Woohoo! The hottest party of the Summer is happening... Tonight! Summerslam is one of the biggest PPV's WWE puts on every year, and because of that, we usually get some pretty exciting, unique, and head turning gear from the women superstars. Before we see what the lovely ladies bring to the table tonight, let's look back at past SummerSlam years and some memorable ensembles.

2013 - Brie Bella
Briiiiieeee Moooooddeeee! Goodness, I miss that. Brie totally killed it back in 2013 with this vintage inspired gear. The black, white, and red color scheme is text-book Bella style, and I adore the long, red gloves she added for her entrance. Do you see those tiny bows on her wrists? Adorable! This gear was before Brie moved away from her trademark ruffle boot covers, but I love how the trim matches her high waisted shorts. Now, the really cool fact about this gear is that you could actually own it yourself... because it's a swim suit! That's right! I couldn't find it anymore, but I remember when she debuted this gear, people found the exact same suit online. It would be like owning a little piece of SummerSlam, and Bella Twins, fashion history.

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 forevevs - was back in the days before I was 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.

Between La La Land and the live Beauty and The Beast, 2017 has felt like the year of the yellow dress - especially with Nikki wearing it for the Oscars! Periodically, movies create fashion longings because something you don't usually gravitate to looks amazing on-screen. If you fell in love with a yellow dress (I've focused on dresses here to keep things simple, but it all holds true for yellow tops and/or bottoms as well :)) due to either of the above and are now a bit lost because it's a shade you don't often wear and even if (or now that) you had/have one, you wouldn't/don't know what to do with it, fear not! Your friendly neighborhood Lover Of Yellow (disclosure: does not come with superhero cape or goggles) is here to help! First important point: I strongly feel that clean yellows are the easiest to wear. And no, I don't mean you need extra Clorox. Shades of yellow can be straightforward and "pure" or they can be mixed with other tones. The color of a buttercup for example, is fairly clean, while dried ginger is "muddy" in that it has more brown to it. (If you were making a ginger shade with paint, you could get it by adding the right shade of brown to buttercup, plus some white.  Or, you could also add purple...but that's a whole other essay ;)).  Yellows intended to suggest "vintage" tones tend to be in the browned-yellow family (imagine mustard-y 70's shades).Yellows can also be warm (ok, obvi) or cool - a lemon (on the green side of the yellow spectrum - think of moving backwards through a rainbow) is a much cooler yellow than mango, which is on the orange side. Dandelion is nearly smack in the middle. Any of these colors are pretty accessible, as long as they are of the "clean" variety. If brightness makes you feel awkward, go for a pastel (which has a lot of white in it), rather than a drab yellow.
 Now that the whole clean/muddy thing is behind us, what shades can you put with yellow? Black, right? Black goes with anything. True. You can always reach for ye old go-to standby. It rarely, if ever, fails. A dash of black with yellow looks amazing. If I do too much  though, I feel like I get into bumblebee territory. So, other options? The simplest is blue. Blue *always* goes with yellow. Light or dark, pastel or bright, cool or warm, blue and yellow are a match made in heaven. Purple, yellow's color wheel opposite, is similar, with blue-purples (lilac, grape) being safest. If you want to do color and be daring, try a clean (there's that adjective again ;)) pink - carnation or candy shades, rather than blush or antique rose. That's not to say the latter two can't work; they just depend on a firm color sense to mix two appropriate shades (I happen to love coral with mango yellow and wear the combo periodically in the summer). If all this color has you dizzy, there is always silver.  It's my favorite neutral to pair with yellow. It harmonizes with cool yellows, contrasts distinctively with warm tones and avoids any suggestion of bees.
Certain pairings of yellow gain impact based on hue. Of course, white goes with anything, but it's especially stunning with lemon-y hues, due to the crisp feel. Red is one notable deviation from the cool-to-cool, warm-to-warm rule. It gives a classic, primary-colored pop to lemon. (Note: it can also go with warm yellow - think jewel tones and autumn leaves). In fact, most autumnal hues work nicely with warm yellows - nude/beige, caramel, chocolate, pumpkin and melon blend beautifully, as their warm tones echoes those in the yellow. (Note: lemon can be paired with brown also, but choose cooler tones, like taupe. Also note: the closer to the center of the yellow spectrum you get, the less the warm-cool distinction matters, i.e. dandelion will coordinate with any brown tone).
 Cliff Notes version of this: put cool tones with cool (greener) yellows, warm tones with warm (orange-er) yellows and blue or silver with any yellow.
 Handy Thought: Instead of being the main shade, yellow can be used as an accent for an  outfit done in any of the listed colors.
XO!

