Fall Finds You'll Want To Wear All Year
Crisp mornings decorated with orange and red leaves, thick layers, and warm pumpkin spice lattes are a few reasons why fall is a favorite for many. It's around this time of year I start digging out my coziest sweaters and transitioning my favorite summer items. The cold weather swept in fast and looks to stay awhile.
A lot of people don't consider how inexpensive the colder seasons can be. Yes, you want a stylish coat and potentially a pair of animal print boots, but otherwise, you can get away with whatever. For the most part, autumn has a few key pieces: longline coats, boots, eye-catching blouses. Many times you can recycle the same trends over and over again, keeping your looks fresh but your budget down.
Every season doesn't require new clothes, nor should they. Here are some pieces you can invest in now, and wear for many falls to come.
Lace Detail Blouses.
One good blouse can take you far, believe me. The great thing about layering: you can re-wear pieces without many noticing. When you have an item like a lace detailed blouse, you're killing three or four birds with one stone. You can wear it under a sweater with the collar poking out, under a cozy maxi dress to jazz it up, or simply by itself.
The devil's in the detail and that's why lace blouses are perfection. The lace detailing is right on trend with the Victorian influences we saw on the spring runways. It also adds a layer of class to any outfit. You can pair it with an oversized blazer or a pair of crisp black pants for work; change it up with a colorful midi or distressed boyfriend jeans for a day with the girls. This sort of blouse compliments anything and can be worn for any occasion or outing.
Writer Courtney Simpson
Tom Foltz
Tall Boots.
Even though over-the-knee boots are still riding high in 2019, the tall boot is making a comeback. This is a boot that hits between mid-calf and below the knee and can be seen in a variety of ways. Spring runways showcased slouchy and structured boots, a slew of animal prints, and a few cowboy-inspired designs. This boot trend comes with an added bonus: a much lower heel.
This style of boot is timeless, which makes it extremely easy to style. To channel 70's boho chic style, pair it with your favorite long-sleeve maxi and a structured blazer. You can also modernize the look with skinny jeans and an oversized wool sweater. A tall boot can be paired with almost anything and is a fundamental item for any woman's wardrobe.
Writer Courtney Simpson
Tom Foltz
Cozy Teddy Coats.
A newer trend that's not going anywhere, teddy coats are the snuggly version of the beloved trench coat. The lines are clean and on the longer side. This is a fun silhouette you can dress up or down. Last year, we saw oversized teddy coats everywhere. This year, the cut is a bit cleaner and flattering. Teddy coats are the perfect addition to make any outfit stylish.
For a super comfy look, pair it with your favorite jeans and sneakers. If you're more of a risk-taker, try a fitting midi dress to pair underneath. It creates an understated sexy look that flatters every shape and size.
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
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Featured image by Courtney Simpson/Instagram
Courtney is a contributing writer, based in Puerto Rico by way of Tennessee. Interested in the intersection of fashion and culture, she has an affinity for fashion, empowerment, and really good tacos. Keep up with her on Instagram (@hautecourtxo).
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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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy