Hello, my stylish friends! I can’t remember the last time I sat down to write a candid, straight-from-the-heart entry. To say that this summer, or this year (to be frank), didn’t go as planned is quite the understatement.
Even though I can’t control the world around me, I can control how I dress. I use manners of dress as means of bringing normalcy back into my life. As ludicrous and childish as this sounds, I sincerely miss the familiarity of getting ready for the day. Something about throwing on a crisp pair of trousers or a sleek pair of sneakers sharpens my mental state for the day.
In the wake of quarantine, I (like many of my peers) chose sweats for our non-live, virtual classes. Jokes aside about dressing from the waist up, I felt myself losing focus while lounging in my comfort apparel. Even my running workouts couldn’t bring me to set straight my distracted mind, as I felt tempted by my nice, warm bed to finish my remote work.
Snap out of it!
I had to pull myself together and thus tried dressing up once again. Unfortunately, I still lacked the energy (and desire) to throw on a sundress or pair of jeans. After surfing through style websites, I realized that the dubbed “athleisure” is here to stay. The final verdict seems to be that athleisure can feel relaxed and comfortable without looking sloppy. I try to spice up my athleisure with fun accessories and bright colors. If in need of an extra energy boost, I’ll sport my bright sneakers. Go-to outfits include track shorts and sweatshirts tied around the waist or joggers paired with a band tee – big fan of graphic details.
The other day, my friends and I went hiking. Neither too hot nor too humid, the weather was perfect for a few miles on the trails. Noting the chance of afternoon showers, I packed my blue rain jacket from Columbia Sportswear and wore my plaid boots. We barely missed the storm but saw the clouds gradually rolling in as the hours went by. Mindful of ticks, I wore this old hat of mine, though I regret not covering my legs more.
Fashion and function: hiking edition—Didn’t mind the latter as I looked down at my bright blue jacket throughout the tiring but refreshing hike. All things considered, I’m not sure how much I’ll want to go back to dresses after the pandemic. Structural, practical pieces seem to be the way to go (plus some fun color, of course).
The power of dressing is incredible, right?
With style,
Sarah
