Five Ways To Incorporate Neon Into Your Wardrobe As You Ease Your Way Back Outside
We believe that neon is the perfect way to ease back outside and get your groove back. Shocks of the vibrant tones were seen across spring-summer runways like Christopher John Rodgers and Chromat this past season which means it's time for us to activate neon pieces in our wardrobe. Since the 1980s, neon has reigned supreme as a youthful staple.
This time around, the neon trend life cycle is all about bright green. I have curated five special outfits for y'all that will make your transition outside easy like Sunday morning. What matches a hot summer day better than a neon lewk?
Neon Dress + Kimono + White Accessories
Photography by Curated by Charlie Photography
Bold hues in the form of a ruched dress is what the summer calls for this year. Ruched dresses hug all body types like your favorite auntie. They are welcoming of curves and provide a clean silhouette. Adding a colorful kimono always incites style and beauty, so don't be afraid to use your imagination. To complete the getup, I accessorized with white earrings, a white purse and white kitten heels for major contrast. Don't sleep on kitten heels, sis, they are one of the trendiest pairs of shoes you can don. I wore this on a socially distanced date and my potential bae kept complimenting my style.
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Neon Sweater Co-ord Set
Photography by Curated by Charlie Photography
I felt so sexy in this short sweater set I wanted to start the 'Hot Girl Summer Reloaded' campaign. I am also starting the 'Make Real Bodies a Thing Again' campaign but we can talk about that later. The bright tone of the coordinate set pairs well with melanin skin but then again we look good in every color. For footwear, I opted for PVC shoes because they are all the rage and they partnered flawlessly with this outfit. The chrome and gold circle handle bag gave it more personality.
Neon Tee + Flared Jeans
Photography by Curated by Charlie Photography
A simple tee can go along way when styled the correctly. Take this look for example. I couldn't wait to throw on this neon GOD IS DOPE tee, so I coupled it with my favorite flared jeans and a bamboo bag. It's perfectly fun and flirty with the loose fit of the top and the shapely fit of the jeans. The vibe is 70s, but the mood is forever.
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Tie Dye Matching Set
Photography by Curated by Charlie Photography
One time for the undefeated matching set – between dependability and versatility they make my life easier. Then there's the tie-dye trend that may have replaced our obsession with florals. Some call it a comeback trend but we call it a happy pattern that will never go out of style. Over quarantine, it has become a rainbow sherbert dream if you will. Much like my number, it is perfect for lounging sets. You can also find it styles like dresses, purses, shoes and more. For me, tie dye is reminiscent of simpler times and makes me feel like a kid again. Shop the top and bottoms I'm wearing in the photo, here and here.
Neon Sports Bra + Neon-Lined Leggings
Photography by Curated by Charlie Photography
Living in Colorado has forced me to level up my workout gear. I found this set at Walmart and I fell in love with the colorway instantly. Big Rona also made workout gear more appealing now that my living room also serves as a gym. Try adding some color to your gear with your top, leggings and even your sneakers. You will turn heads on your daily run or even as you walk past your mirror.
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Featured image by Joce Blake for xoNecole / All Photography by Curated by Charlie Photography
Joce Blake is a womanist who loves fashion, Beyonce and Hot Cheetos. The sophistiratchet enthusiast is based in Brooklyn, NY but has southern belle roots as she was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Keep up with her on Instagram @joce_blake and on Twitter @SaraJessicaBee.
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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You've Never Seen Luke James In A Role Quite Like This
Over the years, we've watched Luke James play countless characters we'd deem sex symbols, movie stars, and even his complicated character in Lena Waithe's The Chi. For the first time in his career, the New Orleans-born actor has taken on a role where his signature good looks take a backseat as he transforms into Edmund in Them: The Scare—a mentally deranged character in the second installment of the horror anthology series that you won't be able to take your eyes off.
Trust us, Edmund will literally make you do a double take.
xoNecole sat down with Luke James to talk about his latest series and all the complexity surrounding it—from the challenges taking on this out-of-the-box role to the show's depiction of the perplexing history of the relationship between Black Americans and police. When describing the opportunity to bring Edmund's character to life, Luke was overjoyed to show the audience yet another level of his masterful acting talents.
"It was like bathing in the sun," he said. "I was like, thank you! Another opportunity for me to be great—for me to expand my territory. I'm just elated to be a part of it and to see myself in a different light, something I didn't think I could do." He continued, "There are parts of you that says, 'Go for it because this is what you do.' But then also that's why it's a challenge because you're like, 'um, I don't know if I'm as free as I need to be to be able to do this.' Little Marvin just created such a safe space for me to be able to do this, and I'm grateful for everything I've been able to do to lead to this."
Courtesy
Them: The Scare, like the first season, shines a light on the plight of Black Americans in the United States. This time, the story is taking place in the 1990s, at the height of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. While the series presents many underlying themes, one that stands out is Black people and the complicated relationship with the police. "For the audience, I think it sets the tone for the era that we're in and the amount of chaos that's in the air in Los Angeles and around the country from this heinous incident. And I say it just sets the tone of the anxiety and anxiousness that everybody is feeling in their own households."
James has been a longtime advocate against police brutality himself. He has even featured Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Colorado man who died after being forcibly detained by officers, as his Instagram avatar for the past five years. So, as you can imagine, this script was close to his heart. "Elijah was a soft-loving oddball. Different than anyone but loving and a musical genius. He was just open and wanted to be loved and seen."
Getty Images
Luke continued, "His life was taken from him. I resonate with his spirit and his words...through all the struggle and the pain he still found it in him to say, 'I love you and I forgive you.' And that's who we are as people—to our own detriment sometimes. He's someone I don't want people to forget. I have yet to remove his face from my world because I have yet to let go of his voice, let go of that being [because] there's so many people we have lost in our history that so often get forgotten."
He concluded, "I think that's the importance of such artwork that moves us to think and talk about it. Yes, it's entertaining. We get to come together and be spooked together. But then we come together and we think, 'Damn, Edmund needed someone to talk to. Edmund needed help... a lot [of] things could have been different. Edmund could have been saved.'
Check out the full interview below.
Luke James Talks Ditching Sex Symbol Status For "Them: The Scare", Elijah McClain, & Morewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Getty Images