These Are The 8 Micro Trends Taking Over This Summer
Summer is officially here and I can’t wait to show off my hot girl outfits. With the world at our fingertips, 2022 is proving to be the biggest fashion awakening of our generation. Unlike the last two years of understated looks and neutral combinations, this season’s trends are brighter and bolder than ever. Reminiscent of the early 2000s, this year has become a revival of an era when fashion knew no bounds and pushed beyond our creative limitations.
Beyond style, the most fashion-worthy moments are the juxtapositions of an outfit. You may see the fashion girlies rocking a corset, cargo pants, and sneakers one day and a babydoll dress with platform wedges the next. From low-rise waistlines to never-ending hems, this is the season to put self-expression at the forefront by dressing how you feel even if it means doing the bare minimum. Regardless of the day’s mood, implementing just one of these summer trends gives major main character energy.
Scroll to see my top picks below.
1. Maxi Skirts
Courtesy of Brianna Monae
The feminine urge to wear summer maxis is in full effect and this time it's all about the bodycon silhouette. Dressed up or down, there's a maxi for any occasion. I love a beautiful maxi skirt paired with a chic top and a pair of kitten heel slides. Whatever combination, this style looks so classy and effortlessly dominates the room.
2. Cargo Pants
Courtesy of Blake Gifford / Photo Credit: Rachel Bires
There’s an obsession with cargo pants, I see them everywhere in L.A. Not that I don’t love the look, I could wear them every day. Worn high or low rise by gen z’s to millennials, I’m definitely a fan. A generational crossover, they have the cool and casual fashion that has women of all age groups in a chokehold. I give this summer staple a 10/10.
3. Cut Out Jeans
Courtesy of Shahirah Ahmed
I discovered cut out jeans on a trip to London this past spring and immediately wanted in on this eye-catching trend. This subtle pop of skin is such a compliment taking your denim look to another level. A hot girl summer includes taking risks so try this bold detail next time you're shopping for a fun pair of jeans.
4. Matching Sets
Courtesy of Flora
Matching sets are simply timeless so of course, it's one of my favorite trends this summer. This year we’re getting color, texture, and body. Skirt sets in particular are such a feminine touch, perfect for a European or tropical location. Pair with your favorite dainty gold jewelry and sunnies for a complete look.
5. Barbie Pink
Courtesy of Destinie Alexandria
Hot pink is the color of the season. A beautifully inviting hue, pink has been dominating the scene, especially when added as a pop to cool or darker tones. Worn from head to toe or as an electric accent, there’s always an excuse to implement in your everyday looks. Paired with a sneaker, this is the definition of casual cute.
6. Corset Tops
Courtesy of Mrs. Davis
Ultra-sleek and ultra-feminine, a corset top is definitely for the grown and sexy. I love a snatched waist and accentuated hip any time of the day or night. The versatility makes this lingerie turned ready-to-wear staple in a league of its own. Graceful in itself, dressed up or down, it brings the heat to any situation. I love mixing my favorite go-to’s, so this hot pink corset combination with the maxi skirt is winning.
7. Wrap Around Heels
Courtesy of L Y L E E H M
Believe it or not, wrap-around heels have been slowly making a comeback and now, they’ve finally arrived. Formerly known as “gladiators,” this season we’ll see a chicer more toned-down approach. The selections are endless with platform styles and sandals. Perfect for brunch or a girls' day out, this look is a summer statement.
8. Crochet
Courtesy of L Y L E E H M
The crocheted look is growing on me and I’m falling more in love with it every day. The summer looks are coming in and I’ve seen crochet grow from grandma sweaters to looks with sex appeal and a modest touch. Super chic, you can pair almost anything with this trend. Dress it up with your favorite accessories to really take it over the top.
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Featured image courtesy of Shahirah Ahmed/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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Why We'll Probably Never Hear Lupita Nyong'o Share Her Relationship With The World
Lupita Nyong'o is sharing a transparent look into her life after a recent breakup.
In a cover story for NET-A-PORTER, the A Quiet Place: Day One star shed light on the significant heartbreak she experienced following the end of her relationship with ex-boyfriend and TV host, Selema Masekela.
As a public figure, Nyong'o, 39, sought to divulge the news of the breakup in hopes of presenting a more authentic perspective on the pain that follows a separation.
"I was living in a lot of pain and heartbreak," she told the publication. "I looked at the environment of my social media and thought I don’t want to be a part of this illusion that everything is always coming up roses. Surely there is a lesson for me to learn in this, and I just want to be real about it."
The Black Panther star went on to explain that her choice to be transparent with her fans about her breakup came from the certainty she felt after ending the relationship. “In my mind, when I shared my relationship status with the world, it was because I felt sure about it,” she said.
While she didn’t know how the news would land with her fans, she found relief in knowing she wasn’t alone in her experience.
“I knew how it could be interpreted; I knew it would have a life of its own,” she reflects. “But then I started to see the comments and people were being so loving and supportive. The ones that moved me the most were other people sharing their pain and their heartbreak.”
Nyong'o and Masekela went Instagram official in December 2022, publicly announcing their relationship in a couple's video. In October 2023, Nyong'o took to her personal Instagram account to share the news of her breakup in her caption, writing, "At this moment, it is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust.”
She continued the vulnerable note, "I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception. I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, 'Whatever, my life is better this way.' But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love."
These days, Nyong'o tells NET-A-PORTER that she is prioritizing profound self-discovery that extends beyond her career. She notes having a deliberate and unhurried approach to understanding herself.
She also alludes to keeping her relationships private moving forward after noting it was "very, very sage" of her not to talk about her private life professionally in the days before her last relationship. "I'm going back to those days by the way," Nyong'o shares of her reinstated boundaries around her personal life.
Earlier this month, Nyong'o made headlines alongside her new boyfriend actor Joshua Jackson. Nyong'o and Jackson went through public splits from their respective SOs in October 2023, with the latter splitting from his long-time partner Jodie Turner-Smith following her divorce filing from the Dawson's Creek alum.
The pair have been spotted together as early as December 2023, but nothing screamed "couple" quite as loudly as their recent getaway to Mexico for Nyong'o's 41st birthday featuring passionate displays of affection.
"Our purpose in life is to love. And so you have to get back in it," she tells the outlet, seemingly alluding to her budding new romance.
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Featured image by Taylor Hill/Getty Images