We may not all have antebellum mansions to frolic about in, but fortunately, we don't need one to borrow a bit of inspiration from Naomi's look in her next-to-latest WWE 'shoot. Her pairing of brassy stripes with feminine tulle amped up the quirky, fierce energy in the 'shoot, especially when finished with sparkling bow-embellished heels and her glowing lime hair. But, take the styling out of the photoshoot and it stands on its own rather well. The bold, vaguely modernist statement of a striped top acts as an anchor for the frilly effervescence of the tulle skirt, making for a playfully chic combination we can definitely borrow! Step 1: grab your favorite tulle skirt! :) ..."But Brie, what if I don't have a tulle skirt?!" *horrorstruck* It's ok, I swear! Breathe :) Just reach for a skirt with a femme feel: lace, embroidery, florals, even just a simple, solid piece in a floaty fabric like silk or chiffon will do. All better? :) Hugs! Step 2: grab a striped top! You do have one of those, right? A knit tee tends to be my first thought when I envision stripes, but don't forget about striped blouses or button-downs. Their more polished connotation plays perfectly for this look. Next: warmth! If you need another layer, add a twill military jacket (a classic leather biker will work too) for some extra attitude over a tee or bring in the sweetness of a button cardigan over a collared top. Important: if your skirt has a narrow waistband that doesn't provide enough definition, you can visually widen it by adding a belt. Feel free to blouson your top over it. Last up are the shoes. If you need a little more edge to feel like you, a heeled boot will do the trick. For maxi skirts, make sure the boot shaft is higher than the skirt's hemline. For all others, make sure there is a gap between the top of the boot and the skirt's hem (unless you're doing OTKs under a midi or knee skirt (a perfectly stunning look, darling ;)); in that case, follow the suggestion for maxi skirts. If you're feeling sophisticated, go with a simple, iconic black pump. Laidback, but still fabulous? Try a pointy-toed ballet flat. I hope this inspires you to pair something striped and something femme sometime soon. Happy styling! XO
0 Comments
The Big Dub has decided to honor the lady champs of Smackdown with their own gallery, just as they did with the lady belt-holders of Raw. Perhaps I'm a bit optimistic in terming it a "gallery" - ti's really only one snap form each diva. As fan of the Blue Brand, I feel rather gypped. Why not two shots, hmm?? Or three, as the Raw gals got? Playing a bit of favoritism here, WWE? It's not appreciated. What this ...mini collection....gives us is an hors d'ouevre, a smackerel of Smackdown, a tiny taste...just enough to whet our appetite and allow us to appreciate the fantastic gear each of these wrestlers has and how stunning they are and how awesome the belt looks as an accessory and then...boom...everything is over. Finis, finito, caput. Gypped, indeed! Certainly Becky nails the sideways pose and looks gorgeous doing it! Bonus points for the plum shorts and the studded crisscross belt - fabulous color and a bit of edge always make for a win in my world! Perhaps she'll try a blue shade that matches the background in the belt next ;). Alexa definitely rocks the heck out of this red gear- the basically neutral black and silver pairing accent it perfectly, adding just enough interest and pop, but not enough to be distracting. Also, please explain how Alexa manages to look so insanely pretty and so dang cute at the same time? #GreatMysteries. PS I'm the teensiest bit jealous. Like, I'm not 100% green yet but getting there :) Just kidding. Naomi makes this simple pose work brilliantly - the way she's tipped her head takes it out of "high school photo" category and into "Top Model" category and her smile is amazingly lovely - authentic and sweet and sunshine-y. This gear is fantastic as well...I will break it down in detail when we get the full look at it (coming soon to a blog near you), but even with this preview, I'm loving the mix of colors and the graphic print - it's strident, but not too crazy. A+ on the lime nail shade and I'm still loving that emerald-silver-sparkle eyeshadow. I can't get over how divine that looks on her! Ogh, the fabulosity!
