What does a fashion psychologist say about what to wear after a pandemic?

Fashion has always been a familiar creative outlet, but after spending more than a year in the house, the future of dressing felt uncertain. Having swapped stiff jeans for elastic-waist pants and heels for house slippers, would we ever want to wear real clothes (or at least clothes that don't clearly scream comfort) again?

According to fashion psychologist Shakayla Forbes Bell (opens in new tab), the answer is yes, but our approach to fashion will not be the same. By applying psychological theory to how we interact with clothing, including the buying, selling, styling, and design process, Forbes-Bell works with brands (she is now Afterpay's in-house fashion psychologist as well) to not only determine what a trend is, but why it exists identify it. Now she is using the same approach to figure out what dressing post-pandemic will actually look like.

"The pandemic has changed the way people relate to clothing. Forced to stay indoors and without social feedback, the focus became less on the aesthetic value of clothes and more on how they make us feel." This, of course, led to an emphasis on comfort." The need to be not only physically comfortable, but also psychologically comfortable, will probably remain the same now that people have come to understand that clothing can be used as a tool to aid cognitive processing and general well-being."[5 [Forbes Bell explains that clothing affects our views of ourselves in three main areas.

"Clothing is important because it gives us the power to move back and forth between these three selves. That clothing helps us express various elements of our identity is just one of the many ways in which clothing and psychology overlap. Clothing influences the way people perceive us and, in turn, the way they treat us, and it influences the way we think about ourselves, our abilities, and even the way we act. Clothing can be used to soothe our moods, evoke nostalgia, root political and religious beliefs, and much more.

The Future of Shopping

"Revenge buying (open in new tab), aka shopping to make up for lost time, is the likely outcome of the pandemic, says Forbes Bell." People are likely to use such shopping as a way to explore personal preferences and creativity that have been stifled by the monotony of loungewear choices."

With regard to the shopping model, Forbes Bell believes that consumers will become hybridized. "Consumers will still desire the ease of online shopping, but our ingrained desire for social interaction will boost physical stores. How long the in-store boost will last will depend on whether brick-and-mortar stores can offer an immersive experience that keeps consumers engaged.

But just because they will buy again doesn't mean shoppers will spend recklessly. The pandemic has also changed the way trends form, from trickle-down to trickle-up. Instead of being largely driven by fashion seasons, consumers are looking closer to home and to their social media feeds for inspiration." By practicing mindful shopping, consumers can ensure that they are buying what they truly value and avoid the traps of retail therapy and instant gratification both on and offline.

So how do we dress?

"Comfort continues to be an important part of the wardrobe, and many people will have a hard time giving it up anytime soon," says Forbes Bell. 'Workwear will be more functional than ever before, and loungewear will take center stage.' Likewise, more comfortable shoes such as sneakers, espadrilles, slingbacks, and loafers will continue to be popular. As things return to normal, pumps and moderate heel heights will continue to trend, while sky-scraping heels will continue to take a backseat."

Not so shockingly, some of the best sellers will be accessories because they are an easy way to add fun to your wardrobe. Globally, consumers are reaching for jewelry, charms, and pendants with an early oats vibe that speaks to the prevalence of nostalgia dressing and the shortening of the fashion cycle."

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