I would be lying if I said that I’ve hated the stretchy-waisted, head-to-toe-knitted, shearling-slipper-clad beast that my wardrobe has become over the last 10 months—honestly, I’m not sure my tolerance for skinny jeans and high heels will ever be the same again. However, as we enter a new year, faced with the prospect of wearing loungewear for the next 3 months, I have experienced a sort of mourning for my usual fashion-loving, experimental self. It hasn’t helped that I’ve just moved into a new flat, which means slowly unpacking my entire wardrobe and greeting much-loved items of clothing like old friends. Turns out, I had really missed them. Who knew?
Obviously my wardrobe’s lack of airtime is very much a first world problem, but I wonder if there are others out there who have experienced a similar sort of detachment from their usual selves. Be it due to the absence of art galleries and theaters, the inability to blow off steam at a favourite gym class, or simply not being able to share a bottle wine with close friends who are as good as family. For me fashion is a way to play and (at risk of sounding like a cliche) express myself, and without it life is a little flat. So, I decided to spend a day ‘playing’ with my clothes, and you know what? It did the trick. I might not wear these clothes while slobbing round on the sofa during lockdown, but I know that, one day, they’ll get their moment in the sun (hopefully literally), and it’ll be glorious. As they say, absence makes the heart grow stronger.
Alongside the obvious ‘feel-good’ pop of colour, I’ve found that re-connecting with my favourite vintage pieces has been a surefire way to putting a smile on my face, as they have that unique personality and statement-making power that I rarely find in brand new buys. That being said, secondhand is often a great way to add interest to high street buys and wardrobe basics. It’s all about that meeting of old and new. So, if there are any fellow fashion-lovers feeling a little lost right now, I couldn’t recommend a dress-up day enough. Scroll down to see the outfits that helped me to feel like myself again.
