There used to be a time when you would spend hours staring at your closet, wondering what to wear for the day. Despite having countless garments piled up in your dresser, you would still complain about not having clothes to wear. You get excited to dress up for any event, from meeting with clients to partying with your squad.
As the world shuts down due to coronavirus, dressing up becomes unnecessary since there’s nowhere to go from wearing well-put-together outfit ensembles to wearing sweatshirts and sweatpants real quick.
Dress Up to Feel Better
A year after the pandemic broke out, people have done different things to cope with the situation, from making Dalgona coffee to baking bread. Despite having vaccines, it is still unclear when this crisis will be over. Since researchers have discovered new variants of the virus, you might still have to stay at home for a little longer.
As someone who enjoys dressing up, you probably miss putting fashion pieces together for an occasion. While it’s still not safe to go to crowded places, you can still wear your favorite designer outfits even if you’re staying home.
In an episode of Speaking of Psychology, a bi-weekly podcast by the American Psychological Association (APA), Carolyn Mair, a cognitive psychologist and creator of the Psychology of Fashion department at the London College of Fashion at the University of Arts London, explains that wearing clothes you’re not comfortable in and don’t make you confident can stress you out. Stress and anxiety are common problems people experience during the pandemic.
There is nothing wrong with wearing sweatpants during these trying times. But as Karl Lagerfeld once said, “sweatpants are a sign of defeat.” Although that was a joke, getting dressed with the thought and purpose of looking your best feels empowering.
Go to your closet and put on a dress or a skirt. Pair your basic tee with your favorite leather pants and a pair of furry Gucci mules. Wear anything that will make you beautiful.
Keep Up with the Trend
Despite spending most of your time at home, there are still opportunities for you to dress up and look pretty. Before the lockdown, you would carefully choose an outfit appropriate for an occasion, like a job interview, a company event, or a date. Now, your choices are limited to Zoom meetings, occasional trips to the grocery store, and receiving non-essential deliveries. Take these opportunities to forget about the loungewear you’ve been wearing for days.
Even with the limited chances to dress up, make sure to be in style. This doesn’t mean you should buy more clothes, no matter how therapeutic online shopping is. Be updated with the latest fashion trends and use your creativity to utilize the clothes you already have.
One of the trends for spring 2021 is showing some leg. As the weather rises, so are the hemlines. Take your mini skirts and cut-off jeans out of your closet and have fun. Be creative and use old fabrics to add some patchwork to your shorts or skirt.
If you’re not comfortable with showing off your legs, consider wearing statement-making pants. Take a break from your favorite sweatpants and try different styles. Be bold and wear printed wide-leg trousers or keep them simple and sophisticated with a pair of silk or linen pants.
Psychedelic and other playful patterns and colors are also hot this season. Make sure to balance the prints and patterns to make the ensemble look well-put-together. Working with bold prints and colors can be tricky and often end up looking distracting.
If you’re dressing up at home, you don’t have to worry about the rules. You can go crazy with your layers and pairings. Take a piece of clothing that you want to wear or use that day and build your outfit from there. You treat your wardrobe like a cast in a movie where everyone has a role to play.
Fashion is a form of self-expression. The clothes you wear can reflect your personality and what you’re feeling that day. During this difficult time, feel free to do things that make you feel better. If you find pleasure in dressing up, go ahead and wear your favorite dress and pair of stilettos. Feel confident and powerful even if you’re stuck at home.
