COVID DRESSING; ARE OUR DAYS OF DRESSING UP OVER.

COVID DRESSING

A new term has reluctantly entered my vocabulary " covid dressing". Certainly dressing up has been a way of life for me forever. And now what. For many of us fashion lovers a part of our identity is associated with our fashion sense. The sheer joy of dressing up has always been the highlight of my day or week. More often than not, an art, charity, fashion event, or party would appear on my weekly calendar. The first thoughts that would come into my mind were what should I wear.

In fact I always have a ritual to getting dressed. Certainly it starts with the assessment of the event is it formal, trendy artsy, an upscale fashion crowd or more chic casual. Next it would be a trip through the closet, which often involved trying on a number of ensembles. Once the outfit was selected, the preparation began. This prep includes ironing, polishing, and primping. I love the getting ready almost as much as going out.

In quarantine, the self-expression of clothing has been somewhat lost to the monotony of sweatpants and T-shirts. Without being able to go out, with no one to impress and no reason to get dressed up, us people who view clothing as a form of their personal identity have struggled with the reality of quarantine.

While we are living in this new reality, we also need to make sure that our future is bright. The fashion world is going through some difficult times and if we want a fashion community left at the end of this pandemic there are a few things we should consider.

First, I encourage all of you who have available funds to continue to purchase fashion items. Recently I published a post on the best luxury fashion items on sale. (LUXURY FASHION; THE BEST SALE SELECTIONS BY DRESS THE PART). In fact purchasing fashion items will help to ensure that these brands do not disappear. These brands may not seem that they have a direct impact on your life, but they do. The rich culture of the fashion world depends on the support of fashion labels both large and small.

COVID 19 DRESSING-LOCAL FASHION SCENE

Second, is the support of the local fashion scene where you live. I live in Vancouver and we have an emerging vibrant local fashion community. But how long will this last, without support. Twice a year here in Vancouver we are treated to Vancouver Fashion Week an exciting showcase for both local and international designers. Certainly, at the current time nothing has been scheduled for the coming season, please reach out and support VFW or local events in your own city, we need these cultural events to move successfully into the future.

COVID 19 DRESSING - DRESS-UP AND SHARE

Third, dress-up and share. Both face book and instagram are perfect opportunities to share with the rest of us your best fashion looks. I love nothing more than to see fabulous fashion looks from the fashionista's I admire and follow. These don't have to be the photo's of Cecil Beaton or Bill Cunningham , but something that shows you dressing up and showing your great style. Therefore I challenge all of you to share your favorite fashion photo's taken today or from your library. Let's put style and creativity back into our dressing . We may have to social distance but we don't have to hide , let's continue to celebrate our fashion , our style, our art , our designers and artists.

WHAT'S HOT

Covid dressing is basically the sweats and tee shirts that many have found to be their new normal. While I too may be inclined to put on those basics and head to the sofa I resist. Unless we’re naked, our appearance is mainly made up of our clothing. Therefore, clothing is fundamental in how we are perceived. In turn, this affects our sense of self-worth and ultimately, how we see ourselves compared with others, our self-esteem.

Moreover our mental health can be effected by our daily clothing choices. Certainly, many are working from home and therefore don't feel the necessity to get dressed for work. However clothing is a major factor in defining our days. We wear different clothing for different activities this helps us transition from work to exercise to leisure. In fact without getting dressed up for different parts of the day, time begins to bleed together. Therefore I encourage all of you to get dressed and define your days . Here are some of my favorite fall/winter 2020 items to add to your wardrobe to get dressed up. Whether you're staying home or not dress like you're going out on the town .Stay healthy and get dressed up.

DRESS LIKE YOU'RE GOING OUT ON THE TOWN !

GOOD-BYE COVID DRESSING

But in the age of Netflix binges and choosing to hang with Instagram instead of actual human beings, what does one wear when they actually decide to go out? The following 2020 nighttime outfit ideas are inspiring us to hit the town over starting another series binge on the couch. Because, yes, there will be a time when we'll be out with friends again. Might as well start brainstorming, and shopping, now.