WWE periodically dredges through its archives and gives us some throwback galleries and their latest is a look at Mickie James’ career, all the way back to when she was blonde (!!!) and being mentored by Trish Stratus. There are a ton of great action shots and ring gear snaps, letting the gallery serve as a tribute to the consistency of her gear silhouette and the long run of gorgeous, bright colors and strong fabrics that is has gone through. There’s no denying that Mickie has always brought a ray of light to the ring, each time she steps into it! It’s also a 101 course in Mickie’s streetwear style, which has distinctively girl-next-door tendencies. We often see Mickie in denim with cute knits: a  tee or tank, styled with practical, yet flirty DIY knots,  lace or crochet. The second snap here, of her ivory tank and turquoise-accented belt from the time of her first album release is one of my favorite shots of Mickie – stunning, strong and a spot-on representation of her style.  Her favorite accessories include baseball caps, cowboy hats and embellished belts that reflect the American West. There’s an easy, rootsy sensibility to her looks  that’s sexy in the most unstudied, casual way. For all her country-chick-bada$$ery, though, Mickie has never been afraid to show off her feminine side with beautiful floral dresses or glamorous hairstyles. The simple photoshoot snap n her burgundy halter top is rendered unforgettable by her divine half up-do. The curls, the tendrils and the complexity all combine flawlessly with Mickie’s pensive expression for a jaw-droppingly gorgeous shot. While simplicity often paid off for her, so did taking risks, as she did with this pose and facial in the snap from the multi-diva photo gallery entitled Vroom Vroom, a Nascar-themed ‘shoot. With its muscle car and checkered flag references combining with the flirty femininity of her tulle underskirt, the shot captures the editorial version of the essential Mickie keister-kicking-coquette style personality. Check out the rest of the gallery for a crash course in her fashion or a quick lap around memory lane!

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 forevs - was back in the days before I was a 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.

We got a very mixed bag of snaps from Axxess Day 3 - everything from full body shots to partial torsos. The latter naturally make it somewhat difficult to review per se, but being the fashion lover I am, I try to at least make a comment or two :).
Charlotte went for a classic combination of red and black, pairing a halter cropped top with stunning red wide-leg pants. She gets huge props for trying out the wide leg style and I really love how she makes it work. The key to the trend is defining the waist one way or another (which allows the pants to work their long, leggy magic). Charlotte's choice of the crop top accomplishes this perfectly. This shade of red is glorious - intense and attention getting. By doing it as the larger, bolder piece in her look , Charlotte gave it extra significance and made the whole outfit stand out.
Leave it to Alicia to slay the life out of an Axxess outift! I LOVE this look - her burgundy suede overall dress (yes - a dress with an overall top. This one is the Jameson Leather Overall Dress x For Love & Lemons via Mulaner. A few also available in black at lexandlynne.com) is super fun in and of itself, but with studs? Fierce, baby! So fierce! But Her Foxiness doesn't stop there. She adds trendiness to uniqueness and fierceness by layering an off-shoulder tank underneath it for a completely incredible casual look. This is how you make laidback be totally NOT boring! A short collar pendant necklace and a low bun complete this amazing look.
Nia went for a black monochrome outfit, which is solid throughout. She does an excellent job mixing textures for visual interest by topping a knit tee and black leggings with a leather-panelled knit waterfall jacket.  I haven't seen enough of her fashion choices to know if all black is something she gravitates to often. If that's her preference and what she enjoys, that rocks! But I do get sad when I think that a number of curvier ladies stay with black because they've been told 18 million times over that it's slimming. The way an outfit looks on the body is much more about cut, fabric and visual geometry than color. So, curvy chicks, if you love color , this is my personal plea to you: don't shy away from it! Have some fun with your palette :)
Summer kept things light with a blush tank (or tank dress) with tonal striping. A pretty ivory lace choker accented the look. One thing that I love very much about this piece is that it definitely seems to not be a coord set :). Also, the softness of the combination is gorgeous for hot weather -light neutrals always have a dewy fresh quality.

