

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
Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
I Tried It: 3 Low-Maintenance Wigs That Will Elevate Your Look This Season
There's nothing like the feeling you get when your hair is done. It can instantly boost your confidence and put you in a great mood. I've never been a stranger to hair trends and I often experiment with the latest braided styles and colors.
But there are moments when I just don't feel like doing my hair. I'm natural and a lot of times I will braid or twist my hair up and cover it with a scarf or turban. However, when I crave a different look without the hassle of styling, I reach for a wig.
I've always had a love-hate relationship with wigs. Sometimes, I struggle to get them to lay flat and don't get me started with the bonding glue process. So when it comes to wearing wigs, I like to keep it nice and breezy around this b--- (word to Katt Williams), especially in the summertime.
That's why I jumped at the chance to try these three versatile wigs from Luvme Hair. Each one offers a unique look and is surprisingly low maintenance, which aligns perfectly with my philosophy that wearing wigs should make life easier. Let’s dive into the three styles below.
Headband Wig
Courtesy
This was the first wig I tried on, and I instantly fell in love with it. So much so that it took me weeks to even consider trying the other two. I’m partial to colored hair, especially blonds, browns, and reds, so I was skeptical about the jet black hair. However, I think the color, combined with the curl pattern, worked surprisingly well for me.
One of the things I really liked about this wig was that I didn’t have to braid my hair down first. I could simply throw it over a low ponytail, which is the epitome of a low-maintenance style. The headband has combs inside and velcro on the ends, ensuring a secure fit.
Half Wig
Courtesy
I had never worn a half wig before, so I faced some challenges. I cornrowed the bottom half of my hair where the wig would sit, but I believe this made it more difficult to use the combs. It might just be me though. I straightened the top part of my hair to blend it with the wig, which looked cute for about five minutes.
Firstly, I have a brown/blonde color mix on the ends of my hair, and the half wig is black. So, I had to hide some of the color (I didn’t have time to dye the wig). Secondly, straightening my hair myself is always a hassle because it never lasts long. Add to that the summer humidity, and you get a hot mess. Despite all this, I managed to get some cute pictures before things got out of control, and that’s all that matters, right?
Would I consider this a low-maintenance hair style? Yes and no. I think it’s unrealistic for me during the summer, especially since I enjoy summer activities. However, when the weather cools down, I’ll definitely rock it, dyed, of course.
Bob
Courtesy
Now, this is the wig I was nervous about. I never had a bob and I didn't think I would like it. But once I put bobiana on, my mind instantly changed. I finally understood why the gworls rave about the bob so much. It was giving boss. It was giving grown woman. It was giving the bob means business. Iykyk. It was the ultimate statement.
I will say when I first put it on, one side of my wig just would not lay flat. It took some trial and error, but I finally managed to get it to look good. With the bob, I highly recommend braiding your hair down first as small as you can so it can lay as flat as possible. I really liked the ash blonde color, which is perfect for summer. The length also makes it a great low-maintenance style for the season, so you don't have to worry about the hair making your neck sweaty.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy