Fashion comes to us via luxury designers and their runway shows. They keep styles evolving as new collections are released from season to season. I thought that was enough to keep people inspired and excited to make fashion exactly what they want it to be, but that isn’t always true. That may have been true when fashion was for the elite in the mid to late 1900s, but things change. As priorities evolve, there has been a major shift in clothing styles. Post-pandemic fashion created a need to dress to your heart’s content, regardless of the occasion.
In recent years, there has been a huge shift from chic to casual wear. Retail stores followed suit, stocking up on styles that would meet consumer needs, especially during the pandemic when we were all diving head first into sweatpants and comfy clothes to make days at home a little more bearable. It has been a slow burn, but after a gradual lift in restrictions, people are finally back to business, and fashion is a hot topic.
Life is short, and fashion, which was once exclusively used to exhibit the status quo, is now a bit more unique to each person. Fashion is a way to express yourself, and great shows like Sex and the City celebrated designers and couture creations, but the hype fizzled as time ticked by. Whether the reason was being too busy or not busy enough–It happened.
Now we have to determine if fashion will stay in fashion for a while or if it’s merely a fad. Will people continue wearing fancy gowns full of glamour sparkles and lots of drama? It seems that time will tell. Items in high demand include suiting and dresses made for major events, and some items can be used beyond work and fancy events.
Investing in fancy pieces is worthwhile if you purchase with intention versus feelings and impulse. This is where fashion staying in fashion is a bit different than before. The newly enlightened consumer is shifting their buying habits to be more sustainable, so for fashion to continue being chic instead of casual, the pieces need to step up in design terms featuring more complex silhouettes and details while still being made with sustainable practices and fabric. If high fashion pieces are responsibly made, chic fashion has a high chance of staying around for a while. It’s no longer enough to just design clothing without considering the impact that it has on the environment.
An increase in black tie clothing continues to rise on web searches and shows up in sales at retailers, too. This pivot is likely due to events like weddings and galas returning full force after several years of being on hold or being quite restrictive in terms of guests and their actions while attending.
Post pandemic life has created a need for flashy colors, wearable fancy attire, and lots of events to wear said fashion too. The trend that embodies post-pandemic fashion is optimism, and this may continue to show up for several seasons, since we are still adapting to changes and the new normal. I think fashion will continue to stay chic and that fashion is in fashion, and that it will stay that way for at least a little while. I think life is more fun when the clothes are too!
