Aaaaaand, iiiiiiit’s tiiiiiiiiime! We are about to unveil the photoshoots that won our stylish hearts this year. And YOU get to award the one best ‘shoot the honor of the Silver Snap. Are you ready?
First, a few quid pro quo: this year was especially difficult as it suffered from a dearth of photoshoots from both promotions. Also, both companies leaned toward gallery-type snaps where a number of ladies got individual sets all at once. Consequently, I decided to count each lady’s set as an individual ‘shoot. From there, I whittled down and split hairs and compared and contrasted and evaluated and… you get the picture. In the interests of full disclosure, since diva-fierce is a fashion site and we are all about the fashion, there is a slight bias around these parts towards fashion-type ‘shoots, so I tended to weight those a little higher than less style-inclined snaps. Ok…the lawyers can go off retainer now. Let’s get to the good stuff…
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The Inspiration Boards have become one of the most popular features here on diva-fierce.com – which thrills me because I love creating them! As the year winds down, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the looks that all of you loved best this year, as determined by the number of views. What was capturing your oh so fashionable gaze in 2017?
1. Maryse – Lacy Layers …ok, technically, this post is from 2016. I was still developing the concept then and didn’t do a year-end Top list, but I wanted to recognize it here, as it was one of the most viewed posts for mooooonths after it went up and gets a significant number of hits even now, over a year later. 2. Barbie – Candy & Flowers…I loved the sweet colors and unexpected pop of florals in this accessible and chic look from Barbie. So did you :) It was the runaway favorite of the year, getting nearly double the number of views of any other look. 3.Mckenzie – Denim 70’s…The 70’s has been a massive influence on fashion over the past few years and this re-imagining of Mckenzie’s Americana look embraced it wholeheartedly, with earthy colors, midi lengths and an off-the-shoulder silhouette. It got plenty of love from you, earning the next most popular spot. 4. Becky – Metal & Lace-kicker…nipping at the heels of the Denim 70’s look was one from a very different genre: a play on Becky’s femme-meets-tough-chick ring gear that melded lace pieces with hardware accents. It seems the Fiercenti who frequent diva-fierce love a whole range of styles! And that is so awesome because…me too! 5. We had three looks in nearly a dead heat for the fifth spot: Natalya - a la Natalya, a glamour-tinged riff on Nattie’s incredible gear, Naomi – When Tulle Met Stripes, a translation of Nay-nay’s Valentine’s Day ‘shoot look that paired chic tulle with the breezy Parisian vibe of stripes and Lana – Gypsy Rocker, a casual luxe look that chanelled a bit of Stevie Nicks by way of Lana’s Instagram snap Your fashion sense rocked in 2017, Fiercenti! Here’s to an equally stylish 2018 :) Maria’s experimentations with fashion continued throughout the month. Her barely-captured Smackdown outfit layered a graffiti-covered bomber jacket over what looks to be an assemblage-type mini dress with appliqué an sequins. Black ankle booties completed the risky look. I’ve learned to never be surprised at where Maria takes her fashion – she’s never afraid to “go there” and while this look is busy and messy, it makes an interesting direction for the love-filled, urban-warrior character she’s developing, so I give her points for the experimentation. I could have skipped the daring burgundy lip with all that was going on below it, but it toughen up the styling even more. From there, she paired a ruffled mini skirt from Express with a sunglasses-wearing-skull-print tank from Zara and clear sandals from Aldo (all id’s by fashionofhedivas.tumblr.com). This look is just as risky as the first, but it very nearly works. There’s a long jump from skulls to ruffles and I wish she had tied the outfit together by going with combat boots instead of the clear sandals, which are super-modern. It’s fine, though – Maria keeps me intrigued and thinking about fashion, so I’m always up for seeing what she does next!
Maryse’s look was more edited, but I love the moto styling of this gray zip-front dress! It’s like a biker-jacket done as a little gray dress! It’s streamlined and packs an attitude, despite its classic silhouette. She finished it with simple pumps, but combat boots, or studded, heeled ankle booties would look fab with this also! Her SummerSlam-week vist to New York city found her pairing a lace bodysuit with latex pants in a look that melded various approaches to seduction -from sweetness to S & M. She topped the outfit with a sleeveless trench. I love these pieces individually, but I find this look to be a bit scattered in effect, although the unifying effect of the black helps it tremendously. I have a similar feeling about her next offering, which pairs the floral Delaina top from Alice and Olivia with the glittering lace confection of the Almira skirt from the same brand. I love the gorgeous floral of the top and the skirt is crave-worthy! Even so, and despite the gold of the skirt being echoed in matte tones in the floral, the look feels a touch disjointed. Maryse added a wide black waist, which perfectly enhances her curves – and finished the look with simple black Nudist sandals from Stuart Weitzman. I’d have loved to see tie the outfit together with burgundy or blush heels instead. We have a couple of addenda to Impact’s Halloween ‘shoots ( I know, I know...I’m a full holiday behind *hangs head in shame*). First up is McKenzie as a lovely and quite glamorous mermaid – a theme that seems to be a perfect choice for her. Her outfit is classic and flawless, from the seashell bra to the aptly named mermaid skirt of her costume. I really love the color combinations in this set – they create an ombré effect starting with metallic azure, shifting into bright lime and then into shimmering mint. It aptly reflects the sea theme but also looks quite stunning. Many mermaids are content to allow the seashells to be their only baubles, by McKenzie gives us a flashier, more luxe interpretation of the look, adding a sparkling crystal choker and glittering statement cuff, which definitely up the wow factor. Her eyeshadow echoes the colors of her outfit, as well as it’s sheen, enhancing her natural beauty. She nails two standard poses, setting up my only regret regarding this ‘shoot: that we didn’t get a couple more snaps in it.
