Thank You Amanda Gorman For Reminding Us That, Yes, Dressing Up Is Still A Thing

An accurate forecast for current motivation levels: low to non-existent. If you can barely muster the enthusiasm to even pull on a pair of trackpants in lockdown 3.0, then we get it. And as for dressing up? Hmmm, hard pass. That feels like a BC relic, as achievable right now as shaking hands with strangers or spontaneously going for dinner.

Because really, what is the point of dressing up when there is nowhere to go? You can dig the local park but not think it worthy of a look; glamour is not a prerequisite to gaining access to your sofa (which, destination wise, is about as exciting as it gets right now). But pause a second, perhaps now is the time we need dressing up more than ever.

Over to Amanda Gorman, the 22-year old National Youth Poet Laureate who wowed at last month’s presidential inauguration, reciting her poem ‘The Hill We Climb’ in a punchy Prada get-up. Back behind closed doors she is not letting up on the ‘wow’ outfits. Last week, she snapped a selfie at home wearing a blooming Alexander McQueen dress with trompe l’oeil rose and lace print, voluminous sleeves and the kind of swishy skirt that demands to be taken out-out (even if, well, none of us are).

It’s not the only fabulous fashion moment Gorman, who works with stylist Jason Bolden, had since the inauguration. The metallic Moschino coat – and pearl headband – she wore to the Super Bowl cemented her supernova style status. There was a Chanel look for an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and a hot pink Khiry dress for a Time magazine shoot. From a fashion perspective, Gorman is a pure joy to watch because you can see the fun she is having with clothes. She is a bold, fearless dresser – who isn’t afraid to be noticed.

Still, Gorman (who just signed to IMG Models) is one of the most in demand women in the world right now. Why should you care about dressing up? Why should any of us? Is there anything more depressing than being all dressed up with nowhere to go? Well, no actually. Putting on something fabulous – with the flimsiest of excuses, or no reason at all, might just be the mood-lift we all need right now.

Because wouldn’t it be a delight just to slip into something slinky, somethingsexyeven, for an average Tuesday night at home? Wouldn’t it feel novel just to slip on a pair of heels to click-clack to the kitchen and back? Wouldn’t it be invigorating to connect with your shiniest, sparkliest, look-at-me old self again? Some get their self-care moments through green juices and meditation, but there’s no reason you couldn’t get it through a frothy frock or sharply tailored tuxedo, a slick of lipstick or a pair of chandelier earrings. To make an effort, for nobody but yourself, is the ultimate gesture of self-love and appreciation. And besides, it’s another way to break up the boredom – and in that sense, dressing up might just be the next chapter of comfort dressing.