The ladies of WWE brought their fashion game to the Superstars For Hope event, giving us some fabulous formal looks for this charity night, which benefits the boys and Girls Clubs of America this year.
Dana Warrior looks fantastic every time I see her and she rocked it again here, wearing a highlighter yellow gown done in notoriously challenging charmeuse satin. Naturally, I’m wild over the color of this dress :), but Im also super-impressed with the fit. Charmeuse can be unforgiving but we see no evidence of it here. It fits Dana flawlessly and we get to concentrate on the effect of the movement and the beautiful sheen. She added some warmth to the look by completing it with metallic gold sandals. Her long, loose hairstyle kept the ensemble from feeling excessively formal and her smoky eye and pale rose lip looked gorgeous!
Renee chose a scarlet mini dress covered in massive paillettes that reminds me of something Paco Rabanne would do (The piece is from House of Harlow 1960). I love how the black-on-red  represents a unique take on the classic sequin dress. This piece is so much fun! Renee completed it with block-heeled ankle strap pumps. Her red lip is the perfect way to carry the color upward. This whole look is fab, especially with her short, platinum hair – it really makes the red pop!
Carmella’s choice was equally stellar: a teal sequined gown by Stello that wrapped into a ruffle at her hip. This gown has me in ecstasies! The color is heavenly and the daring lines of that bold ruffle give the piece distinction and a futuristic quality that’s crave-worthy! Carmella added glittering, silvery statement earrings that accented the gown’s cool shimmer (I loved the snaps where she flipped all of her hair over one shoulder so we could really see them!) and completed the look with platform ankle strap sandals. This is a glorious choice of dress. It’s fabulous here, and could easily have worked for the Hall Of Fame as well.

I’m still not over the high of Wrestlemania week – maybe because I’ve been slaving over pics and collages :) We will have AAALLLL the Wrestlemania fashion for you here over the course of the next few days and we’re kicking it off with a taste of the Hall Of Fame. Last year, we gave all the non-roster ladies their own count-up and this year, since we have a number of ladies participating, we’re keeping the tradition going! The looks ran the gamut from monochrome to brights, fancy to relaxed and we loved seeing all of them.  I have to open with my usual caveat: all the ladies looked incredible and every time I do a count-up, I’m always splitting hairs to determine placings! Tiny things make the difference because they have to :). With that said, let’s get to the “who wowed us the most” part! Here goes…

So, about forty years after the Rumble, WWE managed to release photoshoot-style snaps of the ladies in their ring gear, under the guise of celebrating International Women’s Day. Ok, Big Dub, whatever. It’s a gear ‘shoot and I’m good with that. No need to try to convince me its anything else. So, now about forty years after they released it, I’m reviewing it…under the guise of rounding up the Royal Rumble :). I like that these snaps give you a close and clear look at each of the ladies’ in-ring looks and it allows me to comment on a few of the gals I couldn’t acquire good pics of the first time around.
Aaaaand Becky isn’t in her gear, but this actually looks like it could have been. Its  a taste of her chill-gal-meets-medieval-punk stylings that we saw early in 2017. The hints of metal give this look a nice touch of flash and the rust and black tones work beautifully with her hair. While I would have found this a little lowkey for a major event like the Rumble, I could get behind her wearing this for a tv event.

