What will fashion look like in a post-lockdown world?

 

Loungewear has boomed during the pandemic

As June 21 draws closer every day  and since lockdown eased and non-essential businesses re-opened on Monday 12 April, our social media feeds have been awash with the cheers-ing of long-awaited pints and smiling faces together in pub gardens.

But among all of the excitement of now being able to make plans – there’s another thing on our minds: WTF do we wear out now?

Despite our joy and eagerness to get outside and socialise with the friends and family members that we've not seen in over a year, there's no question a looming sense of hesitation about re-entering the world of public areas with a whole new set of worries to add to our list.

You would think that after a year of clothes gathering dust in our wardrobes, we’d have planned our re-entry outfits months ago. After all, we finally have somewhere to wear everything we impulse bought out of lockdown boredom. But many of us are finding dressing for this new normality harder than ever.

You'd think that after having a whole year to plan our 're-entry into post-lockdown life' outfits, we'd have a library of ensembles for every occasion mapped out in our heads. However, to the contrary, many of us are finding it more difficult than ever to dress for this new normality. 

Aside from the more obvious health anxieties, many of us find ourselves riddled with far more trivial worries. Rediscovering the art of small talk is one such worry, but another discussion many of us have been having about post-lockdown life relates to sartorial matters.  What are you wearing? Are you desperate to wriggle back into a party dress and brave your highest heels? Or have sweatpants spoilt you for anything that doesn’t have an elasticated waistband and a fleece lining?

Aside from the more obvious health concerns, many of us are plagued by far more minor matters. One of these is rediscovering the art of small talk. However, another topic on which many of us have been musing about post-lockdown life is that relating to sartorial affairs. What to wear? Are you itching to slip back into a party gown and put your tallest heels on? Or has the stretch and cosy fleeciness of a perfect tracksuit ruined all your chances of ever wearing anything just because it looks amazing ever again? 

Where other industries have suffered horendously as a result of the lockdown, the fashion industry has managed to keep its head above water owing to a ravenous new desire for loungewear. Tracksuits, leggings, pyjamas, and other casual clothes have become increasingly popular. 

Most fashion houses have analysed their most current sales data and determined that casual clothing will be their most trustworthy bet for the rest of 2021.  

Lockdown’s loungewear uniform didn’t happen overnight. It was more of a gradual process. Osman Ahmed, i-D fashion editor recollected " At first, I was wearing proper shoes and ironed clothes. As if everything was just normal, and it would all be over any minute, and I could walk out the door and jump into a taxi,” recalls Osman Ahmed, fashion features editor of i-D magazine, about last March. Eventually he succumbed to the lure of (cashmere) tracksuit bottoms, which he has worn ever since. 2020 officially became the year of the trackie bottom and hoodie. I spent nearly every day in leggings and a sweatshirt. It was the outfit that covered every possible eventuality - working from home, going for a walk, popping to the shop. 

The 1920s post war and Spanish Flu saw women's fashion take a flamboyant and fun turn

For a year, most of us have had the same hobbies (Netflix and going to the park) The brief glimpse we got of our neighbours as we enthusiastically clapped for the NHS on a Thursday night, proved to us that we all wore the same outfits to do these activities (loungewear and puffer jackets).   However, culture responds to trauma in different ways. In the post vaccine world which beckons us, for every sequin clad disco diva, there will be a someone who refuses to give up the comfort of their fluffy socks and will remain cosseted in their duvet.

For some, post-lockdown life will bring with it the much-anticipated sense of occasion that our wardrobes have been crying out for for over a year. For others, the very idea of a return to the world of outfit planning fills them with utter horror. The truth of post-vaccine fashion will likely lie somewhere between the two extremes of sequins and sweats.

But it's not just about the clothes. It's about what they represent. We've all been locked up for so long, our heels have gathered dust. It's more about what heels and bikinis and putting together outfits means to us all. It's a return to a life we've almost forgotten about, and for a moment there, weren't sure we'd ever get back. Going out and rubbing shoulders with our friends and not being frightened. Personally, I can't wait to stand in front of my wardrobe pondering what to wear on a night out, contemplating what shoes match my outfit and whether my earrings make me look fat. Having something to dress up for will be the sign we've finally got our freedom back.