ELEVATING MY WFH LOUNGE WEAR, GOSSIP GIRL STYLE

I envisioned using this time in lockdown for self betterment, devouring all of the books, emerging with new yogic flexibility and a previously untapped set of culinary skills. In reality, my time has been spent figuring out WFH, becoming my own IT help desk and vegetating in front of Netflix. After finishing the entirety of Friends in the first two weeks, I graduated on to rewatching my teenage favourite, Gossip Girl.

For those not familiar with the premise of Gossip Girl, it’s a noughties tv series, following the fictional lives and scandalous secrets (revealed by the anonymous figure, known only as, Gossip Girl) of the Upper Eastside’s privileged youth and - most importantly - all of the clothes that go along with having excessive amounts of money and an outfit necessary for every possible occasion (even assassin - yes, really). 

The show is deliberate in its use of clothing as a means of visually communicating a lifestyle dichotomous to that of (most of) the viewers. The clothing needed to be as fantastical as the lifestyle was excessive and the storylines were dramatic. And as characters discovered shared siblings, hidden identities, married royalty, divorced many times over, died and were resurrected; the clothing remained the visual anchor in amongst the tumultuous six seasons. Much like Sex and the City, clothing was a scene stealing character, and oftentimes the favourite character, elevating the likes of the playground headband from Claire’s Accessories to couture and causing grown women to deliberate rewearing their school uniform to the office.

From the newfound position of a pandemic, the likes of ballgowns and cocktail dresses worn to various soirées and grandiose events is at extreme odds with now. And although under normal circumstances such things would still speak very much of a fantasy; as social interaction has become a limited freedom, watching such abundant social mingling is pure escapism. However, I would posit that as opposed to reality as Gossip Girl is and more specifically the clothing is (it is an entertainment show after all), there is something that is transferable from the screen to real life and the pandemic allows for its full embracement; that of elevated loungewear (and day drinking, of course).  

Although the fashion is undeniably fantastic, it is the clothing under the clothes of the Gossip Girl characters that has caused me to reconsider my own interpretation of comfort wear. Due to my very limited interaction with anyone not related to me, a deep apathy has infiltrated my usual excitement for getting dressed, resulting in outfits as nondescript as a brown paper bag. Which has got me to thinking; if I feel this uninspired when left with no one to appease but myself, then who did I dress for in the past? 

With no where to go and no one to see (or to see me), what I choose to wear is at the complete determination of myself. Yet I have not realised this to its full potential, instead adopting a lazy-girl cycle of spandex and ease. Until one such day that I noticed the unacknowledged wears of Gossip Girl; those worn before they get dressed and those worn under the outfits. The private items, that are as beautiful as the ballgowns that conceal them. Gossip Girl uses clothing to posit extravagance at all times, regardless of situation or circumstance, whether alone in your penthouse or posing for the paparazzi. 

The underwear of Gossip Girl is better than most people’s outerwear. As Gossip Girls’ creative director, Eric Daman explained, they’re  “not wearing Hanes”. With silk slip dresses beautiful enough to be worn alone, matching lingerie sets for feeding the ducks, garter belts for breakfast and stockings hidden beneath day wear. When clothes are coming off as frequently as they do in Gossip Girl you can’t blame their need to be prepared. Goodness forbid that they get caught on laundry day. And whilst I acknowledge that a tv show does afford one the artistic license to dress for the fictional world it inhabits, one can allow the fantastical elements to inspire the mundane realities of life. 

In this new world of WFH, it’s all too tempting to roll out of bed, change out of pyjamas into equally as comfortable clothing, inhale a coffee, work, yoga, bed and end the day with a Netflix binge, only to do it all again tomorrow. The need to ‘dress-up’, let alone consider matching underwear is a frivolity lost to necessity. However, the satin pyjama sets and silk robes of the show are a little bit of special that can be easily adopted, particularly those of Blair Waldorf. From the removal of her pretty dress and exposure of her negligee at burlesque nightclubs, to the numerous statement making lingerie sets worn under her preppy school uniform, best is never kept for best as everyday is an excuse to make an effort for yourself.

From Olivia Von Halle to Florence & Fred, options of silky bed wear abound. And with WFH encouraging much of what we know to be rethought, dressing as if you made an effort needn’t take effort. Elevated lounge wear epitomises this sentiment. For example when paired with smart bottoms (giving your joggers a rest), a silk pyjama top makes a chic transition to day wear. Proving that bougie loungewear and fancy lingerie can be as conspicuous or as inconspicuous and as practical or as impractical as the wearer desires. Stockings worn under flowy dresses or secretively under sweatpants. A bustier under a cosy cardigan. A silky gown draped over jeans and a t-shirt. Fluffy kitten heeled slippers worn as you tap away at emails on a Monday morning. After all, office etiquette and dress codes aren’t a thing when you’re temporarily your own boss.

Whilst most of us don’t reside in a penthouse, that doesn’t mean that we can’t dress like we live in one. Real life means dressing sensibly, dressing for specific situations, dressing for the weather, dressing with the opinions of others factored in. However, from the sanctuary of home, anything goes. Now is the time to indulge in ourselves in however that manifests. Whether it be overt or covert, investing energy  in ourselves to prevent the onset of mundanity is the ultimate act of self love. Something that I’m sure queen B would approve of. XOXO

(Images via: coveteur.com, insider.com & Vogue.es)

THE FASHION TRENDS OF LOCKDOWN

So despite the fact that we're bordt in the house, bordt in the house, bordt; with plans amounting to little more than a Zoom call and a weekly trip to the supermarket, trends are still emerging. A concept I'm sure is hard to comprehend for those of us whose lockdown brag amounts to having successfully extended the time between hair washes by an extra two days, and whose lockdown uniform has so far been whatever is clean and/or to hand. But influencers gotta influence and that they have. 

