Layer Your Clothes Like A Pro: One Outfit, Three Ways
As outside temperatures cool down, the clothing layers begin to stack up, finally allowing the opportunity to wear a few of our favorite items in one cold-weather outfit. With more than one approach, layering is strategic and tailored to our personal style, stacking color schemes, textures, or jewelry to create the ultimate layered look. While head-to-toe fashion has slowed this year, fall is the perfect opportunity to get creative and have fun with our wardrobes once again by learning how to layer your clothes.
A flattering layered look is a skill anyone can master, and it consists of balancing warm-weather essentials. When deciding on what and how to layer, start with stackable basics such as a white button-up, turtleneck, or basic tee paired with a skirt or pants as the foundation to your look. Once your foundation has been set, throw on a knit vest or pull-over sweater with the addition of a coat or jacket as the final piece to your outfit. It's also important to consider layers as "stand-alone outfits" in the event you begin to peel off garments throughout the day as the temperature may adjust around you.
We don't get the opportunity to experience traditional seasons while living in California, however, this layered look is a great transitional outfit idea no matter where you live. Follow me as I achieve three different looks in one day with the perfect layered combination.
How To Layer Your Clothes: One Outfit, Three Ways
Outfit 1: Friday 8:00am
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Peeking outside of my bedroom window, I am pleasantly surprised by the thick early-morning fog that crept into our neighborhood seemingly out of nowhere. As excited as I am to finally layer up on a few of my favorite fall items, I know there is a strong likelihood of temperatures rising throughout the day, so I'll need to be smart about my outfit selection. While hoping to avoid overheating by lunch, I start out with a white tennis skirt and calf boots paired with a white button-up underneath a pull-over sweater. I top with an oversized leather jacket for the win. Taking full advantage of the cool temperatures, even if only for a few hours, I'm ready to step out in my fall-ready outfit.
Outfit 2: Friday 12:00pm
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
The day seems to be heating up faster than anticipated but I'm soaking up today's outfit for all its worth. I ditched my leather jacket a little while ago and opted to continue the morning in my oversized sweater and tennis skirt. Although I'm disappointed in how quickly the temperatures are rising, I'm excited to show more details of my layered look.
Outfit 3: Friday 2:30pm
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Wow! Leaving the house this morning, the weather app stated a high of 75 degrees, and in no way did I think I'd be down to my last look so soon. Luckily, I had an additional layer to peel off and opted to go without a skirt for an oversized sweater-dress and button-down look. While still feeling a bit warm, I am committed to this outfit and plan to carry on accordingly! As I thought, this last look is the perfect transition into the low evening temperatures soon to come as I'm on my way to meet up for a curbside dinner with friends.
Featured image by Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
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This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Change is Good! A Broccoli City Festival Experience
This past weekend, the Broccoli City Festival, presented by Converse, was held at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, July 27, and Sunday, July 28.
Featuring headlining megastars Gunna, Megan Thee Stallion, Victoria Monét, PartyNextDoor, and Kaytranada, along with other familiar faces such as Amaraae, Sexyy Red, Baby Tate, Tanner Adell, and Jordan Ward- the festival has continued to provide a well-curated lineup that reflects what we’ve all been adding to our playlists.
Hosts Issa Rae, who brought her brands Viarae and Sienna Naturals along for the ride, Funny Marco, Bryson Tiller, and veteran hosts Mouse Jones and Little Bacon Bear rounded out the Broccoli City appearances with even an unexpected appearance from former Migos member Offset performing collab “Prada Dem” during Gunna’s finale set.
Issa Rae at Broccoli City Festival 2024
Photo by Brian Stukes/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Most notably, Broccoli City switched up their venue and event date after previous years at the now defunct RFK Stadium and unlucky bouts of inclement weather during their scheduled festival weekend. In 2022, my friends and I made a pit stop at Target for jackets and raincoats just to survive the weekend.
In 2023, Broccoli City went viral for a video of Coco Jones performing her song “Double Back”, a flip of SWV’s song “Rain” while it showered. A magical feeling in the moment, but short-lived as the rain continued to pour, soaking the crowd.
But this year, moving to the Audi Field Stadium was a great choice for the festival. It took a few flights of stairs and a reminder that we all can’t have Megan’s knees to access an elevated VIP experience, including reserved seating, a lounge with built-in restrooms (no port-a-potty, yay!), a food bar, a patio overlooking the secondary City Stage with a backdrop of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge and the Anacostia river and an exclusive Converse activation with a free pair of Chucks to customize. And a big plus - there were areas to take cover under for everyone just in case the DMV sky changed its tune.
Megan Thee Stallion performing at Broccoli City 2024
Photo by Brian Stukes/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
However, whether you were looking to be up close and traditional with the Field Access General Admission or sitting pretty in the newly reserved seating options - every ticket granted you a gorgeous view of the open-air field and the main stage. It was a bummer that it was harder for different ticket holders to interact with each other within the stadium due to access restrictions, whereas at most music festivals, paths cross, and new friends are found no matter how you buy in.
As expected with settling into a new space and setup, Broccoli City did experience some growing pains with setbacks and technical difficulties with an upset Kaytranada exploding into back-to-back hit songs after being informed midway through his groovy set that his time had been cut short due to a large delay earlier in the day and a looming Sunday sound ordinance to abide by.
After the Grammy award-winning producer & DJ delivered what the people came for, he exited the stage with a few more biting comments to the BC staff. There were also additional complaints from attendees scattered across social media comment sections of subpar sound and mic issues, especially during the headliner sets.
Baby Tate performing at Broccoli City Festival 2024
Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images
In previous years, Broccoli City stretched the time between sets with great activations and space to spread out before reconvening at the stage. With this new format, in-between activities were significantly reduced, which left attendees sometimes twiddling their thumbs between performance sets.
Even so, with 10 years of operation, Broccoli City is developing into a standout experience in the Live Nation Urban-powered rotation of city festivals that include Atlanta’s One Music Fest and its sister festival, the freshly minted Twogetherland in Dallas.
Overall, don’t sleep - attending Broccoli City is definitely a summer trip worth getting out the group chat.
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Feature image by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images