

With the relaunch of our favorite early 2000-era television shows, the popular yet cringe-worthy fashion trends we thought were long gone and never to be spoken of again are back to remind us of a period in time that fashion was about self-expression and creativity. Millennials and Generation X'ers who grew up during the period of low-rise jeans, Baby Phat phones, and Juicy couture tracksuits are reliving their most beloved fashion moments of that time and I'm here for the throwback nostalgia. As we witness this blast from fashion's past in real-time, this is another reminder that no trend truly goes away forever and I'm so excited to have a second attempt at my favorite styles of that decade.
If your fashion sense has evolved far away from your teen years, then let's have fun and take a walk down memory lane as I prepare you for what's soon to appear on your Instagram feed through your favorite celebrities and fashionistas. Here is a collective of 11 early 2000s trends I'm implementing into my current wardrobe in 2020.
Overly Exposed
Once made popular by the biggest pop stars of the early 2000s, the exposed thong trend is getting a severe 2020 makeover. For those who love to leave a little more to the imagination, contemporary brands are creating the illusion of exposed skin built into their designs for a classier spin on this super chic look.
Two-Piece Bangs
As seen in every high school photo of my younger self, bangs were definitely a go-to choice with every hairstyle. Made popular by almost every celebrity from Destiny's Child, Brandy, Monica, and every female singer/rapper/actor in between, try this late 90's-2000's hair trend on your next night out for a sophisticated throwback look.
Bucket Hats
Bucket hats are a revolving trend that never really goes out of style. Let your hair down while pairing with a casual sporty outfit or your favorite basics while out and about for the ultimate comfy cool look.
Low-Rise Jeans
The low-rise trend is one we could have left in the early 2000s however, I'm using this bold denim style as motivation to lose this excess quarantine weight gain. As the super low cut hip-hugging style is making its rounds yet again, I don't suggest giving up your high waist mom jeans just yet as I can't see this style being here to stay for long.
French Tips
French tips are a nail design that most if not all women have worn at least once in our lifetime. For a more modern look, give it an asymmetrical design to add more to this classic style.
Put It On Thick Like MAC Lip Gloss
With masks being a mandatory outfit staple this year, it's pretty convenient that the most recent resurgence of multiple layers of lip gloss has made its way back into the latest beauty trends. Add a mid to dark brown colored lip liner for fall to achieve fuller, glossier lips.
Hair Flip
For an iconic gravity-defying hairstyle, it's nothing but a hair flip. I'm looking forward to repeating this throwback hair trend through 2021 for a super modelesque vintage flair. Perfect for a chic night out, dress this hairstyle up with a side bang and pony or wear it down with a middle part for an even sexier sleek look.
Juicy Couture Tracksuits
Worn by celebrities from street style paparazzi photos, to music videos and our favorite pop culture films of the early 2000s, if you didn't own a Juicy Couture velour tracksuit you desperately wanted one in every color. Created to be as flattering as possible with chic comfortability in mind, these athleisure tracksuits are making their way back with modern edge and day to night capabilities.
NASCAR Jackets
The motorsport trend has slowly made its way back onto the scene; so it's no surprise the oversized Nascar jackets are on my radar making a fast track towards the fall/winter season. Fashion girls are taking a cue from the high-speed athleisure look paired with slouchy denim jeans and sneakers or biker shorts and combat boots for a casual-cool daytime look.
Trucker Hats
No early 2000s trend could make its way back into 2020 without mentioning the Von Dutch trucker hat. Made infamous for its popular logo and celebrities adorned from head to toe with hats, handbags, baby tees and low rise patch jeans, this once popular brand has remained dormant until its recent resurgence on insta-famous celebrities.
Dior Sunglasses
Featured in your favorite music videos of the late 90's and early 2000's, the lightly tinted Dior sunglasses are having another major fashion moment. Although we're going into the colder months, keep your eye on these oval-shaped frames to hit another peak summer 2021.
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'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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I’ve gotta say that, for the most part, my friends are pretty damn chill. There is one (major) exception, though — and it’s an odd one. Even after all these years and countless times of me giving them the same answer, if there is a time when they think they are my mama, it’s when they see an email come through at an odd hour of the night. Then, all of a sudden, here they come asking me when do I get sleep if I’m emailing at (say) three in the morning.
Again, the answer never changes because, if there is one thing that Shellie Reneé Warren is gonna get, it’s 6-8 (sometimes nine) hours of sleep. However, since my chronotype (check out “Ever Wonder What Personality Traits Make Someone A 'Morning Person'?”) means that I like/prefer to write in the wee hours of the morning, sometimes I will sleep for the night for five hours and take a nap in the day. And y’all, that is just fine with me because I am well aware of the fact that napping does everything from give me more energy, heighten my alertness and even make me more creative to decrease stress levels, strengthen immunity, and reduce my chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
My problem is I will oftentimes go “overboard” with my daytime zzz’s. What I mean by that is, in order to get the most out of a nap, they say thatyou shouldn’t sleep for longer than 25 minutes or so; otherwise, you could wake up feeling sluggish (I don’t but…). Also, it can make resting, soundly, at night a bit of a struggle.