Woops – I’ve been so focused on keeping up and catching up that I nearly forgot about Pt. II of the Rumble gear! Fixing that now :).
Maria Menounos went for full-on athleisure in this sporty jumpsuit. Zipped up and paired with sneakers, it could easily have felt underwhelming, but she intelligently spiced it up with a gold bodysuit below and unexpected metallic peeptoe booties. The shoes, in particular, shifted the vibe of this look toward Fiercness and I approve! Statement earrings cemented that direction.
I’m on board for the Gothic leanings of Nia’s gear: the shield-like red lace looks powerful and imposing set against the black leather, but still retains beauty, preventing the gear from looking too stark and brawn-heavy. She previously did iterations of this look where the upper edge of the colored front-piece was extended farther to each side, creating a visual empire waist. That look is excellent for Nia and I wish she would explore it further.  While the sections of black lace break up the leather nicely, they also reduce the cohesiveness of the piece. A simple sheer fabric could have a similar, but simpler, effect.  The concepts she has for her look are fantastic and super-fun; just a few small tweaks to the execution could really put them in a class by themselves.
The Bella’s triumphant reunion was more about the feels than the gear, but it delivered so well on the feels that I can overlook the absence of anything novel on the attire front.  Both ladies slayed in red. Nikki reprised her most recent era of sporty gear, with a short-sleeve cropped tee accented with lace-up detailing and paired with color block shorts.  Red knee socks and black+red sneakers rounded out the look. Brie went for red latex in a one-piece silhouette, embellished with slashes and a plaid waistband that recalled her grunge-tinged Brie-mode looks. The sisters rarely fail to deliver and these looks are both solid, competent and visually impactful – the work of women who know exactly what they’re about.
Carmella’s gear looks like gray marble print from a distance, but on closer inspection it is revealed to be a graffiti print. I’m totally in for either print; they both look fab! And I’m really impressed by the way that the look works so incredibly well from both vantage points. Many times, something can look amazing close-up but lose impact from further back, or vice versa, but this look covers it all! The orange piping was an awesome choice and works brilliantly, bringing the shot of color that makes this gear pop. Surprisingly, I can even get behind the faux high waistband created by her fishnet hosiery showing above her shorts. You gotta be fab to sell me on that kind of a look! :)

I was going through some of my archived folders and I discovered a bunch of images and collages from Melange that I re-fell in love with and wanted to share with you all :). Right now, Melange denotes special, capsule-type posts with a particular theme, but originally Melange was conceived as an online magazine, with three articles presented each month, as well as a cover. We started it with a Prom issue, about nine months after Diva-Fierce.com was born and it was so much fun! I have tons of great memories surrounding the brainstorming and collaborations that took place to bring it together each month. These colls are from a feature called Art Major which married several Divas' photoshoots with art, such as the one above of SoCalVal edited into my vision of a Helen Frankenthaller piece. We intended to present it in March of 2013, but it proved to be trickier to execute than we originally envisioned and it ended up not getting released until August. It still one of my favorite concepts that we did...although, that could be said about a lot of the content ;). I hope you enjoy!

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!

On RAW'S 25th Anniversary, we fans had the fortunate experience of seeing some of our favourite women from the past, some we haven't seen for years, grace our screens once again.....and now, we get to review their fashion :), which is a massive thrill!
Lilian Garcia: The sultry songstress’ look was trademark Lilian, pairing a glittering printed dress with suede OTK boots. This is a combo Lil has plenty of experience with and it shows, as she smartly plays on texture by combining suede with shine. Her long and loose hairstyle adds her customary sense of ease and un-fussiness (did I just make up a word again?) to what could be a fairly fancy look, making it feel accessible, but also formal enough to be respectful to the occasion. Plus, it makes it feel like a party! Shine will do that ;)
Nikki & Brie Bella: It's been so long since we've seen both Bella Twins on screen together in a WWE setting, so RAW 25 was definitely a special moment for the Bella Army. Though we all know Nikki can 100% slay in a designer dress and heels, she brought her ring gear out for this night. Rocking her signature snapback, red jersey top and shorts, knee high socks, and sneakers.. this is THE Nikki Bella look we all know and love. Brie Bella walked onto the ramp in style, wearing black high waisted leggings, ankle boots, and a tied up Brie Mode t-shirt. Her accessory of choice? A red flannel tied around her waist... which of course, is classic Brie Bella.
Barbie/Kelly Kelly: As per her usual gift for dressing just right for the occasion, Barbie (aka Kelly Kelly) looked every inch the former diva – in fact, she looked like she could step right back into Diva-hood tomorrow without missing a beat. She paired a zippered sequin crop top with cut-off blue denim shorts. She topped the look with a sleek and thoroughly fierce leather motorcycle jacket, tempering the glam with a dose of punk attitude that’s echoed by the wide belt at her waist. She earn props from me for not going over the top with a sequin or crystal belt; this unembellished one makes just the right statement.  Barbie finished the look with my favorite piece in the ensemble: sequin pointy ankle booties. I’m heaven! Right there is where she goes from typically fab to street style Queen. They make this outfit!

