How the Pandemic Changed My Relationship to Fashion

By Meili Huang

The fashion industry may never be the same after the pandemic. Even before coronavirus became the central problem, the industry’s incessant, exploitive, and thus inevitably unsustainable nature has long been questioned. Now that everybody has lost a practical purpose to dress up during varying lockdowns and quarantines, the industry faces not only challenges at hand like shortage of supplies and a down market but also an existential crisis — what is the future of fashion? This essentially comes down to two questions: what role will we want fashion to play in our lives, and how long will we be able to sustain this cycle of ceaseless collections and trends?

Each crisis presents an opportunity. The pandemic triggers a “Darwinian shakeout” in the world of fashion, allowing each business involved to reevaluate, recast, and reboot. Some luxury brands are spearheading changes in the industry. Gucci, for example, announced to go “seasonless,” cutting down their shows to two per year instead of a regular five. However, ever since quarantine, we’ve also seen the phenomenon of retailers coming up with more advertisements and enticement to increase their sales. Though these are fair strategies to survive in a tough market, whether the industry will embrace a fresh start by catering to an eco-friendly fashion economy or not post-pandemic remains uncertain

But what does all of this mean to the average consumer of fashion? The abrupt interruption to our original routines may present new chances to reflect on our individual journey with fashion and retrieve a long-lost sense of self. Whether the impact of the pandemic on how we dress is a mindful choice or a spontaneous one, it has undoubtedly outlived our little quarantined corners. Below, I've asked some Midd students to share their summer discoveries and how the pandemic has changed their relationships to fashion.

Do it Yourself

To some of us, purchasing is not the only option. During the past summer, Jordyn Johnson has grown fond of crochet and embroidery. Her collection expands from tube tops to funky plaid cardigans, and more lovely pieces are on their way. Just as Gary Wassner said: “You’ll always want to be the creator of your own story.” Jordyn also has an Instagram account for her hand-made pieces and receives orders via DMs (@mcdade_made).

Back to the Basics

A surge in sweatpants sales implies a continuing theme of the year — comfortability. Somehow, it takes us a lockdown to take a break from the constant pressure to look our best and appreciate the very simple joy our clothes bring us. Nina Ng ’23 (@ninaytng) thought back on her summer: “I think that staying inside has made me more reluctant to consciously piece together outfits or wear dressier clothes when going out. Excessive lounging around also makes wearing comfortable, loose clothing more appealing.” Or maybe, you’re like Jordyn Johnson ’23 (@jordyn.j_3), who turned out to cherish every opportunity to dress up after spending an excessive amount of time with leisure wears: “Now that I get to see people, I realized I don’t have to save the whole look till weekends like I used to do.”

Less is More

The media’s emphasis on the new is a major reason why our closets are crammed with fast fashion. Since we don’t usually get a chance to slow down, now is the time to empty our wardrobes and decide which pieces are here to stay. “I've taken more time to examine what I do have in my closet, so I'll come up with more outfit combinations. I will probably take more liberties with my style post-pandemic, especially since there's much of my wardrobe that hasn't been exercised. I've also been more appreciative of this restructuring process and all my clothing in general since the pandemic makes us come to terms with how privileged we can be. I've definitely mulled about the ethical bits of style and will be more deliberate with choices in the future,” said Nina. Sometimes, decluttering your closet coincides with self-discovery. After beginning some practices in a minimalist book she came across and going through her owned items one by one, Akari Tsurumaki ’23 realized that “I gradually have a clearer sense and vision of my personal style.”

Beauty Routines

Various forms of liberation can also take place through different approaches to daily beauty routines. “As for makeup, I definitely have lessened my use, given that I find it extra hassling to add an extra step to skincare at night when I'm not going outside at all,” said Nina. Jordyn also shares similar experiences: “In terms of styling my hair, I felt like I had to have a different hairstyle everyday pre-quarantine. But now I’m more inclined to just have a style for the week.” (Nina on left)

For Devon Hunt ’23 (@devon.ih), quarantine means more time for exploration and eventually gaining confidence in her fashion statement: “I dyed my hair and got more clothes that fit my aesthetic because I wasn’t worried about people judging me. I’d also seen a lot more people online who started to dress how they wanted, and that gave me the courage to do so. I kind of realized that life is too short to worry about what other people think. I actually feel way more confident dressing how I want to rather than in a way that’s considered ‘normal.’” (Devon on right)

Whether your personal relationship with fashion resembles theirs or not, one thing is for sure: like many other things amidst and after this pandemic, fashion will never be the same.