Fashion in the time of a pandemic: How are art students dressing for online learning?
Another university year has started afresh, and it will certainly look very different from the previous ones. Most of us are finding that the majority of our courses have moved online, meaning that waking up five minutes before class can for the first time be considered within reason. It also means that we will have to get used to seeing each other framed by a small box on a screen, rather than walking next to each other on the way to class, and being surrounded by a diverse sense of style in a packed lecture theatre. How have these changes impacted our relationship with our clothes and what does it mean for the excitement that used to go hand in hand with back to school looks?
Meet Kieran, Layana, Lexi, Chiara, and Lily – five students at Kingston School of Art who are sharing their thoughts on fashion in the time of a global pandemic and giving you a glimpse into what dressing up for their first week of online learning looks like:
Kieran Roderick
20. BA Hons Fashion. Second year. @_kieranroderick
What is your relationship with fashion?
“My relationship with fashion has wavered, from dressing up from a young age to then dressing down in my later teens. Then, when I came to Art school to study Fashion Design I found myself reclaiming my style and confidence in dressing up again and not caring so much about others’ opinions, and not being conscious of it either.”
Your style evolution in a nutshell?
“My style evolution, in a nutshell, would be: Hyper-fem gay kid fashion, then self-consciously dressing down to conform to masculinity as a result of finding myself living in a rather narrow-minded location. Then coming to London, dropping all the anxieties I grew up with and absolutely embracing myself, my personality, and self-happiness – and this reflecting perfectly in my dress sense. When your confidence thrives down to the place you’re in and people you are around everything else seems to follow and that speaks to style too.”
Would you say your style has been impacted by lockdown?
“I’d say lockdown affected my style in the sense of having to leave London. I dressed for summer, so oversized shirts and shorts were my go-to regardless. But being in Cardiff, which is a low-key place where people are swift to make comments on others not dressing like the average person, I found myself wanting to dress as though I was heading to Soho rather than a local restaurant. This to make sure that the confidence I gained while being in London was not lost while being back home for the first time. Although it came with its challenges, it was worth the side-eyes from the locals.”
Any thoughts behind your back to school looks?
“My looks are a very accurate depiction of who Kieran is now. I find myself dressing like the person I see myself being in the future. My course is far more serious and industry-focused this year, so I want to dress professionally for my course and potential employers.”
Anything you would not be seen wearing on campus but would wear during an online class?
“If we’re talking 9 am lectures, then my outfit is simply underwear and a duvet wrapped around me, but it is ‘Art School’ where seemingly anything goes, who knows if it could be a look post-COVID?”
What will be the go-to piece in your wardrobe this autumn?
“My COS Pleated Tote bag, paired with a vintage pinstripe blazer + flared chinos and a knitted black sweater, along with my ‘Karen’ necklace which right now is broken but she’ll be superglued in no time…”
Any words of wisdom in terms of fashion?
“My mantra is now to dress like the person you see yourself being and want to be – and buy responsibly, keeping sustainability in mind.”
Layana Knott
18. BA Fashion promotion and communication. First year. @Layana__k
What is your relationship with fashion?
“Fashion is always something I’ve loved. When I watched movies and tv shows I was drawn to how characters dressed, the vibrancy and colours intrigued me. I found myself inspired by how well their clothes reflected their personalities and the individuality of it. There’s a certain excitement about piecing clothes together that I particularly love. I’m really drawn to colour and shapes, so I tend to wear clothes that reflect this, and try not to shy away too much from being as bold with my choice as I can be.”
Your style evolution in a nutshell?
“My confidence in the way I see myself has improved over the past few years and so has my sense of style. Before I would always shy away from standing out, wearing duller colours and clothes that weren’t a true reflection of me. Sometimes it’s hard to get out of your own head and you end up worrying about standing out. I’ve found that I want to be seen more as an individual and that the clothes I wear help me do so. The best thing to do though is to just dress for yourself. I like channelling how I feel or what I’ve been inspired by recently through the clothes I wear.”
Would you say your style has been impacted by lockdown?
“Lockdown has definitely impacted my style; although I knew about the effects that fashion has on the environment, there was a point during lockdown where even more attention was drawn to this. A lot of people were making and up-cycling clothes they already had instead of buying brand new. That made me want to focus my style on being more economically friendly and using the clothes I have to experiment and create custom made outfits for myself. So far, I’ve been collecting second-hand clothes from family and friends and using materials in my house to create new unique pieces.”
