Lockdown has affected our lives in a hundred different ways. I’ve delved into how students have been affected by the pandemic before. But I haven’t addressed how fashion has changed in the past year and a half. During the pandemic, most of us swapped out our jeans and tops for jogging bottoms and PJs. So, (inspired by a post written by Forever Amber back in March) I decided to ask myself how lockdown has affected how I dress. Now that pubs, cafes and shops are open again and we’re finally able to leave our homes, has my style changed? Absolutely.
Before lockdown, I rarely left my flat without a full face of make-up and prioritised fashion over comfort. I would happily wear high heels seven days a week and wear short skirts in winter. I had very little thought for my health or wellbeing but I truly loved fashion enough to be uncomfortable every single day to look and feel good with my appearance. I still adore fashion, but after lockdown, I’ve developed a strong appreciation for all things comfy and weather-appropriate (which I explore in my “How to Stay Warm without Sacrificing Style” blog post).
A prime example of this was Ryan and I’s second anniversary. After months of lockdown, I hadn’t worn properly “high” heels for almost a year when our anniversary came around in February. I was desperate to get dressed and dolled up, even if we weren’t going anywhere. So, I pulled on one of my favourite dresses and a pair of 5-inch heels to eat dinner in our living room. An hour after dinner, my make-up was off, I threw on some fluffy pyjamas- and my feet were killing me! Although I’ll still be incorporating high heels into my wardrobe, I won’t be wearing them as often, especially not to university like I used to (much to Ryan’s delight). Recently, I bought a pair of cute black ballet flats- and it’s the best decision I made in a while. They are just as elegant and dainty as a pair of heels, but without the agony that comes with them- and I can walk on cobbles! Of course, they aren’t the most practical shoe out there (I’ve had them slip off my feet a couple of times when walking down the stairs), but they are a LOT comfier than stilettos.
Recent fashion trends reflect this increased interest in comfort. For example, skinny jeans are officially out of fashion for the first time in years; wide-leg jeans and trousers are in style again. As well as that, flowy maxi dresses became rather trendy at the start of spring and into summer. This is perfect for going outdoors and staying comfy during the summer after being cooped up in our homes for so long. The 70s and 90s are also massively in style at the moment- 90s fashion especially incorporates comfort into outfits. Athleisure initially gained popularity in the 90s, with many people opting to wear sportswear as fashion- which is also trendy today.
I don’t feel the same insecurity about being seen in something “unstylish” outside my flat. I used to be completely humiliated by the mere thought of bumping into someone I knew in Asda in an old t-shirt and faded jeans. As a result, I would never be caught outside my flat without make-up and decent clothes on (as I mentioned in “My Make-up Essentials” blog post). Although I started loosening up about this after meeting Ryan, it was still a big deal to me before the pandemic. But then, during lockdown, nobody seemed to care about what you were wearing anymore. Some people stayed in pyjamas all day. So, it doesn’t seem like nearly as big of a deal to me anymore if someone spots me running across to the corner shop to buy some milk in a pair of old jogging bottoms.
However, now that lockdown is easing, I feel an even larger urge to get dressed up. I have so many dresses that I haven’t worn in ages, and so many nice tops and skirts that I’ve bought since charity shops have reopened. I need to wear them all sometime soon. If that means severely overdressing for a shopping trip or two, then so be it. Other people seem to have a similar thought process; I’ve seen plenty of girls shopping on Union Street dressed as if they are on a night out and people seem to be looking for an excuse to wear their nicer clothes. After being trapped inside for so long, many of us are desperate to express ourselves and get back into the world.
Especially after my trip back home in Ayrshire (where I did quite a bit of thrifting)- I have plenty of things to wear and not enough places to wear them to. I have a million skirts that are gathering dust in my closet and a few dresses that haven’t seen daylight in months. Why should I save these fancy dresses and gorgeous clothes for special occasions? After the pandemic, the definition of “special occasion” has completely changed. Simply leaving the house has become an occasion, so why should I wait for an excuse to wear my best dress?
How has your wardrobe changed since lockdown started? Have you found yourself dressing up more or are you wearing comfy clothes more often? Please let me know in the comments. Either way, I think lockdown has changed fashion forever, for better or worse.
Thanks so much for reading x
Photography: Ryan Duff
Thrifty Mango 
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