FashionHap: Catch-ups - Nikki, Pt. 2

Oh. My. Wordy. This dress tho! Nikki rocked her signature shade of vibrant red on the red carpet of the WINawards with Brie back in February. I'm wild over the minimalist chic of this gown! The 70's-tinged one-shoulder design, the just-high-enough side slit, the flawless fit: this is amazing from head to toe! The  polished pony has been the hairstyle of the season and Nikki employs it to brilliant effect here, where it highlights her bare shoulder and lets the gorgeous, pure styling this gown take center stage. Drop earrings add a tiny touch of sparkle, while nude peeptoe pumps completed the look with subtle sophistication. This is the Nikki-style I adore into forever!
And then....she. Did. THIS. Please come back later. I am officially slayed right now. Like..sjnfhmmojduefuewoj. 100%. Every word I have is SLAYED. I've been searching my entire life so far for an absolutely perfect yellow gown and Nikki found it for me. And wore it to the Oscars. And then the world ended. This insanely enviable gown is by Fouad Sarkis Couture and I am going to marry it. Where do I even start? The architectural ruffles at the shoulders and bust? The modern-meets-vintage adornments at the hips? The classic mermaid shape? The sweet-dreams-are-made-of-this color? I love it - EVERY bit of it. And it fits Nikki to perfection. Two other styling notes: I love her complex updo with its wavy tendrils. I wish it been done with just a teensy bit more softness and height, but it's intended effect - polished romanticism to counteract the gown's frothiness - is laudable, and a goal it achieved. Also, she gets huge props for finishing the look with silver mirror-finish shoes (by made-in-Italy brand Genny) instead of the more expected black, although I might have leaned toward the quiet, light formality of a simple sandal.
Girlfriend goes form strength to strength - her next offering is a navy slipdress by Dion Lee, styled with lace-up boots for a 90's-grunge-gone-2017-luxe vibe. I love the interplay of the opulent silk with the downtown toughness of her boots! And the squared-out high-low hem makes a fun and interesting detail, adding an architectural solidity to the drape-y fabric. Satin, especially in a fabric like this which doesn't have much heft or stiffness, is notoriously difficult to pull off and Nikki does an excellent job of it. Her bauble-free, minimalist styling is textbook 90's and the simplicity is extremely effective.
Next up is a floral maxi by Meghan Fabulous [id by fashionofthedivas]. I adore the vintage vibe of the long, slightly puffed sleeves, while the wrap style brings a more modern aesthetic. The background of this snap really makes it special, as the grass-covered field and the grape terrace in the background create a free-spirited, untrammeled canvas for the exuberance of a twirling Nikki. I love the attitude and emotion in this snap as much as the fashion :)

From 90's grunge to bohemian to 70's luxe: Nikki's next look pairs an of-the-moment off-the-shoulder top (made popular in modern times by Brigitte Bardot) with satin wide-leg pants. There's an attractive simplicity and ease to this look which is incredibly appealing. The claret and black combo fits perfectly with the vibe of casual luxury. She kept the styling uncomplicated with a tiny pendant as her only accessory. Flowing locks with banana curls add softness and breeziness, while the mauve and golden taupe tones of her make-up gently echo the color of her top. This is competent, flawlessly executed fashion!
A floral mini dress in pink, burgundy and teal shades (the Flamenco by For Love & Lemons [id by fashionofthedivas])  was her choice for Brie's baby shower. My favorite part of this piece is the flutter sleeve - it's so pretty and feminine! Nikki rounded off the look with her Vuitton mary jane pumps. I love the 60's aesthetic of that choice and, while chocolate brown wouldn't be the first color I would think of to pair with the deep sweetness of the dress' hues, the more I think about the idea, the more it grows on me.
Last up for this set is a high-necked sheer crop top paired with a black pencil skirt. I've been pretty up front about my feelings regarding visible brassieres, so that unfortunately detracts from my appreciation of this look, although I love the classic combination of white and black, particularly with the frothy lace a s a contrast to the primness of the mid pencil skirt. Do this with a solid blouse instead of a sheer and I'd be sold! Also fabulous here is Nikki's dramatic Old-Hollywood-era pose. It reminds me of something the studio gurus would have styled to create the glamorous image of a Greta Garbo or Ava Gardner. This one definitely needs to go in the file for use in a future photoshoot!