Any thoughts behind your back to school looks?
“I’m excited to start piecing together back to school looks, after such a long time of not being able to do so. I want to be more creative and bolder with my choices; I like layering and wearing clothes that are slightly baggy, like oversized shirts and jeans. I also love wearing old clothes that would be something my parents or grandparents would be seen wearing. I just love the idea of transforming myself into a different decade just through the clothes I wear.”
Anything you would not be seen wearing on campus but would wear during an online class?
“Most of the clothes I wear on my online lectures I would wear to class, maybe with the exception of pyjamas. Dressing as you would for a normal day on campus makes the whole experience more interesting. It’s a great way for people to get to know each other better despite not having the same face to face interaction. You're able to piece together what a person’s personality is like through seeing how they might dress on a zoom call.”
What will be the go-to piece in your wardrobe this autumn?
“My go-to piece has got to be midi skirts. I love how versatile they are; you can dress them down or up. Right now, my favourite skirt is my black midi skirt with a bright floral pattern. I often find myself styling it with chunky shoes as I feel it really contrasts the delicate appearance of the skirt.”
Any words of wisdom in terms of fashion?
“When it comes to fashion, I think the most important thing is making sure you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing while not shying away from trying new looks, patterns, and colours. It’s easy to get caught up in worrying what others think of your clothes and you end up relying on their approval. Fashion is something we should use to reflect our own individual personality so it shouldn’t matter what others think. At the end of the day, you’re dressing for you and not others.”
Lexi Jeffs
20. BA Graphic Design. Second year. @frecklefacedfool
What is your relationship with fashion?
“To me, fashion is an expression of emotion. When I’m picking an outfit to wear I’m specific about what silhouettes are going to be on my body, how the material is going to feel on my skin, and if the colours I’m wearing make me happy or not.”
Your style evolution in a nutshell?
“When I was 14, I would only wear black jeans and brown leather shoes. Now, black is rarely seen on me mainly because the colour doesn’t spark joy for me. Sometimes, though, I like wearing this matching pair of Levi’s black denim jacket and jeans. Other than that, t-shirts are a staple in my wardrobe. In the past, I tended to wear more name brands of skate companies I like, but at present, I really only wear tees I’ve made.”
Would you say your style has been impacted by lockdown?
“That depends, I have definitely found myself wearing more casual clothes, lots of Pjs and hoodies. But when I do (eventually) get dressed I find I’m dressing in a much freer way, even more than I did pre-lockdown. I think about the clothes I’m wearing in a playful light, looking for new and exciting combinations of colours or patterns.”
Any thoughts behind your back to school looks?
“These are some of my favourite looks, they give me the confidence to seize the day and be the best me! As you can see all of these looks include a jacket, I’m a huge fan of including jackets as part of my outfits as I feel they really act as the punctuation for a look.”
Anything you would not be seen wearing on campus but would wear during an online class?
“For sure my Pjs haha!”
What will be the go-to piece in your wardrobe this autumn?
“Definitely my yellow Carhartt coat. Not only is it cosy and waterproof, but its bright yellow colour shines through all the bleakness of autumnal darkness.”
Any words of wisdom in terms of fashion?
“Trust your gut! As much as you can try to listen and get in touch with your own personal style. Not the style you think other people rate but the one inside your own head. Try something new this week, what’s the worst that could happen?”
Chiara Piccirillo
21. BA Graphic Design. Third year, Erasmus. @chiarapiccirillo / chiarapiccirillo.com
What is your relationship with fashion?
“My friends would call me a shopaholic, but I call myself a collector… I’m quite a collector in all parts of my life: Souvenirs from my travels, art, home decor, but most importantly clothing. Since I was little, I’ve always loved the idea of having a big collection of clothes and accessories, à la Cher from Clueless – I still dream of having her spinning wardrobe that generated her outfits. It sounds ridiculous, but sometimes I do find myself just staring at my wardrobe and all the pieces I’ve collected over the years and looking at what I can add next.”
Your style evolution in a nutshell?