The last of this batch of Kim's hard drive excavations is a look back at one of my favorite recent photoshoots: WWE's homage to the Little Black Dress! A trip of divas posed for us in their favorite noire frock and gave us some insight as to why it inspired so much love. The snippet quotes made these snaps especially memorable and engaging because the ladies were able to communicate their thoughts via the printed word, as well as through their photos. As a devotee of classical fashion, a focus on the LBD naturally gave me great joy :). And the feeling just intensified while scrolling through the stars' choices.  One over-arching standout theme for me was how authentically each dress represented each diva's sense of style. Rosa's bodycon selection was a blend of modernity, sparkle and seduction, combining a form-fitting silhouette with sheer insets and touches of crystal embellishment. The piece looked amazing on her and it was easy to tell from her sultry poses that Rosa was feeling its effect She nailed a variety of them - sitting, standing, glancing sideways, a cheeky smile, playing with her hair -all flirty, fun and hot!  There's just something about putting on that perfect outfit that makes you feel like you rock the world, am I right?  She finished the look with a fab pair of black leather Rockstud pumps, a favorite shoe of Rosa's...and mine! ;) There's no need to add much in the way of accessories due to the multiple fabrics and crystals in the dress and Rosa wisely left well enough alone.
Layla's fashion definitely hit high gear during her time in LayCool, and it retained that aura of fierce glamour after the duo's break-up. She showcased that theme with her favorite dress, a stud-accented sheath which mixed stud sizes and metals with impunity, creating flash and shimmer befitting a Flawless One. One of my favorite things about this dress is the to-the-knee length; it's brings polish and maturity to the look. LayCool was fond of shorter hems, which paired better with their trademark OTKs, so this longer style was a nice evolution. She accessorized with statement earrings, which could have been a bit much with all the metallic going on below, but they're rescued by her loose hair; it partially obscures them, allowing just hints of shine to show through, which works perfectly. Gold metallic pumps complete her outfit. The massive platforms were spot on for that moment in fashion; I might go with suede ankle booties or black leather pointy toe heels right now :). As with Rosa, the dress inspired Lay to take some extra risks with her poses, resulting in a bunch of unique and intriguing snaps.
Natalya has a host of killer black dresses, but she chose this as her favorite and it's not hard to see why! Its cut flawlessly, kissing every curve, without ever showing too much - an especially praise-worthy feat for a piece done in a satin fabric like this, which can be terribly unforgiving if cut wrong. The sheen of the satin elevates this dress and gives it more refinement than, say, a wool or knit cotton fabric. Along with the dramatic scoop-neck, this elegant cloth creates just the right distinctive flair.  I'm a huge fan of this piece because the simplicity of it will allow it to hold up well over time - even though this 'shoot was several years ago, she could pull this out today and wear it and it would look as current as it did then. The same will be true five, ten and fifteen years from now.  Nattie described it as "timeless" and I heartily concur! Because it's so simple, she added slim but bold earrings and several touches of delicate jewelry which enhance the look just enough. Nude pointy-toe pumps were a perfect finish, adding a touch of edge and extending her leg line - a smart fashion choice with a longer mid-length silhouette. I also adore her hairstyle - it's a more dramatic version of the poofed half-do I was loving at this year's Rumble, so no surprises there :). Equally unsurprising is Nattie's slayage of her poses - she's competent and confident in front of the camera and with an LBD as additional inspiration, there was no stopping her!

