Throughout the past decade, the idea of a dress code for everyday life has become increasingly ambiguous. Jeans have turned into acceptable office wear, pants and leggings are one and the same, and tattoos are no longer covered up. The general public has been more willing to use their clothing as a form of self-expression as long as they still “dress appropriately” for the occasion, whether it be for work or dinner.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this timeline.
When we were all shut inside of our houses last March, many Americans were left with a closet full of clothes but nowhere to wear them. Even when working and seeing people over Zoom, many chose to embrace the comfort and isolation of their home and spend the day in sweatpants, with either a blouse or hoodie on top. However, this increasing casualness at home has made the times when people leave the house feel very special, warranting them wearing the best looks from their closets. People will take the time to do their makeup and get dressed just for a ten-minute outing to the supermarket yet remain bare-faced and comfy in sweats for their seven-hour workday on Zoom.
I don’t know what will happen when things go back to normal, or what normal will even look like. But for now, there are no more rules. Wear what makes you feel happy, comfortable and confident. That is how you become your best self and produce your best work.