WWE.com Photoshoot: Carnival Noire, Pt. 1

My apologies to everyone for the long hiatus. I'm sure you've all had moments in life when you just can't keep up with everything. Well, I had one of those . I hope to be back on track now.
WWE celebrated Halloween this year with a very cool idea for a very unusual 'shoot: a noire-themed carnival. The lady superstars didn't dress up as much as they celebrated the haunted spirit of the day. What's fun about that is that is makes the snaps appropriate for times and events beyond Halloween. I also was very pleased to see something other than the sexy, cutesy-ness of so many Halloweens past. Halloween is fun, but viewing it through a more mature, goth-themed, Poe-esque lens is a wonderful variation.
Charlotte nailed her turn as a psychic: crystal ball, tarot cards - her props were perfectly on point. I also loved her color choices: mystic purples and entrancing metallic blues. They fit the blue-lit scenes flawlessly. I had just a few wishes for her look: simpler shoes (the print added an extra texture that wasn't a material addition), and the elimination of her pink corset belt and fur jacket. Those two pieces, like the shoes, complicated the look more than was needed. With the props, the layered clothing and her jewelry, there was plenty going on in the 'shoot, especially because Charlotte's stellar poses and gorgeous looks were the crucial aspects to focus on. It would be a shame to downplay them even a little because she gets massive props for the way she embraced this character - her blend of sultriness, mysteriousness and confidence (in herself and taking yours ;)) was brilliant. I'm also a huge fan of these make-up shades on her; the pales mauves and dusky lilacs are amazing - not to mention, fitting of the theme.

Jojo kept her same role as an announcer, but went with vintage technology, via this megaphone. She paired a magenta top with high-waisted sailor shorts, red and white-stripped tights and ankle boots. I love the current-meets-classic choice of her shorts, but the magenta shade is a touch jarring amid all these muted burgundy and twilight teal tones. Her boots are fantastic, though - super cute! I hope we get to see those back again in another application. Her poses are appropriate, with some trascending into something more, i.e. her pensive pose at left here. Not only does her position look hot, it also perfectly conveys that moment of allowed exhaustion between all the challenging work. It's as if the photographer caught her out of time at just that instant when she paused to reflect on the strange, dirty, thrilling ride that her carnival existence had become. I absolutely adore this shot!

Nia hasn't been on my radar a ton, but this portrayal of her as a Strong Woman character fits both her aptitudes and attitude. The torn and tied layered look, especially paired with her striped tee, doesn't make tremendous sense as general fashion, but it works really well in creating the idea of a wardrobe cobbled together. It conveys the impression of a theatrical personality making do with what is at hand, and thereby suggesting the dark underside of the challenging circus business. My favorite part of her look is the veil attached to her tiny top hat. It's a fun layer of shadow and mystery that also evokes eras past. Nia also hits some on point expressions here: her seriousness and slight eye-roll are slightly disturbing and off-putting - just what you'd expect from a world-weary strong-woman. Nice job, girl!