The Wrestlemania Golf Tournament always turns up some interesting fashion. It can be a bit tricky to have functional athletic gear that's still cute too :). Dana goes for ultra trendy sage green with her tee and pairs it with wild mixed-print leggings. I like the way her tee coordinates with the dusty green tones in the marble patterning.  Mickie earns some props by bringing color into her look as well. I can't say I'd immediately reach for these plum knee socks with their cobalt stripes, but I love the way they add a big punch of color to her look - as well as coordinating quite nicely with her playful polka dot polo (I get points every time I use alliteration :)).  Set against the look's major hue of bright white, the color really works fabulously. Also, how cute is Mickie with glasses? So cute, right?! I wish she had put her hair in a ponytail and really showed them off! Naturally, Alicia slays her golf tourney look - pretty sure she does this by habit now :).  Her checked pants are whimsical and so so fun! She pairs them with a classic black tee and then tops it all with a luxe fur vest - how often you see one of those on the golf course?! The texture is fantastic, but the surprise of the inclusion of such a piece is even more so. Oh, and she's not done: Foxy finishes the outfit with a black fedora embellished with a massive burgundy peony. That piece is completely aaaaaaaahmazing! This whole look is fabulous...and totally Foxy - relaxed, unusual, bold, creative and pulled together. Girlfriend is slaying that golf course like a catwalk! This killer causal look would be equally at home in a coffeehouse, shopping, a girl squad lunch,..so many places!  Cathy gives Foxy a lil' style competition with her look - she pairs a black v-neck tee and a caramel leather skirt with oh-so-trendy pleats. I'm guessing she finished her outfit with the black sneakers each of the other ladies were sporting as well, which works perfectly in my book, picking up on the athleisure trend, as well as being functional for actual athletics. Like Foxy's  ensemble, Cathy's look would be quite fab off the course as well. Nicely done, ladies!

I can't believe I'm still in catch-up mode. Sigh.
I'm so sorry that Naomi's injury was serious enough to force her to have to drop the title. How insanely frustrating after all her hard work to achieve it! She managed to go out in style though, pairing a cute cap-sleeve cropped tee with her Feel The Glow leggings and black sneakers with blue and lime embellishments. This combo is casual and sporty and, once again, plays on that fab combo of teal and neon citrus that works so incredibly well. Her bright hair acts as that one extra pop of color that gives the outfit zing.
Mickie put together a classically Americana pairing of a gorgeous lace cropped top with pale denim. Naturally, she finished it with Western boots ;) One of the benefits of an unrefined, study boot like this is that it allows an outfit to be styled with super-feminine pieces, like Mickie's top, without having the look come off at all too girly. The boots provide a strong counter-balance - something to keep in mind if you adore frills, but don't want to over-do the femme vibe. If Western boots aren't your jazz, a chunky-heeled punk-tinged boot, or a  classic riding silhouette will work similarly.
Lana has been doing a good bit with this double-breasted dress style lately. The double row of buttons has a haberdasher-esque quality that brings strength and assertiveness to this simple dress. I can love this design when done as a blazer; I'm a bit more hesitant about the dress version. I don't dislike it, but it probably wouldn't be the first thing I'd reach for. Lana's variation is done is a fiery red satin, which makes it even more of a statement piece. Her slim crystal choker is a perfect way to accessorize a look like this - with subtlety. Her low bun is polished but not too prim - another winning choice!
Maryse got in on some actual nearly in-ring action in preparation for the build-up to Miz & her Wrestlemania match against John & Nikki. As usual, her selections are stellar: a cropped sequin bomber cardigan (leave it to Maryse to make a cardi look fierce! #HowItsDone101) tops leather leggings. She finished the look with plain suede OTK boots - and flat boots, no less! It's rare, but Maryse in flats does indeed happen ;), and she slays in them just as well as in heels. As if we expected anything different. #Homage
Natalya's exploration of combinations of patent leather, sheer, strapped cutouts and crystal continues with this gear. She's moved to pink for her crystals - a mouth-watering decision that I hope she gives us a few more variations of! The strapped cutout aspects of her gear remain as fabulous as ever - and she's earning serious points from me for her designs that show enough to be tantalizing as heck, without showing too much. It's a fine line to walk and Nattie is handling it perfectly. This is how a classy lady does sexy! Note-taking is encouraged ;).