So, what are you saying, Shellie? We should get quickies in? Yeah. And it’s funny that the word “quickie” would come up because just like a sex quickie can do wonders for you (and it can — check out “12 Super Solid Reasons To Have A Quickie Every Single Day”), it’s a full-circle moment when I say that something that can improve the quality of your sex life is to have a power nap (a nap that lasts between 10-30 minutes).
Wanna know how the two things correlate? Honestly, it’s no secret that sleep and sex work together to optimize both (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”). Today, though, we’re going to tap into how a nap, specifically, can have you partaking in some of the best sex that you’ve experienced in a minute. I’ll explain.
Naps Reduce Stress
If you’re feeling super stressed out right now, you are not alone. There is plenty of data out here that says that most of us are stressed for at least a couple of reasons at a time — and that can impact your sexual health on a few levels. For one thing, it can bring about feelings of depression and/or anxiety. Stress can also throw your hormone levels off (including your cycle) which can weaken your libido. Stress can make you want to put distance between you and your partner (yes, literally).
Stress can also make it challenging to get aroused or to have an orgasm. And just what can help to decrease stress? Taking a nap. Since sleep has a way of helping you to “get off of the clock” and relax a bit, that can lower your stress levels and “reset” your body so that you are calmer — and that, in turn, can do wonders for your sex drive and ultimately your sex life.
Naps Improve Your Mood
There is one person in my life, and fairly 80 percent of the time, she’s in a super good mood. Oh, but let that girl go without sleep, and…who is this woman? LOL. There’s research behind why this happens. When a person is sleep-deprived, it messes with their brain chemicals, and that can amplify emotions like anger, restlessness and sadness. In fact, one study revealed that people who had their sleep disrupted throughout the night, they ended up having their positive outlook on life reduced by about 30 percent.
And geeze, who wants to have sex when they’re not feeling very good? Anyway, since serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate your moods, your sleep patterns, and your libido and sleep is what helps to keep it in balance — by taking a nap, not only can it help you to feel better, it can also increase your desire for sex (it can also build up your endurance which is also…sexually beneficial).
Naps Increase Your Focus and Concentration
Something that some of my clients bring up is how, when it comes to having sex, sometimes the flesh is willing while the spirit is weak because, although the desire for intimacy is there, so much is going on that they aren’t able to get still enough to focus on experiencing copulation with their partner. This also tracks because, when you don’t have enough rest, your brain finds itself not working in harmony and that can make it hard to do everything from approaching life with a sense of flexibility to making necessary decisions.
Certain data also reveal that a lack of rest can cause you to have a really poor attention span and not process things in context (the more you know). So, if you really want to get some yet it’s hard for you to focus long enough to make it happen, ask your bae to lie down with you and take a nap. Between the sleep and the snuggling (check out “Fall's Coming: 8 Wonderful Health Benefits Of Cuddling”) — you may wake up with your mind and body totally on the same page. #wink
Naps Can Make You Feel Better About Your Body
Even if, overall, you feel really good about your body, I think that we all have moments when we feel less attractive than others — and who wants to have sex when they don’t really feel…very sexy? Well, something else that sleep, in general, can do is increase your confidence in your body.
For one thing, if you want to lose a few pounds, sleep can actually make that happen by helping your body metabolize the glucose (sugar) that’s in it so that you can better manage your appetite. Other studies go on to share that since sleep deprivation can impact one’s mental health and emotional stability in a negative way, of course, getting enough rest would increase body positivity.
Shoot, science even goes so far as to say that insomnia can cause people to have an elevated level of dissatisfaction when it comes to their body image. Don’t take their word for it, though. Look in the mirror before a nap. Then look in a mirror after waking up from me. Do you feel better? I’d be surprised if you don’t.
Makes Your Brain Bigger…Which Could Make Your Orgasms Better
I saved the best for last by design. Now if you’re wondering how in the world a nap can improve (and possibly increase) your orgasms — oh, there is a method to the madness…trust. For starters, the saying that your biggest sex organ is your brain? That isn’t a myth. Long story less long, the brain is what houses your central nervous system and that is what controls how men and women sexually function (yes, literally).
And since the brain also releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin during sex and brain activity significantly increases in women during sexual activity (especially right before she orgasms) — well, would it trip you out to know that when you take a nap, your brain actually expands? A bigger brain (that’s healthy) can potentially intensify your sexual experiences (and your climaxes) — and who doesn’t want that to go down?
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Like I said earlier, I never have to be convinced to get a nap in. However, if your sex life has been a bit stagnant lately, you’ve been feeling a little sluggish and you’re not sure what to do — I’m hoping that a nap can get you right.
There’s enough science to prove that it can. All you need to do is give it a shot.
Now where’s your pillow and sleep mask, chile?
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