Not going out…

You’re right, the festive jollies and Christmas plans this year are most likely not going to be as we knew, hoped or had anticipated they might be. Whilst we can’t dare contemplate who we might be able to invite to pull a cracker with this Christmas, other than our immediate household we have to hope… and find a way to brings a little festive cheer through what we wear.

Festive cheer? What I am talking about when the news is what it is?? You will have probably noticed that Christmas was/is coming so much earlier this year, with retailers desperate for us to be able buy their products before they need to close before possible, and now actual, Lockdown Part II (I starting writing this before seeing the news yesterday, oh boy).

In various articles I’ve read or podcasts I’ve listened to, with clever fashion commentators, and even knowing how I felt myself at the beginning of, what will now be known as Lockdown #1, I know, as I’m sure you do too what we wear can have such a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves.

Fashion isn’t just frippery, the psychological effect of feeling good in what we wear is immense. In Lockdown #1 in the first week I tried the no make-up thing – it didn’t work for me, and whilst I didn’t go for as much make up as I might normally, eyeliner and mascara were a non negotiable, but also the needing to make a little effort in what I wore (when we weren’t DIY-ing), made me feel so much better and made the whole anxiousness much easier to bear.

So what if actual meetings can’t happen? Well, we’ll have to dig deeper into Zoom and Facetime (even if we are so over it.) but we have to keep the older folk safe… so we gotta stay home. Earrings, as I’ve mentioned before are a great Zoom distractor – and immediately look as though effort has been made,

So though our diaries are not going to burst with real life events and must-do drinks that we used to insist we had to do before Christmas this year, and maybe that’s OK. (Actually, it’s sort of not, but if we don’t have a choice? Puh). We are going to have to get inventive and digital. And we might still want a bit of festive sparkle – because Christmas/festive times go hand in hand with sparkle don’t they?

Bearing in mind all of that… here’s some low key sparkle that we just might need to to lift the mood of what is now going to be happening in the next month… and beyond… and if we’re facing time and zooming with our friends and loved ones we might want something to add some pizazz? No? Not feeling it yet, ok, maybe I’m clutching at straws.

So if you just want to stay in your pj’s and forget everything else, you might want to consider doing it in style?
Hush Klara Printed Jersey Pyjamas £55

If you were to consider getting dressed, even a t-shirt might be OK with the smallest bit of sparkle?
John Lewis & Partners ANDOR Contrast Tank Top Cotton T-shirt £25

John Lewis & Partners ANDOR Contrast Tank Top Cotton T-shirt £25

This has more sparkle, but still low-key.
John Lewis & Partners ANDOR Lola Glitter T-shirt £39

Another style, good for this year, and for next…. this is available in four different colours. A classic style, this isn’t going to date.
M&S Shimmer high neck relaxed short sleeve top £19.50

M&S Shimmer high neck relaxed short sleeve top £19.50

John Lewis & Partners does seem to have hit the nail perfectly this season with quietly perfected low key festive-wear.
John Lewis & Partners ANDOR Alex Oversized Metallised Cardigan £65

John Lewis & Partners ANDOR Alex Oversized Metallised Cardigan £65

This is happy-making… oh the thoughts of where this sequinned dress could be worn… that will be at home then. But even so… stunning colour, and won’t date.
M&S Sequin Knee length shift dress £49