Who’s ready for re-entry?

As we teeter on the precipice between living under restrictions and freedom, we asked stylish women around the world what re-emergence will mean for their wardrobe and what’s changed (if anything) about the way they get dressed

ABI OMOLE CEO OF THE APARTMENT GROUP AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF ARVA, LONDON

2020 pulled the rug out from under most people’s sense of style, but for Abi Omole, it was the year she finally felt a sense of freedom. ‘Ironically, last year was a really big year for plus-size fashion. A lot of collections were launched, and a lot of cool brands expanded their offerings. Even though things were crazy and uncertain, from a fashion point of view, it was the most freedom I’ve ever had.’ Now, browsing on Karen Millen – one of the only brands to offer more than 500 plus-size items – she gets to experience uncharted territory: too much choice. ‘It’s something my friends always say when they shop: “Oh, I’m so overwhelmed by the choice.”’

The things Abi’s most looking forward to wearing are dresses from Faithfull The Brand, wide-leg jeans and leather blazers. ‘At the beginning of the first lockdown, it wasn’t about fashion, it was just about survival. In May, I started to think about my outfits again. I’d wear the most put-together “looks” and everyone would be like, “Where are you going?!’’’ This re-emergence is going to mean more of the same. ‘I’m not scared of wearing a crop top or shorts,’ she says. ‘The typical things that plus-size people are told to stay away from, I definitely won’t be. Whether it’s stripes, bold colours, fitted things. I’m wearing all of the above.’

ELLIE DELPHINE INFLUENCER, PARIS

while ellie delphine has learned to style out sweatpants and make leggings look like a chic proposition instead of lockdown fallback, she’s ready to unlearn everything. ‘Honestly? I’m over them. I want to leave them in the past forever,’ she says. What she’s looking forward to instead is spring-ready dresses. Anything that has more personality than tracksuit bottoms is worthy of excitement. ‘Florals, ruffles, puffed sleeves,’ she reels off excitedly, before name-checking Olivia Rubin, Rebecca Vallance and Aje as labels she can’t wait to rediscover. And when she does, Parisians probably won’t have trouble spotting her. As anyone who follows @slipintostyle can confirm, bucketloads of colour is her thing. ‘I was born and raised in the Caribbean and grew up surrounded by colour. My mum would tell me to leave black for funerals so wearing it in my everyday life was never an option. To this day, colour it is!’

BETTINA LOONEY PERSONAL SHOPPER AND STYLIST, MIAMI

Having traded heels for sleek leather flats (Maria Luca’s square-toed style being a favourite), and tailoring for throw-on-and-go jumpsuits, Bettina Looney is ready to embrace one particular side of her wardrobe when the floodgates finally open. ‘I can’t remember the last time I got dressed up,’ she says. When that time does come, an elongated blazer with rhinestone buttons (Rony Kobo), an incandescently-bright cocktail dress (Christopher John Rogers), and a frock with a fitted skirt (Anna October) are on standby. ‘It definitely needs an occasion,’ she says about the third, a ruffled number she last wore over her wedding weekend. Over lockdown, which she’s spent in Miami, Bettina has been consolidating her wardrobe and wearing old pieces in new ways. ‘During the pandemic, I’ve enjoyed adding more vintage pieces to my wardrobe – great ’80s blazers with shoulder pads or ’80s-style dresses. They never go out of fashion,’ she says. And for the meantime, while the heels might be lower and the dresses fluid instead of frilled, there is still glamour. ‘I always look for vintage nighties from Dior. When you have a day where you wake up and start working in your nightwear, at least you’re wearing a silky dress!’

LUCIA CUESTA STYLIST AND CO-OWNER OF THEM BONES JEWELLERY, MADRID

Lucia Cuesta’s style hasn’t actually changed as much as she imagined it would, except for being a little less extravagant and a little more comfortable. Living in Madrid and sharing her home with her sister and fellow owner of Them Bones Jewellery, Helena, the pair have spent their nesting period delving into each others’ wardrobes and documenting the colourful results on Instagram. ‘We always exchange clothes,’ says Lucia, ‘and I love it.’ Nevertheless, Lucia is excited about one thing in particular – ‘I haven’t worn heels yet, I miss them!’ – and can’t wait to pull out her gems from Gucci, as well as vintage pieces sourced from Friperie Madrid, Underground and, while shops have been shuttered, Etsy. ‘They’ve got real treasures,’ she says. In terms of re-emergence, her strategy is twofold. First, swapping her tracksuit for a shirt, sweater vest and vintage jeans combo. (‘It’s comfy, but you’re showing your personality,’ she says.) And second? Its polar opposite. ‘Something tight and sexy... I miss that feeling of getting ready to go out. I can’t wait for things to get back to normal.’