Since 2000, Black buying power has increased a whopping 114 percent. According to Business of Fashion, we brandish $1.3 trillion in annual spending power. It's also no secret that Black women move culture like no other, making us one of the largest assets to the U.S. economy. However, for some odd but obvious reason, society tends to question Black women when they level up and revel in luxury.
Unconscious bias creeps in as we scroll through social media and it automatically fills in the blanks as we question why influencers have luxury items. No one gets it worse than Black women. Black girls and women deserve better. And now more than ever, Black women are taking up all the space luxuriously. Despite all that we face, we still showcase our magic for the world to see because being a Black woman is pure power.
A wise woman once said, "Behind every successful woman is a fabulous handbag!" Ahead, find some of our favorite style heavy-hitters sharing their favorite luxury bag, how it makes them feel, and why Black women deserve luxury.
Beverly Beal, @lifeinbeverlyheels
Photo Courtesy of Beverly Beal
Title: Attorney/Entrepreneur
Location: Atlanta, GA
Beverly's Favorite Luxury Bag: Hermès Birkin
"My mother purchased it for my 31st birthday. I'll never forget how proud she was of me. I feel unstoppable when I wear it. It fuels my day doesn't matter what I'm doing. I'm grateful for what I've accomplished and fearless of pursuing future accomplishments. Black women make the world go round, luxury is the least of what we deserve."
Monica O. Awe-Etuk, @awedbymoni
Photo Courtesy of Monica O. Awe-Etuk
Title: Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger/Content Creator
Location: Atlanta, GA
Monica's Favorite Luxury Bag: Bvlgari X Mary Katrantzou Top-handle bag
"Before I purchase a bag, I have to be moved by it. This particular bag did just that. It puts a smile on my face every time as the color is vibrant and bright. I also love the versatility of the bag and the fact that I can wear it as a top handle or a crossbody with its serpentine top handle and gold link long strap."
Claire Sulmers, @clairesulmers
Photo Courtesy of Claire Sulmers
Title: CEO and Founder of Fashion Bomb Daily
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Claire's Favorite Luxury Bag: Black Hermes Birkin Bag 35 with rose gold hardware
"I purchased my bag to commemorate a milestone in my life and a turning point in my career. It's classic, fabulous, and serves as a reminder that anything is possible with faith and hard work. Luxury items are visible symbols of success--they're a cue to the world that you're accomplished and also have good taste.
"Luxury makes me feel confident, sophisticated, and successful. Every woman and every bBack woman deserves to feel that way."
Derria Underwood, @dlolo
Photo Courtesy of Derria Underwood
Title: Stylist and Content Creator
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Derria's Favorite Luxury Bag: Louis Vuitton Palm Springs Mini
"It's tiny but packs a lot of punch. I can fit just about everything in it. It is also easy to travel with and perfect with every fit. Black women deserve luxury because it's our birthright. Generations before us struggled. All the hard work and perseverance is literally just a fraction of why we deserve luxury."
Chinyere Adogu, @the_real_chi
Photo Courtesy of Chinyere Adogu
Title: Content Creator/Style Influencer
Location: New York, NY
Chi's Favorite Luxury Bag: Pink YSL Sac De Jour handbag
"It is one of my favorite handbags. Pink is my favorite color and I love the size and shape of the bag. It's classy, chic, and perfect for traveling. It gives all my outfits a polished finished look. This bag was one of my first luxury bag purchases of color and it's a beautiful reminder of my achievements and how far I've come in my career and in my choice of style. I believe Black women deserve luxury because for a long time luxury and Black women were rarely in the same sentence. Society has told the Black woman to be OK with the bare minimum and I'm happy to see more and more Black women embracing luxury, embodying luxury and inspiring luxury!"
Jenee Naylor, @Highlowluxxe
Photo Courtesy of Jenee Naylor
Title: Content Creator (Blogger, YouTuber, Influencer)
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Jenee's Favorite Luxury Bag: Chanel 19 Large
"It has recently become a classic for Chanel and it's the perfect mix of edgy and elegant which really speaks to my personal style. It's a no-fuss bag, easy to carry and maintain but still feels really unique. I prefer the non-leather options, I think they show less wear and tear and feel a little more special. Accessories are truly the icing on the cake for me, so when I'm choosing a bag to complete an outfit I truly enjoy it. It's the styling and creativity that bring me joy and handbags allow me to flex my creative muscle and bring my ideas to life!"
