How is COVID19 affecting formal fashion?

3. Minimalism became mainstream. The craving for branded wear from bigger brands subsided along the process.

4. With the effect of fewer activities, people started to work on their health. From ordering workout outfits to yoga mats, they welcomed a pleasant change to their lives and the wardrobe.

5. People started focusing on mental health and body positivity. They started experimenting with new styles, DIY clothing, and embracing their body by wearing and flaunting what comforted them.

6. Smaller brands got recognition for their unique designs as business was now online and the platforms were similar for everyone. From office wear dresses for women to lounge wear, everyone believed to be vocal for local.

Hence, this affected the local fashion industry and even had a global impact. In the US, fashion companies saw a 90% decline in profits in 2020. The business fashion sector was the one that got most affected.

It is a possibility that post-pandemic office dress codes will widely depend on the frequency of days we expect people to work from office spaces. This might mean that people wear business casuals for a few days a week when they’d need to dress up for client meetings and presentations. But most companies have learned that employees prefer flexibility over fixed dress codes and they will try to inculcate that in the forthcoming policies. Though it also depends on the individuals, as some people would still prefer power dressing for wanting to look nice. Dressing in a more presentable manner will help people draw a line between workplace and home office. So right now is the perfect time to think of fresh new outfits to revamp your wardrobe with new wears. It is finally time after a year’s break to strike the desk in style. While people are more comfortable with this casual, timesaving dressing, they try to dress up more to add to a formal vibe as they attend a few days of work from the office. So it’s not that formal wear is sidelined, but there is a healthy balance between the two.

With winter approaching in India, it is important that people stack winter wearable formal outfits which are dark in shades, and cozy. Even with winter, given that people have embraced the lazy morning schedule since working from home began, it is the need of the hour to build an office capsule wardrobe that helps one save time in the mornings and stay on top of their dressing game. It is logical and important that people invest in basics that they can wear frequently and pair with almost anything. Some of these include oversized blazers, kitten heels, tote bags of a regular black/brown shade, and modern everyday jewellery.

People will miss liberty once offices run at full capacity, but this period has opened a whole new horizon of opportunities for comfortable formal fashion. While office wear dresses for women will have added elasticity or the benefit of pockets, male formal fashion needs to be improvised by adding flexibility and breathable designs.