LOUNGEWEAR: HERE TO STAY?

BY LAUREN GABBY

COVID-19 has had a large impact on the world and how people function. With virtually everything being moved online, loungewear has become the new norm. It is now acceptable to wear a blazer and sweatpants when on a Zoom call with your boss.

For students, loungewear has always been popular. Walking around Iowa State’s campus, you are sure to see students clad in their sweatshirts and sweatpants, sporting the same attire they would wear for their 8:00 a.m. Zoom meeting in bed.

“Lounge is a brand that I love to shop,” said Emily Allen, junior majoring in biology. “It is a bit expensive, but very comfortable.” Lounge Underwear is a UK brand that was started in 2015. Like many other brands, Lounge Underwear was rapidly growing before the coronavirus began. People like to dress comfy and many companies have taken wind of this, amounting to huge success.

On the other end of things, many people have used their time indoors during quarantine to experiment with how they dress. From Tiktok trends to influencers and TV shows, there are many different ways to find inspiration.

Rishima Varma, a sophomore majoring in graphic design, started watching the Netflix show “Next in Fashion” during quarantine, which inspired her to get more into streetwear fashion and revamp her looks. Varma also explained that like many people, she has worn more loungewear since the pandemic began. Instead of dressing up as much as she used to, Varma elects some days for loungewear and some for dressing up. This way she can be comfortable and continue to experiment and make new looks.

“I’m still in the process of putting together outfits and experimenting and such, but that’s the direction I want to head in,” Varma said. “I honestly feel like my style is always changing and I love so many different types of fashion that I want to wear them all, so you may see me in one look one day and in a completely different one the next.”

A question that many people have is how people will dress when the pandemic winds down. Although it may seem like COVID-19 will last forever, eventually it will come to an end and people will either continue to wear loungewear or welcome the change and dress up.

Loungewear will likely remain popular, but both Allen and Varma agree that they will have the urge to dress up more once the pandemic is over and commemorate the end of what has seemed like a lengthy, bad dream.

“I think by the time COVID is over I will want to dress up more often, just because I’ll have more places to go and I absolutely love dressing up,” Varma said. “I feel that it sets a beautiful tone for the day ahead.”