Spring Fashion In The Time of CoVID-19. Five Ideas We Like, And One We Really Like.

By Karen and Erica

We are happy that spring is here—even though it is a spring the likes of which we have never seen before and pray we never see again. Spring is still the trigger for color and light in our clothes. Maybe not the most important thing right now—but we need to keep steady, and dressing—even for the special challenge of working at home—is one way we can do that. Now is not the time to relax sartorial principles. Especially if you are on Zoom.

So. What’s new?

Of course nothing is all that new, but styles get repackaged all the time, and people younger than we probably think they are new. So we did a little research. Here are some pre-virus trends we could get behind:

• Dresses. We like knee length, slinky dresses, and midi dresses that float. Maxi dresses are difficult for people as short as we are, but if you are tall, go for it. And shirt dresses are a thing this year. They can be great, if kept simple and classic, and they usually have sleeves.

• Neon. Karen just loves, loves, loves neon. (Most of these dresses would look weird on her, or maybe on anyone, but the color is perfect!) Some of these might be more wearable. And some of these very colorful suits are great. (Not the oversize ones pooling on the ground. What’s that all about? The opposite of empowering.)

• Ash Gray. Not everyone is a neon girl—in fact Erica is the elegant Lustre lady, so she goes with neutrals—black and white and ash gray and beige are gorgeous this year.

• Glitter and shoulder pads. Maybe both in one outfit is a little excessive, but we are in for the glitter. New fabrics make the glitter definitely day wear. And work-at-home wear. Especially as there are no nights out right now.

• Polka dots. They are the best! We like them especially on slim pants, but they’re great on everything. Even sandals. (Not sure about the Carolina Herrera number, though.) And they are perfect for FaceTime.

What do we not want?

• Tweedy, dull colored, heavy suits with Bermuda shorts. A look less spring is difficult to imagine.

• Hot pants. Seriously? Didn’t we get rid of them decades ago?

• Faux leather coats. Impossible Foods is now into coats? We haven’t seen too many we like.

• We’re not sure about the Disco Collar. We lived the Studio 54 era, but we don’t recall these.

• Huge balloon sleeves. No, no, a thousand times no. We don’t need water wings any more. And who knows what might hide in them.

• Cold Shoulders. Those cut-out things. The opposite of balloon but equally horrid. Gone!

We think you should wear whatever you like, of course, and we really could not care less what is in fashion and what is not. Especially this year. But we like to check out new ideas.

And before we leave the fashion world, a shoutout to the local fashion designers who are switching gears to make face masks. Big designers are not the only ones. One of Lustre’s good friends, Gabrielle Carlson, has begun making masks as well. These small businesses are in trouble so let’s help if we can by ordering online.

What are you wearing as you live remotely?