I’m going to do something a little different this year: instead of releasing the Hall Of Fame Review in one fell swoop, I’m going to keep adding a new group to the post each day. This will let me get the post up sooner ( I reeeeaaaly don’t want to be doing the HoF in June again!) and lets me devote time to each review and not feel like I’m rushing to get it all done so I can get the post up.
Every year, this is probably the most difficult review I do. There are always so many killer looks that I’m splitting hairs and weighing miniscule differences to determine who lands where on the count-up. The only choice that was easy this year was the top spot. I knew that placing immediately after going through all the looks the first time. Who earned that nod? Well, stick with me :). We kick things off with the ladies who I loved, save for one something or other.

Wrestlemania 34 featured the first - and hopefully inaugural – Battle Royal for the Lady Superstars and there was a LOT of ring gear flying around the squared circle…and out of it! Consequently, we decided to dedicate an entire post to  :) breaking it down, analyzing it and raving over it. Are you stoked yet?  We are! First, a clarification: although Nia is part of our collage here, she was not part of the Battle Royal; she won the Raw Women’s Championship later in the evening, defeating Alexa Bliss. So why is she here? Basically, we had this awesome snap of her gear to show off, so show it off we did! :)

I’m kind of in love with Carmella’s totally fierce look involving this black mini dress from Hstlr. The piece features lace-up detailing at the sides that serves to create a dramatic shape. The style also includes a hoodie, but I like Carmella’s choice to style the look without using it. The hoodie would have made the vibe much more casual and I’m head-over-heels for this exactly as is! It has that perfect blend of attitude, sportiness and fashionable edge that’s just everything. Carmella finished the look with mid-calf booties, which work just as well as OTKs for creating that powerful shot of stylish dynamism that makes a look brilliant and memorable.
Cathy’s style sensibilities cover a wide range of genres. She began January with this beautiful and feminine blue floral lace mini dress. I love the fabric of this piece so much -it’s just divine! This large, pieced lace has been super on-trend over the last few seasons, but this kind of classic material will remain a perfectly wearable statement for years. The colors – a spectrum of blues – are lovely as well and look wonderful on Cathy. If I could wish for anything, it would be that she had pulled her hair back and given the dress an uninterrupted moment. From there, she swings into casual mode, donning a pair of medium wash denim overalls. She layered a high-neck top underneath and completed the look with black pointy ankle booties. This look is another gem – casual, but with a slouchy, unstudied feel to it that slays me. She has the overalls rolled to the precisely the right height to create enviably breezy chic. I’d have been tempted to go with a messy bun here, instead of the center-parted low pony, but the latter works excellently. She then moved on to some rock n’ roll vibes with these barn red leather pants. They bring a unique and intriguing attitude to the off-shoulder black top she styled them with. Black pointy ankle booties are her go-to finisher again and they look just as fab here. It’s back to casual with this next look, a distinctly off-duty ensemble that paired a cropped black top with medium-wash blue denim for a simple canvas.  She then gives the outfit a dose of on-trend elevation via a beige car coat. She echoes its light tones with her block-heeled ankle booties, while reprising her top color via her bag. The color balance she created here appeals to me - I would tend to do the same.

I love the floral on this dress Cathy chose for a November red carpet event! The simple color combination really pops and the small scale of the floral looks delicate and has a vintage quality to it. It would have been a jazz to see her enhance that with a sweeter hair style, but I can also see her logic in playing against it with this sleek, modern central-part style. I do find it just a bit harsh in this case, as I often do, but Cathy is one of the few who can pull the look off successfully in most cases. Subtly sexy black ankle strap sandals complete her look. It’s all about the red and black again, but in a totally different way, for her next outfit, a casual combo of a white turtleneck and blue jeans, topped with a statement buffalo-plaid overcoat. The bold pattern and strong color completely makes this ensemble, giving it interest and a comfy-meets-cool vibe. I also love the textural contrast and attitude of the studded belt. It adds a secondary connotation that gives depth to the presentation. She makes a similarly successful contrast with her next look by pairing a sequined bomber with a lace cami and slim black pants. It’s a femme-glam-mod causal mash-up that I just adore, firstly because…glitter! …and secondly because of the fun juxtaposition of genres.  The sleekness of her central-parted low pony works perfectly here, grounding the outfit and keeping it form feeling at all frilly. You could easily take this look in an athleisure direction by completing it with black, white or metallic sneakers, or keep the mod-femme vibe going with a pointed flat.
Charlotte combined a delicately moody dark floral print with leather pants for her Wrestlemania Pre-Sale meet-n-greet. I love the look of the artistic print combined with the smooth, toughness of the leather, as well as the way the print colors enliven the look, keeping it dark but not drab. Her black military boots continue the theme from the pants, which works well. I feel like there’s some tiny touch missing that could give this outfit more intensity and consequence – perhaps a half-tuck or a ponytail and statement earrings – but I’m totally on board for each of the elements and the way they work together.

