The Handbag Trends You're About To See Everywhere
If you've been watching the style sphere over the past few months, handbags are having a standout moment. No longer regulated to the backburner of fashion, accessories - and more specifically handbags - are taking center stage. There isn't a luxury or premium fashion house that didn't showcase a line of colorful, unique, or nostalgic handbags this spring.
We're seeing this time-tested accessory go through a sort of transformation, akin to the spring awakening, right before our eyes. Whether you're looking to start your coveted handbag collection or looking to mix up your personal style, here are 10 handbag trends to hold you down all year.
1.Cushion Bags
The message is loud and clear: cushion is here to stay. A trend that started with Bottega Veneta's Lido sandal and picked up momentum in the coziness of the pandemic, cushion accessories are exploding this year. The handbag is a nod to the early 2000s and exudes a sophisticated comfort akin to a 2.55 Chanel quilted bag. Given its luxe texture, you can effortlessly dress this up with a more structured aesthetic or opt for a slouchy version with athleisure.
2.Belt Bag
While you might have kissed your fanny pack goodbye, don't get too comfortable with leaving your waist purse-free. In the place of the coveted nostalgic fanny-pack comes the belt bag; an ultra mini attached to your waist in a utility belt fashion. Styled over a maxi dress to give a bit of shape or hooked through your favorite high-waisted denim, the belt bag is this year's answer to being hands-free in a post-pandemic world.
3.Crescent Shape
If you need any more confirmation that the nostalgic 00s are saturating our runways, look no further than the comeback of the iconic crescent-shaped handbag. Aptly nicknamed the moon bag and debuting on runways a few years ago, the IT bag of yesteryear is officially having a moment. This chic staple nestled delicately under your shoulder comes in a wide range of silhouettes, colors, and prints that effortlessly complement any style. Whether you gravitate towards the modern slouchy pouches at Bottega Veneta, the whimsical canvas-printed bags at Staud, or the seminal black Prada top-handle, there's a moon-shaped bag with your name on it.
4.Soft Leather
The category for 2021 is stylish comfort, and nothing embodies that more than the soft and delicate leather goods we saw on the runways. Doubling down on soft indoor textures, pillowy-to-the-touch handbags are already on every street block and coffee shop.
5.Logo Totes
Apologies at the top if you were expecting large handbags to fade discreetly into the archives of street style. Oversized but functional tote bags are populating Instagram feeds and spring/summer runways alike. While the Dior Tote has been coveted for a few years, the success with brands like Telfar has skyrocketed the logomania of it all. Easily styled on the white sandy beaches or in the masked city streets, the logo tote is a staple that every person should have in their wardrobe.
6.Unique Design
From Christian Dior in the 50s to Gianni Versace in the 90s, there are few moments in fashion where we see the debut of a new trend. Luckily for us, as consumers become more fashion-conscious, there's a surge in silhouettes that aren't traditional. An interesting combination of a bucket bag, the ultra-miniature, and a crossbody, this new variation of handbag is youthful and luscious.
7.Miniature
Ever since Lizzo donned a miniature Jacquemus bag with the caption, "...big enough for my fucks to give", the ultra-mini bag has exploded on the style scene.
8.Crossbody Bags
A style trend that's been around for years but still extremely relevant, the crossbody is the quintessential in-between bag. Adorned with chain straps, metallic embellishments, and delicate jeweled emblems, the crossbody is one of the most replicated handbags this year.
9.Filing Folders
A more youthful trend on the scene, two-dimensional arm candy is bound to be all the rage during the warmer months. An emblem of counterculture to maximalism, this silhouette screams feminine and professional without sacrificing elements of style. There's something about the sleek nature of the handbag that exudes a 90s IT-girl vibe immediately. The color palettes are ranging from neutrals to prints to the bold neons that are everywhere this season. The razor-sharp bag is the perfect accessory for the minimalist girl on the go.
10.Raffia Totes
Another fun and fresh trend that has its roots in traditional beachwear, the raffia tote, or commonly referred to as the 'wicker basket trend', has transitioned into more everyday wear for spring and summer. Whether it's a top-handle, a long-line chain, or crescent-shaped, the netted style is a funky and casual way to step up your everyday style.
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Featured image courtesy of @amber.richele/Instagram
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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: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
I didn’t think much could get better about the blissful high that comes with oral. That was until I came across the Kivin Method.
As someone who was never a huge fan of oral sex and could largely take it or leave it, I must admit that I have started to come around in recent years. With my head thrown back, hands gripping sheets and hair, and toes curling from the intense sensations of the work my partner is putting in at my center, I now give myself over to the pleasurable act wholly and unapologetically.
When I came across a way to maximize the pleasure I receive from cunnilingus (already), I had no choice but to tap in. Who knew the key to taking oral sex to new heights was giving it a sideways twist? For those of you who might also be interested in ways to spice up the way you do oral, experience faster and stronger orgasms, or simply want to indulge in something new with your partner, the Kivin Method could definitely be the oral sex technique for you, too.
Keep reading to learn about the method that is sure to have you writhing in ecstasy in no time at all.
What Is The Kivin Method?
For the uninitiated, the Kivin Method is an oral sex technique that focuses on stimulating the clitoris from a different angle. Dubbed “sideways oral” by some, this method involves the action of giving head from a side-to-side movement as opposed to the up-and-down motion that people typically perform when giving head. (If you need a visual, this illustration is helpful.)
The difference in approach as you’re receiving head can be a game-changer in how you receive pleasure. Not only does the giving partner have access to the clitoris, but they can also access more easily the vulva and the labia, which are objectively a bigger focus in this version of cunnilingus. More access means wider coverage, and that, plus the new sensation of oral from a different angle, can heighten the way you experience oral sex that much more.
Where more pleasure flows, intense orgasms are sure to follow.
Getty Images
How To Do The Kivin Method
If you want to know how to do the Kivin Method, it’s actually pretty straightforward. The receiver lays on their back while the giver positions themselves perpendicular to the receiver. Their head will be facing the vulva, but instead of vertical, their face will be horizontal to the vulva.
From there, the giver can get to business, ensuring that they keep their head perpendicular to the receiver’s vulva while working on their craft. Because this technique can be more intense for some receivers, start slowly by stroking the vulva and clitoris sideways with the tongue, and allow sensations and communication from the receiver to be a guide of what you need more or less of with the Kivin Method.
Ultimately, the Kivin Method allows experimentation and unlocking what pressure, rhythm, and tricks work best for the giver and the receiver. Try implementing a finger or two, or adding a sex toy to the mix to intensify the act even further.
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Featured image by Delmaine Donson/Getty Images