Bye Chelsea boots, hello sweatpants: Fall fashion shifts in quarantine

Autumn is here again, and people are ready to pull out their fall fashion favorites. But with COVID-19 isolation, students battle with the thought of whether or not their fall wardrobes will shift from double-breasted blazers to sweatpants.

Valerie Nguyen, a junior studying biology, has stuck with a casual attire since the start of the pandemic. 

“The wardrobe that has increased is my PJ wardrobe,” Nguyen said.

Though Nguyen isn’t currently dressing up for fall, she appreciates how simple it is to be fashion-forward. 

“I love chunky sweaters because all you have to do is really wear a chunky sweater and leggings and that's an outfit, and you don't think much about it,” Nguyen said.

Similarly, Michael Ricketts, a junior studying advertising and public relations, believes the practicality of fall fashion best fits his personal style profile. 

“My style of clothing is very sleek and slim fitting, but it’s functional,” Ricketts said. “In the fall, I can wear my scarves, pea coats and Chelsea boots and it’s stylish, but functional.”

He said he enjoys dressing in layers and exploring various ways to piece them together. The challenge that Ricketts currently faces, with more outfits than public appearances, is how to navigate isolation in style. 

“I’m trying to figure out how to incorporate my scarves, my signature item, into this year’s wardrobe, because I’m not going out as much,” Ricketts said. 

Nguyen said she also finds it difficult to find the balance between showing off her fall favorites and staying COVID-19 free. Her antidote to this problem is to make the most out of her occasional ventures away from her home.

“Every chance that I see the outside world, I go all out,” Nguyen said.

While some are finding it difficult to share their fashion trends with the world, others have turned to TikTok to enjoy fashion from the comfort of their own homes. The video app has given fashion enthusiasts a platform to show off their unique style. 

David Restrepo, a senior studying psychology, said TikTok shows how to style one item in multiple ways, allowing for users to see the endless styling possibilities. 

“I think TikTok helps you learn how to style,” he said. “It shows you how to put pieces together.”

Not only has Restrepo used Tiktok to shape his style, but he has also used it as a way to set his own trends and express himself creatively. He has accumulated almost 3,000 likes on the app from his fashion tutorials. 

“I just always liked to dress up,” Restrepo said. “Especially with quarantine, it’s like an excuse for me to wear clothes.”

Whether students are using TikTok to showcase their fashion or learn to style, they are adapting to the changes in fall clothes from COVID-19. Despite the nature of isolation, students like Restrepo are finding ways to stay comfortable and stylish.

“It’s definitely changed what I wear. I’ve been wearing a lot of button shirts with fleece shorts,” he said. “It’s like my signature quarantine style.”

@charity_cohen

arts@dailytarheel.com