Mom and the New Look, 1948

I well remember Christian Dior’s “New Look,”  On February 12, 1947, he  presented his debut haute couture collection in Paris. Its most prominent features included rounded shoulders, a cinched waist, and a full, A-line skirt with a clearly articulated feminine silhouette.   By Easter 1948, my mom was on the cutting edge!

I thought about that this morning as I debated whether to change out of my bathrobe to go outside for morning chores with the chickens.  There is still something that goes against my sensibilities when it comes to spending the day in my bathrobe.  “You should have a housecoat,” said my ever-helpful husband.

“What’s the difference?” asked I.

Me and the Covid Look, 2020

And so we looked it up:  A bathrobe is used when coming out of the bath or shower and is usually made from absorbent material, whereas a housecoat is used when getting dressed or lounging around the house, more of a useable garment, said one definition.  But suddenly we were into dressing gowns, spa robes, wraps, popovers (say what?), dusters and… who knew?

I began to wonder whether (if we are sheltering for long enough) there will be a style called “The Covid Look.”  In my opinion, it should definitely involve a bathrobe which in my parlance has nothing at all to do with bathing or absorbency.  It has to do with why-bother-to-get-dressed-when-I’m-not-doing-anything-and-Nyel-and-the-chickens-don’t-care.

But… if the clothing industry can find a way to make a buck, you can bet your Old-Look-britches, there will be a Covid Look that goes beyond a line of spiffy masks.  Mark my words.