How to Get Dressed Up: Post-Pandemic

In this video, I want to give some tips on how to kick-start your getting dressed routine as life is getting back to normal. I’m so excited because I thought this day would never come where social activities would open back up and we’ll all have a reason to get dressed each day. Just yesterday I went to buy this fun bubblegum pink shirt dress and it was already sold out in every size. That was definitely a sign that women are starting to think about their clothes again and they’re wanting to up their style game. So for me during the pandemic, I’ve been making myself get dressed even though I’ve been working from home with no where to go. But I’ve talked with a lot of women lately that are anxious because they feel like they’ve forgotten how to get dressed and they’re all asking the burning question “what do I wear for life after lockdown”. So don’t fear, I’ve got some easy style tips for those of us who are feeling rusty at getting dressed for everyday life again.

Before we dive in, I’ll give you a quick introduction, I’m Emmaline Chappell and I’m a certified personal stylist. I have my own business here in Richmond. I help busy women elevate their style by discovering a new way of dressing to look luxe for less.

My first tip is to start planning: try to plan out your looks for your week. Whether that’s planning your outfit the night before or on a Sunday you plan your weeks worth of outfits, it’s up to you, the main thing here is that you’re taking the time to think out how you want to dress. This is going to help you get back in the habit of dressing for your daily life. And when you are planning your looks, try to go at it with the mindset of “how do I want to feel tomorrow in my outfit” and base the look around that.

Tip two is find some alternatives to sweats: sweatshirts, sweatpants, leggings, yoga pants, they’ve been your best friends during the pandemic. But I would challenge you to expand. Some of my favorite pieces to wear that are great substitutes for sweats are flowy dresses and relaxed pants. Go for breezy dresses, wider leg jeans or pants. These pieces will make you look more polished and properly dressed because their fabric is anything but stretchy, jersey lounge wear and these pieces are also super comfy. So you still have the comfort factor but you look more presentable.

Tip three is two words: joyful dressing. What I mean by that is, choose pieces from your closet or maybe even buy a few pieces that spark joy for you. For a year now, we’ve been in clothes that represent at super-lax and disheveled reality. We’ve lost sight of the joy that properly getting dressed up can bring. Pick a garment that is colorful or it’s a print that makes you feel pretty or maybe it has a lot of movement or it’s an accessory that is a stand out piece that makes you feel fierce. This way of dressing where you focus on how a piece is making you feel will give you that push to wear it. Maybe it is a little over-dressed but that positive feeling it ignites for you will help you not feel so intimidated by the idea of getting dressed up.

Try to look at getting dressed up now in these three key words: simple, joyful and intentional. These couple of steps I went over in this video are simple and easy to get back in the swing of dressing. Choose outfits that spark joy for you so that you can feel confident wearing them. And have an intentional mindset. It’s all about making the effort to be intentional with your style and giving yourself the time to look your best for yourself.

Remember, simple, joyful and intentional and you’ll be back in the swing of getting dressed up with confidence!

If you have any questions about this video please leave a comment or send me a direct message and I’ll answer you asap or if would like any help with your personal style or your wardrobe, reach out through my website.

Work with me! As a personal stylist and style coach, I believe you deserve to feel amazing in your clothes and have a wardrobe that you love to wear. With my guidance and expertise, you’ll have a closet that works and a style that makes you feel confident and fabulous