My favorite time of year, coat season, is officially warming up and I’m looking forward to bringing the hottest looks this fall/winter. Getting a late start, it took me a while to narrow down my top preferences and decide which of these 2021 outerwear trends I’ll be wearing this year and hopefully next. From puffers to long line trench coats, it feels like the options are limitless when stalking the net for your next purchase but it's the styles that stand the test of time that make it all worth it.
Start early when building your seasonal wardrobe, guaranteeing first dibs on the flyest styles before they’re gone. Also keep in mind, functionality, design, and comfort are necessary requirements when securing the shopping bag. For a few everyday outfit ideas, here are the coats I’ve recently added to my cold weather line up.
Leather Puffer
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
It was love at first sight when I spotted this chocolate brown puffer coat. Elevating the darker tones, I opted for a slinky leopard print dress and black leather boots. Planning a quick morning trip to the corner cafe before taking care of today’s business, I threw on a sleek cap to top off this look.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Long-Line Trench
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Being that green is my favorite color I had to keep the love going while looking for new additions to my closet. Long-line trench coats are going strong this year but it's the color and design that cause a selection of styles to stand out from the rest. Paired with printed denim and black boots for a sharp contrast, next time I want to try wearing muted tones allowing the jacket to speak for itself.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Sherpa Aviator
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
High on the hottest trends list this season are aviator jackets lined with contrasting sherpa. Quirky and fun, I love this two-toned faux leather and shearling combination. Keeping it light and colorful, I added a soft green trouser along with a cropped cream knit top complete with multi-panel boots.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
To get your fashion fix and to stay up to date with the latest trends, check out the xoNecole Style section here.
Featured image by Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
RELATED
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.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
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
