a chance to involve yellow in anything, I'm probably going to do so :). Therefore, it's no surprise that Emma's printed dress had me salivating over recreating some variations of it. It's my fashion philosophy that yellow goes with anything and everything, but if you're a bit more leery of the color (heeeyy..it's ok...you can come out of the farthest-possible-place-from-the-yellowness-in-the-closet now), blue is a great complementary shade to begin with for mixing. There's a subliminal sun-and-sky comfort level with the pairing that just makes it accessible and easy to play with. One option for doing this is the throw-and-go way by donning a printed dress a la Emma that contains said color combo. You don't have to do the yellow shoes (but you totally can if you want to :)). Go for full-on summer brightness by finishing the look with cobalt heels, or go with a bright bag instead. For neutrals on your feet, consider trendy white, classic navy (pulls out the blue in the print in subtler way) or the ubiquitous but still scalding hot nude tones. Similar principles apply if you're working with a skirt. Don't forget about yellow stripes or dots - breaking up the hue with this kind of print is a nice way to break into using the shade. Hint: if yellow on top feels like too much, go with blue or a classic neutral from within the print and add a yellow belt or wide bangle. You still get the sunshine-y effect of the color, but it's subtler. You don't need a ton of yellow to spark a look - a little goes a long way :). You can achieve something similar by doing yellow on the bottom via a skirt or colored denim...or wide-leg pants. That gives you aaaaaaalllll the attention-getting brilliancy without any worries about it clashing with your coloring. Along those lines, I will note that I find clean yellows (i.e., those created through being mixed with white, ivory or orange) are much easier and more forgiving to wear than the generally more common dusty/vintage-looking shades with brown or green as an undertone. (Olive-y yellows I find to be especially troublesome). Tip: the "clean" shades are usually brights, but can include pastels , for example, the color of butter. One last combo I'm a huge fan of is yellow with blue denim of any variation. It feels like a neutral so it can simplify pairings and styling choices, but still has that bedrock blue-yellow synergy. I hope this inspires you to try mixing blue and yellow sometime soon :) Happy styling!
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I love me some color as much as anybody, but certain days simply require chic, iconic black. If you're feeling Dark Mode coming on, look no further than Michelle for a bit of inspiration. This recent look is about as lightless as it gets: a black monochrome pairing of a cropped top, distressed denim and OTKs with a bomber on top. Black makes life easy and this look is mad simple to re-create. The one important rule with a monochrome outfit is to include some textural variation(s) to enhance the visual interest. If you're using a satin bomber (or any fabric with a sheen), do things Michelle's way and go for a knit top. Swap her OTKs for fierce ankle or mid-calf boots (hardware encouraged) to make the styling a little lighter for summer. If your bomber is a knit or similar matte finish, opt for an alternative texture underneath, like a 90's-tinged silk cami that plays on the lingerie-for-day trend. It has the added benefit of more coverage than the crop top if you're in an environment where ab-displays are frowned upon or your abs are feeling shy ;). The luxurious sheen of silk offers a tantalizing contrast to a soft knit, smooth twill, or fuzzy wool. Go with straight or skinny denim on the bottom, distressing optional. Contrast the femme cami and play up the bomber's sporty vibe by finishing the look with sneakers. Alternatively, take this combo in a more polished direction with a drapey button-down blouse. Any variant of silk will do: crepe de chine, charmeuse, georgette, or any fabric with a similar look. Go with high-waisted denim and blouson it or leave it un-tucked and flowing (bonus: the rise on your denim matters not). Pointy pumps enhance the easy sophistication, while the on-trend bomber creates an off-duty model vibe. Enhance that with a sleek-but-simple pony. And if you suddenly feel the need for a chain-handled cross-body or a quilted tote, I'm with your feels. Happy styling!
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.
This recent look of Barbie's is daring as it stands, but is easily re-imagined in a more demure way that still maintains the fashion-foward vibe. It's the addition of a nude cami below that makes all the difference (you can play down the peekaboo aspect by layering white, gray, ivory or black below). Then, you can have at you with any manner of lace that floats your soap - a tank, a peplum top, a blouse. Especially that whole blouse thing! There are SO many gorgeous blouses out right now - absolute confections of pieces that a get a modern update and informal twist when paired with skinny jeans. Don't just stop at lace pieces either; consider eyelet, crochet or broderie anglaise, ruffled or embroidered/embellished pieces and combinations of the above. Finish the look with ankle strap sandals, as Barbie has (feel free to cuff or roll full-length denim to a shorter length to show off the shoe more) for a flirty vibe or add some extra edge with fierce pointy-toe pumps. The coup de grace of the look is the pop of color from a bright bag. Get your Nikki vibe on by choosing and iconic red, go Barbie with neon rose or be daringly summertime-ready with bright turquoise, lime or lavender (or yellow, of course :)). I you don't happen to have a bright bag atm, no prob - add your brights via your shoes, or jewels: statement earrings, a bold bracelet (or pile of them), a go-big-or-go-home ring. If you're tucking your blouse in, a bright belt will work as well. For chilly nights, toss a trench coat, or blazer over blouses. A long cardi dangling off one shoulder makes a sexy alternative topper for cami's and tanks and similar shoulder-baring styles. I hope this inspires you to give a femme-meets-bright look a try sometime soon. Happy styling loves!
I thought I'd take a little break from FashionHap Catch-ups (huff huff puff puff) and do some Inspiration Board before we gte too far into summer for them to be workable. Besides, I miss writing them :) So...here ya go!
