OMG WWE still does photoshoots…who knew? As someone who became a fan during the pre-revolution Diva era, this piece of what the ladies do has always been close to my heart because it gave me a chance to see the rest of their personalities, the non-ring side, the piece that loves fashion or clothes or playing dress-up or personal expression. It isn’t lost on me that most of what we’re seeing here (‘cuz  #spoiler: there are a few more ‘shoot reviews in my drafts )are mostly wrestling-related – gear or sports-themed ‘shoots, but okay, it’s something.
Bayley and Sasha gave us a two-for ‘shoot back eons ago (ok it was like six weeks but whatever) when they were still besties. We’ve seen so many squad and bff ‘shoots over the years that it’s tough to break new ground, but the pair does so with their poses. They’re adorable, playful and lighthearted  - all without being ridic or over-the-top. I adore this work! It’s fantastic and makes me smile just looking at it! Their chemistry is obvious and come roaring through the lens. I also give them huge props for design here: both gals are wearing coordinating but extremely colorful gear, a la Bayley’s chosen direction, and it could become overwhelming very easily. It doesn’t, though, thanks to the simple gray backdrop. Yes, the same gray backdrop that’s bored us all to pieces so often. This is the kind of ‘shoot it’s meant for. It lets all the colors on the madras-esque  gear fabric  pop.  Both if these gears also succeed brilliantly in their styling: the hybrid of patterned fabric, black latex and shining turquoise makes these outfits dynamic and vibrant without looking like a visual mess. I critiques many of Bayley’s early looks for that and I’m so thrilled to see the way she has developed her look; this is exactly right! It retains all the bright, effervescent effect she gravitates to, while balancing the visual impression by interspersing solids that give the eyes a break and also serve to unite the look by highlighting one or two important colors in the pattern.  Sasha’s look is equally successful for the same reasons. Brava, ladies: I’m loving this from top to bottom!

I’m going to do something a little different this year: instead of releasing the Hall Of Fame Review in one fell swoop, I’m going to keep adding a new group to the post each day. This will let me get the post up sooner ( I reeeeaaaly don’t want to be doing the HoF in June again!) and lets me devote time to each review and not feel like I’m rushing to get it all done so I can get the post up.
Every year, this is probably the most difficult review I do. There are always so many killer looks that I’m splitting hairs and weighing miniscule differences to determine who lands where on the count-up. The only choice that was easy this year was the top spot. I knew that placing immediately after going through all the looks the first time. Who earned that nod? Well, stick with me :). We kick things off with the ladies who I loved, save for one something or other.

Wrestlemania 34 featured the first - and hopefully inaugural – Battle Royal for the Lady Superstars and there was a LOT of ring gear flying around the squared circle…and out of it! Consequently, we decided to dedicate an entire post to  :) breaking it down, analyzing it and raving over it. Are you stoked yet?  We are! First, a clarification: although Nia is part of our collage here, she was not part of the Battle Royal; she won the Raw Women’s Championship later in the evening, defeating Alexa Bliss. So why is she here? Basically, we had this awesome snap of her gear to show off, so show it off we did! :)

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.

Nikki attended a December event for Birdiebee charity partner Dress For Success (an organization that provides workplace attire and tools to help women present themselves in a professional way for job interviews, as well as programs to teach women about personal finance, so they can successfully manage the money they earn). She chose her trademark red and black color story, pairing a classic body-kissing v-neck midi sheath with a black peplum jacket. The dramatic longer length of the jacket brings extra panache and uniqueness to the simplicity of the dress. Nikki completed the look with black chunky-heeled mary-janes with a rounded toe – an unexpected vintage element from this generally quite modern lady! Bright red lips carried the color and provided just the right finishing touch. By matching her dress shade, Nikki kept the color story very simple, which gave it tremendous impact. A deeper red or a nude shade would have softened the look significantly. I love how Nikki smartly switches her style up to be appropriate for the event she’s attending. She doesn’t wear date night or athleisure looks to this type of function, she keeps her look professional, which is exactly the right thing to do. I applaud!
She was looking amazing again  - though in a much more glamorous way! - on New Year’s Eve as she celebrated with sister Brie. Nikki chose a sexy nude-blush cami, paired with gorgeous matching flared pants with a glorious sheen. I love the way the luxe fabric of her pants lends formality to the laidback camisole, as does the wide, coordinating sash at her waist. She gives the look a fabulous touch of spice by completing it with floral ankle booties, which bring a delightful dose of color and pattern to the otherwise monochrome outfit.  A slim gold choker and statement earrings add a nice touch of shine, further serving to elevate the look, while her dark burgundy lips add modern, moody drama and her polished low pony brings sexy sophistication. This is such a fabulous look from Nikki! (And PS – if you’re considering re-creating it, it’s worth nothing that it’s so well-chosen that it will have just as much impact with a less daring cami ;)) Brie’s outfit was simpler in concept, but equal in drama, as she donned a glittering maxi dress from Parker NYC. The long sleeves give the piece a trendy 70’s vibe, which is accentuated by its easy glamour. Brie echoed that with her long, loose hairstyle and looks absolutely stunning!
Nikki’s flair for drama was on full display in her next ensemble! I’m wild over her magnificent lace blouse with its layered-ruffle sleeves – it’s so feminine and beautiful! We need to talk about the styling though. I understand the trendiness of having only a bra underneath and Nikki has the body to rock this look into oblivion, but I can’t generally recommend it for the non-paparazzi’d of us. I do appreciate the way it shows off the beauty of the lace… but a nude cami would give essentially the same effect with a more sophisticated vibe. I’m back in for her choice to toughen it up by adding leather pants and OTK boots - it keeps the lace from feeling too sweet. Despite my not being totally here for the styling, I can’t help but admit that this looks incredible on her!