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! WWE really outdid itself for Valentine's Day this year! They went in a wonderful direction last year with their hazy, romantic Love Dreams 'shoot, but for 2017, they took that whole idea even further. The set was a magnificent old mansion - The Annesdale in Memphis - an 1850 Italianate-style building with a spiral staircase, gilded mirrors and antique furniture. It had a vintage, vaguely Gatsby-esque feel, with a tiny hint of Wonderland thrown in. The set was literally AMAZING and, as you might expect, it brought forth some fantastic work from the Divas who participated!
Nikki's lace-embellished charmeuse gown had a distinctly lingerie-esque feel to it, a variation on the slip-dress trend which fit the vibe of this 'shoot flawlessly. The piece is sultry, but its incidental to the beauty and artistry - which I like! While I'd want a coat (at least! ;)) over it for real-world usage, in a photoshoot,it conveys Old World romance, with a dash of modern coquettishness. She added hints of her trademark red with a delicate choker and fur-topped red strappy sandals. The mauve-blush-taupe shades of her make-up add a lovely, dreamy softness to the look. And then, there are her poses :). A 'shoot like this is just tailor-made for Nikki and she worked every ounce of it! From creating sensual angles in the mirror to draping herself across the staircase, she smashed Every. Single. Pose, melding opulence and seduction in a stunningly beautiful way. Without a doubt, though, the one that took my heart was of her doing up the buckles of her stilettos. That was EVERYthing...more than everything! It's beyond words. Alexa ditches her ponytails and leather jackets for a gorgeous lace top and ballerina-like blush tulle skirt. I'm totally down for the switch up: Blissy rocks this style just as well as her more trademark looks. The only thing I'm not 100% on is her wide waist belt. Usually, I love them, but there's been a recent trend toward including pieces which have what amounts to statement details and they can sometimes give an awkward vibe to a look. In this case, I think the belt could have been jettisoned and the top blousonned and it would have worked as well or better. She finishes things off with a touch of sparkle via strappy platform sandals. She echoes that glitter with subtly frosted make-up in barely-there shades and the effect is magnificent. As tough and athletic as she is, there is a delicacy to her features which lends them to these shades and finishes and makes the look magical! She also doesn't push for vixen-like poses, but intelligently, goes for more playful girl-next-door looks, which suit her perfectly. In this setting, with the ethereal light and elegant furniture, she gives the impression of a sprite-goddess come down to earth to tease the mortals for awhile. Lovely work! So..um...yes...it is totally ridic to be reviewing a holiday 'shoot in February and I have nothing to plead for myself but lack of time and rather challenging collages. I'm trying to make this seem appropriate to post by doing so on a day when it is snowing around me, but that probably isn't going to help my cause in the sunny elsewheres. Sorries? *apologetic hopeful smile (while making self appear small and ingratiating)*
First, a note on the background: the painted scene was simple, but well done and really worked well! I love the effect of that, especially with the glitter faux snow some of the divas were tossing about. I could have done without the cotton batting-type snow on the artificial pines though. That looked awkward and not especially artistic or tasteful, which is a shame because there are so many amazing options for creating a snowy effect these days, including artificial pine that is already snow-covered. Or spray snow and spray glitter. Or frosted pine cones and branches. (I worked in flower shop during college, so I got to play with all that stuff :)) So here's the take-home, Big Dub: do it right, or do without. Either is good, but the half-cheeked thing...meh. Moving on from there, let's talk about Alexa! Her white mock-neck bodycon dress gets spiced up with insets in two fabrics: sheer and lace. The effect is gorgeous: the clean, strong panelled silhouette is interspersed with touches of gauzy and frilly textures that soften and uplift it. Alexa accented it with a pile of slim silver bangles, which enhance the snowy, festive effect. Her poses are mainly standards, well-executed, but a few - like this one where she steps into the shower of "snow" are not only unusual, but so beautiful as well! They are a joy to view and make me so excited about the possibilities for her future 'shoots! Carmella's choice was a white strapless dress that jumped on that particular aspect of the side cutout trend that bares a lot of skin at the hip. The trend is a risky one in that it can go from just enough to way too much very easily. Carmella's piece gets closer to the "too much" line than I generally prefer, which is unfortunate because the classic strapless silhouette suits her. She also shows a real flair for accessorizing, going with a standout crystal statement necklace that I adore and magnificent jeweled strappy heels, which I definitely want to see again! (Maybe in my closet ;)). She does a nice job with her poses, playing with her hair and rocking some fun angles. She seems to be smiling in nearly every shot, which gets predictable, even if accidental. Possibly