WWE created one of their lately quite rare photoshoot opportunities for the Lady Superstars concurrent with the 1000th episode of Smackdown. The theme? Smackdown tees. Novel? Not so much. Slayable? Abso. The pull toward blandness is understandable, though:  add a pair of pants and ta-da: you’re done. It’s so simple…maybe a little too simple for anyone who considers these activities not as art or expression but as a not especially interesting aspect of the game. Consequently, I can’t help but give a few more XO's to the ladies who put in extra effort to switch things up.
Billie Kay and Peyton each tossed a t-shirt over their ring gear, with Billie going for blue and Peyton for black. Their saving grace is their pose, one of their interesting and unique two-for stances. Billie also scores and extra point for her bright red lip that gives her look a bit of pop. I’m not sure how Charlotte managed to turn her tee into a cutout mockneck piece, but whatever forces she used, I’m down for them. She threw an on-trend sporty spin into her look by adding striped track pants. Her pose drips attitude and I’m here for that. Though not groundbreaking, the snap is 100% solid. Becky and Zelina chose the same leather leggings and were saved from the dread fashion sin of wearing the same look by Zelina opting to make her top a cropped silhouette. Her look works well and her pose is competent . I would have loved to see her chose a punchier lip shade to add a real exclamation point to the outfit. Beckys’s super simple tee needed the impact of the leather leggings to save it from yawnsville. Irl, the success of this look would come down to shoe choice. We don’t get the chance to see Becky’s choice, so I’m just going to imagine she went with some fab pair of boots or sneakers. I won’t dare go so far as wishing for blue suede pointy pumps ;). I’m wild over her hair and make-up here – these nude and peach shades are flawless for her and the soft volume in her hair is crave-worthy!

How much like a fairytale does Maryse look in this ethereal gown? Donned for her baby shower, it features a white backdrop with a delicate floral lace overlay in soft blush. I’m not used to this much sweetness in Maryse’s style, but it looks stunning and feels like an authentic facet of her style personality. I’d love to see her go to this place once in awhile now that her baby girl has been born – it would be such a fun change-up from the sleek, sexy sophisticate we usually see. She didn’t forsake that style, though, as we in her next look, which paired a heathered gray tee with a thoroughly fabulous studded denim jacket. Add a coordinating pair of distressed jeans and some combat boots to this and you’re good to go!
We got a quick update on Eve’s style when she attended Maryse’s baby shower.  She wore a laidback black monochrome pairing of a black v-neck tee and jeans, topped with the welcome textural variation of a black motorcycle jacket. The wide silhouette of the v on her tee also gives the look a boost by virtue of its uniqueness. This look reminds me of the easy she described her comfort with during her Diva Couture feature (#tbt here to this sadly short-lived foray into the Lady Superstars’ fashion preferences, a really fun idea that I wish the Big Dub had given a better run). I find it very intriguing how Eve’s neutral, uncomplicated personal style differed from the bright hues and greater drama she tended to employ for her in-ring and tv wardrobe.

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.

Mid-February found Nikki in this stunning Ronnie Kobo dress, which is perfectly simple, except for its daring cutout back! I love the way the drama of this piece is concentrated around that single detail! Nikki enhanced the effect by wearing a station pendant necklace set to the back; it’s an incredible and perfect choice that looks fabulous and works flawlessly. It also reminds me of the way Coco Chanel wore her pearls dripping down her back in one of her most famous portraits, which does nothing to dissuade me from adoring Nikki’s styling. She added red statement earrings that bring out the colors in the necklace, as well as a black Louis Vuitton bag. We don’t get to see her shoes, but I’m guessing pointy pumps in black or red :). She’s repping Birdiebee in her next look, with the most vintage of snaps. Posed in front of a red theater curtain, she wears a white brassiere and high-waisted brief from the line, topped with a two-tone faux fur jacket. I love the backstage-chanteuse connotation and nostalgic vibe of this shot – it’s gorgeous!
If that snap from Nikki isn’t enough glamour to slay your life, how about this one from Noelle?  She’s enjoying a slice of pizza while looking thoroughly fabulous in a ballgown featuring an embellished bustier-type top and a black-and-white striped skirt. She’s topped the look with a cropped faux fur jacket in black and added a statement bracelet to complete the ensemble. Her messy bun is straight up gorge – she needs to wear her hair like this more often! I’m also totally here for her dark cranberry lip, which adds a very modern moodiness to this chic ensemble. I love this shot and I will be adding “eat pizza in a ballgown” to my Must Do In This Lifetime list because of it :).