The Royal Rumble set a high fashion standard, but the gals maintained it at the Elimination Chamber.
First, there was Becky’s continuing foray into gear with a hint of a femme twist. This set offers an iconic color story of black and beige, with a simple tank topping her frayed denim shorts. What brings distinction to the look is the broad band of gorgeous black lace that drapes across her torso. It’s so delicate that, at first glance, it almost seemed ragged to me, as if it was echoing the hem of her shorts. Even though it’s not, the similarity in texture unites the look, while still providing a beautiful and delicate contrast to the rugged grommetted leather at her knees. There’s a kind of broken-in, ragged romanticism to this look that I’m really enjoying: it’s stunning yet unforgiving, gorgeous, yet grounded. What a unique and intriguing statement from Becky and a wonderful show of growth and experimentation!
Both Summer and Sasha worked with blue and orange as a combo in the past and I loved it. Equally well do I love the pairing of purple and orange, as worn by Nikki. The bright cantaloupe shade is warm and inviting and nearly glows with intensity.  It looks amazing against her skin! The deep grape adds a flush of cool solidity to all that vibrancy and the effect is gorgeous! While I love her red, black and white variations, seeing her break into some new color combinations – especially such unique and yummy ones as this! – is incredibly fun!
Alexa went for the classic color combo of red and blue with her gear. She added a nice little twist, though, by accenting the pairing with gold, which adds warmth and luxuriousness. I’ve been a fan of this design of her gear pretty much since it debuted and I’m still totally on board. The only thing I could do wthout is the cartoon appliquee at the front. Come on, girl – you’re not Bayley. There’s a way to bring in this kind of accent, but, set against a mature, fierce  ring outfit like this, it just looks silly.
It takes a really special vision and execution to use a lot of pattern and color and have it be cohesive. Naomi absolutely smashes the concept here! For starters, her romper silhouette is bang on trend. For seconders, her scrolled, mod print has the complex beauty of a Pucci piece, but done in light-up-the-world neons that give it a youthful energy and vitality that looks super hot! Lime, turquoise, lavender and cerulean make for a current and stunning color story, while the matching leg covers carry the look all the way to her feet, creating unity and impact. The layered chevrons are a flawless addition, creating a slight, but solid diversion from the print and working fabulously with her body shape to create a curvy hourglass. I love everything about this – as complex as it is, it’s put together perfectly, so it’s not busy or overwhelming, just powerful, mesmerizing and straight up AMZAZING!
Mickie’s gear has been a wonderful mingling of ‘new  and then’ :), pairing a halter top accented with a suitably Southwest-esque symbol and her always-favored flared-leg pants. Touches of colored stones accent the edges of both top and bottom. She’s done several color stories with this design, but I especially like the icy simplicity of this metallic silver, spiked with hints of emerald.

