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.
-
31 Finds From Abercrombie That Give "I Shop at The Row" Energy
When did the brand get so chic?
By Nikki Chwatt
-
Rosie HW Just Proved That You Only Need This Item to Make Your Outfit Look Rich
Part polished, part laid-back cool.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
Everything We Tried and Loved From Laura Harrier's Reformation Collab
Plus, listen to Harrier on the Who What Wear Podcast.
By Eliza Huber
-
Trust Me—These 10 Zara Items Will Go Viral and Sell Out by August 1
My predictions are never wrong.
By Eliza Huber
-
These 30 Chic Pieces From the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Make Any Outfit Instantly Look Expensive
Luxe vibes right this way.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
If a Stylish Italian Woman Shopped the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, These 30 Chic Pieces Would Catch Her Eye
These are bound to sell out.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
Fashion PSA: The Chicest Cashmere Sale Is Happening at J.Crew Right Now
Drop everything.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
The 33 Best Under-$1K Designer Finds From Mytheresa, Net-a-Porter, and Saks
Stunning options abound.
By Allyson Payer