

If you're like me, you probably have been wearing a lot of sweats and athleisure thanks to COVID-19 (because what are "real clothes" and what's the reason?). And while we don't know exactly how long we'll be dealing with this pandemic, what we do know is that when it is finally over, we're going to want to be outside all day, every day. To prepare, I've taken advantage of some of my free time by purging and minimizing my closet. My goal is to eventually have a closet full of essentials and staple pieces I can create multiple different looks from and only a few very trendy pieces. This made me wonder exactly what pieces should I have as a part of my wardrobe.
In order to help me learn what closet staples I need to truly curate the stylish wardrobe of my dreams, I reached out to a few (what we here at xoNecole like to call) Style Mavens to tell us the items in their closet that they gravitate towards every time.
Stylish Women Share Their Favorite Closet Staples
Ashley, @theinspiredi
Courtesy of Ashley
Oversized blazer:
"Preferably thrifted and vintage from the men's section is a no-brainer to effortlessly elevate any look."
Courtesy of Ashley
Max it out:
"I love the subtle drama packed in a maxi skirt or dress and the appeal it exudes without the need to show skin."
Courtesy of Ashley
Layering is life:
"I always stock up on staple button-down dresses in a couple sizes too big for a perfectly oversized fit to layer on top of jeans, pants, skirts or even each other."
Tyla Lauren Gilmore, @tylauren: Digital Content Creator
Courtesy of Tyla Lauren Gilmore
Blazers:
"I have an addiction to blazers because they are so versatile. You can dress them up, wear them casual, and even wear them with sneakers and sweats."
Boyfriend-cut jeans:
"I wear denim every day and I'm always on the hunt for the perfect fitting pair since it's hard to find jeans for curvy women! I live in the thrift store because there's tons of fits, washes, and sizes to pick from."
Tyla Lauren Gilmore
Sneakers:
"I prefer sneakers over heels any day because I want to be comfortable at all times. Shoes are also such an essential part of my outfits and are usually the first thing I start with when creating outfits."
Courtesy of Monroe Steele
Louis Vuitton Gold Hoop Earrings:
"They go with everything and are the perfect size. I'm a gold kinda girl and I've worn them into the ground."
Bottega Veneta Mules:
"I currently have six pairs of Bottega Veneta Mules and Pumps because they are fashionable but, more than that, they are the most comfortable heels I own."
Courtesy of Monroe Steele
"I'm definitely a heel girl so if I can walk the streets of New York a full day in a heel, they are definitely keepers. Which is probably why I keep buying them."
Shoulder-padded muscle t-shirts:
"The perfect edgy tops that go with everything. I purchase them from high to low brands (Attico to The Frankie Shop, Zara to Storets). They all offer padded muscle tees and I just keep on buying them."
Kéla Walker, @kelawalker: Media Host & Style Influencer
Courtesy of Kéla Walker
It comes down to the details:
"For me, it is all about the accessories. So, that is really great jewelry, a really great shoe, and handbag. Like those are always the things I gravitate towards because outside fluctuates. No matter if you lose 10 pounds or gain 10 pounds, those pieces always fit. My watch is going to fit, my shoes are going to fit, and my purse is going to go with something. So, for me, it's always about those accessories. The quality, substance, and pieces that are going to differentiate my look."
Courtesy of Kéla Walker
"It's not even about the label or this big ticket price. It's how you pull the pieces together and how you style it."
"Because we're all for the most part a lot of times shopping in the same spaces and places, those are the pieces that are really going to make you stand apart and help you hone in on your signature look and your signature style and how you put your stamp on it. Accessories can really make something look different."
Stacee Michelle, @itsstaceemichelle: Fashion Stylist, Media Personality & Entrepreneur
Courtesy of Stacee Michelle
Photo Credit: Luke Calvin
Denim jacket:
"A classic denim jacketis a versatile piece that will never go out of style. One thing I love about this one from All Saints is that all of my essentials have a home in one of the many pockets so I can be hands-free when I don't feel like carrying a purse. A denim jacket is a yearlong staple and is perfect for layering when the temperature dips."
Courtesy of Stacee Michelle
Photo Credit: Luke Calvin
Denim jeans:
"Everyone should own a pair of jeans that are a perfect fit. I live in my 10" high-rise jeans from Madewell because I can wear them with just about anything. Most of us have a closet full of jeans but only wear a few of them on a regular basis. I decided to donate the extra pairs to make room for more of the items that I love to wear."
Courtesy of Stacee Michelle
Photo Credit: Luke Calvin
Leather jacket:
"My Levi's leather motorcycle jacket is an essential piece in my wardrobe. It looks awesome with a hoodie and sneakers but can effortlessly be paired with a dress when going out. I love that it adds an edge to my more feminine looks. It's the jacket I reach for the most during fall and winter months."
