Summer Is Not Canceled: Try These 3 Seriously Stylish Staycation-Ready Outfits
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
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