The Cool Girl Accessories You Need To Cop This Summer
This year's accessory trends have inspired me to step up my jewelry collection one piece at a time. Drawn to fall 2021's runway influence, I knew which styles were a must-add to my wardrobe. From earring to sunglasses, the goal is to pair with a multitude of looks for the perfect complement to everyday outfits. Investing in a range of chic basics can be the perfect pop to any look.
There are various styles I love implementing ino my look, mixing and matching each day. Selective with my purchases, I wanted the perfect accents that I would continue to wear year after year. I was also eager to give a few trends a try. Check out these ultimate cool girl accessories I've added to my summer wardrobe.
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1. Necklaces
Pearls are having a moment as one of the biggest accessory trends for 2021. The beachy DIY-looking collar necklaces are making such a statement, I couldn't help but swoop this customized piece. Adding this to my collection was an absolute must. I took my time shopping for the perfect addition when I landed on this LA-based jewelry designer.
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2. Chains
A belly chain was the statement piece in all of our favorite early 2000s music videos. Although this classic has remained popular when worn with swimwear, it's making a steady comeback with casual everyday or more polished looks. I styled it with a biker short and crop top topped with a beige blazer for a new perspective on this major throwback.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
3. Sunglasses
One of my favorite accessories to collect, I've been itching to add to my selection of sunglasses. Wide frames have been the object of my affection as well as the latest tinted trend. The 70's era classics allow me to protect my eyes from the sun when outdoors without blocking too much visibility.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
4. Earrings
The latest stackable jewelry trend, a mix of dainty earrings and ear cuffs is yet another 90's inspired look. I couldn't wait to try a random combination of new hoops, especially with my new pair of faux jade hoops. Adding layers of gold to the mix, ear cuffs are a pain-free solution for those of us with minimal piercings.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
To get your fashion fix and to stay up to date with the latest trends, check out the xoNecole Style section here.
Featured image by Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Why We'll Probably Never Hear Lupita Nyong'o Share Her Relationship With The World
Lupita Nyong'o is sharing a transparent look into her life after a recent breakup.
In a cover story for NET-A-PORTER, the A Quiet Place: Day One star shed light on the significant heartbreak she experienced following the end of her relationship with ex-boyfriend and TV host, Selema Masekela.
As a public figure, Nyong'o, 39, sought to divulge the news of the breakup in hopes of presenting a more authentic perspective on the pain that follows a separation.
"I was living in a lot of pain and heartbreak," she told the publication. "I looked at the environment of my social media and thought I don’t want to be a part of this illusion that everything is always coming up roses. Surely there is a lesson for me to learn in this, and I just want to be real about it."
The Black Panther star went on to explain that her choice to be transparent with her fans about her breakup came from the certainty she felt after ending the relationship. “In my mind, when I shared my relationship status with the world, it was because I felt sure about it,” she said.
While she didn’t know how the news would land with her fans, she found relief in knowing she wasn’t alone in her experience.
“I knew how it could be interpreted; I knew it would have a life of its own,” she reflects. “But then I started to see the comments and people were being so loving and supportive. The ones that moved me the most were other people sharing their pain and their heartbreak.”
Nyong'o and Masekela went Instagram official in December 2022, publicly announcing their relationship in a couple's video. In October 2023, Nyong'o took to her personal Instagram account to share the news of her breakup in her caption, writing, "At this moment, it is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust.”
She continued the vulnerable note, "I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception. I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, 'Whatever, my life is better this way.' But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love."
These days, Nyong'o tells NET-A-PORTER that she is prioritizing profound self-discovery that extends beyond her career. She notes having a deliberate and unhurried approach to understanding herself.
She also alludes to keeping her relationships private moving forward after noting it was "very, very sage" of her not to talk about her private life professionally in the days before her last relationship. "I'm going back to those days by the way," Nyong'o shares of her reinstated boundaries around her personal life.
Earlier this month, Nyong'o made headlines alongside her new boyfriend actor Joshua Jackson. Nyong'o and Jackson went through public splits from their respective SOs in October 2023, with the latter splitting from his long-time partner Jodie Turner-Smith following her divorce filing from the Dawson's Creek alum.
The pair have been spotted together as early as December 2023, but nothing screamed "couple" quite as loudly as their recent getaway to Mexico for Nyong'o's 41st birthday featuring passionate displays of affection.
"Our purpose in life is to love. And so you have to get back in it," she tells the outlet, seemingly alluding to her budding new romance.
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Featured image by Taylor Hill/Getty Images