It’s safe to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone worldwide. Now that we’re entering 2022, what broad effects can we see on our lives? Here’s a look at how the pandemic influenced our fashion and lifestyle choices, from adapting clothing styles to considering our values differently.
Experimenting With and Embracing Natural Remedies
One substantial lifestyle effect of the pandemic concerns perspectives on health. A pandemic automatically brings physical health to the forefront of public concern. Because of COVID-19, many people not only did not have access to their doctor’s office in person but they also were forced to confront, on a global scale, the importance of their health.
So, to supplement traditional medicine and prioritize greater wellness, the pandemic brought a rise in popularity for natural remedies. We turned to supplements like black seed oil or essential oils to boost our health and live our best lives.
Changing Skincare and Makeup Priorities
The pandemic affected and continues to affect skincare and makeup priorities. Pre-pandemic, it was common for people to have a quick or even nonexistent skincare routine, with layers of bad or apathetic habits that endured because it didn’t seem like there was enough time to prioritize skincare. But being stuck at home, and having to wear masks to go out, brought skin health to the top of our priorities. Taking more time to evaluate skincare routines was an important effect of the pandemic.
Also, partly in response to the new habit of mask-wearing, the pandemic affected makeup trends. Mascara sales grew, as did those for false lashes, to emphasize beautiful eyes even with a mask on, but sales of lip products fell. So now it’s all about the eyes (and less about the lips). Many people found that they had time and found enjoyment in spending more time on their skin and makeup, while others realized the freedom of not having to spend as much time on elaborate makeup-wearing if they were staying home. Either way, in general, the pandemic changed how people prioritize their skincare.
Developing a Regular Sleep Schedule
During the lockdown phase of the pandemic, most people didn’t have a commute to work every day, or if they did still go in as essential workers, lighter traffic meant a shorter trip. Not to mention, parents didn’t have to ferry their kids around to and from school or any extracurricular activities. Less time spent in the car meant more people got to sleep in, and fewer nights out also allowed people to get to bed earlier more easily.
These factors led to a pandemic consequence of more regular sleep schedules (or at least more awareness of a problematic lack of sleep). Including sleep in your health plans can make a huge difference. That can be a positive habit to take from pandemic measures.
Adapting Style: Comfort is In
One silver lining many people found with lockdown restrictions was that they didn’t have to wear uncomfortable or formal work clothing. Instead, comfy sweaters and slippers became work attire. Because more people were working from home, dress code standards were temporarily and then often also permanently relaxed. Lockdown lifestyle included wearing “Zoom tops” that looked nice for the camera paired with sweats or other comfy pants on the bottom.
This type of relaxed dress code spread from the business and academic world to other circumstances as well, to the point that the pandemic has redefined the fashion industry towards comfort as a preeminent priority. Loungewear, home wear, and comfort wear continue to be on the rise. It comes as no surprise to anyone that style changed to embrace comfort during the pandemic.
Masking Up & Making Do
Whether people were in favor of or against wearing masks, the reality of life with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic introduced masks into everyone’s lifestyle — and fashion style. While a basic disposable mask was usually a staple, some people either made or purchased masks to express their style. For example, masks could have the same or complementary fabrics to clothing, serving as accent pieces. Masks became another way to express individual style.
Masks weren’t the only things people were making for themselves. In the “make do and make it your own” lifestyle shift that came as a consequence of the pandemic, “DIY” projects became more popular than ever. For example, tie-dye kits completely sold out as people enjoyed the novelty of making their own clothing.
Adjusting Expectations for Hair Colors and Styles
Many people who had a standing appointment with a hairstylist for cuts, colors, styles, and more suddenly had to take care of their hair themselves during the early stages of the pandemic. This led to a reevaluation on a personal level and a shift in general toward more simple and sleek looks. Dyed hair takes a lot of care, especially with extra style elements such as bangs.
Of course, many people are now joyfully re-embracing their more complicated and sophisticated styles with hair salons open again.
Reflecting On Our Values
A global-level event has global-level consequences, but many of those manifest as personal effects on our lives. As we consider how the pandemic has influenced our fashion and lifestyle choices, we can also see how COVID-19 led us to reflect on our values. For many of us, sleep, health, and comfort moved up on the priority list. It’s the little things, right?
