Living in the city of LA for over nine years, I’d like to believe I'm an honorary native. While holding true to my NorCal roots, there is a part of me that will forever consider LA home. One reason I love this town so much is because of the effortless style and creativity most of its residents seem to have. For people living in this fashion capital, individual style is all about what’s hot and making it your own.
Every city has a culture that offers a unique perspective when it comes to clothing and how style adapts to the surrounding environment. Inspired by everyday people when on the streets, I had to get the latest on fashion girls' radars. From trench coats to platform sneakers and everything in between, these are the must-have items women in LA are most excited to wear this season.
Long Line Trench Coat
Courtesy of Erica Marche
Longline trench coats are a forever classic everyone should own. Designed in a variety of colors and prints, there are endless styles to choose from. For a classic approach, investing in a neutral-toned trench allows for a range of versatility and more options to be dressed up or down. I’m loving this ultra cool-girl look paired with nylon tights, chunky boots, and a classic button-down shirt.
Bottega “Outline” Shades + Grey Mer Boots
Courtesy of Kandace Banks
Courtesy of Kandace Banks
“Two things I’ve recently bought that I’m obsessed with are my Bottega 'Outline' shades and a pair of Grey Mer boots that I found on Farfetch. I bought both as a birthday present to myself, and I wore them on my birthday trip to Paris. I’ve been wearing them both nonstop and they have a sentimental value every time!”
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Move Hi Sneakers
“I’ve had my eye on these shoes for a hot minute. I normally take a bit of time to jump on the latest trends just to get an idea of versatility in terms of what things can be paired/styled with, durability and cost. Since I’m already so tall I have larger-sized feet and they’re also flat, so getting an idea of how they fit (narrow vs. regular vs. wide) is critical for me.
"However, Converse typically runs a lot larger in size, so I wasn’t as hesitant to make this purchase as I’ve been with other shoe brands in the past. The pair I bought is super simple, yet have that extra oomph I look for in a casual yet chic shoe. I know I’ll be wearing these throughout the rest of the Fall/Winter season!”
Jazmine Woolfork (@jasminewoolfork)
Schutz Maryana Pointed Toe Boot
“I am loving the Southwestern influence! This Schutz boot is perfect to style for casual day looks and I love that it can be dressed up for the night as well!”
Straight Leg Pants + Leather Layering
Courtesy of Karrington B.
Finding the perfect pair of denim can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack, however, once you find the right pair we slowly begin to live in them. One item Karrington can't get enough of this season is straight-legged pants. Spice up a classic look by opting for a frayed denim design for a cute indoor rendezvous. Pair with a silver heel and lightweight jacket for a casual-chic aesthetic.
Courtesy of Karrington B.
Next on this LA native's list of what to wear, leather on leather. If one layer isn't enough, add a second to achieve this bold look with attitude. Get into Karrington’s leather skirt topped with a matching lightweight jacket for an ultimate west coast look.
To get your fashion fix and to stay up to date with the latest trends, check out the xoNecole Style section here.
Featured image courtesy of Kandace Banks
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
