Holiday Style With The WWE Divas

It is unquestionably time to start thinking about what to put together for all the fetes of this holiday season: at the office, after the office, at school, on winter break, with friends, with family - there are so many possible occasions for being festive. And a fashionista never lets a style op go to waste! ;) If you're couture brain is running a little slow from all the craziness that makes up the end of a year (and we totally hear you on that. Totally!), we've got just what you need to jumpstart your creativity. We've borrowed from the Lady Superstars (we call them Divas around here ;)), tweaked, metamorphosized and sometimes straight up stolen their concepts and collected them right here into your very own holiday inspiration lookbook. We'll start with a trio (sorry -all that end of year craziness dontcha know), but keep checking back here because this post will be updated periodically right up until Christmas...at least ;)).
*New look up: 12/24.

First up: let's think about some black and blush for this season, a la Nikki! Blush has been a strong color trend all year, but it isn't commonly used for the holidays which makes it a unique and beautiful choice. Nikki pairs it with black, which grounds the color appropriately for this time of year. Other neutrals - charcoal or beige - will act similarly. Also worth considering is her use of a maxi skirt; they're  a lovely way to add movement, grace and a touch of formality to a holiday. Follow Nikki's lead and pair it with a  simple top. Go with a cropped style, or choose a slim-fitting sweater to create a similar feel without the cold draft on one's abs. Add a crystal-embellished or plate choker for a bit of festive shine. Alternatively, go with statement earrings in an unusual metal finish, like hematite, and add a selection of band rings. Finish things off with boots - dramatic OTKs or luxe suede ankle booties for the perfect balance of elevation and comfort. And speaking of comfort, don't forget to slide on a  pair of tights (or my favorite: leggings) underneath your maxi for extra warmth.

If you want to keep things casual this party season, consider doing it Renee's way: nod to the holidays with a bright color. Red or burgundy are classics, but platinum or cobalt make fun options as well. The crucial part of this look is to choose a more formal style, such as a button-down or blouse. Avoid knitwear of all varieties. Look for a material that has a bit of a sheen to it: certain weaves of cotton, most silks, polyester chiffon. The sheen instantly elevates a piece. You'll need that to create that chic dynamic tension with the other, less formal, elements of the look. Add skinny jeans or ponte pants. Complete the ensemble with a cropped jacket of some variety. Go for tough leather, a polished military style or a refined blazer. An un-tucked top is encouraged! It lets the color peek out from beneath your jacket and brightens your whole look! Cute ankle boots finish this match-up off with casual flair, or go for color-saturated pumps that coordinate with your blouse to dress the pairing up a bit more. Alternatively, Summer's autumn style suggests the fun alternative of a feathery fur vest.(A faux fur jacket will work too!). Any natural shade will do! Pop it over an opaque cami in a solid tone, with minimal embellishment. That's important to create a quiet canvas for the je ne se quoi-creating part of the look: layered drizzles of necklaces in various collar lengths. Stack a velvet choker, a delicate crystal station necklace and a waist-length pendant. Or play with pearls and chains. The multitude of jewels is what gives the holiday panache to this iconic winter look, so play around until you come up with a mix that's totally you! Think of your body as one of Gatsby's chandeliers ;) Definitely consider a bodychain here as well. Underneath all this sparkle is where things get chill: finish this off with distressed blue denim tucked in to a cute pair of ankle booties .And bibbityboppityboo: you're casually glam and ready to go to the ball...or just down the hall...to deck the halls...with shiny ornament balls. How was that for circular logic? ;)

Let's not forget about lace this holiday season! It's been a huge factor in fashion all year and, with its innate formality, it's a flawless choice for gatherings and whatnots. Take a cue from Rosa and do it in a short dress silhouette. Iconic A-line shapes are hot atm, as is a classic sheath (a mockneck detail gives this one a mod nod). Black is the obvious choice, but don't forget about other deep, jewel shades, like her classic choice of navy, or burgundy. These tones will look softer than black against your skin and have a luxe, saturated vibe. Follow Rosa's color story precisely and pair your dress with nude/beige/caramel pumps, or add a twist by incorporating a blush tone into your look. The warm, dusty pink contrasts with navy or gray and coordinates with burgundy and makes a gorgeous and unique variation in both cases. Definitely also keep in mind may favorite option: rose gold - essentially blush pink gone metallic ;). The extra touch of shine gives the look a party-ready feel! If polished dress silhouettes aren't turning you on, consider an on-trend slipdress; it makes lace sexier and edgier. If you're daring, play up the grungy, 90's theme by finishing the look with tough, goth punk platform booties in black leather. They'll balance the femininity of the lace in a quirky, rebellious way. Alternatively, keep the slipdress sweet by completing it with lace-up flats for delicate chic.
If a dress a tad bit too much lace for you, consider doing the fabric in a blouse. The savagery-meets-beauty cataclysm of Alexander McQueen was huge for fall and the concept translated beautifully as a frothy, complex lace blouse set above distressed blue denim. Skip the blue (and maybe the distressing) for the holidays; make the look sleeker by pairing it with black denim, slim black chinos or (my fave!) tuxedo-striped pants! (PS a ruffled blouse - which was another massive trend this season) totally works for this look as well, so give that a thought :)).With a monochrome, dark mix or mixed neutrals color story, it's fun to add a bit of festive brightness with a red patent or rich burgundy suede heel. Then again, the sheen of black patent leather also looks amaaaaaing. With cropped pants, a block heeled pump, particularly with an ankle strap detail, is a fabulous option - they're easy to walk in, comfortable for partying all night and took the runways by storm this fall (which also means they're available in keel-over-worthy fabrics like velvet and seductive embellishments (think studs, crystals, fringe).