With fashion weeks and new spring pieces coming in and the knowledge that we’re (finally!) on the back end of winter, there’s a lot to love about February! And oh yeah, there’s that Valentine’s Day thing too :-).  The Divas rocked their style this month and that made just that much more lovable, so let’s about love, baby!
Charlotte’s in-ring fashion interests me because it has a distinctive character compared to her street style. She lightens up for her street style, stretched further and brings in more color and generally a bit more femininity. Her in-ring style (other than her gear) has a minimalist, and tougher quality. It acts nicely as a balance to the gorgeousness and glam of her ring attire, but I wouldn’t mind seeing her push some boundaries either. This black monochrome look typifies the styling she’s so successful with: leather peplum top creates curves and edge, black denim lends that laidback air and suede OTK’s complete things with a whisper of fierce. It’s solid, simple and polished.
For risk-taking, we have to look to Renee, who breaks out this pair of plaid-accented pants. We had a rasher of printed pants going on among the divas last fall and Renee decided to hop on the train. As with Maryse and the other fashion-accomplished divas, Renee makes the more daring bottoms work by pairing them with a simple top and keep the whole look primarily about dark neutrals – except for my favorite part: her hot pink lip shade, which echoes that shade in the plaid and carries the color upward flawlessly! It’s an outfit-maker choice that makes the whole look pop. A simple choker adds an au courant touch.
Alexa reaches for her engaging aesthetic of chilled glam with this look, pairing a sheer-meets-solid top with moto pants and low heeled black knee boots. I love the zipper-embellished pants, but the rest of the look is somewhat underwhelming. It’s trying for hotness and comes off feeling more common than fierce. It surprises me that I could call anything “common” which contains that incredibly awesome crystal choker, but the mix of elements is just a shade off, which gives us a quick refresher course on why the most effortless-looking style can sometimes be the hardest to capture. Paradoxically, I think she might have gotten more impact from a simple cap-sleeve, scoop-necked cropped tee that put the focus on the crystals and the contrast with her sturdy boots. Next time! ;)
Mickie also works the casual look and hers comes together nicely. She pairs a brick red cold-shoulder-top (showing shoulders is so totes on trend right now!) with blue denim. A wide woven cognac belt accents her waist and ties in with her to-the-knee boots. So far, so good. She spikes the whole look with a statement gemstone necklace in peacock blue and orange – a surprising combination that makes you think about it for a moment. The blue harmonizes with her jeans, while the orange echoes the cognac shade, making the surprise a stellar choice. It gives the look distinction, without being jarring. Props, girl!

There's been a definite injection of country-girl style into WWE since the return of Mickie James! She shows it off here as she pairs a pretty swing top, accented with sequins, with classic blue jeans and - what else? :) - cowboy boots! I love the softness of her top - the combination of floaty -ness and sparkle is delicate and playful. Mickie's choice of light blue denim complements it perfectly, keeping the whole look light, right down to those daring embellished boots. There's a lot going on here, but the soft, simple palette pulls it all together.
Renee showcases a magnificent tuxedo blazer in this look from late January. This piece is classic and versatile because of its fit and colors, while the tuxedo lapel and black buttons are just the right touches to make it distinctive. She  paired it with leather leggings, which add a fab tough vibe and a graphic tee - the only part of the look I'm sort of meh about. I love graphic tee for the casual urban cool it brings to an outfit but here, it feels just a smidgeon too casual. A plain tee (I'm thinking red to show off those lapels ;)) would have a similar effect, while harmonizing a bit more. She gets serious props for the smoky eye, though - I love the way they bring out the boldness and attitude in this outfit!

So, this is kind of luke-warm off the press rather than smoking hot, but Mickie James is back!  Which means "hey Mickie, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind, hey Mickie!" is now stuck in my head :). In addition to being a fantastic wrestler, Mickie brought a country bombshell-next-door vibe to diva's fashion with her rootsy sensibilities. It's a theme we've missed, which makes it doubly exciting to see her back on the roster. And since she's signed a multi-year deal with WWE, it looks like we'll be enjoying said style for a good, lengthy time :) With all the incredible new talent, plus all the diva returns over the last year or two, right now is a really amazing era for divas' fans. Charlotte and Becky, plus Maryse and Mickie, as well as Maria over on the Impact side: like, what a time to be alive, right?!

WrestleMania rolling around means it's SPRING....woohoo! And spring somehow always equates to flowers somewhere in fashion. Prints have been strong for several seasons and show little sign of slowing down. Fashion reinvented them this past winter, bringing in the dark floral look, with deep colors, which is appropriate for both fall/winter and gothic-femme looks done the rest of the year (think AlexanderMcQueen and you'll have the idea). The Divas are definitely fans of florals, choosing dresses, rompers and tops with variations of the print. There's no denying florals are fun to wear - it's like having a garden right on your body! I dare you to feel sad with such a print comprising part of your outfit!