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Observations in Fashion

The Future of Fashion After Covid-19

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Much like hand sanitizer and clorox wipes, it appears that yoga pants and sweats are in high demand. That is the landscape today, definitely tomorrow, and most likely for some time to come. But what happens next? In terms of groceries, no doubt shopping for them will no longer be the fraught experience it is today. Hoarding will cease as well, while toilet paper and paper towels will once again fill the shelves of stores. 

But what about the clothing we wear? When it comes time to leave our homes, do we continue on the path of elastic waistbands and fleece? 

There are any number of articles that suggest that the Covid-19 epidemic will change the way we dress in the future. Many of these articles suggest that after months of wearing nothing but gym clothes and oversized loungewear we will refuse to wear anything else. I am not convinced of that. 

Even before Covid-19,  fashion trends had moved to clothing that was not just comfortable but also unrealistically cheap.  Impulse purchases to keep up with ever changing trends, poor workmanship, and low quality fabrics and materials were a part of the zeitgeist.  Fast fashion ruled.

After  Covid-19, the direction of fashion will most probably shift to something more sustainable.  Disruptions in supply chains will see to that.  And the inevitable downturn will result in a demand for less, not more clothing.  It is likely that the post Covid-19 fashion world brings a change in direction to clothing that can be worn for many occasions and many years, and clothing that is made well.    

I also see a world where instead of owning separate wardrobes for work and for everyday, the two will become more aligned because more of us will be working remotely from our homes.  The work wardrobe we accumulated through the years will be relegated to the back of our closets only to be worn when we need to make an appearance in the workplace.  The styles we wear will reflect our new reality.  A knit top made in a thick, supple cotton with a satin finish paired with fluid trousers might become our go-to outfit because it’s just as comfortable as workout gear but definitely more modern. Coats and jackets will be the stand-out pieces of our outfits because they add something more and cover up something less. 

Yes, there will be a shift in how we dress that will reflect our new lifestyles. We will wear clothing that exemplifies our new modern sensibility. But when the time comes for us to meet again for dinner and drinks we will surely have a reason to dress up. 

Be well, wash your hands a lot, and stay safe! 

What The Flappers From The 20s Can Tell Us About Life After A Pandemic

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There is a lot of talk regarding what our lives will look like after the COVID-19 threat is corralled and vanquished, and we are free to move about the world again.  I imagine most of us are planning our breakout moment by getting a much needed haircut and color along with a pedicure after months of DIY hair maintenance and salon-in-a-box treatments.  (Who knew that repurposed scissors from the wrapping paper drawer could be so useful?)

It’s hard to imagine what our post-pandemic daily life will look like but it will most certainly be different than it was just a few months ago. 

If the past is really prologue, we could be in for some radical changes. 

After the influenza pandemic of 1918, there were major, transformational improvements in healthcare and women’s rights.  In 1920, governments began to embrace the concept of socialized medicine, and in August of that year the 19th Amendment was ratified.  Finally, women had won the right to vote, own property, and claim the money they earned as their own instead of their husbands or male family members. 

There were other changes that freed women in the 20s, and one of those changes was expressed in fashion. There was a radical shift from the corseted, puritanical Edwardian look to the free-spirited style of the Flapper.  While the rules of Edwardian dress were less constricting than their Victorian counterparts, there were still up-tight dresses, skirts, and coats.  Women’s apparel was never shorter than ankle length, and wearing pants was considered absolutely heretical. 

The Flapper was liberated from the constraints of heavy clothing and fabrics, long lengths, and preposterous headdresses.  Huge, opulent hats were out. Fluid and unstructured dresses that fell just below the knee were in. Trousers also became popular. While pants were worn as early as 1890 when bicycling became fashionable, it wasn’t until WWI that women embraced them for their ease of movement.  And it wasn’t until the 20s that trousers became tres chic and were worn as leisure wear.  

Flappers also rebelled against the heavy, elaborate coifs of the Gibson Girl by cutting their hair short and wearing it in a bob.  Because women’s hair salons balked at such “dangerous” modernism, undeterred Flappers stepped into their local barbershops for short haircuts until women’s hairdressers yielded to their stressed accounts receivables. 

Like the trouser, the bob expressed the defiant tone of the era and a more inclusive society which we know as the Jazz Age. 

We don’t know what the world will look like when we emerge from our homes but let’s hope it’s a better place than the one we left. 

Be well, wash your hands a lot, and stay safe! 

What You Need To Know About Your DIY Face Mask

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President Zuzana of Slovakia co-ordinates facial mask to outfit

As you are probably aware, the CDC has recently reversed its recommendations for the wearing of face masks in public.  Going forward, we should all be wearing face masks when we are out in public.  And not the medical grade masks because those are reserved for healthcare professionals due to widespread shortages of PPE (personal protective equipment).

The change in the CDC guidelines is based on the recognition that the virus can be spread by asymptomatic individuals.  The severe shortage of test kits makes containment of the coronavirus immeasurably more difficult because if you are infected and asymptomatic, you won’t know it.  Even if you are symptomatic, there’s a good chance that you won’t be tested due to test kit shortages.  Either way, wearing a mask will provide a measure of protection to others.

While there is certainly a shortage of medical grade masks, there is no shortage of DIY videos and tutorials on how to make your own.  So there is no reason not to follow the new guidelines. Whether you are a home sewer, a crafty individual or someone who has never DIY’ed anything in your life there is a video or tutorial just for you. 

Effective face masks must cover your nose and mouth.  Equally important is the fabric you choose.  According to the CDC, the best materials are thick cottons or, even better, cottons with a high thread count. Consider cutting up a cotton pillowcase with a high thread count.  Using four layers of a high thread count pillowcase can provide you with 60% filtration. Surgical masks filter out particles at 62%-65%. If you have to sacrifice your 300 thread count pillowcase for the sake of your community, consider it a small price to pay. 

There is a simple way to ascertain whether or not fabric is suitable for a good face mask—hold it up to bright light. If you can easily see through it, then particles such as viral pathogens can also move with ease through the fabric. Denser fabrics will not allow as much light to penetrate which means particles in the air cannot pass through the fabric as easily. Bandanas are popular when it comes to making a quick and easy mask but bandanas are made from very thin fabric so using them is not the best choice. If you must use a bandana, make sure to fold it over at least four times, then grab a coffee filter and cut a piece that will fit inside the front of your mask. Insert the filter in between the layers of fabric. 

It is best to use cotton fabrics for your masks because the virus dries and dies quickly on the surface of breathable natural fibers like cotton.  Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, lycra, and spandex are the worst choice because they are made of plastic which is a material far more hospitable to the coronavirus.  You might be tempted to use the fabric from an old pair of workout leggings because of the stretch and comfort.  But don’t do it because the coronavirus can survive for days on plastic surfaces! 

Lastly, it’s important to wash your mask after every wearing which means you will need several in your accessories drawer. 

Be well, wash your hands a lot, and stay safe!