It goes without saying that times are strange right now, and attempting to stay stylish is difficult - I mean, what’s the point if nobody is seeing you? Well, there are still a lot of good reasons, even if you don’t see another soul all day. Firstly, getting ready each morning brings a little bit of normality into our lives and the creativity involved in creating new outfits can offer a fun distraction. Plus there is no doubt that getting dressed properly makes you feel better about your day. We shouldn’t underestimate the power of a good (or even an average) outfit - it’s an outward expression of how you’re feeling, but even if you’re not feeling great, dressing in a way that looks good will make you feel more positive.

If you’re not totally on board and would just rather stay in your loungewear and be comfortable, then just try accessorising and wearing something other than your everyday go-to joggers/leggings/loungewear - other clothes like dresses are comfortable too! Try it once. Notice how it makes you feel. And if you like it, here are my top five ways to keep yourself motivated to stay stylish during lockdown. With a caveat to say that it’s ok to have a pyjama/loungewear day when you need one - we’re all human, some of us have kids or dog, we aren’t perfect so this isn’t intended to be a lecture, just one way of lifting your spirits!

five ways to keep yourself motivated to stay stylish during lockdown.png

So here are five ways that help keep me motivated to stay stylish during lockdown:

Dress like you’re going somewhere better later - never before has this little gem of a quote been more apt! It’s my favourite and I’ve got it written on a Post-It on my mirror. Think about now as being a good time to experiment with outfits that you can wear once lockdown is over and observe how the outfits make you feel.
Make creating an outfit part of your routine - we’ve heard it from all the experts, routine is key to getting through this period, so add in some time for getting dressed and also some time for creating outfits - you could do this the evening before or at a certain time of the day or even plan out your outfits on a Sunday evening.
Wear the rainbow - nothing lifts our mood more than our favourite colour. Rainbows are everywhere at the moment as a symbol of hope and thanks, so why not set yourself a challenge to wear a different colour or colour combination everyday. Start by going through the rainbow (and don’t forget pink!)!
Go to Pinterest for inspiration - the BEST social media platform to be on now, as it contains very few links to the news! Search for colour combination inspiration, outfit inspiration or see what your style icon has been wearing lately. Copy an outfit from what you own, get inspiration for what to wear with that skirt you never wear (simply type in ‘red skirt outfits’ for example).
Take photos of your outfits - for you, for future reference, to post on Instagram, creating a library of outfits will save you time in the future - if you’re rushing to get dressed in the morning, you can have a quick scan through your lockdown outfits (that nobody saw - bonus)!

I’d love to know your tips to help you stay stylish during lockdown and beyond. What keeps you motivated?