New WWE.com Photoshoot: Vintage Romance

WWE really outdid itself for Valentine's Day this year! They went in a wonderful direction last year with their hazy, romantic Love Dreams 'shoot, but for 2017, they took that whole idea even further. The set was a magnificent old mansion - The Annesdale in Memphis - an 1850 Italianate-style building with a spiral staircase, gilded mirrors and antique furniture. It had a vintage, vaguely Gatsby-esque feel, with a tiny hint of Wonderland thrown in. The set was literally AMAZING and, as you might expect, it brought forth some fantastic work from the Divas who participated!
Nikki's lace-embellished charmeuse gown had a distinctly lingerie-esque feel to it, a variation on the slip-dress trend which fit the vibe of this 'shoot flawlessly. The piece is sultry, but its incidental to the beauty and artistry - which I like! While I'd want a coat (at least! ;)) over it for real-world usage, in a photoshoot,it conveys Old World romance, with a dash of modern coquettishness. She added hints of her trademark red with a delicate choker and fur-topped red strappy sandals. The mauve-blush-taupe shades of her make-up add a lovely, dreamy softness to the look. And then, there are her poses :). A 'shoot like this is just tailor-made for Nikki and she worked every ounce of it! From creating sensual angles in the mirror to draping herself across the staircase, she smashed Every. Single. Pose, melding opulence and seduction in a stunningly beautiful way. Without a doubt, though, the one that took my heart was of her doing up the buckles of her stilettos. That was EVERYthing...more than everything! It's beyond words.
Alexa ditches her ponytails and leather jackets for a gorgeous lace top and ballerina-like blush tulle skirt. I'm totally down for the switch up: Blissy rocks this style just as well as her more trademark looks. The only thing I'm not 100% on is her wide waist belt. Usually, I love them, but there's been a recent trend toward including pieces which have what amounts to statement details and they can sometimes give an awkward vibe to a look. In this case, I think the belt could have been jettisoned and the top blousonned and it would have worked as well or better. She finishes things off with a touch of sparkle via strappy platform sandals. She echoes that glitter with subtly frosted make-up in barely-there shades and the effect is magnificent. As tough and athletic as she is, there is a delicacy to her features which lends them to these shades and finishes and makes the look magical! She also doesn't push for vixen-like poses, but intelligently, goes for more playful girl-next-door looks, which suit her perfectly. In this setting, with the ethereal light and elegant furniture, she gives the impression of a sprite-goddess come down to earth to tease the mortals for awhile. Lovely work!

There are two main ways to handle a background: you can blend in, or stand out. While most of ladies worked along harmonic lines, Naomi chose to be pop off the backdrop. To that end, her outfit featured a frothy red tulle skirt with a multitude of layers, a  piece I completely adore! This could be so much fun in so many ways! Nay-nay's way is to pair it with a black and white striped crop top and bow-adorned sequin pumps. The look is daring, but it works...all except for the oversize heart necklace. Naomi used a similar piece on her last Valentine's Day 'shoot and while I'm about as big a fan of massive jewels as you can find, I'm unsure as to why she gravitates to these pendants - they seem like a bit of overkill to me. I also wish she'd been able to switch her hair color to one that blended a little more; this lime and emerald combo - which I LOVE under other circumstances - is somewhat distracting here, even given the Wonderland aesthetic that the colors and her outfit help bring out.  That being said, I give her HUGE props for taking big risks with her poses in this set. Naomi went full out for drama, working some incredibly unique poses and giving us a variety of facials. It's just amazing to see how far she's come from her early 'shoots! She hits the sweet spot with this snap set in front of the window: it is utterly FLAWLESS - the pose is new and daring AND absolutely SLAYED, while her slightly bored pout adds depth and interest by conveying an unexpected emotion. It has the ennui of a 90's it girl infused with the cocky attitude of a starlet of today - a brilliant portrayal of a self-assured, slightly quirky Red Queen and it's so fab I can't even!
Maryse got to explore the darker side of the mansion, including a Blank Space-eqsue mirror and the walnut paneling that is used throughout the building. Her darker outfit choice worked wonderfully with that theme. She paired a cropped bomber jacket of alternating sheer and sequin stripes with striped high-waisted shorts. She finished the look with black suede pointy-toe mules - an unexpected choice, which works nicely to balance the shimmer of her jacket. There is an appealing softness to the warm rose tones of Maryse's make-up - they shift this look into more of a dark daydeam than a romantic wonderland. Given Maryse's recent experimentation with deep, gothic colors, I would also have been intrigued to see her try it here to explore the dramatic possibilities of this setting. Her poses are spot on, done with her enviable confidence and signature seductiveness. If I could wish for anything, it would be that she took a few more risks for us, but her glorious pose draped across the teal settee nearly answers for it.  How insanely HOT is that shot omg?!
Also worth a look is WWE's BTS video of the 'shoot ;)