Brie caught our attention with this look which encapsulates her trademark boho flair. It pairs an antique rose peplum blouse with flowing sleeves and blue denim. I love Brie's coordinating mauve and periwinkle-gray make-up palette. ANd, of course, who can resist her pucker face? :) A white bead necklace and a gold pendant add  polish to this vintage-casual look. She kept that vibe coming with her next outfit, a lovely ivory lace off-the-shoulder dress (the Marissa from Adelyn Rae) with black trim and a black bow at the bodice. I'm especially a fan of the ruffled-and-trimmed hem; there's something so sweetly throwback about that styling! Her low pony kept the look polished, but not overly formal. I would lay good money she completed this look with either black or ivory sandals :).
Brooke was also continuing in bohemian mode, pairing a navy tank with cut-off denim shorts. The highlight for me is the way she updated the look by topping it with a woven ivory fringe vest - it gives the outfit a trendy nod and upgrades the visual interest dramatically. I confess that I could live without the addition of the headband, but I love the laidback earthiness of her caramel sandals!
Naturally, I can't do anything but rave over Cathy's outfit here: it has yellow! And what an amazing piece of yellow it is :) This spot on-trend one-shoulder ruffle top is from J. Crew (and is still available (and on sale!) here). She puts into a classic pairing with blue denim. With a statement that vibrant, you don't need much else to complete a look. Cathy adds a rose lip shade and ta-da: done and stylish. That's waaaay too easy, right? Finish with neutral (or yellow! :) I just had to get that in) heels or flats.
We got a glimpse of Emma at the Mae Young Classic in a sheer-and-pieced crop top set above a black brassiere and mulberry pants. I'm not generally a fan of bra-baring styles, but I like the way it works here. The look comes off youthful and modern and it works on Emma. She also gets props for her choice of pants. The unusual and beautiful color makes this ensemble much more interesting. It helps her OTK boots to really stand out as well. This is a great look from Emma - it has a fierce, cool-girl vibe without feeling either too fussy or too nonchalant.

Oggh..how is it possible to look so casual and so chic at the same time?! Barbie slayed in this set from Kyna Collection that pairs wide-leg drawstring pants and a double-breasted duster-length jacket. She layered a cropped beige top below for a perfect dose of color. I'm head-over-heels for the way this outfit, despite doubtless being super-comfortable and laidback, also retains plenty of sophistication. These are not your everyday drawstring pants! And the ultra-long jacket makes a huge, stylish statement. It's fab from stem to stern! Next, she subtly got her USA on with this vintage-tinged polka dot bikini (this is the only time I'm ever grateful for something not being yellow!) from Frankie's Bikinis. I love that it's Fourth Of July appropriate without being the expected stars-and-stripes iteration. The red trim brings a spark to the set, as well as a modern touch that keeps it fresh and current. With her flowing blonde hair, sunnies and a drink her hand, Barbie is the picture of a flawless, dreamed-about summer day! From there, she heads into punk territory with this sweatshirt dress from Mistress Rocks. The length of this piece makes it quite versatile. For summer it works just as Barbie has styled it: as a mini dress, paired with strappy sandal-booties and a chain-handled bag that enhances the punk vibe. For transitional days, add fishnet stockings and motorcycle boots to head even further down Avenue Punk. For winter, it metamorphosizes easily into a tunic: style it with leggings and OTK boots...and possibly a thermal underneath ;). It gets all fierce-grunge when Barbie layers a House of CB scoopneck cami and cut-off jean shorts below an H & M oversize jacket. Barbie has become quite fond of this mid-length style topper this year; we've seen her use it several times with great effect, adding a fun shot of panache to whatever look she incorporates it in. An Hermes belt and Guess peeptoe OTK boots round off this look with a hint of flash and a big dose of attitude. She got serious about Western-wear for a Dierks Bentley concert, going with fringed beige knee-high boots, which completed a cropped white tank and cut-off white jean shorts combination. She didn't leave out the fierce though: she topped the ensemble with a strappy-sleeved jacket from Hot Miami Styles (which reminds me of the sleeves of this jacket of Sasha's). It brings a definite urban, trendy vibe to a classic Americana look.

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.