We got a taste of Mckenzie’s real-world style as she attended a December college graduation. She wore a plaid top, paired with flared jeans and topped with a leather jacket. A silver statement pendant provided the exclamation point for this casual but put-together look. I also love her mid-pony with the soft poof at the front – so pretty! The casual continues for this holiday-time look in which she paired a white turtleneck and blue denim with a burgundy velvet shawl from Earthbound Trading. The spike of warm color and luxe texture gives this laidback ensemble panache. A gold statement necklace elevates the look and gives it the signature of intentioned style. That’s cemented by her super-cool caramel-toned fedora, which is a beautiful neutral to pair with the burgundy hue, instead of the more expected black.
This gorgeous azalea jumpsuit is a stunning example of Nikki’s sexy-meets-chic style. The piece features an off-the-shoulder silhouette, flared sleeves and flawless tailoring in a magnificent shade of warm, bright pink.  Those details serve as the focal point of the look as Nikki wisely edited everything else except slim, statement earrings that add subtle shine. The color and silhouette create an engaging and dramatic look that’s rendered incredibly sophisticated by the restraint shown in the styling. Her bright pink lip echoes the azalea shade without appearing matchy and carries the color upward. I love everything about this look! It’s drama on overdrive in her next outfit, a choker-neck romper with a jaw-dropping, décolleté-baring plunge-front. Holy shiz! :)

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!

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.

Brie and Nikki attended the Teen Choice Awards in mid-August sporting similar, but not the same, maxi slip dresses. I always love when they do this kind of look that coordinates, but also lets each of them reveal their individuality. Nikki’s nude dress is from Alice and Olivia. She added a wide dark choker and completed the look with pale nude heels. Despite the leg-lengthening effect of the nude, I think I might have preferred black strappy heels here to tie in with her necklace. Brie’s dress and black platform ankle strap heels are from Planet Blue. I love the steel gray shade of this piece! It has the sophistication of black without being black and it feels more unique. I also love the way she combined a black choker with a gold pendant for a layered jewelry look. It adds interest to the minimalist dress and a welcome hint of shine.  The twins’ next event was at the Curve Expo, promoting BirdeeBee. Nikki paired a black tee with white split-leg pants. This is the 100% right away to do the split leg! By stopping at mid-calf, the split is intriguing without being ridiculous and it’s appropriate for a promotional event such as this. She finished the look with the Planet Blue sandals worn by Brie to the Kids’ Choice Awards.  I often find the center-parted hairstyle harsh, but I really love the way it looks here on Nikki – sleek and fierce! Brie chose a black, wide-leg jumpsuit for the event. It’s not ground-breaking, but it is polished and professional. She wisely added a dose of drama with her studded sandals and the whole look is quietly chic.
I don’t usually go wild over sunglasses, but these metallic-tipped cat-eye shades from Fendi that Nikki is wearing are just too cool not to call out! Add a red lip, red nails and red wine…what else does a fashionable girl need? :)
Summer was channeling her inner Carmella in this Insta-snap with buddy Stella Kae. She paired a leopard print dress from Show Me Your Mumu with black combat boots. This whole look has an untamed, derriere-kicking attitude to it which is super fun! I’m a huge fan of her leather newsboy cap as well – it just ladles on extra attitude! She’s also selling me on that lip purse – something I would never dream of actually owning , but I love the kick of red it adds to this look. So, when are these two ladies starting a fashion blog?

So, the Big Dub is at it again. Their annual release of truly hideous Christmas sweaters has been foisted upon the world yet another year. These may be fun. They may be humorous. They may be appallingly ridiculous. They may be many great and good things. But they are not fashion. All apologies, but…no. So, every year, I break out my Positivity Detector and search for a silver lining among the horror. This year, we get …snowballs. It’s not much, but, hey..it’s something :). They assist the Lady Superstars in the best part of this ‘shoot: the poses! The gals really surpassed themselves this year in that department. Sasha gave us wonderful playfulness,  Renee gave us some thoroughly Austin-esque attitude, Alexa all but challenged us to a virtual snowball fight. Natalya also wins huuge props from me for her gorgeous hair and make-up. I love that she put so much sophistication into her look. It’s so chic that it very nearly redeems that green sweater, especially the way that she’s layered it over a classic LBD and rounded off the ensemble with leather boots. If  you *must* put one of these things on your person, this is the way to go. It shows you do actually have style; you just also don’t take yourself too seriously. Mickie and Becky also do an excellent job of making these sweaters something you can show your face to the world in. Both of their interpretations are more chill than Natties. Mickie adds distressed leggings in a funky plum tie-dye pattern. The choker necklace helps. Completing the look with heeled combat or hiking boots would strike just the right note – relaxed, but with clear attention to the style statement. Becky’s light gray moto leggings add a nice color counterpoint, as well as sleekness and attitude, which she reiterates with OTK boots – I love that she chose such fierce footwear, as well as pants with presence. Basic leggings these are not and that’s a good thing. As with Nattie’s look, showcasing her style chops with the rest of look elevates it and makes the sweater quirky commentary, rather than goofy. Brava, ladies: I can handle that kind of translation without twitching (much) :).