There’s something about the whimsicalness of February fashion month that’s different from its sister month in the fall. Kicking off with haute couture week in Paris, the spring ready-to-wear shows always inject new life into the fashion cycle every year - and this year was no different. The collections this season were all about longer hemlines, sexy draping, and neutral palettes, all without sacrificing glamour and opulence.
There was a sense of grown and sexy that exuded from the runways, with many designers doubling down on the looks that could be replicated effortlessly off the runway as well. Unlike previous years, a sense of renewal surrounded this fashion month, a nod to the continued democratization of the current fashion industry. Now, trends are curated and popularized by the people as much (if not in some cases more) than the designers.
Across the different cities, designers presented topical, holistic collections that screamed “quiet luxury” while staying loyal to their brand mission. Brandon Maxwell was rooted in abundant joy, consistency, and confidence; LaQuan Smith showcased evening suiting with a hint of retro-glamour and a suit-dress combo that was just insanely divine. Carolina Herrera expertly and beautifully combined the fantastical elements of fashion with realistic and stunning silhouettes to present a collection that wowed. Bruce Glen experimented with color and prints in an innovative way that is both chic and trendy.
For the majority of designers, 2023 is the year of letting go of forced trends and embracing the elements of style and fashion through their own lens.
Fashion month can be overwhelming with all the new trends burgeoning but it can also give you that boost of inspiration you need to refresh your personal style. Based on the forecasting from the month of shows, here are 4 of the biggest trends to rotate into your wardrobe this year.
A Dose Of Reality (vs Dopamine Dressing)
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Last year our timelines were saturated with dopamine dressing, directly opposing the previous two years of athleisure. And while there’s always a reason to dress for the moment, an injection of dressing for the real world took over the streets and runways of fashion month.
With the emergence of “quiet luxury,” an under-the-radar approach to purchasing and styling luxury items, designers leaned in and presented classic tailoring, simple silhouettes, and overall very wearable staples compared to seasons past. This includes statement wide-leg trousers, deconstructed blazers, and modernized suiting with dynamic draping.
Long(er) Lines (vs Barely-There-Mini)
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With the rise of low-rise waistlines last fall came a correlated rise in sole-sweeping hemlines; a trend ever so present on the spring runways. From denim skirts to sheer trousers, hemlines were sweeping the ground and proving that the ultra-mini isn’t your only option. These trends will be particularly big in the fall with the addition of cooler temperatures and cascading layers.
Luscious Red (vs Barbiecore)
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Make no mistake, Barbie Pink has planted her flag sternly for 2023, thanks to the 2022 Barbiecore trend. But a new color has entered the chat this season, Luscious Red, and is on trend to be a major player in 2023. You couldn’t throw an invite without hitting a designer that highlighted dynamic hues of red throughout their collection. Whether it was an accessory, woven into the stitching of an item, or several looks styled head to toe (which was the case for many designers), designers embraced this color in a sexy, modern, and shockingly wearable way.
Cool Metallics (vs Eye-Catching Neons)
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A direct influence from the Y2K nostalgia bandwagon, the cool metallics of years past are making a dedicated comeback in 2023. There were inklings of this trend present last year, on red carpets and with fashion trendsetters as they dabbled in metallic accessories. There was an explosion of monochromatic metallic looks from golden hues to rosy reds this year. The trend dominated street style and several runways of fashion month, an indication that this trend will be here for the foreseeable future.
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Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
GiphyUnmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
GiphyOkay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
GiphyIf off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
GiphyA friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
GiphyIt’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
GiphyI once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
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Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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