"I think it's important for Black women to know that they can have whatever their hearts desire, I never imagined I would be where I am currently in life but seeing other women achieve a certain level of success and enjoy the fruits of their labor showed me what was possible and that it was OK to want nice things. Black women have been put in a box for so long that when we try to enjoy nice things we are questioned and second-guessed on whether we can afford it if we deserve it, or who bought it. We deserve luxury and a whole lot more and I will keep sharing my journey for the women who need to know it's possible."
Lanatria Ellis, @caribbean_cowgirl
Photo Courtesy of Lanatria Ellis
Title: Influencer, creative director, stylist, entrepreneur
Location: North Carolina
Lanatria's Favorite Luxury Bag: Nichol Lynel NL Lunchbox
"Not only is it fabulous, feminine, but also Black-owned.The attention to detail and quality is amazing! My NL Bag brings me joys because it's so structured, yet detailed, luxe and so ladylike…it's me if I were a purse. Black women deserve luxury because society has made us feel for years we don't deserve and we do the most! We deserve to be pampered, to be considered, celebrated, and wrapped in all the expensive fabrics. I'm just making my ancestors proud with my luxe lifestyle!"
To get your fashion fix and to stay up to date with the latest trends, check out the xoNecole Style section here.
Featured image courtesy of Lanatria Ellis
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This Full Moon is all about letting go of what doesn’t feel authentic or resonate with you emotionally, and about experiencing more closure and healing within relationship matters.
Your May 2025: A Monthly Overview
Gemini Season officially begins on May 20, and we enter air sign energy, which is good for communication, business, and coming up with inspiring and new ideas. On May 24, Saturn enters Aries, beginning its new transit where it will remain for the next few years. Saturn in Aries is bold, direct, and straightforward, but so are its lessons. There is a gift in resilience and finding your strength during this time, and this transit will show you where your power is, but it may challenge you to confront self-limiting behavior in the process.
Mercury enters Gemini on May 25, and Mercury loves being here. Mercury in Gemini is the creative genius, and this is a month of aligning yourself with this energy. On May 26, we have a New Moon in Gemini, and it’s time to set your intentions for where you want a communication breakthrough in your life, and what new ideas you want to start planting the seeds for. This is a good New Moon for networking, exchanging ideas, having more fun, and getting inspired.
Article continues after the jump.
We Are/Getty ImagesMay 2025 Horoscopes for Every Zodiac Sign
Keep reading for your sun, moon, and rising sign below to see what May has in store for you.
ARIES
AriesKyra Jay for xoNecoleThe impact from April is finally behind you, and you get to move forward this month, Aries. After a month of retrogrades and Eclipses, you are starting to see the progress of what you have been working towards financially this year. The Sun is in your 2nd house of abundance, self-confidence, and values this month, and you are putting your dreams here first.
With Venus also in Aries for the entire month of May, you are feeling the support within and without this month, and this is a beautiful month unfolding.
On May 24, Saturn enters your sign, beginning its transit in Aries, which will last for the next few years. Saturn is the master of tough love, and you are going to be learning a lot about yourself during his time and going through a growth spurt. The New Moon of May is at the end of the month on May 26 and will be giving you the answers and clarity you have been looking for, highlighting open communication in your life. Overall, this is your month of fewer obstacles and more progress.
TAURUS
TaurusKyra Jay for xoNecoleTaurus Season is officially underway, and you are the main character right now, Taurus. Remember that. This month is about trusting your intuition and the timing of things, and knowing that things are working in your favor. With Venus, your ruling planet, in your 12th house for the month, you are seeking a lot of closure and culmination right now and are healing what was. Mercury enters your sign from May 10 until May 25, and it’s all about the perspectives you are gaining right now.
Don’t be afraid to ask the important questions and get down to the bottom of things that have been worrying you. On May 12, there is a Full Moon in your 7th house of partnership, and you are closing the door on what has not been working for you in love. You are seeing the clarity of what you need within your emotional world and how you want to navigate the changes you have been through here now.
GEMINI
GeminiKyra Jay for xoNecoleMay is a new beginning for you, Gemini. You have a lot of energy and vitality with you this month, and you are ready to accomplish some personal goals and intentions of yours. For most of the month, the Sun is in your house of closure and healing, and you are finding yourself rejuvenated from the transformations you have been through. Gemini Season officially begins on May 20, and with the Sun in your sign, nothing is holding you back from shining and living in your truth right now.
On May 25, Mercury enters Gemini until June 8, and Mercury loves being in your sign, as this is your planetary ruler.
Mercury in Gemini is forward-thinking, quick, and intelligent. You are coming up with solutions to previous challenges or obstacles, and overcoming something that has felt restrictive mentally. Before the month ends, there is a New Moon in Gemini on May 26, and this New Moon is one of the best times of the year for you to set your intentions and manifest your dreams. Remember you are worthy of what you are setting out to accomplish this month, Gemini.
CANCER
CancerKyra Jay for xoNecoleCancer, this month requires you to slow down, take care of your health, and allow things to come to fruition the way they are meant to. There is a chance you could be overthinking more than usual this month, and you are being reminded that there is only so much that is in your control, and to give yourself some more grace. The Full Moon in Scorpio on May 12 will help you gain a little more clarity of the heart and is going to be a time of feeling the love and appreciation in your life.
Saturn enters your 10th house of career on May 24, remaining here over the next few years, and you are getting an opportunity to grow and discover where you may have been limiting yourself professionally, socially, or within your aspirations in life. This time is all about reminding yourself that you deserve recognition for the work you do, but that you must also be the one believing in yourself as well. On May 12, there is a New Moon in your house of emotional healing, and you are seeing the gifts of alone time, safe spaces, and tending to your creative inklings at the end of the month.
LEO
LeoKyra Jay for xoNecoleThis month is an opportunity for a new beginning in love and progress within your emotional world, Leo. You are learning to trust your intuition more, and you are putting more of your energy into your heart’s desires. With the Sun in your 10th house for most of the month, you are shining in your truth and remaining confident in your goals in life.
Venus is in your house of adventure for the entire month, and this is a good time for experiencing romance while traveling or getting out of your comfort zone a little.
Saturn makes a significant move from Pisces into Aries at the end of the month and enters your 9th house. With Saturn here, you will be learning more about what mental growth and clarity mean to you, and this is a good time to dedicate yourself to higher education, traveling, gaining a new perspective, and honoring your integrity and values. The New Moon of the month is on May 26, creating magic within your friendships and community.
You are leaving this month with hope in your heart and new plans for the future.
VIRGO
VirgoKyra Jay for xoNecoleMay is a month of abundance and fruition for you, Virgo. Your dreams and intentions are coming to fruition, and you are owning that which you have created for yourself. With Venus in Aries, this is a good time for seeing support in your life financially, dedicating yourself to your commitments and responsibilities, and seeing the gifts in that. On May 12, there is a Full Moon in your 3rd house of communication, and this is an intuitive time for you, giving you the strength needed to close the chapter on what you don’t resonate with anymore.
On May 24, Saturn enters your house of shared finances, rebirth, intimacy, and resources, and over the next few years, you will be learning the importance of connecting with people who truly have your best interest at heart, and not committing to what feels unstable. Before the month ends, we have a New Moon in Gemini in your house of career, and this is a good time to manifest and set your intentions for where you want to see professional growth in your life.
Overall, May is about embracing your freedom while honoring the people and connections that help you grow and make you feel more secure in life.
LIBRA
LibraKyra Jay for xoNecoleThis is a month of feeling empowered and ready to take on anything that comes your way, Libra. You are inspired by the progress you are making in your life right now, and with Venus in your 7th house of love, you are being well-received. This is a month of finding your balance between your path and the growth of your relationships, and there is a sense of support, harmony, and love in your life in May.
You are owning your authenticity and living in your truth fully, and this energy is magnetic.
However, Saturn also enters your 7th house of love this month, where it will remain for the next few years. Saturn empowers and helps you grow, but you can also feel a little more challenged within your relationships during this time. The more you can own your wants and needs, the more you can find vulnerability and support within your relationships. On May 26, a New Moon in a fellow air sign occurs and happens in your 9th house, creating a chance at a new adventure and an opportunity to discover some new inspiration.
