June 21st. Freedom Day. The date when, hopefully, restrictions will finally be lifted and the UK will be back to ‘normal’. Was it ever normal? Who knows.
But what we do know, is that when we finally emerge from our homes after months spent indoors, blinking into the light and looking rather pasty, we’re not quite sure how the world is going to look.
One thing’s for sure, though, is that many of us are going to be looking a little different. Perhaps you’ve been working out in your home gym relentlessly, like a prison scene from a famous movie. Maybe you’ve been cutting your own hair with, erm, mixed results. Or have you decided to change style, so you can swagger out of lockdown with an eye-catching new look? If the latter sounds like you but you’re still seeking a little inspiration, then you’ve come to the right place; here are 6 things we’ve learnt about fashion in the last year.
COMFORT IS KEY
Perhaps the first and foremost lesson we’ve learnt this year is that we love to be comfortable.
While some people are declaring a desire to get back into fitted, formal clothes as soon as possible, believing the novelty has worn off lockdown loungewear, we’re still all for comfortable co-ord sets worn around the home. In fact, we’re wondering if we’ll ever don something tight and fitted again.
However, wearing loungewear doesn’t mean your outfit choice has to look sloppy or ill considered. In fact, many of these so-called loungewear co-ord sets are more stylish than the majority of other types of ‘casual workwear’ like jeans and t-shirts (let’s face it – wearing denim around the home just doesn’t feel right) or a maxi dress.
The best part is their flexibility; suitable for work, working out and even a trip to the corner shop. Transitioning from indoors to outdoors, and home office to the supermarket; we just love that sense of stylish convenience. Working from home never felt so good.
IT’S ALL ABOUT FEEL GOOD FASHION (DRESSING UP IS FUN)
Feel good fashion is ultimately all about wearing clothes which bring you joy, no matter what size you are. We once used to dread getting all dolled up. However, in the past year, we’ve so missed getting glammed up for a night on the tiles in our favourite ‘going out’ outfit.
We’ve missed doing makeup and hair, particularly. So much so, in fact, that like many, we found ourselves dressing up just for the hell of it. Learning new makeup and hair techniques like how to do beach waves with freestyle has been a blessed distraction from the monotony of lockdown. You too can find out how to beach waves with freestyle here.
We’ve learned to embrace and enjoy dressing up for the gratification it brings you; it can really boost the self esteem, that’s for sure! As such, we’re completely embracing Spring 2021’s Romantic Clothing trend.
As we all know too well, 2020 took away our romance and spontaneity, and this year, fashion designers are trying to coax them out of us again in the form of lace, chiffon, silk and other soft and curling fabrics. Or, in the name of the trend – ruffles. The romantic style brings with it a promise of hope and optimism after such a long period of downtime, which translates into romance in soft fabrics, sheer silks, use of tie-dye technology, asymmetrical patterns, and fluffy and feminine woollen cuts.
Read: 6 ways to cheer up old clothes this Autumn.
FORGO FAST FASHION FOREVER
In the last year, everything has slowed down, including the fashion world. As the Guardian writes, “production stopped, stores closed, catwalks went dark. And the reset happened in our heads, too. Without shop windows to gaze into, we shopped our own wardrobes instead, rediscovering joy in what we already had.” Indeed, fashion and all its’ seasons started to become irrelevant.
They go on to point out that we saw designers cutting back on collections and labels “adopting a batch-production model, taking orders in advance: if 45 dresses are ordered then 45 are produced, in the sizes needed, and nothing goes to waste.“
Read: 5 IDEAL ways to forgo fast fashion
WE CAN DEMAND CHANGE
As Vogue writes, “Clothes are a commodity, but the people who make them are human beings whose labour must be fixed at a rate that cannot be negotiated.”
The last year highlighted the inequalities of the fashion supply chain like no other when brands stopped their payments to suppliers, with some of the world’s biggest fashion brands owing more than $3 billion to garment factories in places like Cambodia, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
However, campaigners from the nonprofit Remake Campaign launched the PayUp Fashion Petition, which called on major fashion brands to sign enforceable contracts and pay their garment factories for orders that were cancelled or delayed because of the pandemic. This has raised awareness hugely, and hopefully signals that, in the future, consumers can demand real change.
COLOURS MAKE US HAPPY
Let’s not deny that the past year has been a bit beige, and we’re not just talking about our beloved loungewear. We saw the rainbow being used as a symbol of hope, optimism and joy, and it’s fair to say that we all became drawn to this prism of colour.
Moving forward, we’d like to start wearing this prism more frequently. We love joyful colours in all shades, and right now, we all need a little colour in our lives, don’t you think? For some, that means hues in the pastel category – think baby blue and lilac – and for others, there are the bolder colours like bright pink, red and orange.
We’ve been having a bit of a love affair with pink at the moment, from brash and bold bubble gum pink hues that make a statement to more restrained, pale pastel pinks and everything in between. Expect to see us wearing the colour all summer long.
CLASSIC JEANS NEVER GET OLD
Alongside our joggers, we’ve been living the last year in our high-waisted jeans. Indeed, here at IDEAL, oversized vintage jeans and a casual top have quickly become our lockdown uniform after a brief, unproductive stint spent embracing pyjamas every day.
The relaxed silhouettes which vintage jeans usually come in – mom or rolled-up boyfriend jeans, in particular – are really forgiving. Moreover, they’re surprisingly comfortable since they’ve been pre-worn.
Stonewash, acid-wash, boyfriend jeans, skinny jeans, bootcut, ripped, distressed, relaxed, double – there are hundreds of ways to wear denim and hundreds of different types of jeans. The only consistency is this – that while some fashions may come and go, denim jeans are one item that will forever be a fashion staple. As such, it’d do no harm kitting out your wardrobe with several pieces.