Let’s Keep It Casual

casual chic over 40

Dressing up is so last year…

My style has always been quite relaxed and casual, or ‘smart casual‘ at best. However, recently I feel that even what I call ‘casual’ has reached a whole new level of, well, casual

OK, it’s summer, and nobody dresses up in summer. And we’re in the middle of a global pandemic, and avoiding contact with other people means that our so-called social life is non-existent at the moment. Or at best limited to checking our friends’ social media platforms every once in a while.

And work… well, everybody looks weird on Zoom: talking heads with giant headphones in bad lighting. Who cares what we’re wearing?

casual chic  1300 x 1000

summer casuals

As I spend most of my days working from home, wearing some ratty old thing passing for ‘loungewear’,  I’m finding it increasingly difficult to ‘dress up’ when I leave home.

It’s not that I wouldn’t know how; it’s that I can’t be bothered. Even putting on some make up feels like a chore now. OK, I admit I’ve always been rather lazy when it comes to make up: a little bit of eye shadow, powder and lipstick, that’s what passes for make up in my world. But now I find myself wondering if I even need that…

Don’t worry, I haven’t lost my interest in style and clothes. I still read fashion magazines, and I just watched all 3 seasons of Miss Fisher (again) just for the fabulous outfits.

It’s just that it seems like so much effort to put together an outfit and make myself presentable. I’m exhausted even thinking about that.

Could it be that I’m suffering from some sort of social isolation exhaustion or quarantine fatigue?

casual chic  1300 x 1000

casual chic over 50

Outfit details:
linen shirt: Marks and Spencer / trousers: Onelife (old) /
bag: Coccinelle / sunglasses. Longchamp / shoes: Clarks (old)

Tiina

How do you stay motivated when it comes to dressing up these days?

Linking up with:

Elegantly Dressed and StylishHigh Latitude StyleA Labour of LifeCurly Crafty Mom, Doused in Pink,  Not Dressed As LambLiving on Cloud NineElegance and Mommyhood, Nancy’s Fashion StyleShelbee on the EdgeA Pocketful of Polka Dots Style SplashAway from the BlueMummabstylish Mutton Years Style and I, Confessions of a Montreal Styling DivaIndependent Fashion Bloggers

12 Comments

  1. arlene gomes
    16 August 2020 / 8:15 pm

    Hi I have been trying to wear the same clothes I always wore before this pandemic. For several years, I’ve been home (not working) and have a casual wardrobe so I just continue to wear what I have. Every morning it seems like I get ready later than I used to because I feel like “where am I going that I have to have a schedule?” You are working from home so you probably don’t keep to a strict schedule either. You always look nice and put together whatever you wear. I don’t think we are losing our basic habits. I think once you’ve established certain habits in your life, you don’t change much even through a pandemic. It is getting annoying though staying home most days and not being able to do much. It’s been a long time now and people are getting too lax here. They’re tired of the whole thing. How are things there? Take care Arlene from NJ

    • Tiina
      Author
      18 August 2020 / 2:24 pm

      Oh yes, I definitely get ready later than I used to, and unless I have Zoom calls, it’s usually afternoon before I even think about work. Sleeping late is the definite advantage of this situation…
      Yes, people are getting lax here, too, and forgetting safe distance etc. However, we are now advised to wear a mask in public transportation (for the first time since this pandemic started) and in crowded places, and to continue working from home whenever possible. Relatively speaking, I think we have it easy here: the infection rates have never been very high throughout this whole thing, and we never had a full lockdown.

  2. 16 August 2020 / 11:06 pm

    I love Miss Fisher’s clothes! Aren’t those styles fabulous? I’m retired. Before the pandemic, I was always in loungewear when at home, and only dressed to go out. Now we almost never go out. So I do find myself getting dressed in spite of going nowhere. It’s all very casual though.

    Michelle
    https://mybijoulifeonline.com

    • Tiina
      Author
      18 August 2020 / 2:29 pm

      Oh yes, the clothes are fabulous on that show (and the main reason for watching, I suppose).
      I’ve started thinking that I need to get some nice loungewear, given how much time I spend at home these days. Fortunately, we can go out, even to restaurants (since June). So, I get dressed at least a couple of times a week, more or less.

  3. 17 August 2020 / 3:52 pm

    I never wear makeup because I am too lazy to take the time! As far as getting dressed, it’s kind of one of my fun things to do everyday so I still have the same routine of coming up with new outfits and I am still shopping for clothes (mostly online).
    http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

    • Tiina
      Author
      18 August 2020 / 2:33 pm

      Yes, putting on make up is quite an effort, isn’t it? For me, it’s usually just lipstick (never leave home without lipstick, that’s my motto).
      I’m trying to get into mood for shopping for autumn clothes. If I continue working from home, I could just continue wearing whatever I’ve been wearing all summer, though…

  4. Flora
    17 August 2020 / 6:40 pm

    I’m retired so I normally spend a lot of time at home. I go out everyday always wearing, in my opinion, a well considered outfit. I never wear dresses or skirts and hate hats. When I get home I ‘slip into something comfortable’ as they say in the movies, usually an elderly version of what I wore to go out. I doubt anyone would describe me as smart. I do like a statement necklace and mascara. Love the colour of your shirt.

    • Tiina
      Author
      18 August 2020 / 2:36 pm

      I think we’ll all come out of this pandemic with a more streamlined, comfortable wardrobes full of go-anywhere-loungewear. At least that’s what my wardrobe is beginning to look like: lots of loose dresses and comfy shoes…

  5. 24 August 2020 / 7:23 am

    Love the bright linen shirt on you!

    My style has always been pretty casual even before everything happened – I didn’t always dress up on my work from home once a week day, and so with working from home every day instead of just once I don’t always get out of loungewear either!

    I do try wear proper clothes a few times a week, but otherwise I’m embracing the loungewear days while they last! 🙂

    Thank you for joining the #weekdaywearlinkup!

    • Tiina
      Author
      25 August 2020 / 10:13 am

      Thanks, Mica!
      I know what mean about loungewear as workwear, I do the same…

  6. shelbeeontheedge1
    24 August 2020 / 3:27 pm

    First, this outfit is adorable! I love the pink top and the easy flowy pants. And I am right with you on the can’t be bothered these days. I do put on an outfit every day but I have not been photographing anything and so I don’t bother with accessories or anything like that. Hopefully, one day we will care again! Thanks for linking up!

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    • Tiina
      Author
      25 August 2020 / 10:19 am

      Thanks!
      Yes, I’m sure the day will come when we will be happy to dress up again and find pleasure in nice clothes and accessories. But in the meantime, maybe it’s OK to lower our standards a bit, streamline the whole process and reconnect with the practical side of things.

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