SCORPIO
ScorpioKyra Jay for xoNecoleMay is about believing in the impossible, Scorpio. It’s time to take a leap of faith in yourself and to remember your power. You are seeking a new beginning in your life, and with the Sun in your 7th house of love for most of the month, you are being supported and encouraged in the process. Pluto, one of your ruling planets, goes retrograde in your house of home and family from May 4 until October, and you are gaining clarity on the people and support systems you can rely on more.
The Full Moon of the month is in your sign on May 12, and this is the Flower Moon of the year. You are in full bloom and ready for whatever is next for you, and this is beautiful. Previous intentions and goals come to fruition for you overall in mid-May, and there is a lot to look forward to right now as you are getting excited about it all. Before the month ends, we have a New Moon in Gemini in your 8th house, creating a sense of empowerment through what you are looking to change and transform in your life right now.
This month is about not being afraid to take more risks and doing things your own way.
SAGITTARIUS
SagittariusKyra Jay for xoNecoleMay is a beautiful month of magic, success, and good fortune, Sagittarius. You are feeling lucky this month and are attracting success to you in many different areas of your life. Venus, the planet of love, is in your 5th house of romance for most of the month, and you are enjoying your life, feeling the love within your heart, and expressing yourself freely in May. You are a magnet for your manifestations, and dreams are coming true for you this month, Sag.
On May 12, we have a Full Moon happening in your house of endings and closure, and you are closing out a big chapter in your life this month.
You are letting go of old pain or emotional experiences and choosing not to repeat a pattern that left you feeling hopeless before. On May 26, we have a New Moon in your sister sign, Gemini, enhancing your need for love, connection, and relationship development this month. This is a great New Moon to set your intentions for what partnerships you want to see grow, heal, and come to fruition for you. Overall, May is your month of fruition, balance, and believing in the magic in your life.
CAPRICORN
CapricornKyra Jay for xoNecoleMay is about slowing down and allowing yourself to find the answers you have been looking for, Capricorn. This isn’t the time to rush your progress or doubt where you are in life. The Sun is in your 5th house, and this is good for finding more time for fun, pleasure, self-care, and asking your heart what it needs. With Pluto going retrograde in your 2nd house of values and income, you are being reminded to hold yourself with integrity and to know that you are worthy of the things you are asking for.
The Full Moon on May 12 is a beautiful time to connect with loved ones or those who inspire you. The universe wants to show you that you are not alone this month and that you deserve to live a life where you can enjoy yourself more and manifest your dreams, rather than believing everything needs to be a challenge to be worthy. Saturn, your ruling planet, then enters your 4th house of home and family, and over the next few years, you are going to be rediscovering what home means to you.
AQUARIUS
AquariusKyra Jay for xoNecoleYour guidance for May is to trust that what is falling from your life or changing for you is doing so for your benefit, Aquarius. Trust that what is happening is happening for you and not to you, and don’t doubt that you will rebuild from this. With Pluto going retrograde in your sign from May 4 until October 13, you need a break from some of the confusion you have been feeling in your personal life, and you are getting a chance to gain a new perspective this month.
Use this time to get inspired by change rather than let it bring you down, and ground yourself in the present moment more.
Saturn enters Aries in May, where it will remain for the next few years, helping you grow in the areas of your life that have to do with communication, networking, transportation, siblings, and education. You will be learning a lot during this time and will be finding new outlets for self-expression and communication. Before the month ends, we have a New Moon in Gemini occurring in your 5th house of romance, pleasure, hobbies, and entertainment, and after a month of navigating endings, changes, and closures, you are ready for a fresh start and are receiving one in love now.
PISCES
PiscesKyra Jay for xoNecoleAllow what is to be, be, Pisces. May is a month of allowing yourself to trust the timing of the universe and not giving up hope that things are going to turn out beautifully for you. On May 12, there is a Full Moon in fellow water sign, Scorpio, and this is a time to get inspired and see the benefits of closure. This Full Moon is about gaining a new perspective and not doubting what is clearer to you now, that you are worthy of a new beginning.
On May 24, Saturn moves into your 2nd house of income, and you are going to be moving through a journey of developing financially, and working on maintaining stability while building new foundations in your life. The New Moon in Gemini at the end of the month is about setting your intentions for your home and family life and creating some new energy here. Overall, May is your month of breaking ground on the things you want to create for yourself and trusting the timing of how things are unfolding.
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Featured image by Kyra Jay for xoNecole
