Whether we're ready or not, 2022 is here. Besides receiving utter relief from what felt like both the longest and shortest year ever, I am also looking forward to some serious style upgrades, starting with why and how I make purchases moving forward. My purchasing philosophy before the 2020 lockdown was very similar to Ariana Grande and T.I’s: "I want it, I buy it." Lately, though, my habit of abundance has taken a back seat as I find myself more intentional about my money in regards to my wardrobe. And since I still yearn for the excitement of a new trend, it’s left me a bit confused.
To get a kickstart on my inner Marie Kondo, I picked the brain of the internet’s fashion favorites and asked one important question: What's one item in your closet that you're ditching in this new season of life, and what's something you're gravitating towards in its place?
Keep reading to see what these style stars have to say, and make sure to follow these ladies for everyday style inspiration.
Brittany, Style Influencer and Founder of GREIGE
"I'm trying to rid myself of overconsumption and have been making an effort to purge items that have been too fussy or trendy that I don't wear as often. I'm always on the go, so as of late I've been dedicated to adding more functional, classic pieces to my wardrobe that have longevity and can be easily put together and styled up with great jewelry and a statement shoe or bag.
"I've recently purchased an amazing pair of lace-up chocolate-colored 'Manhattan' sandals from the brand 10th Floor that I know I'll get a lot of wear out of. Now that the world is opening back up, I'm looking forward to all the fun shoes and bags hitting the market again to get dressed up for those brunches and dinner dates."
Nikki, Dallas-based Style Influencer and ¼ of Influencing in Color
"In the new year, I’m ditching bright colors. I know it sounds crazy! I love color but as my style matures, it has become more simple and streamlined. I’m really into neutrals and investing in classic pieces!"
Jen, Maryland/DC-based Style Content Creator and Photographer
"With the new year, most fashion lovers are thinking about their wardrobe and how they want to show off their personality through their clothes. While doing an audit of my closet I realized that I’m 'ditching' all of my more fitted jackets and super cropped ones. It’s not a look that works with who I am today no matter how much I try.
"In its place, I’m gravitating towards comfort and adding more oversized, loose jackets and outerwear. Think slightly looser trench coats that can belt for a more polished look, the ever-popular shacket, and even my beloved moto jackets in a slightly longer silhouette. I’m thinking of hitting at the hip or a little lower over above the hip. Speaking of leather, I also added a few maxi leather jackets and love it!"
Tashira, Style Influencer and Founder of The Joy Lounge
"In 2022, I’m ditching skinny jeans and gravitating towards more black designers like Hanifa, Fe Noel, Almasika, and Brandon Blackwood."
Valentina, Style Influencer and Digital Communications Manager at Catbird NYC
"One item in my closet that I am ditching in this new season of life is anything I have not worn twice. I am a stickler for cleaning out my closet each season, but the new rule going into this year is ensuring I am wearing my pieces up to 5+ times and giving it the life it deserves in my closet!
"Something I am gravitating towards [when] replacing any items I am cleansing out of my closet is, more space for vintage pieces! I want to start a capsule I can enjoy and also potentially have my little cousins enjoy as well once I am done with the pieces!"
Joy, Digital Content Creator
"An item that I'm leaving behind [are] vests. I tried my best, but they're not for me. I'm looking forward to leaning into styling more sneakers. Wearing them with dresses, playing with patterns, and of course, matching sets."
Dominique, Style Influencer and Content Creator
"In this new season of my life, I’m ditching items that don’t make me feel good! If I put it on, on several different occasions and it has consistently been an 'ehh, nevermind' — it’s gotta go no matter how good it looks on a hanger!
"I’m definitely gravitating towards more color! I love wearing black, but seeing dark-skinned Black women wearing color— and a variety of it— has been so refreshing to see! I’ve definitely been inspired to continue to wear more color."
Abria, Fashion and Finance Influencer
"I recently found myself parting ways with a lot of my 'business professional' clothing. As the world continues to change and I evolve with it, workdays look much different than ever before. I’m slowly but surely dumping any items left in my closet that I simply don’t feel my best in. Whether that be stuffy blazers or random t-shirts that have seen better days, they all have to go!
"In their place… I have my eye on a few special pieces or 'FinStyle Highs' as I like to call them that I have been hunting for and believe I’ll be adding to my closet in 2022. My goal is to finance a closet I absolutely love!"
Featured image via @intheblane/Instagram
Courtney is a contributing writer, based in Puerto Rico by way of Tennessee. Interested in the intersection of fashion and culture, she has an affinity for fashion, empowerment, and really good tacos. Keep up with her on Instagram (@hautecourtxo).
Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
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Feature image by Franco Zulueta
Tasha Smith On Why Your Self-Worth Is Your Greatest Asset In Relationships
If the definition of BOOM needed a photo next to it, it better be Tasha Smith’s face.
Tasha Smith, 53, the actress known for her captivating performances and outspoken personality, has become a beloved figure in the entertainment industry. Her portrayal of the fierce and fabulous Angela in the hit movie Why Did I Get Married? is nothing short of iconic.
Beyond her role in the Tyler Perry film, Smith has established herself as a versatile actress with a range of impressive credits to her name. She has consistently delivered powerful performances in both film and television, showcasing her ability to embody complex characters and bring their stories to life.
Off-screen, Smith is equally captivating. She is known for her candid and outspoken nature, never shying away from speaking her truth. Her authenticity and willingness to address important issues have made her a role model for many.
Lucky for us, she brings that authentic energy no matter the occasion. Tasha had us saying “Amen” and “Amen again” while listening to a resurfaced interview with Donni Wiggins on theFully Transparent podcast. There, she talked about starring in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, working with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, and being a powerhouse.
One commenter shared, “Tasha Smith needs to have her own talk show and or motivational conferences!” and we couldn’t agree more. Keep reading for some gems that stuck with us!
Tasha Smith On Self-Worth and Resilience:
“Don’t let any man burn you out or make you feel bad about yourself. Don’t take 'no' from anybody. Period. I mean it, honey. When things go wrong, don’t stay down for too long. Let the comeback be quick and big, honey. Big. We’re resilient. We are.”
On Understanding Your Value:
“You have to understand your value. Sometimes, when things don’t go right in relationships, we, as women, tend to blame ourselves. But why does that have to be the case? I remember talking to a woman who said her guy cheated on her. I told her, ‘He didn’t think he was good enough for you.’ She looked at me confused, and I said it again, ‘He cheated because he didn’t think he was good enough for you.’ That behavior has nothing to do with you—it’s about him trying to feel better about himself.”
On The Power of Boundaries:
“If we understood our value, we’d have more boundaries, and we wouldn’t accept so much. You know what I mean? Because, honestly, we create bad behavior by what we allow. Women ask, ‘Why does he keep doing that?’ Well, because you keep letting him. The apologies are working, and those apologies come with more demonic ones.”
On Breaking the Cycle of “Sorry”:
“Once you get delivered from one 'sorry,' if you keep the door open, more will come in—stronger and harder to overcome. Before you know it, you’re stuck in that 'sorry' space. If you truly understood your value, you’d be quicker to walk away.”
On Moving Forward with Self-Respect:
“For me, at this point in my life, I’m not spinning the block anymore. You can’t just keep spinning the block. You have to have self-respect, boundaries, and a sense of your own worth. If you don’t value yourself, trust and believe a man won’t value you either.”
Watch the podcast interview in full below:
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Featured image by Paras Griffin/Getty Images