I love the clean-lined drama of Lana’s black and silver rendition of her gear! Even with her beauty-contestant skirt, there’s a seriousness to this color combination which, added to the engineering-inspired patterning, signals her intent to no longer be dismissed as eye-candy. The deep chevron at the front highlights her curves, adding a dose of sensuality  to the sleek design. I love the look of using knee pads to create the visual proportion of OTK boots and it works especially brilliantly here with her one-piece attire, creating a modern, trend-conscious aesthetic that’s wonderfully appealing.  This is a perfect choice and direction for Lana to grow her styling in.
In considering Michelle’s gear, I found myself torn between my “meh” feeling about camo and the fact that I’m sitting here with a chance to review brand new ring gear from the eternally flawless Mimi McFabulous (I can’t resist a throwback to the Josie Couture days – yes, some still remember ;)..shoutout to you, Josie C, wherever you are). In the end, the latter feeling triumphed. It’s all here – the faith-based crosses, the bedazzling, the trademark halter-top – with a fun, new twist: the use of the crosses as garter straps to hold her knee covers. It’s sexy in a subtle way and I’m thrilled by the creativity if the touch! Like, yaaaaas, girl! I’m also in for the white paiping: it brightens the often-dark dark camo considerably. If you’re gonna sell me on the fabric this is soooo how you do it! The only thing I miss is a pair of glittering crosses on her boots. …and a few killer poses …actually, would a whole ‘shoot be too much to ask? :D
My first impression of Barbie/Kelly’s gear was that it was a minimalist white look – which was 100% fine by me – but, upon closer inspection, the fabric has a super-cool, almost puckered texture, creating visual horizontal lines. The multitude of studs followed those, giving an edgy power to an all-over embellished design. The vibe was fresh and dewy, but with a hint of edge from the studs and I’m so here for it! What a perfect representation of the Kelly aesthetic! Like Michelle, Kelly/Barbie offered an updated version of her look. Her trademark push-up bra was back and beautiful, as we her kabooty shorts. However, we tended to see Barbie wear just-below the knee boots, sometimes with black knee covers, sometimes without. This look included knee covers in coordinating fabric but switched up the boots for of-the-moment sneakers’ sporty vibe. I’m drooling over the shimmering silver material! If the Big Dub wants to do a gear ‘shoot for this blonde bombshell too, I’m all for it.

Lita always had a grunge-y, streetwear theme to her gear that set her apart, even during the bada$$ Attitude Era..  She brought it back to life with this look, topping a pieced fishnet bodysuit with a grommet-trimmed marbled top that paid tribute to the Time’s Up movement. Her trademark cargo pants rounded out the look. I wasn’t surprised to see her thong peeking out above her pant-waist; I was surprised by the color though! Hot pink isn’t generally a shade I think of when Lita comes to mind :). I loved the unexpectedness of it, though and the bright pop in the midst of all the dark pieces. I almost wish she had let the bodysuit stand on its own though, as I think the slightly more edited styling would have given it greater impact. Black checkered sneakers brought one more pattern to the look, but were subtle enough to create an appealing texture, rather than looking overdone. I love how she stayed so true to her famous aesthetic, and totally delivered in the ring as well - seeing her pull off that moonsault again was glorious!