Taya’s Viking-themed “set” unfortunately suffers from the same paucity of shots, but what’s there is solid. She dons an ivory bodysuit with a metallic front panel, which gives a nice illusion of armor and adds a heavy dose of fur: gloves, epaulets, even a sort of bustle, which I’m sure there is much tougher, more technical, and far more Viking-esque name for :). Fur also trims her horned metallic cap. Fishnets stockings add a subtle dose of sex appeal to the look, while the red streaks in her hair bring in a welcome shot of color. We sadly never get to see her footwear choice, but I’d put good money down on fur-lined boots – what else would a Nordic warrior face battle in? Her pose is an appealing one and presented with confidence. On my wishlist: I would have loved to see her carrying a giant shield or sword…I’d even settle for an ice pick. Perhaps those were in the snaps that didn’t get released. Ooo..and maybe she’s off to do battle with the one keeping them prisoner. If so, I hope she wins! ;) I’m so excited to finally post this for all of you! It’s been in process since literally August. I plead lack of time and scope of post: this season’s “blast” is more like a ka-boom - fashion is going in so many directions right now! There are a multitude of subtexts underlying a few dominant themes.
I’ve been working super hard on a massive new Melange post. Coming this week for ya, loves! XO
Maria was cool and casual in her black and red graphic tee and leggings. I love how she put a rocker-cool spin on this look with her leather vest and, most of all, those super hot ankle boots! A little hardware always gets my attention ;). For her summer tv appearance, she ditched casual for glam, showing off this silver sequined dress with a tulip front. The cutesy vibe of her lipstick-kiss pumps wouldn’t have been my first choice as a pairing from a fashion standpoint, but they’re a perfect way to convey her character, so I’m giving them the ok here. They definitely add a whimsical touch to this fancy piece, which makes the look stand out from the ordinary. She doubled down on that theme with her next look, a pairing of black kabooty shorts with a sequined Betty Boop tee and lipstick-kiss leather jacket in blush. The whole ensemble is so over-the-top and almost cartoonish that only Maria could pull this off successfully. Her massive, fearless personality carries this look: it doesn’t wear her, she wears it. And she channels it into a faux serious sexy lovefest. I’m completely in awe of how she makes something so wrong seem exactly right. And she earns bonus points for the on-trend fishnets. We saw Maryse wear this BCBG cape dress alone with nude pointy pumps and layered over a sheer piece with Rockstud pumps, but here she lighten the look up by completing it with Nudist ankle strap sandals. They have a barely-there quality (hence the name ;)) which really highlights the sleek softness of this dress. I’m also 100% in for her self-wrapped pony, which looks amazing on her and is rapidly becoming one of my favorite hairstyles. I also want to express my delight for Maryse and Miz and their forthcoming bundle of joy. Congrats to them! The Impact (formerly TNA, now GFW) Knockouts are back in a BIG way! They have their first full photoshoot in aaaaaages and it includes most of the roster. Even better, the snaps are seriously awesome! The ladies each portray a force of nature, in keeping with their new promotion. Earth, wind, water and fire are all represented and quite fabulously at that!
Allie took on the force of water in a beach-setting collection of snaps. She paired a white faux-wrap cami with lace shorts, which are noteworthy for the gorgeous scalloped edges. While I'm a little surprised that she didn't reach for blue tones, I love the softness of these shots and the way she explores classic pin-up poses as she rolls about in the sand. The backdrop takes a bit of artistic license with its wispy waves; if you're looking for ultra-realism, this might throw you for awhile, as it did me. It's not my favorite facet of the 'shoot, but when I adjusted my perspective to looking at it as an artistic assemblage, rather than a photograph, it's dealable. It does add a hiccough to a very solid set of snaps that are not only the sultriest we’ve seen from Allie, but also some of the prettiest, as well as an indication of her appreciable fashion talent. As with her street fashion, Laurel's photoshoot pops off the page; it's immediately engaging, impactful and hot as heck! She donned a black, strappy monokini for her interpretation of water's force. The piece is 100% fierce in and of itself and Laurel unquestionably owns the look. Posing with poise and confidence, she rocks my word hard by playing with her hair and glancing over her shoulder , smashing the open-mouth facial in the process and making it instantly relevant again. Her wet hair looks as though it is catching the spray from the waterfall backdrop, which is fittingly symbolic of both danger and beauty. Everything – background, fashion , poses – comes together brilliantly in this set, making it one of the standout collections of the ‘shoot. Brava. It's been too long since we've gotten to enjoy Gail's prowess in a photoshoot and her skill and experience shines through here, as she embodies the force of wind - what else but a gale force for Gail? I'm thrilled with her interpretation - it's creative and darkly beautiful, expressing the theme in an intriguing and aesthetically stunning way. Outside of a strappy bikini bottom and strappy heels, the fashion consists primarily of fringe-like strands of black ribbon that extend the full length of her body and sway in the breeze, creating the sense of movement and drama that makes these snaps so captivating. Her long, flowing curls reinforce the idea. The peekaboo effect of the blowing fabric brings in a seductive tension that adds intensity to the snaps, while Gail's flawless poses heighten the effect. I especially love the one of her playing with her hair, eye half-closed, as if savoring her power! |
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AuthorBrie: shoe-lover :) fashion-lover and generally glamorous semi-dork Archives
July 2019
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