Am I jumping on the COVID-19 crisis and all the buzz around social distancing? Perhaps – but what else is there to do? Might as well find ways for social distancing to benefit your life – and in this case – your closet and personal style. (In my opinion) Since a big part of my life is about using what’s already in our closets and understanding personal style from a slow fashion perspective, I think there is a silver lining to all of this extra time we find ourselves met with.
**Unless of course, you are an essential service worker and need to keep your strength up to, you know, keep the rest of us alive, or if you’re feeling unwell yourself in which case – focus on you, your health and nothing else.
For those of us who may find ourselves with less work and more time than we’re used to, I think now is a great opportunity to refresh our closets and personal style. What better time than when you are practicing social distancing to test out new outfit formulas that you wouldn’t dare wear in “real life”? (I also think this is a great time to help those in need, especially if we have the time, health, and resources to do so, but more on that in a later blog post).
Social Distancing & Your Closet
1 – Take the time to do a proper closet clean out. This is always a task that feels cumbersome and time-consuming, often getting put off in our calendars as we wait for a 5 hour uninterrupted window which inevitably never shows up. Well – now we have that time! A closet clean out or audit can really benefit your closet, and give you a clearer focus on your personal style. I have a video here about how to decide what stays and what goes as you go through your closet audit.
2 – There’s something uplifting about planning for a future vacation. In the same way, outfit planning for the days when we will be able to wear our coolest outfits in the world can also provide a little boost. Why not take the time to plan some outfits for work, or social events (which we will no doubt fill our calendars with after so much social distancing) in the future?
3 – This one is high on my wishlist and I sincerely hope procrastination doesn’t get the better of me. Social distancing is a great opportunity to take up some mending skills and see if we can tackle the pile of loose buttons or ripped garments that I think we all have lying around somewhere. There is a great video here about repairing holes in knits and here for sewing on a button.
Social Distancing & Your Personal Style
1 – Have you always wanted to try the bra over the tee shirt trend but felt like it was way out of your comfort zone? Give those weird trends or outfit combinations a try since you no longer have to worry about other people’s opinions. Wear them around the house all day and by the end of it, you will likely have a better understanding if a piece is simply “out of your comfort zone” in a good way, or if it really has no place in your closet and does not suit your personal style.
2 – Shopping your closet is something that takes a bit of time and patience, and isn’t the most fruitful endeavour when we’re half-awake and trying to get kids out the door while also mentally preparing for the work day. Personal style can always benefit from some experimentation by shopping your closet – even if it doesn’t amount necessarily to new outfits, you will likely start to see the clothes in your closet from a different perspective. I have an entire playlist dedicated to shopping your closet or wardrobe, so start there if you need some help!
On a more serious note, I sincerely hope you are all staying safe and healthy. It is so easy to get overwhelmed during this incredibly unkown and odd time and I hope this blog and my channel can serve both as a kind of distraction and sense of normalcy.
Sending hugs and love – stay healthy and safe! xx
