Post-Pandemic Fashion Trends

Life is a lot different since the pandemic, but one of the largest shifts that I've seen is how accessible to world has become remotely. From online work and school, to Amazon and Instacart deliveries, to telehealth doctor's visits -- there's a ton that one can do without leaving their homes. And there's no denying that this hasn't impacted everyone's daily routine and fashion habits. The overarching trend is towards comfort and athleisure clothing. Leggings have officially become pants, athletic crop tops have become everyday shirts, and joggers and "nice sneakers" are now (in some spaces) viewed as appropriate to wear in the office when paired with a blazer.

I bought my first pair of sweatpants towards the tail end of covid and now I probably own 5 pairs. I wouldn't have been caught dead out wearing sweatpants prior to 2020, but now I've caught myself looking in the mirror being like "wow, these are cute joggers." And this is coming from someone who wear sundresses four days a week in college and cropped trousers almost every weekday in law school. No one is immune from this shift.

And ironically, things didn't just go back to the way they used to be once the pandemic calmed down and we just lived with the idea of catching another virus. We have seen long term shifts in the everyday clothing of Americans. I think this is because although the world is "open" again, people are choosing to stay at home more and take advantage of remote offerings for work, school, household needs, and socialization (hello online dating). These opportunities allow people to wear the most relaxed of comfort clothes the majority of the days of the week. Then when people are forced to "dress up" they may only go up a tier or two (like they always did) from their new baseline, which results in more casual clothing on the streets and in the office then what we used to see prior. Thus, I think the post-pandemic relaxed style is here to stay... for now at least.

Do you think we will ever return to the formality of style we saw pre-pandemic?