There is no doubt that COVID-19 transformed the way people work, socialize, and learn in a short time. This ongoing modern plague could also shape fashion trends in the coming years.
In a short time, COVID-19 transformed the way people work, socialize, educate their children, and more. Past global calamities have changed cultural attitudes and fashion trends for decades. With this ongoing modern plague, clothing trends could also be shaped in the future. So what will the new ways of going to work be after a year of Zoom calls and wearing pajamas as business casual?
Fashion In Times Of COVID-19
Historically, people update their wardrobes throughout the year, buying new clothes seasonally and sometimes impulsively. However, amid the shift to remote work and public COVID-19 restrictions, non-traditional retail shopping plummeted, but many clothing retailers grew and expanded.
It is a widespread feeling that trends will continue in terms of what has been considered comfortable everyday clothing today and in day-to-day life, whether working remotely or in the office. This was the trend before the pandemic, and in some places, it still is. The pajamas influenced both men's and women's clothing.
In the last year, remote work became widespread and was accepted to such an extent that it was considered "the new normal." Although many companies have considered the transition after the pandemic, and while they have created a hybrid model for workers with the option to work from home.
Dress for Success on Zoom
Video calls 24 hours a day have replaced in-person conferences for many remote professionals. It goes without saying that dressing for Zoom success requires comparatively fewer fashion-centered considerations than simply putting on your favorite pajamas. During the shift to remote work, appealing to camera aesthetics could play a role in short-term fashion choices, including our star garment, the pajamas.
The near future will be affected by brands looking for ways to attract consumers who work from home, such as details in necklines and bright colors that can be captured on camera. Most people did not wear pajamas, but it could be said that one of the positive effects that this pandemic has left worldwide has been the growth in their use, not only in quantity but in creating real awareness of their existence and versatility as an ideal garment for rest and also for comfortable work from home, of course under special circumstances like those of COVID-19.
Over the last 12 months, many people have added some new pieces, limiting and eliminating old garments from their wardrobe. As companies begin to bring employees back to the traditional office in person, the comforts of home could make their way into the workplace in some form; it's not a certainty, but it could happen that some companies might allow the use of pajamas on their premises.
It is possible to believe that most people will want to be comfortable or will need to find clothes that fit well due to the weight they have gained from staying at home. Fabrics play an important role in comfort and fit, and I believe this trend will continue as an option and direction for brands to offer to customers. In this sense, pajamas could fit perfectly into this trend, which in some way, would influence maintaining the performance of workers in that post-pandemic reintegration process, back to the workplace.
Historical Perspective And "New Normalities"
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic may be unprecedented in recent history, but global calamities are not uncommon and other disruptions have left lasting impressions on fashion and cultural customs. For example, after World War II and the rationing of basic supplies, such as fuel, sugar, and flours.
Skirts were full and femininity returned as a trend after the workforce became more female for the war effort. These are two important trends that affected fashion after the war and continued throughout the 1950s.
The lasting impact of the coronavirus pandemic on fashion trends and office wardrobe expectations remains to be seen. Beyond the workplace and Zoom rooms, the shift to large-scale remote work could change people's avant-garde approach to outings and social gatherings, including pajamas in those plans.
It could affect the way one looks, it would be like "dressing up" for outdoor activities or going to work. Some feel that there is a desire to add more excitement to the way they dress outside the home. Others feel that comfort has become a lifestyle, and the consumer will find ways to be comfortable in public.
The truth is that it is a fact that, after months of working in pajamas, several companies are canceling the great remote work experiment and dragging employees back to the office. Some do not plan to adhere to the strict usual dress code in the new post-pandemic office era, or anything like that. It is as much protest as it is practicality.
In any case, after employees have experienced the delicious freedom that is "working in pajamas", it is hard to imagine going back to the rigidity of tight suits and tedious uniforms.
As much as it may not be generally pleasing to admit, many have accumulated a few extra pandemic kilos during a lost year of quarantine and hibernation. In general, for most people, clothes do not fit well to their previous sizes, and certainly, a little time could be used to readjust socially and professionally after a year of videos and Zoom meetings to improve appearance.
The "new normal," as this constantly changing current reality is commonly known, implies the end of a previous standard. Office workers will take some time to readjust to the corporate nature after a year of improvisation and upheaval. In the meantime, perhaps companies can try something new regarding the internal expectations of the dress code.
Perhaps the free use of pajamas could be considered, or maybe a specific day of the week could be authorized for wearing them. At the end of the day, during the quarantine, many workers maintained their performance based on the comfort and confidence that came from being able to perform their duties in a safe, authentic, and not overly rigid environment, undoubtedly a great contribution of the pajamas.
On our website El Búho Nocturno, you will always find the pajamas that best suit your needs.