With the pandemic altering the way we live our lives; it is natural that we would see a change in how people dress. Comfort is now more important than dressing up, as many of us are not seeing colleagues or clients. Some only see them via Zoom, thus an entire outfit is not required. As we move through the crisis and begin to re-open, these are some of the fashion and beauty trends changing in the post-pandemic world.
Skincare & makeup
At first, following stay-at-home orders and quarantining ourselves led to a decrease in makeup sales, and an increase in skincare sales. It seems that while being at home and not using makeup, people decided to focus on taking care of their skin itself, rather than decorating it. This type of enhancement is great for long term skin health. As the country has been reopening and we head towards the post-pandemic world, people are buying and using makeup again. There are a few trends specifically emerging.
Wearing masks hides away half of our faces, which impacts perception. Makeup is often used as a way to express oneself and enhance our appearance. With half of our faces covered, the makeup industry has seen an increase in eye makeup sales and a decrease in lip product sales. It makes perfect sense. No one wants to spend time on a beautiful lipstick job just to have it not seen and rubbed off immediately by a mask. It is known that eyelashes help to emphasize your facial features. In UAE, we can primarily see people who use false eyelashes or have Dubai’s lash lift to put a greater emphasis on their eye look.
Beauty Trends Changing in the Post-Pandemic World: Wearing masks hides away half of our faces, which impacts how we are perceived.
Goodbye dress shoes, hello comfort
For years now high heels have been decreasing in popularity. Sales have been going down consistently for all dress shoes, not just high heels. People are becoming more and more aware of fitness. People are walking more and multitasking more. So it is more comfortable and sensible to wear the same shoes to work, then to yoga, then to pick up the kids from school, for example. In terms of the pandemic, sales dropped, and fashion analysts are not sure if they will rebound. There is already a decreasing popularity of wearing heels. With the emphasis being on comfort of late, many people do not want to go back to wearing fashionable, yet uncomfortable shoes.
This potential post-pandemic trend, shoe manufacturers are already trying to re-think how the average person will think about their shoes and what are ideal features. Many are designing shoes with padded insoles and thicker heels in order to add comfort and stability. In combination with the clothing trends that will likely change, the whole fashion industry is in for new, long-term alterations.
Sustainable beauty products and habits
Sustainable beauty is one of the emerging trends post-pandemic. As eco-friendly consciousness continues to rise, more customers look for products and practices that will help reduce their carbon footprints. This means opting for organic, vegan ingredients that are free from parabens and sulfates, as well as taking into consideration water and energy usage when it comes to treatments like coloring or chemical services. Additionally, replacing disposable items with refillable containers helps reduce plastic waste.
Clothing essentials for the win
Clothing stores and malls are beginning to reopen. But not with the array of seasonal apparel that typically fills the racks. The pandemic has resulted in an economic crisis, so most people do not have the extra income to spend on new trendy clothing. Consumers are going to spend money on more basic, essential articles of clothing such as classic jeans and plain t-shirts. Plus, basics can be sold year-round without going out of style. This is also important to keep the retailers afloat during this time of decreased spending.
In addition, many people have become accustomed to comfy clothing. We have been wearing comfy clothes around the house since we not going into the office or meeting with clients. Leggings and sweats are more desirable right now than skirts and slacks. The post-pandemic world is likely to lead us into changes that actually have been coming for years now. Many businesses had been moving towards more casual looks. And with the quarantine, most people are not likely to want to go back to ties and suits.
