‘I’m Never Alone’: Chlöe Bailey Talks Going Solo & Being Apart From Sister Halle
When Chlöe Bailey first stepped onto the scene with her sister Halle as the Beyonce-backed duo Chloe x Halle, they commanded everyone's attention with their powerful yet angelic voices. Now, they are all grown up and working on separate endeavors, but that doesn't mean they are growing apart.
Rumors of the sisters splitting up first began when they created separate social media accounts this past January after sharing one together for 9 years. Then, it was announced that Halle Bailey would star as Ariel in the live-action remake The Little Mermaid (slated for a 2023 release) and more recently, Chlöe released her bass heavy solo single "Have Mercy" with a jaw-dropping video attached.
Bryan Bedder/MTV VMAs 2021/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS
The 23-year-old also made her solo debut at the 2021 VMAs performing the hit single and Halle was also there presenting her big sister to the masses.
During her recent appearance on The Real, the Grown-ish star opened up about her solo journey calling it "exciting" but "scary" and how Halle is by her side.
"...even though I have been promoting this new song, my sister has been there with me every step of the way. I always see her every day like even at the VMAs we were like this there (crossing her fingers). So, it doesn't really feel like I'm alone and even right before the performance, Halle introduced me and across the stage I was able to just look out at her and I was almost in tears before I even started singing. And I was like OK, even though I feel alone sometimes, I'm never alone 'cause she's right there and I hope she feels the same with me."
Rich Fury/Getty Images for Global Citizen
Following Chlöe's epic performance, the sisters linked back up to perform at the Global Citizen concert reminding their Chloe x Halle fans that their bond can never be broken.
"I think we both needed that performance that night. I can't explain it. Right before we went on, Stevie Wonder was performing. We were backstage, we're like, 'oh my goodness.' We felt the love and the high energy and we were both so nervous because you know in this pandemic, we haven't really been out in front of an audience performing together like that so being out there, it just felt so freeing. I got to look over to my left and see my beautiful sister and her voice is out of this world and being able to harmonize like that together, it was just... it was the best feeling."
The dynamic duo continues to wow fans whether they are singing together or apart and they also have each other's backs, no matter what. Chloe and Halle prove time and time again what it means to be a sister and how to grow up while growing together.
Featured image by Jason Mendez/Getty Images
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