As we continue to navigate these ever-changing times, in season two of What I Wore This Week, one Vogue editor shares their outfits—both on Zoom and IRL—from the previous week.
Much ink has been spilled about the benefits of wearing “real clothes” to work from home. I’m probably guilty of writing a line or two about the mood-lifting, productivity-boosting experience of getting dressed—that whole “look good, feel good” thing. In reality, I don’t always take my advice; there are days I don’t change out of sweats. Usually this happens when I’m just too swamped to think about an outfit before it’s too late to bother. Despite working from home for nine (sometimes agonizing) months, I’ve yet to successfully limit my screen time or figure out “work hours”: From the minute I’m awake, I’m on my phone or laptop, checking emails, starting on my next deadline, and losing track of time.
Do I feel great on those days? Not exactly. It isn’t just that I don’t feel professional or stylish when I’m in the same old leggings and sweatshirt, but I don’t feel like myself, either. Yes, I’m someone who cares deeply about personal style, and I really do feel better when I’ve pulled myself together. But I also care about supporting designers, particularly independent and sustainability-focused ones. Even when I’m not explicitly thinking about it, wearing their clothes makes me happy and fills me with the confidence that I’m expressing my truest self to the world—my taste, my personality, and my values.
A call with Bel Jacobs, an Extinction Rebellion activist and former fashion editor, further motivated me to get it together. We were talking about “ethical consumption” and “voting with your wallet,” and whether it’s a distraction from the bigger, systemic changes the world really needs. Was it a waste of time to pat ourselves on the back for making conscious purchases and buying from nice people? Some would say yes, but Jacobs put it this way: “I always tell people, you have to live in alignment with your values. If you don’t want people to suffer, don’t buy products from brands that make people suffer. If you don’t want animals to suffer, don’t buy from brands who make them suffer. There’s a great peace in living your life that way.” Her words stuck with me, because as insignificant as my own choices may seem in the grand scheme of climate change and exploited garment workers, every action does have an impact. If we all became hyper-conscious of what we bought, the domino effect would be huge.