These Are The Micro Trends To Get You Through Summer
Summer is finally here and we're seeing the latest in this season's biggest trends exploding everywhere. Excitedly exiting the cold and gloomy winter months, fashion girls everywhere are taking advantage of the coolest new and re-emerging styles for the warm weather season. With there being much anticipation to finally be outside after a year and a half, I've seen so many new and refreshing styles to add to my closet in anticipation of a stylish summer like never before.
Breaking free from oversized knits and sweatpants, I'm longing to engage in wild prints, bright colors and enticing looks as I just want to have fun with my outfits again.
From psychedelic prints to wide leg denim jeans, this summer is all about breaking out and going bold even if it's an occasion that calls for a cute yet casual moment. With there being so many styles worth talking about, scroll to find both classic and trendy items worth adding to your summer wardrobe below.
1.The Designer Shoulder Bag
Every stylish girl needs a designer shoulder bag in her life and Coach is the perfect starter brand. As the company makes a major comeback, their newly released styles are modern with a vintage flair. For a designer bag with an affordable price tag, this Coach pillow bag is a go-to bag for summer.
2."Boy" Shorts
Oversized shorts made their first appearance early last year during the first round of quarantine but now that we're back outside, pair them with chunky socks, sneakers and a cute crop top and you've got a comfy cool girl look for a casual summer day. For an easy on the go look, add a dainty hoop earring along with stackable rings and layered necklaces for a feminine touch.
3.The 90’s Jean
High-waist denim is a classic style that is here to stay but it's the wide leg trend that is making its way back into our lives this summer. The wider the leg, the more stylish the silhouette. From white to blue denim, add a variety of washes to your closet this season.
4.The Updated Maxi
A maxi dress should be on top of every wish list this summer but it's the style of dress that matters most. This year's asymmetrical trend is adding major appeal to all types of clothing styles and this dress is one of my faves so far! Casually paired with a flat or high-heeled sandal, this is a perfect look to compliment a beautiful warm sunny day.
5.The Oversized Button Down
Always essential no matter the season, an oversized button down is a stylishly lightweight addition everyone needs in our wardrobe. Easily tossed over a casual look, a classic white button down is a girl's best friend. What I love about a button down is the variety of colors, prints and lengths to add to your wardrobe mix.
6.Oversized Blazer
Another must-have in your closet is an oversized blazer. For summer, I strongly suggest a lightweight soft light pastel or brightly colored option paired with a stylish crop top. A blazer is a must-have every season, but it's the color that matters most this time of year.
7.A Matching Set
One of my favorite trends this season, big bold prints are the micro trend we never knew we needed. There's something about this head to toe print-heavy look that genuinely makes me happy. Keep an eye on matching sets in different colors, prints and materials for a variety of looks to choose from.
8.Abstract Prints
Transitioning from tie dye to water colors, this season's newest color mix is the abstract multicolored print. There's no question when adding a standout swim piece to your wardrobe this summer created but when in a retro-inspired multicolored print, it's a match made in paradise. Playful prints are huge this summer, so adding a few pieces to your wardrobe this season for a modern yet vintage is a psychedelic trip you won't regret.
9.Colorful Sunglasses
Colorful frames are having a major comeback this season. It's been a while since I've had the urge to match my sunglasses with my outfit but I'm on the hunt for a range of vibrant shades that will effortlessly brighten up my everyday life. We're adding color to our wardrobes from our head to our toes this season.
10.Platform Slides
My favorite shoe style for summer, the platform thong sandal is the chicest look of them all. I can't get enough of the elevated look, and how it takes an everyday casual look to new heights. With a variety of colors to choose from, these sandals can be worn with pretty much anything.
To get your fashion fix and to stay up to date with the latest trends, check out the xoNecole Style section here.
Featured image via @aniyamorinia/Instagram
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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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy