FashionHap: Catchups - Early Nov '16, Pt. 1

And then, there was November :)
Maria made waves in this cobalt sequined dress, embellished with side cutouts for an extra bit of va-va-voom. This is one of those colors I absolutely adore - it looks amazing on everyone, everywhere. My only reservation with this look is the way Maria styled it, with her brassiere visible. It looks a little sloppy to my eye. And while it's acceptable for an entertainment industry event, like Impact, there are a lot of places where it wouldn't be at all appropriate. I'd lean toward going with a less dramatic bra here and letting that gorgeous dress take center stage.
We also got a couple of peeks at Rosa's style this month. The first is a simple date night ensemble which combines a sexy off-shoulder lace-top tee from L'Agence with black pants. Her fun wide choker is by Bree Layne. The complex textures of the lace and ruffles bring interest to this monochrome look. Rosa kept her accessories minimal: a silver statement watch does it all, bringing a hint of flash and strength to the outfit. We don't get to see her shoes :'(, but I'm thinking a fierce pair of heels would be just the ticket. Her next offering is a dramatic, modern mesh-detailed top and skirt by Alexander Wang, whose designs tend to be minimal, but avant-garde. For example, while mesh can often be delicate, this open weave is done with wide crosspieces, making the vibe bold and powerful. Rosa plays up that feel with her dark lips. With all the toughness and intensity, I might have liked it if she'd gone with a softer hairstyle, like a braided headband or a low ponytail with tendrils. I really love that she took the risk on a edgy designer like this, though - it's so fab to see!
Nikki's look from her visit to the Churchill War Rooms (the basement complex which housed the British government command center from 1939-1945 during World War II) looks to be the same as the one from her earlier photo with Brie. It's worth of seeing twice, though ;) and it's a little clearer here. She paired a black maxi skirt with a stunning lace and chiffon bow blouse (close-up below) by Lurelly. This silk top is utterly magnificent! It boasts elegant puffed sleeves, a frothy sheer bow and a bandeau-detail of French lace. I can see why Nikki loved it; so do I!  Dress it up, as Nikki has, with a maxi or tuxedo pants, dress it down with denim: this is a classically feminine piece with modern sultriness that will be chic for decades...at least! The only trick is what to wear underneath. I would probably lean toward a strapless caimsole in nude or black. As if that blouse isn't enough to leave us collectively screaming, Nikki topped the whole ensemble with a burgundy fur stole. This is sophistication at its best. I'm going to go have a freak out moment over there in the corner now. Bye.

Ok, back. Brie's look for the  AOL Build series is a bit tricky to see, but it looks like a capelet topping a button-down blouse, all done is classic black and finished with this season's requisite choker. This pairing is fabulous: it pairs the trendy cape styling with the iconic button-down, which creates a fresh and interesting juxtaposition. Nikki's look paired a lovely burgundy ruffled off-shoulder with black slim suit pants. I love the way her formal pants elevate this top! Imagine it with denim and then consider what she's done here. It looks relaxed, but elegant. She enhances that with her matching choker and her sleek pointy-toe pumps.

We only get a peek at this look from Brie, but it's one of her trademark looks - simple and chic! This looks to be a pantsuit, done is a wonderful warm ivory tone. The unusual band collar sports one of the few fasteners at the front of the piece, making it super-sexy, but not in an overt way. The metallic accent at the neck and bodice makes the piece fancy ...and a whole lot of fun! This kind of classic, pared-down chic is the essence of one variant of Brie's style.
Summer popped on to our radar in this fun coord. She's returning to the style after a refreshing break from them. This white one has an interesting halter configuration that gives it a fab modern-vintage vibe, which is played up by the midi-length. Her pose doesn't hurt either - it's completely pin-up, done with a modern twist! She adds a perfect pop to this look by punctuating it with a bright lip.
This look from Renee is unquestionably one of the year's highlights! It's flawlessly trendy...and totally Renee at the same time. She wore this velvet Free People slipdress to the Reality TV Awards. The color is glorious, the slit is a perfect height - sexy but not ridiculously revealing and the cut is sheer perfection. Renee accented it with a trendy black choker, which looks fabulous with this v-neck silhouette. Renee added an intriguing, casual twist by finishing the look with black ankle boots. Her bold eye make-up and flushed lips are stunning, making this a glorious look from bottom to top.
Lana has brought a whole new dimension to her trademark coord set and bustier pairing by doing it in this unexpected metallic. We've seen her do pink before but never like this! The sheen makes this set modern and hot! It flirts with being overblown in a titillating, 80's way, but doesn't cross the line; it's grounded by the pairing with black in her bustier. This is sexy and fun and her long and loose locks enhance that girls-just-wanna-have-fun vibe. Baby's come a loooong way from that pristine, prim Russian ice princess!