HOT 5 - 1/2/2021
Did we ever think we would get to this day? God what a year it's been! It seems like both a million years ago and just yesterday that I wrote to you about being in lockdown here with my husband Robert in New York City. Even reading that first email from the trenches back in April feels surreal. I remember how confused and frightened we all were.
And how bizarre to think I didn't even get my summer clothes out of storage and that my closet remained unchanged and barely looked through for months on end. I've surely not worn a tenth of my winter clothes and have rarely been motivated to dress in anything other than leggings and sweats...so not me! But that said we will never be without fashion in some form. It will remain the 1st impression we make in the world therefore always important no matter the context.
Here we go with the 1st H*O*T 5 of 2021.
1. 5 Fashion predictions for 2021
I'm super excited about so many of the fashion predictions for 2021 because on a personal level they really resonate with me and most are trends that I have always loved as a fashion obsessive.
a. Comfort rules the day! We'll never go back to uncomfortable clothes. That old adage about suffering to look good sounds as dated as girdles and foot binding. My guess is as things get better we'll meld the looks from lockdown with the new or as In the words of fashion journalist Vanessa Friedman of the New York Times "loungewear meet life” :)
b. Self Expression is Queen -- Clothing becomes more personal and more meaningful. It becomes much more a form of self-expression because we've been freed from trends and fads that hold us back from showing the world who we are or want to be. Now that we've all lived in a moment when trends and "the latest" had no meaning and held little interest, let's take our new found freedom and finally embrace our own personal style.
c. Fun With a Capital F -- Our clothes and accessories have gotten a little too functional and boring. Right now more than anything we need a little fun in our lives! That means bright colors, wow prints, and over the top shapes. And most of all we need the courage to throw them all on together. Let's look to fabulous eccentric dressers like June Ambrose, Anna Piaggi, and Iris Apfel for a little dressing #inspo
d. No More Excuses! Sustainable finally becomes a real thing, not just lip service. I've always been a compulsive vintage and resale shopper which is the very definition of sustainable. It's time to get over whatever holds you back from this type of shopping. Everything can be cleaned, repaired, and altered if need be. Here's a past H*O*T blog post with some rules for getting the best out of vintage shopping.
e. New Found Freedoms -- If you're like me you most likely learned to live without many of the beauty and grooming rituals that were a constant part of our lives since our teen years. Things like blowouts, haircuts, hair color, eyelash extensions, etc. fell by the wayside as we prioritized health over beauty. Personally, I'm grappling with who I'll be when the smoke clears. I predict that we'll continue to see a loosening up of beauty rules especially those around aging and hair color as women realize how much they liked having a bit more freedom in their lives.
2. So what really happened in fashion in 2020?
By now we all know that masks are the only accessory that counts, that sweatshirts rule, zoom tops are a thing, and department stores are dead. But if you're interested in some of the more subtle changes that have taken place over the past 10 months this article breaks it down for you. Did you pull out your ugly Crocs from 2006?
3. The 20 Phrases that Defined 2020
This past year has given us tons of new words, slogans, and phrases which if you heard them uttered a mere 10 months ago you would have been scratching your head. Here's a fun look at the language that's come out of this awful year and they're not just words having to do with the pandemic either. This really proves what a dumpster fire 2020 has been.
4. Bingeable Bridgerton!
Have you binged this frothy romantic romp through early 19th century England? If not you should! Produced by prolific showrunner Shonda Rhymes, it's full of all the touches she's famous for namely witty repartee, gorgeous clothes, eye popping decor and scenery, steamy sex scenes, and all around can't be missed craziness. In other words the perfect escapist viewing entertainment. Don't miss it!
5. To Resolution or Not?
You're either a resolutions person or you're not. I've been one since I was a child. Something about making a list of new habits to aspire to in a brand spanking new year really appealed to me. Even if most didn't stick beyond the month I continued to make them year after year and hey, sometimes 1 or 2 would stick. This year top of my list is to make H*O*T more of a resource for what you're craving. So look out for some great new products to hit the site in early 2021. In the meantime, I've decided it's time for a super 60% off of all jewelry sale! It's a great time to grab fun pieces at really fun prices.
Get ready for a great 2021!
Terry
