6 THINGS FOR FASHIONISTAS TO DO DURING HOME ISOLATION (BROUGHT TO YOU BY COVID-19).

Boy oh boy how the world has changed since my last blog. When I wrote: 7 simple steps to buying a preloved classic bag, I didn’t imagine my next post would be written in a world experiencing such a seismic shift in the way we live. We’ll all be forever changed in the way we view society, the world and the future. Not to mention the new additions to the vernacular: ‘social distancing’ and ‘self-isolation’ – phrases we’d never even heard of just a few weeks ago.

This one in one hundred year event has shaken us all; shown us the best and the worst of human nature; and it’s only just begun… this is definitely going to be a marathon and not a sprint. So in the light of that, I’d like to share my thoughts on how the fashionistas amongst us might make the most of our ‘quiet time’ at home if/when it happens to each of us. No doubt many of my readers have already undergone or are currently undergoing a period of isolation, so we’re sending you big virtual (long distance!) hugs to give you strength.

We’ve all read the usual ‘things to do’ lists, so I wanted to do one for all the fashionistas out there.

1. Binge Watch every series of Project Runway

… and once you’ve done that, and if you’re still craving even more Heidi and Tim, check out Making the Cut on Amazon Prime. If you’re a true fashionista, you probably never get sick of fashion competition shows.

2. Read fashion books

There are so many incredible stories in the fashion world, why not get inspired and start reading some of them. A personal favourite is In My Shoes – A Memoir by Tamara Mellon, Co-founder of Jimmy Choo. Although this book was released in 2013, it’s as fresh a read today as it ever was. The story is truly remarkable and guaranteed to hook you the moment you get started. 

Likewise, I can also recommend Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight. And yes, you’re right if you’re sensing a trend… I’m a huge fan of memoirs.  

Here are some other books to check out:

Gods and Kings by Dana Thomas. Documents the rise and fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano.

Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon by Iris Apfel. According to Amazon, this book is a unique and lavishly illustrated collection of musings, anecdotes, and observations on all matters of life and style, infused with the singular candor, wit, and exuberance of the globally revered ninety-eight-year-old fashion icon whose work has been celebrated at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and by countless fans worldwide.

Betsey: A Memoir by Betsey Johnson, the internationally famous fashion designer and style icon. Betsey delves into what it took to go from a white picket fence in Connecticut to becoming and internationally known force in the fashion biz.

3. Go on a Virtual Gallery or Museum Tour

Ever dreamt of going to the Louvre? Well now’s your chance, and without the crowds! A host of Art Galleries and Museums around the world are offering interactive experiences.

You can view thousands of paintings, sculptures and installations on-line via a number of different platforms. Some offer an interactive experience, others 360 degree videos, full ‘walk around’ tours complete with zoomable photos and voice over descriptions.

Some of the best tours on offer are below.

The Louvre, Paris

Vatican Museums, Rome

National Gallery, London

MASP, Brazil

Above: The Louvre's virtual reality tour is worth checking out. 

4. Perform a Wardrobe Purge

What better time than now to do a total wardrobe overhaul. Doing this achieves two great results. First, you clear up space in your wardrobe by getting rid of things you no longer wear. But secondly, it’s like going on a great shopping adventure. Who knows what treasures lie beneath the piles of t-shirts, jumpers and hanger upon hanger of long forgotten shirts, jeans and dresses.

If you find any treasures of value, that you know you’ll no longer wear you have a few options. 1. Give it away to charity. 2. Pass it on to a family member or friend… Now that my daughter is the same size as me, she’s been circling my wardrobe like a vulture, urging me to perform another wardrobe purge. 3. Re-sell any designer or high value goods on one of the many consignment sites around, or simply list on ebay. Check out my last blog post for some of the best consignment sites around. However, this comes with a warning – stay focused on the task at hand i.e. to sell you goods, not to fill up your wardrobe with someone else’s preloved items! – easy to say, but hard to do.

Now as part of your purge, you will of course need some of our beloved handbag hangers. I know I'm biased, but they’re definitely the best system for keeping all your bags in one spot, so that you can always locate the bag you want without fuss. Plus it’ll keep them out of trouble. No more dumping them at the bottom of your wardrobe only to gather dust and mould, or under your bed as a home for cockroaches (yuk!). And because you’re reading this blog, I’d like to offer you a special bonus, a free handbag organiser (worth $22 bucks!) with any of our collections, regardless of how many collections your order. Order 1, and get one free organiser. Order 10 and get 10 free! Yup, lockdown has made me loco for sure. Just add the collection/s you want to the cart, and also add the equivalent number of Handbag Organisers to your cart (from our 'Global Accessories' dropdown) and then use this coupon code at checkout: ORGANISER. The organisers will be free!

Above: the handbag hanger in action.

5. Create Your Own Fashion Lookbook

Once the purge is over, and all the pieces that have survived are neatly back in place, it’s time to get creative. Pull together some of your favourite looks, and then mix them up, rework them, and try some combinations you’ve never tried before. Get your favourite Spotify playlist pumping and have some fun with it. Photograph all your favourite looks – just remember to work it girl! Then print out the winners and put together your own personal lookbook. No doubt you have an old notebook or scrapbook lying around that’s just crying out to be used, so here’s your chance. You can even categorise your looks: smart casual, work, night time, date night, taking the rubbish out… you get the gist.

The great thing about having your own lookbook is that whenever you’re short of ideas on what to wear in the future, you can have a quick scan and voilà, you’ll have a plethora of great looks to choose from.

Above: @patriciagarela shows us how to master style at home.

6. Host a Netflix Fashion Party

Now that you’ve done all that work sorting out your closets and getting organised. Dress up and then, sit back and relax with some friends and a glass of champers; or in true Sex and the City ‘Carrie’ style, with a Cosmopolitan (see recipe below); and pop on your favourite fashion movie. You can never go wrong with The Devil Wears Prada or The September Edition.

Above: Get your friends together and host a fashion themed Netflix party... don't forget the popcorn.

Classic Cosmopolitan

Ingredients:

• Crushed ice, to serve
• 2 shots (60ml) vodka
• 1 shot (30ml) Cointreau
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 1/2 cup (125ml) cranberry juice

Method: Place ice in a martini glass. Shake vodka, Cointreau, lime and cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker to combine. Strain into the prepared glass, then serve immediately.

Above: Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte enjoyed many Cosmopolitans in Sex and the City.

So there you have it, the fashionista’s guide to home isolation. I hope this gives you some ideas to get started on, ideas that will stop you coming down with a case of 'isolitis'. I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to, so please share your ideas in the comments below. And remember; stay safe, stay strong and stay home xxx