because of that, one of my favorite snaps in her set is the one showing her open-mouthed expression of innocent joy - it comes off as authentic and endearing and its novelty is just one more reason to love it. Despite a few uneven moments, Carmella's snaps show great promise because of slayed shots like this one! Becky is one of the few ladies to ditch the dress - I applaud her choice of a sequined romper. Its unique and fits her offbeat style...and happens to be spot on trend at the same time ;). The piece's center clasp lets the center slit create a dash of flirty-ness without revealing way too much and the sequin stripes bring a wonderful modern flash to the look. Like Alexa, Becky's accessory of choice was a stack of bangles ranging in tone from sterling to hematite. They coordinate precisely with her outfit, which could be boring in a simpler piece, but works flawlessly with this bold one! She finishes the outfit the same way she started: with a twist - green wedge sneakers instead of the expected heels. Not everyone could pull this off, but Becky makes it work with her sporty confidence. I'm also in heaven with her facials and poses - she's worked on her glare and nails it - no deadpan expression here! It's all confidence and subtle strong energy that doesn't have to be in-your-face. Glorious! Equally perfect is her over-the-shoulder laugh as she pulls the sleigh full of packages - she captures the effervescent magic and an elfin quality in the snap and it's superb! Brava! Maryse's set is just what you would expect from her -stellar in every way! Her mesh-embellished lace dress perfectly matches the snowy vibe of the 'shoot, while the scalloped edge adds a lovely touch of femininity. Unlike the other ladies, she went with gold accessories and they add an appealing hint of warmth to the 'shoot. But the real fire in the snaps comes from Maryse's sure hand with poses and facials: the soft smile, the smirk (in combination with her trademark hand gesture), the sideways glance - she moves from strength to strength. Her hair and make-up are stunning. The whole set bespeaks a thoroughly competent diva rocking the heck out of a simple 'shoot and taking it to a new level with her poise and beauty. Reason #158435168 why I adore Maryse! Among their gaggle of galleries, WWE has released a collection focused on the Divas' fitness. They've tied it to the idea of New Year's resolutions, but really, any time of year is a good time to up the ante on your fitness. One thing that's for sure is that the lady superstars' conditioning is #goals! It's tough to flip through these shots and not get inspired! Charlotte's shot is my very favorite - how does she manage to look so comfortable and gorgeous while holding this insane position?! That's just..not possible! Yet, here she is doing it. Not only does she get serious props for doing something this difficult, she gets mad respect for making it look aaaaaaahmazing. I'm in awe! We keep getting pieces of Char's Tapout shot bit by bit and I think her snaps from it just keep getting better! Sasha offers a reminder to do squats and - this is crucial! - maintain good form while you're doing them! It's easy to get focused on weight and reps, but how you do the move is as important as how many and how often. I know this because one of my work friends is also a personal trainer and he makes sure I'm staying in alignment and lifting right - even when I'm doing it in four inch heels at the office ;) Sasha's heathered workout gear is super-cute! I do wish she'd gone for a hair style that didn't incorporate this harsh central part, though. On the other hand, I'm sure she chose it for its functionality, rather than its sophistication, so I can be talked into giving her a pass on it :). Lana's previously released Body Series 'shoot lends this snap. While some of that set revealed the grace and poise of her barre routine, this facet of the set was all about power and steely resolve! This pic is a prime example of that, reminding us to bring game faces and fierce attitudes to gym time! I love the bright colors in Naomi's gear in this shot. Not only is it eye-catching, it's incredibly pretty! She seriously needs to wear this orchid shade more often! The way the flush of color on her lips carries the hue up to her face is fab! I'm so glad WWE added this snap because it highlights the importance of stretching, an all-too-often overlooked aspect of a workout. Naomi's pose is a complex one (which I need to go and try out now :) ), but, like Charlotte, she manages to look lovely while pulling it off. Doesn't that hurt, girl? You'd never know it by her face - and that's the mark of a top model: you never see the struggle in the pic! Eva Marie's snap is on fire - and not just because of her red hair ;) Her leggings echo the bright red and spark the whole shot. Of course, her accidentally-on-purpose mad sexy pose doesn't hurt either - it's hard to top this one for athletic seduction! If you can get your brain past the scalding aesthetics, the pic also should encourage the addition of a tricep/bicep day to the Fitness Goals list. Do you have something you want to achieve with your fitness this year? Whether it's doing crunches once a week or climbing a real mountain, I promise you, it's do-able if you work hard enough! My goal is to get back to working out period. It's been one of the things that's gone by the wayside over the last few months. Sigh. But I refuse to let that continue! Right, self?!