I do a lot of living in pants. But, sometimes, it's just fun to change things up and wear a skirt now and again - you know, to keep your fans guessing ;)...or just to amuse yourself, push your boundaries or stave off boredom. It's hard to find a simpler or cuter rendition of a skirt than this one that Cathy wore to the Wrestlemania Golf Tournament. Firstly, pleats have made a serious comeback lately, so the trend box gets checked off. (No pleats? Don't freak. Keep calm and reach for ruffles instead - like pleats, they add volume and movement on the bottom. Or skip all the folding and frills and just go with a classic A-line silhouette.) Next important detail: the color combo! Black with light beige is an iconic combo (so feel free to use it liberally :)). This warmer caramel hue adds a rich, earthy new twist to that pairing. Chocolate, bittersweet and tan will all give you a similar vibe. Thirdly: note the texture mix. Cathy pairs the softness of a knit tee with smooth leather, which creates in interesting visual contrast. Suede will do something similar, albeit with a more luxe feel. Twill will work as well, giving a polished, classic vibe. Lastly, your shoe choice will say a lot with this simple outfit. Cute and sporty? Do sneakers. Chic and casual? Go with block-heeled mules or flat slides (no flip-flops puuuhleaase ;)). Quirky starlet? Reach for an ankle booty. There are lots of functional options to make this one your own, lovelies. So, pick your passion and do you...Cathyily...Cathyesquely....Cathy-like-ly....whatever. You, with inspiration from Cathy. :) Happy styling! I swear divas live in either denim or dresses..and leggings..maybe the occasional skirt, right? It's so rare that we get to see them rocking suit pants (outside of a select few) or chinos that I *had* to snag this opp to do a chino-utilizing Insp Board - especially because twill/chino/khaki is hot hot hot in fashion rn. It's one of those utilitarian fabrics that's always classic, but has particular moments when its star rises high and this is one of them. Barbie's look in this snap is unusual in another way too: her cardigan! How often do we seen divas in this iconic piece? The button cardi often has a sweet and prim vibe, but let's not forget how breezily sultry Marilyn made one look! Barbie's iteration, from a recent photoshoot has a similar easy femininity to it that's appealing - and super spring-worthy due to the colors. Her look pairs blush with a sun-washed olive shade. Me being me, I swung that over to yellow for a candy-colored, romantic pairing - but def give the olive a go, if that's more your jam :). It's tempting to just throw a simple tee underneath (which can totes be done - just make sure you throw a little zing in there somewhere: a silk scarf knotted at your neck, statement earrings, noteworthy shoes (we'll get to that)). Fashion has been lately obsessed with gorgeous blouses - if you have one, throw it beneath your cardi for something different and fun. Pull the sleeves back a touch and let the blouse's cuffs show. This is especially fun if they have a bell shape or special detailing, like lace, scallops or ruffles, but if they're standard button-down cuffs, it's all the more reason to let them show; flip them backwards toward your shoulder and let them flow like wings at your wrists. If your cardi is hip height or below, go for slim or straight chinos. With hip height or higher, experiment with the au courant wide-leg styles. And now the best part :shooooooooes ;) Not that I love shoes too much or anything. Ok, maybe a little. Barbie adds a wonderful twist to her look by finishing it with floral heels that include both the shades (close colors are fine; matchy-matchy not required ;)). I'm 100% on board with the heel thing, but because this look is so laidback, you can def get away floral sneakers, if you've added a pair to collection :). If floral footwear just isn't in your life yet (or never will be :)), consider a color here ( a bright version of the hues you've used will work), or a different print. Nude/blush/beige shoes are an always do-able and classic option has well. Happy styling!
Becky's new aesthetic, which pairs beauty and toughness is 100% up my alley! Her juxtaposition of elegance with grit (and perhaps a hint of flash ;)) ticks all the right style boxes so I was intrigued by the idea of trying to metamorphosize it into a streetwear look. The first critical element of Becky's pairings have been to use selected neutrals. We've seen her do classic black and white in the past, but this beige and black combo is particularly appealing - it's not overly sweet, but still incorporates a touch of the lighter neutrals that look toward warmer days. And the always iconic nude-tan-beige-blush tones have been especially important the last few seasons, i.e. one more reason to work them in ;). The next concept to be culled from her gear is restraint - she hasn't gone to town with embellishment; she's used hints of it. A band of lace and wrappings of grommets are enough to create the idea and serve as a reminder that a whisper can be all you need. Black denim is clearly the first item that comes to mind for creating this look, but definitely consider chinos as an alternative - the utilitarian twill fabric is showing distinct comeback tendencies this spring. The weather will be the determining factor in your layer choices: a blouse with lace appliqué and a wool coat may be plenty. Then again, you may need to slide a turtleneck or similar toasty layer under said blouse. A lace cardigan is a fab choice also - consider a maxi length piece if you have one. Attention athleisure lovers: lace appliqué sweatshirts are flawless for this look! If your current wardrobe offers lace options in the slim to none category, consider a crocheted piece instead. It will give you a similar effect. Should that also fail to work, there's always the option of a lace choker (and you can DIY one with a piece of ribbon in cases of extreme need :)). Footwear and accessories are the easiest way to add the requisite touch of metal: a studded belt, studded booties, a grommeted bracelet or choker or a biker/moto style jacket that includes a good dose of hardware will all do the trick. No need to get too fancy - flat OTKs,or low or chunky-heeled ankle booties finish this pairing off with casual feistiness. Happy styling!
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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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