“Now I’m older my tastes are changing less quickly, and perhaps getting a bit more expensive (oops), yet this does mean I buy fewer items, but when I do they’re bolder and more unique. One thing that hasn’t changed is I’ve always liked the colour pink. Recently I’ve noticed half my wardrobe is pink – I think pink is a personality trait at this point. In terms of my current style, I’m proud of how eclectic it is, but I’ll always find a way to incorporate feminine touches using fitted pieces and lots of accessories to make me feel most confident. I’m inspired a lot by 90s style.”
Would you say your style has been impacted by lockdown?
When I’m on campus, there’s so much inspiration to be taken from the creative student community. It really encourages me to explore my fashion taste, have fun, and experiment with what I wear every day. While being at home, I missed that but it’s also given me time to reflect on my personal style and think about what really makes me feel my best. So, I’ve gone through my wardrobe, too many times probably, and made sure that I only keep what really makes me happy.”
Any thoughts behind your back to school looks?
“Comfort is key! I don’t wear my best outfits every day, but wearing an actual put-together look does wonders in making me feel more productive and gives me a sense of purpose for the day at home, compared to working in my pyjamas – but sometimes that’s when the best ideas strike.”
Anything you would not be seen wearing on campus but would wear during an online class?
“I’d have to say tracksuit bottoms. I ‘splurged’ (if you will) on a pair of nice Nike bottoms in the midst of lockdown and they’re what I’ve been wearing when I want to feel a bit ‘dressed up’ for zoom calls – because who really wants to wear jeans around the house?”
What will be the go-to piece in your wardrobe this autumn?
“Probably my vintage Burberry Mac – I’ve been wanting one for years, and I finally found one for only £50 on eBay just before lockdown. I’ve only been able to start wearing it recently, but it instantly makes me feel so smart and put together”.
Any words of wisdom in terms of fashion?
“I’m on a mission to be more sustainable in ways that are realistic for me. I’m only buying pieces that I know can be styled in lots of different ways and I’ll still want to wear years from now. Over the past year, my shopping habits have totally changed – if I want something in particular, my first stop used to be ASOS always, but now it’s eBay or Depop – it takes a bit more time, but I always feel more deserving of something when I’ve spent time looking or I win it on an eBay auction!”
Lily Bellini Ratty
19. BA Hons Fashion with Professional Placement. First year. @lilybellini_
What is your relationship with fashion?
“Probably what everyone else is going to say, but it’s my form of self-expression. Growing up I’ve always been very quiet, so I would find solace in getting dressed and showing people who I am through what I wore. It’s also fun to just play dress up and try on different personalities and styles, depending on my mood.”
Your style evolution in a nutshell?
“That’s a tricky question. I’ve always worn what I liked and not what the current trend was so I don’t feel like my style has changed that much – though it’s definitely elevated as I’ve gotten older. I’d say what’s evolved most is the way I shop because now I focus on buying higher quality but less of it…or vintage!”
Would you say your style has been impacted by lockdown?
“Very slightly. At first, I was determined to dress as if I was still going to London every day (where I did my foundation). But gradually, the longer I got into lockdown the more relaxed my clothing got – a lot of denim, white cotton, and long floaty skirts. I still made an effort but I’m excited to be getting dressed for uni as other people are going to see my outfits.”
Any thoughts behind your back to school looks?
“I love back to school looks! Especially as it’s my first year, this is how people are going to see me for the first time, so I want my outfits to represent me. I’ll wear a couple of sentimental pieces that are like lucky charms for me: My aunt’s ring, my mum’s bracelet, and the first designer shoes I bought – with the money from my first ever job. They’re Dior loafers, classics I’ll have and wear forever. Everything else I’ve worn just happened to feel right on the day.”
Anything you would not be seen wearing on campus but would wear during an online class?
“Not really. I love getting dressed so much that I put something nice on even for a 9 am class where we have our cameras turned off. I dress for myself, so I don’t mind. But I usually get back into bed so I guess I wear my duvet?”
What will be the go-to piece in your wardrobe this autumn?
“The same as every autumn. My kilt. It goes with everything – dress it up, dress it down, with boots, trainers, massive sweatshirt, oversized blazer. It’s a classic and you can’t go wrong with it. But I’m also obsessed with socks this year, even plain white socks look great when styled with chunky loafers or boots. And autumn is the perfect season for bare legs and knee-high socks!”
Any words of wisdom in terms of fashion?
“Always dress for yourself. If you feel happy and confident in what you’re wearing it will show. It’s the easiest way to give yourself a boost of power.”
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