Featured image courtesy of Ashley
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Erica Green is a Clinical Research Associate, blogger, and a sneakerhead. She has a love for all things women and she's pretty sure that women are God's greatest creation. Connect with her on Instagram @ erica_britt_ or www.lovethegspot.com
Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
Why I’m No Longer Feeling Guilty About Moving Home To Be A Stay-At-Home Daughter
What is a dream deferred in 2025 with the rising cost of living, a trash job market, and an administration that is determined to make my life a living hell? Chile, let’s get into it.
For as long as I can remember, I have had dreams of being the Black Carrie Bradshaw, prancing around New York City as a fashion writer. The stylish apartment, the popping dating life, the impeccable wardrobe — that was all I wanted. (Lucky for me, the impeccable wardrobe has always been a constant.)
Bishop Carrie once said, “In New York, they say you’re always looking for a job, a boyfriend, or an apartment. So, let’s say you have two out of three, and they’re fabulous. Why do we let the one thing we don’t have affect how we feel about all the things we do have?”
What a powerful question.
Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of
In 2022, I made the exciting move to New York City. Everything seemed to fall into place effortlessly: I secured a comfortable apartment and found myself immersed in a thriving freelance market. I even embarked on a new romantic relationship, a first for me. However, the tide began to turn by mid-2023. The once-abundant freelance opportunities dwindled as various platforms faced funding cuts and the media industry experienced a downturn.
Fast forward to 2024, and my mom, the woman who gave everything to raise me, is experiencing some health challenges. It felt as though the universe was pushing me towards a change. Around the same time, I began to question my career path as a fashion writer. The continual need to be "on" and present everywhere was exhausting, and the ups and downs of the job application process, including interviews and rejections, took a significant toll on my mental health.
The allure of New York City, with its bustling streets, towering skyscrapers, and the promise of endless possibilities, was beginning to fade.
The vibrant and exciting metropolis of the past now felt overwhelming and chaotic. The constant noise, the crowds, the fast-paced lifestyle – it all started to feel like a suffocating burden. The city that never sleeps had become a source of anxiety and restlessness, and the charm of the New York state of mind was slowly giving way to a sense of disarray and unease. There was always this sense of living in a dream coupled with overstimulation.
Given the current state of the world—rising costs of living, shifting career landscapes, and the emotional weight of supporting aging parents—it was time for me to be so real with myself. Did I really need to be in New York to be a fashion writer? Because opportunities have been presenting themselves that aren’t tied to location or a timeline.
The answer became so clear to me — it was time to go home.
Shifting the Narrative: Embracing the Return Home as an Empowered Woman
For generations, the concept of moving back home has been shrouded in negativity, often perceived as a regression, particularly for women who have strived for and achieved independence.
I want to challenge this outdated narrative and reframe the return home as a conscious, empowered choice. This exploration delves into the multifaceted emotions associated with moving back home, dismantling the guilt that often accompanies this decision, and embracing the evolving role of a daughter as a source of strength and support for my family.
From a cultural standpoint, returning home is also a radical act of preservation.
In a society that often devalues Black familial bonds and misrepresents our communities, choosing to be close to kin is an assertion of our values. It’s about honoring the aunties who raised us, the cousins who feel more like siblings, and the grandparents who built legacies from scratch. Our family structures are ever-evolving, stretching to support and uplift in ways traditional Western models don’t always understand.
When we come home, we’re not just coming back to a place—we’re coming back to a lineage of resilience and love.
In This Economy…
The economic realities of today make this decision even more practical. Skyrocketing rent, stagnant wages, and inflation have forced many of us to reconsider what independence really means. Living at home, or closer to home, can offer the breathing room to save, strategize, and build with intention. But beyond the numbers, there’s an emotional currency we gain too.
Home can be a sanctuary—a space where we don’t have to code-switch, perform, or constantly explain ourselves.
In a world that often demands our labor but rarely affirms our humanity, returning home can be the most freeing, grounded choice of all. And in full transparency, there’s a part of me that felt shame about going back home to Memphis out of concern for how others would see it. Memphis isn’t as bright and shiny as Denver and New York, these big cities where I had created a life and made a name for myself.
But why should I care? No one is paying these bills and dealing with the ups and downs of working in fashion with me. It’s just me. I’ve finally come to a point where I realize that I can no longer live for the cheers because if I do, I will die by the boos.
I am most concerned with the way my life feels instead of how it looks.
I Thought I Was Failing — But I Was Finally Healing
With that said, I am now rebranding myself as a "stay-at-home daughter."
More than ever, I want to highlight the ways in which women can contribute to their families while also pursuing personal growth and fulfillment. This exploration feels like a way to inspire and empower women to embrace their decision to return home, shedding societal expectations and redefining what it means to be a modern daughter.
I have the deepest feeling that this chapter is going to be healing for me and my mother, and we deserve.
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Featured image courtesy of Joce Blake