How are people dressing when in lockdown and isolation situations? How is this different to the way they dressed before? Has it affected their sense of self? This project aims to shine a light on those changes and reveal some of the many and varied personal stories relating to fashion and dress in 2020. Today’s interview is with Tetyana Solovey. Tetyana is a fashion professional based in Kyiv, Ukraine, writing about fashion, jewellery and sustainability.
1) Can you describe what your personal style was like before lockdown?
Austere uniform: black, grey, navy blue, white. Pencil skirts, 2 types of trousers. I don’t like to spend time on wardrobe crises in the morning. I’m not a party goer, and even when I do go out, I usually do not dress up.
2) How would you describe your style now?
Cozy with a hint of glamour. I am using a lot of perfume. Normally I don’t do it, for social distancing reasons: I don’t want to disturb people with the ‘noise’ of scents. But now I feel it’s a way of connecting to my body.
Sometimes I wear things like a sparkling jersey overall by Halston (I had only worn it once for a New Year’s Eve party) – it is comfortable and fun at the same time. Other times, I just stay half-naked.
3) Has your approach to fashion and style changed as a result of the current situation?
I’d say it has remained the same. It’s been two years since I’ve reduced my wardrobe to minimum. But now I am starting to think that luxury is a more intimate, tactile thing.
I wish I had some vintage kimonos to wear at home. I have found myself unable to wear old T-shirts during the quarantine. On the contrary, I feel I need to wear something luxurious (for my own pleasure – I live alone so don’t have anyone to impress!)
4) What’s your shoe situation at home? And how does this affect your sense of self?
Funny kitschy socks with roses that I bought in a Carpatian village. They are warm, handmade and rustic – a perfect example of modern luxury. I have a soft spot for crafts. Besides, it is a memory from a nice trip, when we were free to travel. The styling – wearing them with pencil skirts – is a bit camp, but I like it.
5) How much does the space you are in influence your choice of clothes? Do some clothes feel “unnatural” to wear at home because they require, say, a bigger space, or is this not a consideration at all?
It is definitely important. I was lucky enough to rent an apartment with an amazing high plasterwork ceiling. I can no longer wear cotton at home, and I can’t wear cheap fabrics or frumpy outfits – I don’t feel it they would match the space where I am spending my time now.
If you’d like to take part in the project yourself, you can find all the information you need in the blog post entitled ‘Lockdown Fashion: an exploration of dressing at home in 2020‘ dated 9th April 2020.
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