Laurel and McKenzie were looking casually chic as they hung out together earlier this winter. Both ladies sported graphic tees (shoutout to McKenzie for her good taste in selecting the AC/DC! :)), paired with blue distressed denim. This pairing is one I always enjoy, especially when those punk leanings are spiked with glamour – in this case via faux fur coats! I’m equally wild over Laurel’s short jacket and McKenzie’s car coat and the way they inject fabulosity into this attitude-heavy look. The one piece of these ensembles I can’t get behind is the fur slides. Fur on shoes = yes, slides = yes, together = no. They look like furry slippers – which is probably the point :). I completely understand how awesomely comfortable they must be but still a no over here.  Slippers and slipper-approximations are not for strolling the streets in. Ankle booties would have been my go-to. That said, from the ankles up, I adore both these looks!
Michelle posted this #tbt shot on her Instagram and the feels ran rampant for me. This photoshoot was the last fashion ‘shoot she ever did and the only one I got to review in real time rather than as a throwback. I remember calling it “Haute et Basse (High & Low)  and raving over the new ground Michelle broke in some of her poses – her off-camera pensive stare is an unforgettable gem and this stance was another of my faves. Equally memorable was the horrid photo quality of the original release, for which I doubt any Michelle fans have ever forgiven the Big Dub, although I believe HQ versions of some of the snaps did eventually make their way into the cloud. The body-con dress and OTKs was a combo we saw a lot from Michelle; it was one of her signature LayCool looks, usually punctuated by crave-worthy statement jewels. It’s fun to come back to it now…and it still looks flawless :).
If you’re going to do out-of-this-world-glittery boots, this is a fantastic way to style them! Naomi let her sparkling footwear have center stage as she set them against a simple black backdrop of a cami and leggings, topped with a black blazer. I love the unique tie-front detail on this piece, as well as the fact that she chose something of this level of formality (note the satin lapels) as a topper. It elevates the look significantly and bridges the gap between the high impact of her boots and the low-key vibe of her under-layers in just the right way. Stellar styling!
I was immediately attracted to the gorgeous melon shade of Nikki’s dress in this snap from Total Divas! It’s warm, radiant, a complete jaw-dropper. The rest of the dress is simple, and that’s perfect: the color is all you need to make this piece stand out. Nikki added a massive statement necklace in a gold tone that echoes the sunlit quality of the dress, giving the look the sophisticated touch that pulls it together. She completed the outfit with nude heels, which work beautifully. (Gold metallic would be a second fab option). Natalya’s look is much more laidback, but equally solid: she paired a lace-up bodysuit with blue denim and topped it with a minimalist leather jacket. I love how clean and cool this ensemble is! Her shoe choice would tell all about this look: sneakers would give it an on-trend athleisure vibe, ankle booties would take into off-duty rocker territory, classic pointy pumps would elevate it to casual chic.

