New WWE.com Photoshoot: Lana - Simply Crushin'

Lana made a huge impact when she debuted on Smackdown Live .  And she made one here too,  giving us not 1, not 2... but 5 outfits to review! Oh boy, lets get this started because we have a lot to cover!
The first look from Lana is one of my favorites - which actually took me totally by surprise since I am really, really, REALLY over the sheer  trend!  Lana manages to inject some freshness into it with a design that's tantalizing without being overtly revealing.  I love the way the central mesh turns this visual two-piece into a bodysuit and, at the same time, allows an extra sprinkling of crystals to be added that ties the top and bottom together.  I'm also not generally a fan of visible panties, but these are so subtle, with the nude under nude tones, that  rather than bugging me, they create a tastefully daring couture-tinged vibe that I really enjoy. Lastly, I don't generally love silver with beige. This shade matches Lana's skin so perfectly, however, that it's more like a silver monochrome piece. So, basically, Lana took just about everything I hate and made me love it. Now, that's style! The leafy pieces used in the construction are gorgeous and elegant (what a rare adjective for ring gear, right?) and remind me of snow-covered branches and give this piece a magical quality. She completed the look with her silver OTK boots and the way they solidify the dancing quality if the silver and crystals is perfection.  The only pop of color in the whole styling comes from Lana's berry lip tone, which looks amazing, softer and sweeter than a fiery red would be and making warm, romantic counterpoint to the chilled beauty of her gear.
From there, she moves on to another of what appears to be her new trademark piece: the sequined maxi. This is a fairly simple rendition with a  sweetheart neckline and on-trend thigh-high slit. It's the color that gives this piece it's power and impact: this deep magenta shade is mesmerizing! Once again, Lana reaches for just the right lip shade, this time choosing a fuschia tone that coordinates with the sequins, but matches the dress' lining, adding a nice touch of complexity to the  color story. She completed the look with metallic pointy pumps. While they are appropriate, I wish she'd gone for something with a less weighty and fierce silhouette. Although it could be a bit tricky to zigzag around the pitfalls of "dance contestant" or "beauty pageant participant",  a simple ankle strap or wrap sandal would do quite nicely.

From there, Lana moved on to another gown,  this time in one of her favorite shades: cherry red. The sweetheart neckline and halter silhouette and thigh-high slit from the first gown remained, but this piece got a trendy twist from a glittering incorporated collar, side cutouts with sheer insets and an elegant rendition of the racerback. There's a sprinkling of crystals as well, for those of us who can't live without our glitter fix :). Not that I know anyone like that. Nope, def not. This a really pretty dress; it just doesn't stand out a ton since we've  seen essential this same look several times in various colors. My curiosity is piqued by Lana's repetition of this silhouette - it strongly reinforces the imagery - but outside of that, I'm ready to see what else she's got for us. I applaud her choice of sandals here over pumps; they feel more summer-appropriate.  I also loooove the sultry-vixen vibe of her side-parted hair and soft waves. Instead of a straight part, we're seeing the zig-zaggy type of the 90's come back lately. It creates additional volume in a subtle way and looks stunning!
She kept the side part for her next look, a red bodysuit enhanced by lattice-work at the sides and bodice. I like the extra dimension they provide. The additional coverage adroitly avoids the over-done and over-the-top empty-sided (no-sided) design without sacrificing seductiveness and the graphic-architechtural feel makes a nice foil for the glam aspects of the piece. And...about those glam aspects :) - the tone -on-tone effect of red sequins on red background creates more of a textural contrast than a visual distinction. Instead of a sequined bodysuit,  the effect is one of a highway mirage or water on a flat surface. Shimmer and movement become the focal points of the look, rather than glamour. It's an intriguing and super-fun concept and it works really well! I also love that the sequins are set in a fire design - it reminds me of the classic flames you see on old muscle cars and it gives a nice dose of rebelliousness to this straightforward piece. Since it's Lana, there's got to be some glam and drama - she injects that with her silver OTK boots. Their boldness works well against the quieter statement of her gear.
Lana's final look is another one-piece that reprises the sweetheart neckline she's recently been so fond of in gowns. The red, cream and gold combination gives me something of a circus vibe, which it a fitting variation on the performance-tinged themes she's been touching on through these series'.  The styling is quite similar to her blue gear outfit, except that the cutouts are gone and delicate piping has replaced the sleek graphic pattern. The piping breaks up the gold and ivory panels, subtly suggesting the awning stripes of a big-top tent. The feature of this piece that really got my attention, though, is the central panel with its magnificent soutache artwork. Traditionally done with braid or ribbon, Lana's is created with a chain of sequins, which form a relief that is raised up above the satin backdrop. It's visually stunning, particularly because the red stands out out beautifully from the soft gold and ivory - the colors underscore the visual effect of the design. The low-central flower and scroll is an exquisite way to hearken back to her original gear - the lavender gem of an outfit she wore at Wrestlemania. With less shine and an ivory and verdigris patina, I could totally see this as a Dolce and Gabbana creation, a  combo of this and this.   Anything that references couture generally has my vote so, yep, I pretty much love this gear! Metallic gold ankle booties conclude this look quite nicely.
I have to wind up by giving Lana props for her poses in this set. It's dang difficult to figure out what the heck to do in front of a plain gray background. There are no props, no points of inspiration. there's just you.  While Lana gives us a number of classic poses (and nails them), she also finds time to play with her hair, blow kisses, make fists, glare, smirk and condescend. She does a very creditable job of bringing the 'shoot to life with just fashion, stance, expression and selling it! Nicely done, girl!