Off with Pajamas and On with Fashion!

Have you noticed how many men and women walk around the grocery store in their pajamas in recent years?  What about sweats, yoga pants, too-snug tights, or torn pants at the stylish department stores?  For the last few months, most of the world has been living in their PJs or work-out gear as we play, educate, and work from home.  Now we want to dig through our closets and find something different to either go back to work or go out with friends.  Will we turn from comfort wear to high fashion?  Will we go back to "dress to impress" rather than the embarrassing low self-esteem  "I just don't care" looks?

A few of the styles coming out as "the 2020 fashion" may make it into the business scene, but will most of it really be for recreational settings?  After reviewing Cosmopolitan Magazines's 16 Trends, I had to wonder.

1. Puffy sleeves may look cute for casual wear or on a fancy dress, but seem ridiculous in the conference room.  
2. Polka dots seem to always be fashionable, although the  size of the dots may change each year, but only small dots work on dresses for the office, although dotted shirts with a solid skirt are a good look.  
3. Pleated skirts have always been acceptable for a professional looks, save the pretty flowy dresses and blouses for evening or church.  
4. Trench coats are outer-wear to keep you warm during cold weather or dry when it is raining.  The style rarely changes - only colors, so why are we looking at it?
5. I like yellow so I'm ok with the shade for fashion.  However, Pantone said the color of the year 2020 is blue, last year it was coral, yellow was the color in 2009.
6. Maxi skirts hae been popular for spring and summer the past few years.  Happy to see the midi skirt is back? That skirt length does makes for more sense in the workplace than a maxi.
7. Jumpsuits go in and out-of-style more often than skirt lengths.  Although they can sometimes look slimming, they are not office wear unless a jacket is worn over them.  They do however fit ok in a manufacturing setting or retail store.   Look for a good fit that is not too tight or too loose,  Too tight looks like you gained weight and too loose gives you a frumpy vibe.
8. Leather at work?  Be careful here, it can get very hot.  Only consider it for outside of work hours and in an appropriate setting.
9. Shorts at work?  Same cautions as leather and jumpsuits.  Only wear to work if your employer is ok with them because of the type of work you do or the environment where you work.
10. Billowy dresses ?  As with puffy sleeves, not for work!  Too much fabric can get caught on other stuff.  Do you want to be the one to knock over something or worse - trip yourself?  Plus most of the loose styes make most women look FAT.
11. 1/2&1/2 - really?  It is still color blocking, which has been in fashion for a few years since it can be a slimming look if done right.  
12. Another 70s-80s look is back - boxy blazers.  So now those suits way back in the corner of my closet are once again in!  These look great over contrasting solids or matching floral skirts.  IF you prefer a more tailored look, you can belt the blazer to create an hourglass figure.
13. Bra tops!  Where would anyone work (other than a bar or tattoo parlor) that would be ok with this?  Use it only for weekend wear at the beach and hope the local shops do not ban you for trying to wear your swimsuit inside.
14. Streamlined men's-style trousers have been in style for women for some time, just the waistline and ankle-area changes.  Looks especially classy and slimming worn with a matching jacket as a suit.  For casual wear use with a pretty blouse, not tucked in but worn over the top.
15. Maxi dresses continue to be in style, although some of the knits may be a little heavier that the lycra and tee choices of the past few years.  If you still love it, wear it!
16. Cardigans have been popular through the ages.  However the length of both the sleeve and bodice keeps changing.   As long as it is no looking overly tired or faded, you can still wear it regardless of what may be considered fashionable.  

As you can see, the saying "everything old is new again" holds true for fashion.   Vintage clothing can be stylish.  What do you have in your closet that you can revitalize?  What do you have you should  give away or donate?  If you do not love it anymore, get rid of it.  If you still love it, figure our how to wear it considering the retro trend.