POPSUGAR UK

Here's Why I Ditched My Stay-at-Home Sweatpants (Almost) For Good

28/07/2021 - 04:35 PM

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It took me years to fully appreciate sweatpants. [1] Up until 2020, I only owned one pair from high school, and I wore them almost exclusively as pajamas. If they ever did see the light of day, it was only while I grabbed a package off of my porch or took out the trash. I just didn't understand their appeal. Sure, they were comfy, but they also made me feel a little lazy, like I wasn't putting enough effort into my outfits. So pajamas they stayed. [2]

Then, the pandemic hit, and I was stuck at home with nowhere to go. Ads for sweatpants started popping up everywhere. They were the ultimate fashion item of 2020 — warm and comfortable, they became a go-to while we waited for much of the world to open back up again. I had to admit, living in sweatpants definitely had its appeal. I loved feeling cosy all the time, and I didn't even realise the pressure I felt to look put together every day until I didn't have to do it anymore. Sweats were convenient, too. My clothes became one fewer thing I had to worry about during one of the most stressful times I can remember. I was living large in fleece and French terry, and I loved it.

But as one month of staying home turned into one year, I realised that throwing on one of the same five combinations of sweats every day was starting to have an effect on me [3]. Clothes were one of my main methods of self-expression, but without anywhere to go, I wasn't putting any outfits together anymore. I also wasn't doing my hair and makeup, and I missed those extra minutes of pampering in the mornings. And I felt more disconnected from my body because I was hiding it in baggy clothes all the time. It all started to slowly chip away at my self-esteem.

Fast forward to May 2021, and I was starting a brand-new job. I was lucky; my fully remote position didn't require many Zoom meetings, [4] and I was forced to decide whether to go back to sweatpants or dress up anyway. I bought a new pair of slacks and never looked back.

I completely understand the appeal of wearing sweatpants every day, and I also think it's important to dress in a way that makes you feel comfortable and happy, whatever that means for you. For me, time at home was a fashion reset [5]. Now, I have extra motivation in the mornings to pick out an outfit that reflects what I'm feeling that day and that shows off my personal style. Now, I dress up every day in sweaters, blouses, jeans, trousers, and sometimes even shoes (when I need a serious confidence boost). Oh, and I'm definitely back to wearing bras, underwire and all [6].


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fashion/why-im-excited-to-get-dressed-after-pandemic-48437952