As is usual for Total Divas-returns-time, the ladies got a promo 'shoot to highlight it. Usually these are stocked full of amazing fashion, but I confess to being a bit underwhelmed by this season's choices. Eva Marie's look paired a sheer-inset bodysuit with OTKs, a hot, but somewhat expected look. My favorite part of this is the au courant twist of the bomber jacket topper, as it brings a new dimension to a pairing we've seen explored fairly often. Maryse's dress is a silver metallic sheath with a fabulous square neck and some ruched details It's precisely the kind of piece we'd have seen her do in her Million Dollar Couple days, with added heapings of crystal. Here it's pretty and successful..I was just hoping for mind-blowing. The closest we get to that are her incroyable strappy heels, which are simply everything and which I need to see again. Need. Naomi's silver skirt is a standout piece and a 'shoot highlight, hitting just the right trend note. I'd have liked to see the styling tweaked a touch. First, a blacktop would have grounded it better and let the skirt have the deserved spotlight. Second, I wish the skirt had been rotated slightly to show a touch less leg, switching the focus more to the stylishness and a little less to the sexiness. This was so close to being killer that just...:'( shucks. Nikki's flowing, wide-banded top is similar - the piece itself is amazing: dramatic, unusual, and envelope-pushing. But the bikini briefs? Nah, girlie. Black leggings and peeptoe booties? Yes, please. Ditto with Brie's look. The graphic tank works perfectly and if it were paired with a tulle-embellished skirt, I'd be all over it as the best look of the 'shoot. Instead, we a get a tulle wrap over the (two-for-one special?) bikini briefs. I get that sex sells, but sometimes we want to buy something else. As with Maryse's look, Brie's is redeemed a good deal by those fantastic heels. Those are fab and def need to come to play in future! Natalya's print dress buddies up with Maryse's look in impression: it's fun, it's chic, it works. But it's nice-age more than slay-age. She gets props for her pose, though - hers is one of the best in the line-up: powerful, confident and flirty all at once. Paige's black bodysuit aired with leather OTKs suffers from the same redundancy as Eva Marie's look, without the redeeming bomber jacket. I think I could get into this look if she'd tossed a black trench over her shoulders. And no, I am not going to exit stage left without remarking on how killer those boots are. Those are HAWT in every possible way. Like so many other pieces in this 'shoot, I hope to see them again, perhaps restyled with blue denim, a lace-up top and a biker jacket. Despite having a vaguely superhero-esque feel, Lana's metallic-wrapped bodysuit succeeds among the best of the looks here. It ties nicely together, it has a degree of unexpectedness, it shows enough but not too much and it has a hint of risk-taking to hold our attention. Her favorite lace-up style pumps complete the look with fashion awareness.
|
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
Categories
All
Photos used for criticism and comment under US Copyright Act Section 107.
|