Redefining Romance During COVID-19
By Meghna Iyer, Fashion Columnist
Web design by Dina Kuanysheva, Web Designer
The pandemic has had an influential impact on every aspect of our lives, from health and politics to fashion and self-expression. As a whole, our society is moving towards becoming more respectful and supportive of one another, and fashion is headed in a similar direction.
Clothes are often symbols of power and reflect the personality and identity of the wearer. A wardrobe can expose what’s important to someone, whether it be ethical consumerism or dressing for themselves. Each person has a different idea of strength and importance; there is strength in romantic dresses, gender-fluid clothing, workwear, and everything in between, but for a while only the latter has been viewed as such. However, the pandemic — having given us many occasions to take charge of our own health and opinions — has created a version of fashion that is inclusive to the different perceptions of strength.
COVID-19 has given self-love and the romanticism of daily life a new meaning. We see it in the increased efforts to preserve one’s mental health, the search for little joys in quarantine, and the newfound acceptance we give to one another. The fashion industry has embraced these practices in their newest trends and “it” pieces. Dresses, for all genders, have shifted from sleek and tailored silhouettes to romantic and voluminous. The dresses are covered with tulle, frills, and puffed sleeves. The volume of the dresses is akin to having a place in society and creating a space there for yourself. It redefines the meaning of romance.
Romance has been equated to fairy tales and cheesy comedies for so long that it doesn’t even seem tangible sometimes, otherwise it involves trading your power to be the lovesick character in a story. Social media has given rise to different aesthetics over the years, the most recent being “the soft girl.” In the past, being soft has been seen as weak and fragile, but that mindset is changing with the redefinition of romance. We are seeing that being kind and soft is not only refreshing, but also needed in the midst of a pandemic. Kindness is not only a necessity to project outwards, but also within yourself. Self-care is being kind to yourself, and we could all use a little bit more of that right now.
It’s not so much that the fashion trend has drastically changed, but that people are reacting differently to it now. The rise of romantic dresses shows a shift in ideals. We are breaking a longstanding tradition of perceiving people a certain way and leaving it up to interpretation by the consumer.
When reflecting on this, Asya Varetsa, the co-founder of the luxury sleepwear brand Sleeper, said that “real power lies in knowing and accepting your true self.” In a sense, strength is not about a certain look, but how you feel in it. It’s about being content with who you are and being truly head over heels in love with yourself. Fashion has simply adapted to provide one with a multitude of mechanisms to do so, whether it be with a pair of power heels, a poofy dress, or a matching workout set.
Whatever it is you do or wear, do it with all of your heart. We get so caught up in work, school, and all of the stress that comes with it that we easily lose sight of what makes life so special. I like to romanticize the daily details of life and allow myself to appreciate the little things, like walks to work or running errands. Instead of treating these moments like ordinary chores, they become an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in the middle of a busy day. If I wear an outfit I love, I can’t wait for everyone walking past me to see my favorite jacket or shoes and it becomes that much easier.
In order to combat the draining feeling that persists as the pandemic continues past its one-year anniversary, we must prioritize ourselves and our well-being before anything else. That may look different for every person, but fashion is at the heart of it all. The first step to living for yourself is dressing for yourself.
