Pandemic Style Lessons: The Marriage Of COVID-19 And Fashion

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and ceases to really change much, we humans have been adapting to drastic measures implemented across the globe. Now that we can go outside (sort of, but not without a mask and other precautions), we have regained some sort of sense of normalcy. But, what about fashion? Fashion has changed immensely each time the pandemic changed (we wore sweatpants or PJs at home or casual clothing), we started dressing up when virtual events took place, and now we started dressing up even when there was no reason to do so. That's the tricky relation of fashion and COVID-19. It's an unexpected marriage that happened between the two, and now it's a relationship the world has to deal with, possibly for a few more years. That's not to say that this pandemic didn't have its lessons in style. Here's three style lessons that the pandemic taught the world.

The first lesson is quite simple really: wear a mask. As much as we like to be free and keep our masks off our faces (maskne is a real issue nowadays and what not), and even if we're vaccinated, we need to wear a mask. It's our most stylish and most powerful accessory. Who would have thought that the humble mask would be such a lifesaver? So, be responsible and wear one! No excuse is worth not wearing a mask (almost every person on the planet is wearing one, so you have to). 

The second lesson is to wear what you like. Staying at home during the lockdown in Dubai was an eye-opening experience, especially when all the parties and events stopped. It's like everything came to a standstill, an abrupt halt. What once was a busy, bustling, city life, became a quiet, serene, and laidback life. While working from home, there were virtual meetings and work went on as usual after the lockdown ended, but it really made people see what choices they had to make when it came to fashion. For virtual meetings, it's best to wear what you normally wear at work. When it comes to virtual events, it's best to wear what you think is an acceptable outfit (like if it's a virtual wedding, you might wear a nice sundress or dark jeans and a dress shirt). If you're heading outside, dress according to the place you're going to (please don't overdress if you're going someplace simple like a cafe). Wear something fancy if it's a special occasion or celebration. But please do not dress to feel that you're better than others (that's in no way going to make you feel better).

The third lesson is to only buy clothing that you need. During these difficult times, it's very easy to get caught up in the latest fashion trends and spend like crazy, but do yourself a favor and don't. The pandemic showed us that no one can escape the reality of what the situation is and now is not the time to spend. Save it instead, and spend only on what you need to buy. It doesn't matter about the brand you buy, but it does matter if the quality is good and the price of that piece of clothing matches your budget for shopping.

While fashion is an extension of ourselves, we should not compromise on our comfort and style. The pandemic has taught us that we can still be stylish if we wear a mask, wear what we like, and only buy clothing that we need. Style is power.