Let's be honest: during the pandemic, our fashion sense took a definite hit but we believe that it's for the better. Zoom calls and video chats became the new norm, which meant that we could get away with wearing sweatpants and hoodies all day long. In fact, many of us did just that! Now that the world has slowly but surely returned to some semblance of normalcy, however, it's time to start thinking about how we want to present ourselves to the world without compromising on the new level of comfort fashion that we're now used to. Below, we'll explore some of the ways that the pandemic has changed our sense of style and personal fashion, and how we're navigating this new fashion norm.

The Rise of Athleisurewear

One of the biggest trends to come out of the pandemic is a renewed interest in athleisure wear. Comfortable, stylish, and versatile, athleisurewear has become the go-to choice for many of us who are looking for something that can take us from Zoom calls to errand runs with ease. Previously reserved for the gym or a quick trip to the grocery store, casual athleisure pieces like leggings, joggers, and hoodies have become commonplace in everyday life. And with more and more of us working from home these days, there's no need to save our comfy clothes for the weekend anymore! In fact,  we've been seeing that some athleisurewear is being crossbreed with non "exercise" oriented styles in the past few months. After all, comfort is key! It seems this trend will be around forever.

Fashion with a Purpose

In addition to being comfortable and stylish, a lot of us are now interested fashion with a purpose. The pandemic gave us a lot of time to reflect and notice how wasteful and harmful the fashion industry is to the environment. So we're seeing a trend of chic T-shirts, stylish bags and other apparel made from recycled materials for getting our wardrobe in line with our values.

Less Is More

In addition to being more comfortable, and environmentally conscious,  many of us are also looking for clothing that requires less maintenance. During the pandemic, there was simply no time (or energy) for dry-cleaning or ironing. As a result, we began reaching for items that didn't need to be fussed over too much. Clothing made from natural fibers like cotton and linen became popular because they wrinkled less and could be thrown in the wash without any special care required. We're also seeing a renewed interest in "no-fuss" fashion items like slides and sneakers as opposed to shoes that require regular polishing or upkeep. 

To sum it up;

There's no denying that the pandemic has had a major impact on our fashion sense and personal style. Whether we're embracing comfort with athleisurewear, buying recycled fashion pieces, or going with apparel that requires little to no maintenance, it's clear that our current style choices reflect the upheaval of the past standards of fashion. As we continue to adapt to this new normal, it will be interesting to see how our fashion sense evolves in 2022 and beyond.

 How has the pandemic affected your sense of style and personal fashion? Let us know in the comments below!