Lockdown dressing held particularly niche sartorial codes…
Whilst sales for eyeshadows, event dressing, and heeled sandals fell by the wayside, the past twelve months have been a year in which tracksuits, shearling-lined Birkenstocks, tie-dye sweaters, and puffer coats became heroes – items you previously may not have held high in the echelons of fashionable dressing.
Here’s how to make your indoor wardrobe work harder as we return to normality…
The only way to describe tracksuits becoming an undisputed fashion trend is to borrow from the unofficial word of 2020 – unprecedented. Never before had a tracksuit been considered the epitome of fashion, yet from colour-pop Pangaia, to tie-dye La Detresse, and prints galore at Les Girls Les Boys, the tracksuit was worn on repeat by all and sundry, and got serious Instagram airtime from the fashion crowd.
Not quite ready to relinquish comfort wear yet? This Vince two piece in a muted cream palette would look super chic with a classic beige trench and box fresh trainers.
As lockdown rumbled on, many traded in their trusty joggers for a lightweight ‘nap’ dress, a phrase coined by Hill House Home. As a extension of the cottagecore trend of summer 2020, and with a nod to Bridgerton too, it is essentially a dress/nightgown hybrid, effortlessly thrown on, you'll look instantly polished. A longtime fan of Sleeper's feather-adorned pyjamas, the US brand's loungwear dresses are equally as covetable. Whilst this breezy dress worked well for lockdown living, it can now be paired with a cinched belt and oversized tote for a picnic.
We all became experts on the layouts of our colleagues living rooms, and masters of dressing from the waist up thanks to endless Zoom calls. The outfit of choice for such business meetings: a shirt replete with an oversized collar (we indulged in whimsical, Victoriana-inspired dressing quite a bit). This Mango shirt is ripe for spring dressing, paired with a pair of pale denim jeans and cheery colourful blazer. Alternatively 46 Stitch (a clever brand born out of lockdown) offers detachable collars in various iterations. Offering ultimate versatility, these can be layered over old tops destined for the charity shop to give them a new lease of life.
Sadly, party dressing was a little lack-lustre at the end of 2020, with the frivolity of festive celebrations curtailed. In lieu of the usual festoon of sequins, a pair of trophy earrings ensured lobes turned up to the party even if our outfits looked more suitable for a long Netflix binge. A pair of statement earrings also worked wonders to draw attention away from grown out roots – many of us are still using this style trick as we await a trip to our favourite salons. An instant outfit enlivener, wear your earrings now to add a sense of occasion to a timeless T-shirt and jeans combination to supercharge day-to-night dressing.
2020 was the year in which even the most stubborn of high-heel wearers (myself included) reluctantly left their favoured stilettos to collect dust at the bottom of our wardrobes in exchange for stompy boots, house slippers, and shearling-lined Birkenstocks. Styles we'd have previously dismissed as rather ugly became the most covetable footwear known to man. Comfort is still king for spring and a chunky sandal, like this Valentino pair adorned in pretty leather petals, is a fantastic segue shoe, marrying style and functionality. Wear with everything from sleek slip dresses to linen trousers.
Lockdown has been all about comfort dressing, which saw many of us wrapped up in our most luxurious of cashmere. With human contact made illegal, donning cashmere felt like being enveloped in a comforting hug (which was needed to soften the burden of lockdown living). Cashmere will forever have a place in our wardrobes, but with a price tag heftier than its wool counterparts, you must invest well to make it last a lifetime. This turtleneck from Chinti & Parker is worth buying in each colour way. Whilst we had visions of balmy sun-dappled spring evenings, a cashmere knit is perfect to wear now as a middle layer you can easily peel off for outdoor dining.
Whilst many of us took to tracksuits with aplomb, many couldn't quite get into the work headspace without taking a more tailored approach. For those who fall into the latter category, a jumpsuit has been a godsend the past 12 months. The mental bandwidth to pull together a matching top and trouser combination may have proved too taxing – enter the easy, comfy jumpsuit for a chic solution. This cotton Massimo Dutti number has utilitarian edge married with the comfort of a cotton fabrication. Wear now with a backless mule for your return to the office.
The classic boyfriend shirt has always been a wardrobe staple, but it really came into its own during lockdown as a smart wardrobe solution with unparalleled comfort. Linen iterations were particularly welcome, because let’s face it who’s looked at an iron for 12 months?! This button-down shirt from With Nothing Underneath is perfect for our return to normality – tucked into a pair of denim jeans, it's very Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.
Many of us found ourselves investing in good quality athleisure, and for good reason. Compressing leggings to elongate our limbs and sports bras to nip and tuck made us feel our best, whether or not a virtual workout class was on the agenda. VAARA is one such label I purchased from – their chic colour-block combinations pieces are designed with busy lifestyles firmly in mind: taking you from the school run, to Barre class, to coffee with friends without the need for an outfit change. I'll be wearing mine now for casual meet ups with friends.
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