I’m practically still living on the high from this year’s Royal Rumble.  After the thrill of the incredible performances from the current crop of girls, there were the chills and shivers of all the returns: the Bellas! Beth! And the DoD reunion! The feeeeeeeels! Barbie! I caught my breath when Michelle ran in – I never thought I would see her wrestle again! I was back to the early days of my fandom in a heartbeat. It was 2010 and everything was flawless and filled with real talk and FIERCENESS. Omg. And Trish! And Lita slaying! And when Vickie “excuse me”d…I lost it. Like, gone. Brb. Annnddd. The Big Dub did not disappoint with this one. It took me some time to chill a smidge and savor it all. And then, there was the plethora if ring gear to examine and rave over :)…which I shall now do, in print. Are you ready to rrrrrrrruuuuuumble?
The Glamazon looked as if she last stepped out of a ring just yesterday in this black and white rendition of her trademark gear. While Beth went through a few variations of her gear (including a skirted version, several different side cutouts and an iteration or two with lace-up pants), this is the style that seems synonymous with her. I love this perfect recreation, right down to her trademark headpiece and the in-flight phoenix. The color scheme accents the cool, powerful an practical nature of the design. It has no intention of being sexy…and that’s sexy as h**l! You would be well within the boundary of smart logic to cower in fear at the entrance of the Glamazon…especially when it became apparent that her skill set was 100% intact…
Unless, of course, you are Natalya :). The Divas of Destruction sharing a hug in the center of the ring was a standout of the many special moments of this inaugural Rumble. Nattie wore a an iteration of the one-piece that has become her signature look. This one combined the striping and be-crystalled “shield” front we’ve seen previously with additional pink piping and crystals (of course ;)). Set on a latex backdrop, the look is sleek, but glamorous and , like Beth’s gear, practical, despite its fierceness and opulence. While I can’t help but have favorites among the many variations of this gear, there’s no doubt that this series represents Nattie at her absolute ring-fashion best, melding haute couture with performance wear in an unforgettable way.
Bayley really didn’t have to do much to get me to adore her gear beside wear it in yellow :) (#FavoriteColorSyndrome). That said, I’m in for her new addition of fringe on her pants. Surprising, no? True, it’s a bit crazy from a fashion standpoint, but the movement is creates is super cool and after the multitude of patterns and graphics on her previous looks, this feels cleaner and lets me appreciate the details and all that free-spirited color – which comes off effervescent and exciting now that it has chance to shine. I love the sprinkling of stars over her top and boots –it’s perfect pattern for her, on trend but also fitting for her taste and style. All of this in combination easily makes this set my current favorite of all her gear outfits!

Are you ready for more? There are always more shoes I’d love to see the ladies get to try :). So, here goes…
In addition to her insanely cool, in-ring glow, Naomi has a fantastic sense of fancy style. These Monili-beaded-strap Velvet sandals from Bruno Cuccinelli would fit in perfectly with her sophisticated-with-a-twist sensibilities. They have a wonderful play on materials, with a textural combination of glimmering micro-beads and opulent velvet that makes them quite formal. However, that’s tempered by the mountaineering-gear vibe of the strap that supports the beads, giving a very athletic and functional-looking spin to the formality of these heels. These are just made to be the crave-worthy finish to an LBD or minimalist gown.  Equally in her wheelhouse, but on the less formal side are these celestial-feeling peeptoe booties from Alexandre Birman (the Ziggy).  They get an extra touch of modernity from the tie at the top which creates a paper-bag tie look at the ankle I can totally see Naynay fiercing up acid-wash skinny jeans and a tee with these! Like Maryse, Natalya’s shoe game already sends us into ecstasies! But that doesn’t mean we can’t come up for a few fun things for her to try ;). The classic foundation of her style lends itself to pairings we don’t often see from Divas, like these gingham flats (the Side Bow Mule from No. 21). I love this brand’s modern-classic aesthetic in general and the lighthearted feminine chic of these flats in particular. The jewels at the heel add a delightful dose of extra dimension – don’t you just adore them? I can see these with a floaty summer dress or a sleek pencil skirt. In a more daring genre are these Maureen Double Band mules from Malone Souliers. Nattie is always a fan of pink and this sensual coral-tinged shade would look amazing on her! The moiré (pron: “mwah-ray”) fabric gives them a luxurious vibe that’s contrasted by the sleek silver leather bands. These heels would be provide a fabulous pop to almost any of the clean, classic looks that are Nattie’s trademark. Lastly, I couldn’t resist including a more traditional (but hardly sedate) selection – these pointed Mira Pearl pumps from Nicholas Kirkwood feature glittering textural fabric and a single pearl hung from the sole. About the only thing I can see them not working with is Natalya’s ring gear. Then again, maybe…:).