This magnificent dress of Gail’s is perfect inspiration for holiday-time: think green! This mystical deep emerald shade is back, baby! And it’s gorgeous for this time of year! Go sporty and pair a slouchy pine sweater with a sequined pencil skirt. Add a half-tuck for just the right waist-defining cool-girl vibe. Add and of-the-moment choker and finish with patent slip-ons or sequined sneakers. A blouse in dark green makes a fabulous choice as well, whether in sheer chiffon, or opaque crepe de chine. The formality of a blouse can be tempered by skinny black denim or moto pants. Top it all with a faux fur jacket or embellished band style. Simple black ankle booties complete this look flawlessly, though you could opt for a pair of pointy-toe pumps as well – I’d lean toward the subtly festive sheen of black patent leather. Sparkly earrings and a statement ring bring an extra shot of glam to this urban styling. If you have a green midi skirt hanging about in your closet, this is the time to extricate it Add a cropped cami or v-neck ribbed sweater. A velvet choker or shimmery collar necklace adds luxe or shine, depending on your desires, while ankle-wrap flats (feel free to do ballet slip-ons or lace-up heels as alternatives!) complete the look with modern femininity. In your quest for green, don’t forget about teal heels, sparkly emerald-ombre bombers and tourmaline silk scarves (or pocket squares, if you don’t mind stealing from the boys! ;)). All of them can be worked into a basically neutral look to add just right aura of end-of-year merriment.

Dresses are holiday classics – the stunning red, the lace, the sequins: all tried, true and perpetually chic. But if you feel like doing a dress in a more laidback way this year, take a cue from Lana. She paired this simple bodycon silhouette (pick your favorite neutral) with patent leather ankle booties. Sumptuous suede will work nicely here if patent leather isn’t your scene. Play up the intriguing blend of ease and modern luxe with a burgundy velvet choker or sparkly earrings and a statement ring. Alternatively, add a knit scarf in a warm shade -red, crimson, burgundy, wine-,or one with metallic accents. Top the whole ensemble with a biker jacket, or cropped military style. Definitely consider adding a pork pie hat a la Lana, if ya got one! Another au courant option is the 90s-referencing slipdress that made waves on the runways this year. Add a pop of color (and warmth!) by sliding a turtleneck underneath. Then, go full-on retro by completing the look with grunge-leaning chunky-heeled boots or a sleek, modern pointy-toe version. Then again, maybe you want to do a dress in a way that’s so laidback that…it’s not a dress anymore :). Pleats are super hot this season, so why not do a pleated skirt for this year’s round of fetes? Pick your favorite neutral and top with a chunky sweater. Think metallic t-necks, ivory popcorn knits or iconic red cables. I’m especially partial to the twisted classic vibe of this teal-and-blush combo. Pair with classic pumps and a bold collar necklace.

Let’s not forget about pants and playsuits! As demo’d here by Cathy , they have been EVERYwear this year and they work just as well for crazy, busy party-time as they do for crazy, busy rest-of-the-year. They are amazingly easy to accessorize: bright heels, a few jewels and done. Or, fold a festively-toned silk scarf into a band and tie at the back of your neck, as a kind of DIY choker. Add a pin at the front if you feel the need for a bit of sparkle (thinking of me here! ;)). Note: you don’t have to put the pin through the scarf; you can pin it around the fabric so you don’t put a hole in, if that bothers you (also thinking of me here ;)). If you’re still not feeling the whole one-piece thing, you can def do pants in a laidback way. Even jeans. Really. Reach for a pair of scarlet or wine ones. Top it with something luscious (think velvet cami) or glittery (sequined tank), chill (holiday-colored flannel), or elegant (ivory ruffled blouse). The coup de grace is the topper: finish the look with an iconic blazer – the kind every girl should own one of); it’s the piece de resistance for adding the requisite dose of formality to your look. Add over-the-knee boots for a trendy vibe, and a touch of sparkle (I love the idea of a crystal barette, slide/comb or hair band) and you’re done! Psst: if you don’t have one of the above, a brooch can be pinned in or around twisted hair, or in front of a bun (think Audrey in Breakfast At Tiffany’s).
I hope these got your creative juices flowing! Happy Holidays, lovelies…have an amazing time with family, friends and everyone else you feel like spreading cheer to. XO! - Brie