The cancelled parties, the lack of social gatherings and the time spent working from home, on your own, are all for a good cause. Once you get into the routine of it, you make it work. But not being able to do all these things we normally take for granted is taking its toll on many and I’m definitely feeling it.
I’m finding it hard not to have occasions to look forward to or even occasions to dress up for. First I just considered it as a shallow reaction to the new pandemic lifestyle that I should ignore (because many others are having a way worse time than me) but now I’m not so sure anymore.
Getting dressed in the morning, choosing an outfit that makes you feel hot / powerful / cool / beautiful / happy is an important part of the day for many to give one self a purpose, a mission for the day or just a kick to get up and go. I’m finding that the joy of getting dressed in the morning is one I’m missing. Not having this as a routine for months on end does have an impact on motivation as well as mental health.
What should change?
Finding ways of living through this pandemic, that can help us last longer, stay socially and physically distant, keep people safe, but also keep ourselves sane, is important. As we seem to be facing an autumn of working from home and avoiding social gatherings, finding a new strategy might be needed. To stay motivated and sane. What’s worked so far? What do you want to change going forward? What could make this autumn better?
As July hasn’t delivered satisfactory summer weather I feel like I’ve spent most of the summer in jeans and warm jumpers. I’ve barely touched my summer clothes. The flowery skirt I thrifted and wore all the time last year hasn’t even made it out once this summer. And since I’m doing a year of no shopping, I haven’t done any pandemic boredom shopping (which I’m guessing many others may have been doing). I’ve just done nothing with my wardrobe and it’s starting to make me feel a bit sad.
So, the plan is to make more of an effort when I do leave the flat and also to use it as an opportunity to work through my wardrobe as part of the challenge of not buying anything new this year. Maybe do a style challenge or a capsule wardrobe challenge? Or make a conscious effort of wearing everything once to also potentially clear some stuff out at the end of the year that I’ve realised I’m no longer interested in wearing?
What are you currently wearing and what’s your pandemic wardrobe strategy?