I now feel my fashion proclivities tugged in three very different ways. And whilst contemplating what to wear during the current climate may seem shallow, having very little control over the global situation has given new weight to even the most inconsequential of decisions. So deciding which variant of lockdown attire I wish to co-opt, is something that I can control and that, I welcome with gusto. 

The first notable trend of lockdown is one that I worry is almost too obvious to mention. However, it would be remiss to ignore the newly gained notoriety of tie-dye. Saturating instagram feeds with splotches of colours and unifying the likes of celebrities and your next-door neighbour, its psychedelic prints bridging the differences of the masses. 

Tie-dye has long been the uniform of the rebel, being inextricably linked to the swinging sixties. Later to be adopted as the choice look for those who operated on the fringes of society. A troupe hijacked by pop culture and used as a visual characteristic of the anti-establishment type, think Travis in Clueless - loveable but a "loader", or more recently the reinvention of Justin Bieber, his look described by the New Yorker as, "Seventies post-hippie burnout with Nineties Orange county skater". Tie-dye soon found itself masquerading down the runways at the likes of Proenza Schouler and Stella McCartney, elevating the DIY to couture. And now the newest rendition of tie-dye, that of the homebound.

When puzzles have all been pieced together, when all available furniture in your house has been coated in foam and your hair is now the colour of a troll doll; DIY tie-dye is the obvious next step. The abstract swirls of tie-dye seem to capture the tumultuous uncertainty of now, the accidents and irregularities of colour creating patterns as unique as the individual wearing them and their individual responses to the situation.

With almost as much prevalence as the aforementioned tie-dye, smock dresses abound as everyone seems to be appropriating a hybrid image of girl on the prairie/ milk maiden / vision of nature incarnate. As social activities have been downsized to the bare minimum, daily walks have become the significant part to most people's day. Leaving behind four walls to embrace the fresh air and appreciate the surroundings that we all too often ignore. 

Gucci eschewing the fashion calendar for a season-less schedule, made to order clothing, repurposing waste fabrics from previous collections, exploration of ethical replacements, are just a few of the ways that change is being explored in an effort to slow down the culture of consumption. And it would seem that this return to nature and a simpler way of life has infiltrated the proclivities of the masses. Whilst floaty dresses for Summer - in the words of Miranda Priestly - are hardly ground breaking, it is the accoutrements and attitude that go with it that have created a whole new aesthetic. 

These dresses are worn whilst gallivanting through fields. Hashtag 'frolicking' is now a thing and despite baskets having been an influencer favourite for some time, instead of riling against their domestic origins, these origins are now fully embraced, being festooned with flowers and used to carry fresh fruit and loaves of bread. Hemlines are midi in length, demurely swishing about the calf, necklines are sweetheart in shape, sleeves are voluminous and bodices are cinched. Offering a softer silhouette against today's climate of seriousness, evoking youth, innocence and the freedom that we all crave so much right now.

As perhaps the most similar to what my lockdown attire has been thus far, athleisure has garnered new relevance. Your usual uninspired, 'put on out of sheer comfort and stretchability', 'typically Sunday or any day that you're not expecting company'-wear, now being featured on the grids of instagram. 

The stripping back of facade that the pandemic has inadvertently had on life, has been somewhat of a leveller. There is no more FOMO, or YOLO, just stay at home. A prescribed antidote that applies to all, without prejudice. We really are all in this together. And despite my wanting this statement to hold gravitas, it takes great strength (that I do not possess), to not trill it like the Zac Ephron loving, 'High School Musical' wannabe that we all secretly are. However, it does hold great truth. 

As the basics of life are stripped back, so too are our wardrobes. The function of clothing has come to new significance as comfort has taken precedence. Schlepping around the house, partaking in an online exercise class or going for a brisk walk, all require practical clothing. If influencers are to be believed then New Balance are the only footwear of choice to navigate the troublesome terrain of now. Chunky sport socks replace the delicate anklets typical of summertime. Baseball caps are both accessory and practical means of disguising anything above eyebrow level. 

This duality of clothing is epitomised in brands like 'Sporty and Rich' - the name succinctly summing up the zeitgeist. Their aesthetic being one that encourages a flip-flop between looking good and practicality, put-together and slobbing about. Even fabrications reflect this renewed focus on wearability, note the revival of Prada's nylon bags and the unexpected embracement by Chanel of spandex in the form of their double 'C' centric leggings. It would seem that in a reactionary move, the comfort of clothing has increased in direct relation to the imposed restrictions of life now. As life gets harder, we dress comfier. 

Being predominantly indoors, now is the time to alleviate external pressures. The prevalence of the above trends during this lockdown are based on a need for comfort - both in its literal and figurative sense. Forgoing clothing that is constrictive and instead opting for items such as those of athleisure, afford one literal comfort. Whereas, the renewed embracement of tie-dye and obsession with prairie dresses, draw upon a deep sense of nostalgia. With our rose tinted glasses firmly on, we can look back fondly on the past from the present viewpoint, knowing that whatever the trouble, it was overcome. A comforting notion during these times of deep uncertainty. 

Whether you choose a dress to swish around in, or spandex to stretch in; let the discomfort of now be alleviated by the comfort your clothes afford you and hopefully we will all be #frolicking soon. 

(Images via: unknown, @mathildadjerf, @cinziabayliszullo, @lucywilliams02, whowhatwear.co.uk & unknown)