Among the many fabulous collages Kim dug out of obscurity for us is this stunning set from the Bellas' annual Bella Bowl - a tradition beloved by football fans and diva fans alike! The year represented here was one of my favorites - the navy and red combo looked amazing on Nikki (and, in a way, served as a precursor to the sporty ring gear she rocks these days!) and Brie's hair and make-up were spectacularly on point! I love how she worked in her trademark waist-tied plaid shirt too :).  In honor of this collage, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at ALL the twin's looks from their six Bella Bowl 'shoots :) The ladies' style ranged from gridiron-worthy to made-for-the-front-row (how about their platform pumps and off-shoulder tee variation? I don't think football fandom has ever looked fiercer! Or sexier! Brie's low pigtails caught my heart both years that she wore them - she makes them look sooooo super-cute! Nikki's orange jersey was also a standout. I know it just happened to be the Bronco's shade, but that color was just so fab on her! We tend to see Nikki reach for red instead of orange, but I'd like to register a request for a gear in the latter hue some time! Of course, the very BEST part of all the Bella Bowl 'shoots are Nikki and Brie's poses! They always kill them. Always. And they utilize the competitive spirit to it's fullest, capturing pugilistic playfulness perfectly! Their mock-scrappiness and sisterly smack made me smile every single time. It's such a great side of the twins to see: vibrant, hot and lighthearted all at once. You don't get that combo in too many photoshoots and it always makes the Bella Bowls a special and memorable affair. Just how memorable were they to you? Can you match which year (1-6) belongs to which 'shoot? Give it a try and then get the answers below the break :)

Long-time diva-fierce.com readers will remember the incredible Kim, who was a massive and well-loved part of our team here for many years. Not too long ago, she touched base with me because she had found quantities of past site collages buried in the depths of her computer and we had a little freak out party with all the feels :'), which I am now passing on to you! (Love ya!) Over the next few weeks, I'll be spicing up the current posts with some time-travelling backward looks at where diva-fierce.com has come. Hope you enjoy!
 While WWE has been serving up their latest version of a Barbie/Kelly redux, we did our own back in the day, complete with a style synopsis! (Keep up with that, Big Dub!). When there were more of us putting the site together, we were able to feature a Fashionista Of The Month, culminating in a fashion fisticuff (ok, it was just a poll, but still ..:)) in December for the Fashionista Of The Year.
We always analyzed both in-ring and street style. Remember this pink and white gear from Wrestlemania? The reversed brassiere cups were super-creative but didn't translate particularly well. Barbie flipped them over immediately afterward into a classic push-up bra and, from then on, slayed us all with gear after gear in gorgeous, sherbet-esque colors and plenty of crystal accents! Random trivia: her black sequin outfit is special to me because her photoshoot in it formed the basis of the first complex collage I made. Dawww :) .The street style line-up highlighted the wide array of fashion choices she graced us with. Everything from glittering evening gowns to simple tee+denim combos can be found in her 'shoots, all of them handled with competence, authority..and plenty of girl-next-door seductiveness :). The Barbie-love is strong with Diva-Fierce! ;)

It seems to me that, if you have a love of fashion, you have a beast inside - a kind of style spirit animal (or animals) whose aura you tap into when you go to your fierce place. So what if, instead of using that spirit as inspiration, you let it out to play? What if you actually became the beast? This Halloween, we're going to explore exactly that through the Divas and KO's and the animal instincts they conjure up for us. We're going to seek the fierce in it's raw form - complete with fur and claws and blazing eyes! - and let it run wild for a night, with us inside instead of the other way around. The true uncharted territory, the real safari, the forest where these creatures roam is a place we can all travel to - if we dare! Come with us and seek the beast within!

I didn't immediately think of Brandi's inner fierce beast as reptilian royalty. It was only when I saw the snake on her new gear that the similar qualities became apparent: wise, powerful, creative, a bit dangerous, and more than capable of biding their time until the right opportunity to strike. If, like Brandi, the snake calls to your beastie within, dress it for Halloween in head-to-toe snake print. Go with python shoes if you have  pair, or finish with basic black. Feel free to get wild with snake-eye contact lenses, or glue flat-back crystals on a pair of sunglasses in the vesica piscis (pointed oval) shape. Add a smattering of low, curved horns for a little extra ferociousness and you're ready to slither your sultry way through any Halloween party.

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 :)