Gail rocked this black monochrome look during mid-October, pairing a black cropped top with black shorts and a fringed leather belt. Using such a dramatic accessory really amped up this simple color story! I love the way it instantly gives the outfit weight and presence. She gave the combo a big dose of glam by adding a crystal statement necklace. I also wouldn’t have minded statement earrings here, as an alternate option. We don’t get to see her shoes, but black leather or suede sandal booties (like these, from her Silver Snap winning May The Forces Be With You photoshoot) would have been an excellent choice.
Lana experimented with gradient color, combining multiple shades of taupe in this look from her trip to Quebec. Her olive-taupe Want My Look bodycon dress got a modern twist from being topped with a gray-taupe long cardigan from Fashion Nova. Her caramel bag served as a bridge color to connect the two differing shades. Coordinating strappy pumps from Lola Shoetique elevated the look, while a golden choker from Windsor Store and hoops earrings brought in a hint of shine. The sophisticated use of color makes this ensemble very chic! A polished bun enhances that vibe. Lana is a queen of switching genres, so it’s no surprise that her next look was a nearly complete about-face: a casually sexy pairing of destroyed denim and a plunge-front ivory cami, taken galactic with of-the-moment metallic ankle booties and a matching bag. I adore the combination of ivory and silver, and I love the unexpected 80’s glam-rock vibe of her boots, as well as the fact that she doubled down on that statement with her bag, so this look is a winner for me. The boots, especially, make the outfit memorable. The one change I might have made is to swap to a silver coin pendant, instead of mixing metals. Her gorgeous half up-do is just icing on the cake! Next up is the blonde beauty in full-on Chic Mode: a one-shoulder crop top paired with high-waisted wide-leg pants (from TopShop), featuring the most fabulous side-tie detail at the ankle.  A gold choker, white ankle strap sandals and a black tote round out the look. The unique detail, the interesting way the side-tie and ankle-strap combine and the graphic power of black+white unite flawlessly to make this outfit seriously stunning!

I can’t help but miss the days when we got a fair number of actual character-enhancing, style-inspiring photoshoots, instead of galleries and recreations.  I mean, these things are fun and I appreciate so much how hard the ladies work at telling the stories in these ‘shoots. That said, the role play concept is a little bland on the fashion front. And never more so than here, where we have the ladies dressing up as guys who don’t dress all that well (who thought this was a good idea? Show of hands, please). I loooove when gals borrow from the guys, but I’m hoping for something exciting: double breasted pinstripe suits, fedoras, sharp tailoring, a tie or two, a pocket square. I’ll settle for cuff links if I have to. For this concept, though, the girls are bound by what the men of the Attitude era wore, in order to recreate the look.  Lana pushed the boundaries farthest by having to come up with a solution to the Rock’s open-shirted style. Her choice of a lace bodysuit was a smart and suitable choice that both maintained the Rock-like vibe and injected a dose of feminine sensuality, that enlivened the look and threw a new angle into it. That is how your borrow – you don’t just copy, you make it your own. Her selection of a loud, abrasive button-down was perfect and she nailed the massive watch, chains and sunglasses, making herself into quite a creditable Rock. Those bright red lips made for one more parting shot of ladylike attitude, one that would make The Smirk (with raised eyebrow, of course) all that much more attention-getting. Take that, Dwayne.  Carmella’s take on Chris Jericho was equally well-chosen – her mirror-like metallic zip-front piece is throwing enough light to tan by, an immediate reminder that I always felt the need to reach for SPF 75 when Jericho walked in. He’d approve of her rocker-esque lace-up leggings as well (which I’m pretty sure are the same ones we saw Becky wearing on her trip to Boca Juniors Stadium. I love her high half-ponytail , which also happens to be an authentic Jericho detail, though one he  might perhaps like to forget ;). She channels his attitude to perfection. The most disappointing look in this gallery comes from Natalya and Charlotte, but its lack of appeal has nothing to do with them or their efforts.  They’re spot on in their interpretation of Edge and Christian, right down to the skull cap, bright wristbands and sunglasses! It’s entirely authentic and it’s obvious they had fun with it. Their enthusiasm can’t help but make me smile and I salute them for that! The sad corollary, however, is  that spandex paired with muscle tanks just really doesn't have much fashion zing. I’m not even sure how you would style that pairing to give it fashion zing. Or even fashion zan. Oh well. Nat and Char did an excellent job with a fashion hand that was the equivalent of being dealt a joker.  I guess this is price you pay for getting Balmain for the Total Divas ‘shoot :). Dear WWE: more Balmain for your Superstar ladies, less spandex!

The Divas were on full slayage mode, as usual, for the promo photoshoot for the newest season of Total Divas! This year’s theme was a modern mix of black and white, with touches of silver. Alexa kicked things off in a sporty coord set that paired a zip-front vest with slashed high waist leggings (from Ultracor, id by fashionofthedivas.tumblr.com). The look got kicked into high gear with the addition of peeptoe ankle booties (though I confess I wouldn’t have minded seeing a really hot pair of sneakers here, either [ok, who are you, Writer Person and what have you done with Brie?]).Touches of gold via a wide bangle and hoop earrings serve to further elevate the styling.  In addition to the streamlined, sexy athleticism it projects, this look is especially fun because it’s outside the chill, punk-leaning aesthetic  we tend to see Blissy reach for. I love seeing experimentation and she totally rocks this look! Don’t you just adore her confident smirk? :)