Are you ready for more? There are always more shoes I’d love to see the ladies get to try :). So, here goes…
In addition to her insanely cool, in-ring glow, Naomi has a fantastic sense of fancy style. These Monili-beaded-strap Velvet sandals from Bruno Cuccinelli would fit in perfectly with her sophisticated-with-a-twist sensibilities. They have a wonderful play on materials, with a textural combination of glimmering micro-beads and opulent velvet that makes them quite formal. However, that’s tempered by the mountaineering-gear vibe of the strap that supports the beads, giving a very athletic and functional-looking spin to the formality of these heels. These are just made to be the crave-worthy finish to an LBD or minimalist gown.  Equally in her wheelhouse, but on the less formal side are these celestial-feeling peeptoe booties from Alexandre Birman (the Ziggy).  They get an extra touch of modernity from the tie at the top which creates a paper-bag tie look at the ankle I can totally see Naynay fiercing up acid-wash skinny jeans and a tee with these! Like Maryse, Natalya’s shoe game already sends us into ecstasies! But that doesn’t mean we can’t come up for a few fun things for her to try ;). The classic foundation of her style lends itself to pairings we don’t often see from Divas, like these gingham flats (the Side Bow Mule from No. 21). I love this brand’s modern-classic aesthetic in general and the lighthearted feminine chic of these flats in particular. The jewels at the heel add a delightful dose of extra dimension – don’t you just adore them? I can see these with a floaty summer dress or a sleek pencil skirt. In a more daring genre are these Maureen Double Band mules from Malone Souliers. Nattie is always a fan of pink and this sensual coral-tinged shade would look amazing on her! The moiré (pron: “mwah-ray”) fabric gives them a luxurious vibe that’s contrasted by the sleek silver leather bands. These heels would be provide a fabulous pop to almost any of the clean, classic looks that are Nattie’s trademark. Lastly, I couldn’t resist including a more traditional (but hardly sedate) selection – these pointed Mira Pearl pumps from Nicholas Kirkwood feature glittering textural fabric and a single pearl hung from the sole. About the only thing I can see them not working with is Natalya’s ring gear. Then again, maybe…:).

Natalya looked amazingly chic as she participated in King 5 News’ New Day Northwest Hot Topics show. She paired a stunning LBD with leather OTK boots for a simple, but impactful ensemble. It’s the detaisl that give this look presence: the notch collar, the cap sleeves, the lace edging – these all combine to make this classic LBD interesting and unique. I love her choice to go with the textural contrast of leather for her boots instead of the more expected suede. The smooth leather plays beautifully against the knit fabric of the dress. The whole look is trademark Natalya and I adore it! She noted on her Instagram that she got to meet shoe designer Steve Madden that same day. How awesome is that? I hope she got a sneak peak at his new spring offerings! :) Next, she paired the Delaina top from Alice and Oivia (which we previously saw Maryse wear) with a black maxi skirt. Although it’s a more expected look, I’m enjoying the subtlety of Natalya’s pairing; it lets the beautiful floral print have the bulk of the attention. Her leather OTKs again completed the look.
I can’t resist reviewing a couple of Nikki’s promo looks for her DWTS appearance. I mean, it’s not every day we get to look at a Gothic Romance style gown from a fashion perspective!  It would take a very fancy occasion or a who-cares-its-awesome-I’m-wearing-it attitude to do a piece like this for real life, but just look at it! The crystal-emblazoned bodice, the glamorously gathered and ruched skirt, the rich cabernet color – this is one gorgeous piece of fashion! Who could resist the opportunity to feel like the heroine of a vintage novel, should the opportunity arise –even if it’s just for day? Hmm….Halloween, anyone? ;) Nikki naturally brought the full quotient of glamour to it by adding matching satin gloves and a statement crystal choker. My only wish is that she had gone with a more formal hairstyle – perhaps a messy up-do – to suit the fancy vibes of the fashion. Also, I need to point out the coolness of the sword as an accessory. How often to consider whether your weaponry matches your outfit? So much glam, so much opulence, so much fun! In a very different, but equally enjoyable genre is her Parisian look, a teaser for the Argentine Tango. I’m in heaven with the classic vibes of this look. The red and navy combo is an unbeatably chic pairing, especially with the hallmark French vibe of her striped top. Nikki played up the Parisian feel by knotting her red silk scarf at her neck and adding a beret. Red ankle strap flats (omg! Nikki in flats?! Has gravity stopped working?) complete the look. Despite being a promo concept, this outfit would translate easily and wonderfully to a street look.