We may have canceled our 2020 summer travel plans but the staycation is the latest leisure trend perfect for enjoying rest and relaxation in our everyday lives. Defined as a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within driving distance, a staycation also means those pre-planned vacation-ready outfits will not go to waste after all.
As the world slowly recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are anxiously awaiting moments to reunite with family and friends over backyard BBQs, summer cocktails, picnics, and community events, spending stress-free quality time with those we've missed so dearly. But, what is a summer escape without looking the part?
In the comfort of your own home or outside, here are 3 stylish looks that will help you channel those vacation vibes.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
The Ribbed Dress
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
For a lightweight and comfortable feel perfect for warm summer weather, the bodycon ribbed dress hugs curves in all the proper ways. All-white is a favorite summer go-to, adding a crisp and refreshing element for an evening outdoors. In this look, I paired it with a bright wrap-around sandal for an extra pop of color. This dress is the perfect basic, easy to accessorize while making it your own. Add a one of a kind wooden bag to complete your comfortably chic staycation-ready vibe.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Linen Pants
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Summer cannot officially begin without owning a pair of white wide leg linen pants. Casual and extremely versatile, linen is a closet staple and much-needed to create a chic staycation look, period. Dress up your pants by adding a linen blazer as well as a chain print scarf top to elevate your at-home look. Whether serving guests or serving looks, your outfit too will be delicious at the next backyard BBQ.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
The Casual Statement
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
With summer's extreme heat, the most important quality of an outfit should be comfort, however that shouldn't mean sacrificing style. A knit maxi skirt is another staycation staple that allows more room to experiment with exotic statement tops and accessories, allowing room for bolder choices to pair with this basic style. Pair with a satin bamboo handle bag to create your own stylish tropical staycation paradise.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Featured image by Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
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
