Apparently, the Bow Tie Was Essential Too
The pandemic changed just about everything—how we worked, how we socialized, and how close we were willing to stand beside somebody in the supermarket—but apparently it did not change my relationship with a bow tie.
There I was in a crisp white shirt, navy bow tie and matching navy face mask, looking like I had somewhere important to be even if the world itself had no idea what was going on.Half my face may have been covered, but there was still no reason for the rest of the outfit to give up. If the world was going to feel strange and completely upside down, I could at least make sure my collar was behaving itself.
When the Face Mask Became Part of the Outfit
Before 2020, most of us had probably never stood in front of a mirror wondering, Does this mask go with my shirt? Then suddenly it became a perfectly reasonable fashion question. Masks went from medical necessity to something we wore almost every time we stepped outside, and once something becomes part of your everyday outfit, eventually your sense of style starts getting involved.
Mine certainly did. The white shirt acted as a clean canvas while the dark navy mask and matching bow tie made the whole look feel intentional. Neither accessory was particularly loud, but together they added enough personality to turn a simple outfit into something a little more memorable. Pandemic fashion. Who knew?
Staying Fly Was Never Really About the Clothes
Looking back at this photo, what I like most is that it captures something bigger than the clothes. During a time when so much of normal life had disappeared, getting dressed properly could provide a small sense of normalcy. Fashion is not always about dressing for other people; sometimes it is simply about how you feel when you look at yourself.
A pressed shirt, a favourite accessory and a little attention to colour can remind you that you are still you, even when everything around you feels unfamiliar. There was no designer suit, no runway and certainly no glamorous backdrop here—just a white shirt, a bow tie, a face mask and a man apparently refusing to let a global pandemic completely ruin his dress code. There was a pandemic going on and apparently I was still making sure the mask matched the bow tie. Priorities.
Want to Explore More Personal Style Stories and Fashion Tips?
The Way I Wear It: Personal Style, Fashion Stories and Everyday Confidence
This article is part of my growing collection of personal fashion experiences, favourite accessories and everyday styling lessons. Discover the other outfits, creative experiments and stories behind the looks that make my style uniquely mine.
What Was Your Pandemic Style?
We all had one — even if yours was a T-shirt, sweatpants and the firm belief that nobody on Zoom needed to know what was happening below the waist.
