Prior to the pandemic, fashion had more clarity. We had places to go and people to see. Our morning rituals included choosing an outfit that defined our style. Whether or not we considered ourselves stylish or fashion forward, we all shared in the experience of wearing clothes. Fashion has always been our most common form of expression and a huge part of our culture. There are several categories of dress that let the world know a little bit about us without so much as a single utterance. Categories range anywhere from, fashion plate, bohemian chic, authentic yoga devotee, yoga fashion fan (also known as soccer mom), hipster, grunge-ster, gangsta, grandma, and more. Even if you believe you do not engage in fashion you are mistaken because there is a category for that as well. You dress to identify yourself as one who is indifferent to fashion, and that has a formula like all the others. The oversized t-shirt, worn pants that don’t fit any part of the body, and shoes in the late stages of their life cycle inform us you don’t care, and that is fine. The point is we all share in the common practice of expressing ourselves through dress.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19 our lives have drastically changed in almost every way. We are home alone or isolating in a very small bubble. As a result, the art of dress or even our motivation for dressing at all has been undercut . Everything from work, to school, to fine dining is done at home with the exception of shopping for essentials. Consequently, our dressing mojo is diminished. So why make an effort?
An Argument For Dressing
Making an effort to dress in a style that speaks to you will be heard. Dressing will uplift your spirit and add a bit of normalcy to your life. Because the pandemic will be with us for sometime, allowing it to take us down the rabbit hole of apathy will only make a bad situation worse.
I found myself going down that rabbit hole a month into shelter-in-place which only added to my anxiety. And I found my way out by taking a walk everyday. But before my walk, I chose an outfit that made me feel like my true self.
A friend recently wrote to me regarding this conundrum and had this to say.
“I agree with you completely about the shift in dressing that will characterize at least the next year after cessation of lock-down. I am already in mourning for my neglected blazers and boots. I continue to dress up every day because of the number of zoom meetings I am attending and I can’t bear to look like a slob unless I am really sick! For me, one of the little joys of every day is figuring what to wear, including the earrings that will go with whatever I have on.”
Just the simple act of taking the time to dress even if it is only for a party of one will make us feel better. And feeling better is the new “must have” of the season.
Be well, wash your hands a lot, and stay safe!