The Year of Lowered Standards

If your cabin fever is turning into a rash that you just can’t scratch then you’re not alone. Never before have we needed the holiday party season more and yet Mother Nature persists to ground us. 

Not having a reason to be presentable has universally lowered the fashion standards to levels that we might have cringed at previously. By the time this pandemic is over, we’ll have to relearn certain grooming habits and adjust to wearing pants without an elastic waistband again.

I’ll be completely candid here; I haven’t applied makeup even once this year. What I wear when I walk my two chihuahuas would leave you wondering what a homeless lady is doing with two little dogs. The situation gets even more ridiculous when they don their Christmas-themed dog sweaters. It’s almost shameful to admit that my dogs are literally better dressed than I am.

In a year of skipped beauty treatments, overgrown roots, and wearing the same working-from-home pair of Lululemon yoga pants, don’t you crave a little reprieve from it all? I know I am. At the very least I’ve pledged to myself that I will take one opportunity this holiday season to wear makeup - I desperately need the practice before I lose my ability to properly apply lashes.

Why Looking Good Actually Has Real Benefits

I get it, it can be hard to justify breaking up with your favorite pair of sweatpants in a pandemic party season. But don’t you think that life’s too short to give up on looking good. Besides, there will be an end to all of this at some point but why wait until then?

A great outfit amongst other things has the ability to buff away the dullness of everyday living. Something we could all benefit from right now. It can even elevate your mood by offering a different lens to view yourself allowing you to play any role you want. 

Dressing up is just plain fun and is a self-care practice that will never go out of style. Looking good means feeling good. This good brain chemistry elixir is something that anyone who loves fashion can use to explain their shopping habits. Even I’m guilty of this.

The joy of dressing up is an art form that anyone can acquire. It offers escapism, the ability to change your attitude, build your confidence, and a chance to feel more pulled together mentally. You can even go as far as to say that it’s therapy and a new outfit is your prescription for a better outlook.

Even if you decide to pass on looking party-chic, it’s still enjoyable to look at pretty outfits. Besides, imagining where you would wear them is honestly half the fun. This is why I spent so many hours on Pinterest that I lost track of time to assemble these festive outfit ideas. Enjoy them by simply imagining the possibilities or to inspire your outfit planning this year. 

(CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO GET PRODUCT DETAILS)

Create An Excuse to Get Dressed Up

It’s natural to wonder why the effort would be worth it when this year’s celebrations are looking modest at best - using the CDC’s best practices guidelines of course. But thanks to technology and the general ease of using it by now you won’t be wholly robbed of opportunities to be fabulous.

Although this year will be quieter with no big gatherings or company parties, there are other creative ways to festively connect. Virtual celebrations are a perfect opportunity to retire your sweatpants for sequins, even if it's just for one night.

Reconnecting with the festive season is a great way to distract yourself and add a little color to your regular routine. Plus, it’s comforting to keep or make new traditions during this time. A few examples of how you can do this is -

• Many wineries have embraced virtual tours and tastings with their on-site wine experts.

• Order a custom tasting pack delivered right to you and book a private Zoom meeting with the staff.

• Stay up to date on participating wineries hosting special events with celebrity performances or food and wine pairings with top chefs.

• Get a virtual walkthrough on how to brew beer from home. Don’t have malted barley sitting around? No worries because everyone gets shipped a complete kit of ingredients and equipment to make a case of beer.

• Or jump straight to the drinking with a delivered box of various cheeses and seasonal brews with your own cicerone (beer sommelier - yeah I had to look that one up) to walk you through your tasting experience.

• Live theater productions have been sorely missed but take heart, you can now have private VIP experiences with the stars of your favorite productions.

• Explore what it takes to be a stage actor. Book some acting, auditioning, dance, and vocal lessons. 

• Too shy for the stage? Book a virtual concert or meet and greet instead.

• Get ready to be the next contestant on your own private game show with your very own game show host.

• Show off your trivia chops, physical skills, guessing abilities, scavenging proficiency, and more with a variety of different challenges. 

• Connect up to 14 cohorts to see who gets bragging rights as the last man or woman standing.

• Gather the troops to problem-solve together to complete an adventure of your choosing.

• Immerse yourself into scenarios like breaking out of prison, attempting an art heist, or hunting for treasure, and gold.

• For groups larger than 8 you can break into teams and play against each other.

• If you could gamify Google Maps this would be it. Whether you’re a travel enthusiast or a geography buff you’re sure to enjoy playing GeoGuesser.

• Test your knowledge of the world by selecting from a variety of different challenges from famous places to specific regions.

• You can also instantly join up on live streams to see if you can outsmart your internet competition. Or, keep it in-house and create a pro league with your friends.

So, there you have it, plenty of reasons to send your sweatpants packing for one night. Whether or not you decide to break out the sequins or not, remember to connect with those you love. At the end of the day, celebrations create a reason to gather with your friends and family. Especially during the holidays and because of this year, it may be more important than ever before.

Have a safe and happy holiday season to you and yours!