The 9 Key Elements of My Post-Lockdown Wardrobe
I know this is an overstatement, but lately, every time I leave the house, I utter the ubiquitous phrase "I have nothing to wear". The reason being, over the course of the past year, with social events, trips, and fun nights out put on the backburner, all I seem to have bought was loungewear and house shoes. Based on the sheer number of stories Who What Wear has published about those two categories since March 2020, I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this.
With vaccinations on the rise, the weather getting nicer, and cautiously hopeful rhetoric from doctors filling the airwaves, we're all looking forward to returning to some sense of normalcy this year. (Although it's, of course, important to keep wearing masks and avoiding crowded places, among other guidance, as advised by the CDC.) And with this new normal comes a need for some new wardrobe essentials. If you're of a similar mindset, read on to find out which items I recommend for reemerging back into the world, and shop them along with me.
1. Low Heels
My feet have become soft like the slippers that have encased them for the past year, so I'm easing back into wearing real shoes with low-heeled ones.
2. Pretty Tops
See-ya, sweatshirts. I'm stocking up on pretty warm-weather tops to wear with jeans and shorts. Luckily, there are tons of good ones to choose from right now.
3. Comfortable Denim
Believe it or not, I'm ready to wear jeans again, but they have to be comfortable or I don't want 'em.
4. Roomy Shoulder Bags
I have no desire to try to stuff my belongings into a teeny little bag anymore, so I'm shopping for roomy shoulder bags that scream spring.
5. Polished Jackets
I pretty much wear jackets year-round (thanks to A/C), so I'm on the hunt for lightweight ones that will add polish to casual outfits.
6. Color
If ever there were a time to wear mood-boosting colors, it's now.
7. Fun Accessories
Cute, compliment-worthy accessories are at the top of my shopping list, including this adorable wine tote made for summer picnics.
8. Dresses
I don't recall buying many dresses last year. That's about to change.
9. Swimwear
Here's hoping that 2021 brings a few more beach days than the previous year.
Next up, 25 things I wear the most as a fashion editor living in the South.
Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.
-
I'm a Luxury Fashion Director—These Are the Only Designer Buys That Matter for Summer
From Miu Miu to Alaïa.
By Anna LaPlaca
-
Madewell, J.Crew, and Banana Republic Are Hosting Big-Deal Sales RN—Do Your Worst
And do it fast.
By Eliza Huber
-
The Only 35 Swimsuits You Need to Know About in 2024
From bikinis to maillots.
By Eliza Huber
-
I'm Prepping for My Trip to Havana—39 Items on My Shopping Wish List
I want it all.
By Chichi Offor
-
French Women Are Wearing Socks With These Classic Shoe Styles This Spring
Chic as always.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
I Objectively Have Enough Shoes, But Then I Saw These On-Trend Styles From Nordstrom, Zara, and Shopbop
They're all under $300, too.
By Kristina Rutkowski
-
I Made a List of Fresh (But Still Classic) Basics I Would Happily Wear for the Next 5 Years
They'll never let you down and can be styled endlessly.
By Kristina Rutkowski
-
I Just Ravaged Nordstrom's Sale Section, and You'll Definitely Want to See My Spoils
These are all too good to pass up.
By Kristina Rutkowski