Stylish comfort: getting dressed in the pandemic era
Tis the season for closet clean-outs! September is the perfect time to clean out, organize and refresh your wardrobe as we head into the busy school year and second half of the year. But once your closet is organized and you’ve strategically shopped to create a comprehensive wardrobe, what’s next?
If you’re working with me in-person or virtually, the next step in my process is to create outfits for the season. This part of the process makes getting dressed in 5 minutes or less each morning so easy because you already know how to create looks that align with your personal style. It takes the guesswork out of getting dressed and ensures you’re doing more than just putting on clothes -- you’re getting dressed!
As we are inching out of our pandemic-uniforms of sweats and yoga pants, I’ve been recommending a slow transition to ‘real’ clothes and getting ‘dressed’. We are figuring out how to wear comfortable clothes in a stylish way. Below are my steps to transition out of comfort-wear and into stylish-comfort.
Update the basics. Make sure your day-to-day clothes are quality pieces that are free of holes, stains and stretching. A few of my favorite brands for basics are Everlane, Bassike and Mate the Label.
Change your clothes to match the purpose of your day. For instance, if you exercise in the morning, change out of your exercise clothes before you start work. If you start work immediately, change out of your pajamas and put on ‘work’ clothes.
Take baby steps. If you haven’t been getting dressed at all, start by getting dressed one day per week. Need an accountability buddy to text that you’re dressed? I’m here for you!
Bring consciousness to your wardrobe. Stopping to think about how you’re feeling in the clothes you're wearing is a good start. Do you feel most productive and professional working from home in your pajamas? Most of us do not. Notice which clothes make you feel invigorated and those that drain your energy (consider getting rid of the latter).
Have fun! Clothes can and should be fun! They should support your life, not add stress. That’s why creating outfits (on your own or with a stylist) reduces stress -- you do the work upfront so you can relax and know you look great!