Nobody could’ve imagined how a virus would shake up protocols for everyday life around the world. Major events throughout the course of history, such as The Great Depression, WWII, The Space Age, etc., have influenced people inside and out. As a result, we usually see the aftereffects of these events revolutionize the fashion world and ways in which we present ourselves. Quarantine has essentially changed the way people live their lives and it will most certainly change the way people dress. Right now we live in a mask-up, work-from-home, six-feet-apart world, and you can expect that designers will take cues from these new global norms to create inspired collections.
Many people have turned to cooking during times of isolation in quarantine. There was a point in time when you could not go on Instagram without seeing someone’s homemade banana bread. There’s no question that some people might be filling out their clothes a little more now than before and this might inspire designers to return to larger silhouettes that were popular in the ‘80s.
Zoom’s stock has increased ten-fold by giving people the ability to digitally connect face-to-face in a socially distant manner for work, school and social gatherings. Most people just put on a shirt and then stay in pajama bottoms or sweats. Not only is this technology changing the world, but it’s also changing the landscape of design. You can expect to see a lot of design emphasis on the upper body with a much more relaxed lower body. “This year has been all about ‘waist-up dressing’. Having spent a lot of time on video conference calls, the top half of our outfit has become significantly more important than our bottom half,” said Jane McFarland, fashion director at The Sunday Times.
You should anticipate all designers giving us what we deserve after years of tolerating stiff fabrics and tight collars in the name of fashion — comfort. Comfortable fabrics, comfortable shoes and comfortable styles will take reign for the sake of utility. Designers recognize and listen to the needs of the ever-growing, evolving human. Brands like Louis Vuitton and Prada showed their models for SS21 in an array of silks, elastic and breathable fabrics.
The last time we saw gloves as a prominent accessory of an outfit was in the ‘60s. In the modern world, gloves have been used to stay warm in the cold winter months, but since COVID-19 has hit, latex gloves have been a popular accessory for mid-day strolls through the grocery store. There is a chance that designers could see this as an opportunity to make these germ-preventing accessories fashionable. Particularly if we see a second wave of coronavirus, there is potential to see designers bring back the elegant and chic gloves as a way to make ‘the functional’ fashionable.
There’s no doubt that, as we gradually resume regular programming, people will be looking for any reason to dress up in the glitz and glamour that’s been missing from the mundanity of waking up and wearing pajamas all day. Don’t be surprised, however, to see a spike in casual loungewear on the street. Similarly, athleisure has further solidified itself a spot in the fashion world as a go-to for your daily walks or when elevating your WFH lifestyle.
We can expect the same out of makeup as dressing up. When presented with the opportunity to dress to the nines, makeup will be utilized as always, but not a crucial part of an everyday ensemble. Wearing masks has taken the pressure off of people to stop caking their faces with makeup everyday. Naturally, when masks no longer become necessary, people will retain a more natural look made easy by simply foregoing the choice to apply a full face of makeup. Eye makeup, however, will remain a focal point as they are now with masks.
It’s hard to predict when we’ll be able to stop wearing masks. They’ve become so essential to our daily life that there are few things we can do without wearing them outside of our houses. Even after we combat the brunt of COVID-19, it is probable that we will continue to wear masks as an extra measure of precaution. Any regulation mask will suffice, but truly fashionable people will have masks that match outfits in color and/or prints.
As with every challenge the world faces, people turn to fashion for inspiration, expression and appreciation. Trends that designers choose to bring to light in post-pandemic fashion will reflect the sentiments of the world and remain a sign of the times for future generations. We can only hope that designers will be able to make the best of this bad situation and, in turn, create works of art that provide hope for the people.