When did everyone stop dressing up?
I swung the car around, my mum jumped out of the passenger seat, hurried upstairs and grabbed the important items she forgot to bring with her.
As she walked over, she had this smirk on her face, like she had gotten hold of the crown jewels to return to India herself. I could see she was clutching something in her hand, which she slowly released to reveal what was so important that she urgently needed before we headed out to Waitrose.
Two beaming white gold hoops in her palm stared back at me as if to say “duh”.
It felt ridiculous, but it did also make me think. When did we all stop dressing up? When did we stop making grand entrances, or at least making an effort?
I’d put money on it being around lockdown.
But honestly, it’s been years? That can’t be our excuse anymore for trading refined and exciting signature styles for sweatshirts and sliders. I’m talking to myself here - because lord knows I fell into this category.
I was standing in line at my local Sainsbury’s the other day wearing a pair of gold hoops, not too big, but noticeable, and my vintage-style glasses the size of a martini glass.
It was scorching outside, so no, I wasn’t going to remove them when I walked in. We never get to wear our sunglasses for their initial purpose in this country, so I was going to enjoy my accessory to the fullest.
Did I get a few stares? Not really, more like prolonged glances. But this is London, and South London, mind you. Nobody cares!
So why did we stop? We used to dress like life was a performance. Growing up, Kimora (Lee Simmons) taught us to dress as if we might run into an old friend, and I’m here for it because what if I run into a potential investor or someone who can change my life and lead me to being able to buy my dream home with the Wedgwood dinner set?
There will be signs…My dream dinner set.
So, if I could write an ode to accessories, I’d start with gold earrings. They are non-negotiable. They are status. They are feminine power looped through our ears.
I distinctly remember buying gold Claddagh earrings from the Argos catalogue to add whatever flair a 15-year-old thinks they’re adding to a blue-and-white school uniform.
And you can’t “the bigger the hoop, the bigger the hoe’ me. I will wear whatever size the look requires.
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Do you remember how we felt wearing the sunglasses with the little diamantes in the corners? We’d walk with the same energy as Kim and Paris, strolling through Sydney with the metallic LV bags. God, that’s a ghastly memory, maybe vulgar even, but we loved every minute of it.
It was fun! Fashion was fun. Style was exciting, and you never knew what would turn up in the magazines next.
And no matter how far I am from dressing up for errands again, I never let go of my extensive collection of sunglasses. If anything can make you look like you’re doing much without having to actually do too much…
They’re also a great finishing detail to any outfit, whatever the weather. I wear mine whether I’m at the beach clubs in Barbados, or doing a 10k step walk around South London. Sometimes, in the rain. The next time you have to pop to the shop, grab your favourite pair, put them on and remember life is a catwalk. We should act like it.
Whether it’s nostalgic or traumatic this picture will instantly bring back a feeling for every millennial. Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian in Sydney circa 2006
If we’re going to talk about dressing up, no matter when or where, we must go over the finer details. The small things. The flash of a ring stack. The way a necklace sits above the collarbone, or a signature watch or bracelet.
When you show up as if your life is a red carpet, the world starts treating it like one. It means walking into places like you are the main event. That’s what it means to make a grand entrance, whether you’re going for lunch at Scotts or doing a last-minute makeup run to Boots.
5 STEPS TO START DRESSING UP AND MAKING GRAND ENTRANCES AGAIN
Pick the one thing you’ve stopped wearing. Not a whole outfit. One thing. The boots, the earrings, the watch, the sunglasses.
Wear it on your next errand. Not a night out. The corner shop. Put the boots on to go and get the milk.
Add one more thing the next time. Last week the heeled boots, this week the boots and the earrings.
Keep going until it’s just what you do. Week by week, one more piece, until you’re not thinking about it anymore.
Then make the vow. Never do a small errand without it. My mum is so far gone with this that she had me swing the car round so she could run back upstairs for her hoops.
Life is too short to look like we gave up. We used to be a dramatic generation. And you never know when the moment will arrive, so make sure you arrive first.
THE OUTFIT FORMULA GUIDE
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