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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While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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For instance, I used to wonder why it seemed like I would get yeast infections in warmer weather. At first, I thought it was all in my head, yet it absolutely isn’t — and if you read this all the way through, you’ll see why I say that.
Now that we are in full-blown spring season, there’s no turning back as far as the rising temps go. And so, if you are also someone who tends to get yeast infections during this time of the year, I’m about to explain to you the reason why the weather, 1000 percent, has something to do with it.
First, a Quick Yeast Infection Recap
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Since it’s been reported that approximately 75 percent of women have will get at least one yeast infection in her lifetime, and almost half will experience more than one, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ve had one before — and that makes you pretty familiar with, at the least the symptoms, of a yeast infection. Still, in order for it to make sense that warmer weather can lead to more yeast infections, I’m going to briefly explain what a yeast infection is truly all about.
Something that pretty much all of us have somewhere on our body is a fungi known as Candida; however, something that you may not be aware of is the fact that only around 20 percent of women have it in their actual vaginal tract. Anyway, having Candida in your system isn’t an issue — unless there is an overgrowth with it. If that happens, it can lead to what is known as a yeast infection — and although you can get a yeast infection, pretty much anywhere on your body, what I am going to focus on today is vaginal yeast infections.
Although it is actually possible to have a yeast infection that doesn’t have any symptoms, typically, if you’ve got one going on, your body will certainly let you know because you will experience things like incessant itching (have mercy!), a thick white/off-white discharge, a swollen vagina and/or vulva, a burning sensation when you urinate and perhaps even discomfort during sex.
The cause of a yeast infection is usually tied to something that causes Candida to multiply because you have more “bad bacteria” in your system than good bacteria. This could be due to things like having a weakened immunity; an imbalance of hormones; antibiotics; being pregnant; your blood sugar levels being off; wearing underwear or pants that are too tight (bookmark that one); using body washes, spermicides or other body products that are too strong for your vagina (ones that end up irritating it) and/or douching.
If any of this leads to you having a yeast infection and it isn’t your first trip to the rodeo when it comes to experiencing one, there are over-the-counter antifungal medications that you can use. Or, if the yeast infection is chronic, your doctor may prescribe you an antifungal pill like Diflucan (although these days, you can oftentimes get a prescription prepared for you online via some of the same sites that prescribe birth control; check out “Before You Get Online Birth Control, Read This.” for some references on those).
Aight, so now that you basically get what yeast infections are all about, why does it seem like many women experience them more often during the spring and summertime? Is it all in their head, or is that actually a fact?
Why Yeast Infections Sometimes Uptick Whenever the Weather Warms Up
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Remember how I said that one of the things that can lead to a yeast infection is wearing clothes that are too tight? Well, when your vulva and vagina aren’t able to breathe and instead, moisture is trapped in that area of your body, Candida is able to thrive. And that, my friends, is why it’s pretty common for women to either be more susceptible to a yeast infection in the spring and summer seasons, or they may end up with more than one of them (if they’re not careful). That’s because the warmer it is outside, the easier it is for air to hold moisture, and that can lead to you sweating more and your clothes retaining water — which creates the perfect storm for a yeast infection.
And that is why this article has the title that it does — indeed, if one of the things that you dislike about this time of year is that you have always found yourself being vulnerable when it comes to yeast infections, now you understand why. Humidity cultivates moisture, and trapped moisture causes fungi to multiply, and that can lead to a yeast infection.
6 Things You Can Do to Help to Prevent a Yeast Infection
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So does all of this mean that you just have to lie back and let Candida have its way with you right now? Absolutely not. In fact, as the weather heats up, here are a few things that can decrease your chances of experiencing a yeast infection.
1. Wear breathable fabrics. It’s sundress season, and no one can rock those like we can, right? And listen, yeast will be pissed at you if you do (especially if you go without undies) because the lightness of a sundress’s fabric makes it easier for your body to breathe and for your vaginal area to remain dry. So, sundress or not, definitelywear lighter fabrics like cotton, linen, and silk for the next few months.
2. Take vitamin C. Something else that I said could lead to a yeast infection is a weak immune system. That said, something that can help to keep yours in great shape is vitamin C. The main reason why is because it has the ability to strengthen your white blood cells, which are the cells that help to fight off infection. So, if you’re not doing so already, take a vitamin C supplement and also consume foods that are high in C like citrus fruits, berries, cantaloupe, spinach and broccoli.
3. Leave the scented products alone. We all like to smell good and you doing so is something that I will always and fully support — just make sure to keep the fragrance stuff away from your vulva and vagina. Again, it only irritates them. As an alternative, if you want to do a lil’ somethin’ down there, spray some perfume or apply a sensual essential oil to your inner thigh; the same mission will get accomplished without you having to worry about your vulva/vagina getting mad at you in the process.
4. Massage your vulva with coconut oil. This one might surprise you. Something that has pretty strong antifungal properties in it is coconut oil. That’s why some women use it to treat a yeast infection whether it’s by soaking a tampon with coconut oil and inserting it into their vagina or using it to soothe their irritated vulva. As a semi-preventative measure to keep fungi from irritating your vulva and/or to moisturize it, you certainly can’t go wrong with applying some organic coconut oil to “her” as well.
5. Swap out ice cream for frozen yogurt. Something that yeast feeds off of is sugar; meanwhile, something that keeps yeast from getting out of control is probiotics. And since this is the time of year when a lot of us enjoy scoops of ice cream, if you want to increase your chances of avoiding a yeast infection, consider going with frozen yogurt instead. Although both have sugar in them, yogurt also contains several strains of probiotics too. It’s a delicious way to proactively fight a potential yeast infection from the inside out.
6. Ease up on the stress triggers.When you’re stressed out, it can also make you more susceptible to a yeast infection because stress can weaken your immunity. So, get outside and enjoy the sunshine. Plan a vacation. Spend time with your friends at rooftop restaurants and enjoy a mocktail on your back deck (check out “10 Spring/Summer Cocktails (& Mocktails) That Your Vagina Will Truly Enjoy”). The less stressed you are, the less tension your vagina will feel…and the less chance there will be of you having a spring or summertime yeast infection. #givethanks #enjoy
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