As we spruce ourselves up ahead of the easing of lockdown, how will men’s grooming evolve this year? And what will women be wearing in “post pandemic” 2021?
EMBRACING YOUR NATURAL GREY HAIR
2020 will forever be known as the year of the coronavirus pandemic. But also, as the year in which men worldwide began growing out their natural hair.
For older folks, this meant embracing their grey hair. Millions of men spent the initial lockdown period within their homes, far away from favourite barbers and hairdressers. Without a qualified expert to handle their hair, they were forced to take a backseat and go “all-natural”.
Going dye-free is never easy, especially for those who are used to regularly retouching to eliminate grey.. Many folk feel like dying their hair enables them to defy the ageing that’s always looming in the background. There’s a risk of self-esteem problems when hair is left untreated for too long. Grey hair was a source of shame in the minds of many men – until the pandemic struck.
Celebrities like Will Smith and Colin Jost, to name a few, decided to embrace grey hair during the summer of 2020 and haven’t stopped since. And it suits both of them perfectly. Honestly, there’s no real reason to hide it – after all, grey hair is a part of you, so flaunt it!
BIGGER BEARDS
Going “all-natural” isn’t limited to just the hair on your scalp. Interestingly, many men also decided to let their beards grow big and lumberjack-like during the pandemic.
DJ Khaled embraced his natural beard, giving fans a fresh and much-needed break from his traditional designer beard. However, beards don’t need to be all messy and tangled, like DJ Khalid’s lockdown look. If you’ve grown out your beard this year, too, and are looking for styling ideas, it helps to incorporate relevant products into your routine.
Many men swear by using hair wax to shape their beards in the morning. A good, high-quality wax will last you throughout the day and help your beard frame your face perfectly.
LOOSENING UP WITH LONG HAIR OR SHAVEN HEADS
Long hair, don’t care! Are you one of those men who decided to grow their hair out this year?
The early days of the coronavirus pandemic saw barber shops all over the country go into lockdown, leaving men with no place to go for a haircut.
Whilst many men will rush straight into the barber shop the moment lockdown easing allows them to on April 12th, some will continue to fully embrace their locks and continue to let them grow.
2021 will be either be all about long hair or completely shaven heads.
If you’ve been considering cutting your hair off altogether but aren’t sure if it’ll suit you, that’s understandable. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but you can’t deny that some guys look stunning with(out) it. Pair up a shaved head with a nice designer shirt and you’ve got a pristine office look.
Women’s Post Pandemic Fashion
Dressing up Will Come Back
Fashion history has had major inflection points following traumatic, globe-shattering events. Clothing changed drastically after WWI, WWII, and the Spanish flu pandemic of 2018, finding new forms of expression – from daywear to evening gowns.
Post-pandemic fashion will embrace dressing up as an opportunity to be savoured. With workwear remaining casual, evening wear will be more of an event in itself. When we can finally go to weddings and fundraisers again, clothes appropriate for those occasions take on new meaning and value—even if the budget allows for just one special gown. But this will be OTT. Think Met Lady Gaga at the Met Gala. The bigger and brighter the better.
Casual and Comfortable Continues
Working from home witnessed the rise of “home wear.” And soft, comfortable fabrics and loungewear presentable enough for a Zoom meeting aren’t going away. Post-pandemic, many people will continue to work from home and will expect their clothing to be functional, comfortable, and easy to wash. Expect to see silk PJs with diamond earrings and red lipstick for that Google Meets job interview.
Masks as Accessories
Every retailer, from cycling shops to makers of phone cases, jumped on the mask-manufacturing bandwagon during the pandemic. Even with the massive rollout of vaccines, some public health officials predict that masking will be necessary deep into 2021, and possibly beyond. After all, wearing a mask seems to have reduced the frequency of colds and flu, and helps protect against the effects of pollution.
Masks have become a branding opportunity, appearing with logos, patterns, or in beautiful embellished luxury fabrics. DIY mask makers found ways to add personality to the practicality and necessity of masking, using bright prints or original designs. Coordinating your mask with your outfit is a trend that’s likely to last at least another year. Black facemasks will be the ultimate unisex must-have accessory to go with every outfit.
