Welcoming Back the Wardrobe
Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown has delivered the news we’ve all been waiting for: freedom is finally in sight. The social media reaction to the announcement has been a mixed bag: some people have expressed their excitement for summer 2021, while others are continuing to be understandably cautious about the abolishment of social distancing. As such a contrast to our current lifestyles, the thought of freely venturing out the house feels abnormal and almost wrong, and reconnecting with those in our lives, bumping into familiar faces and stepping out of our comfort zones, promises to be a nerve-racking experience as we return to a normality we haven’t seen in over a year now..
I personally am most looking forward to getting back into fashion as lockdown eases. Lockdown life has meant that following trends has looked a lot different, as we’ve relied more heavily on the daily influences of social media rather than on various fashion weeks and their ostentatious shows. Without normal interactions with others, or observing strangers in settings other than the supermarket, trends have been difficult to follow and initiate. However, this seems to have allowed for a new freedom of expression over the usual pressure to stay current.
The upcoming reopening of the dusty doors of much-missed nightclubs has initiated a national fashion dilemma, as we’re all so used to living in loungewear that the potential of once again donning mini skirts, high heels, and full hair and makeup is exciting and yet also daunting. The gradual lifting of restrictions gives us plenty of time to prepare for a much-longed-for summer of fashion. Since the announcement in February, I seem to have neglected winter and spring entirely in favor of focusing solely on accumulating a summer wardrobe I can actually wear out and about, and I’ve used the dangerous amount of free time I have for some extensive online shopping. Whether it’s buying an outfit appropriate for a picnic in the park, brunch in town, a walk on the beach, or outdoor drinks and evening cocktails, visualising what I’ll be wearing this summer in these scenarios had made the nation’s reopening seem more real and has certainly increased my own anticipation. Even in lockdown, I’ve learned that making an effort in getting ready can increase productivity, giving you structure and a sense of purpose, and I can already feel the same applying to the social situations we haven’t had in a year, enhancing my new appreciation for them.
It will be intriguing to see how a year of lockdown has affected style, whether by inspiring individuals to change up their looks or encouraging a more practical and comfortable approach, rather than a taste for trendy aesthetics. Overall, however, it will certainly be a time for fashion-conscious individuals to once again publicly express themselves as we finally welcome back the full capabilities of our wardrobes.