Time to banish the duvet coat

What we all need now is some wardrobe TLC to offer comfort and joy says Alyson Walsh

By the time you read this I will have had the first part of my Covid-19 vaccination. The rollout in London seems to be a tad slower than elsewhere, so I’m assuming my opening sentence will not lead to any jab-jealousy. This is a feel-good moment, time to move forward (not immediately but in a couple of weeks, once the vaccine has kicked in). After hibernating all winter, I am more than ready to re-emerge. In fashion terms, returning to normal means putting the duvet coat and stompy boots to one side and pulling on proper shoes and a loosely tailored coat. Just thinking up potential spring outfit combinations is making the idea of freedom feel that bit closer and giving me some hope. Imagine how ecstatic I’ll be once I’ve had a haircut.

Over the past year, feel-good fashion has assumed a higher status. The realisation that clothes have the power to comfort and lift us, to make us feel a bit better and bring us small bursts of joy, has placed more emphasis on dressing for ourselves. Let’s call this phenomenon “wardrobe TLC”.

T: Texture and touch are increasingly important – which is why, in the middle of the pandemic, we all reached for soft, tactile fabrics such as cashmere, brushed lambswool, washed cotton and silk. Cosiness is soothing and we continue to want clothes that give us a nice big hug.

L: Line is a lovely outer layer with the ability to pull together the most casual of silhouettes; much needed as we ease our way from working from home and back into the world. Looser, cocoon shapes, such as the Hobbs Sylvie coat in the photograph, Whistles’ classic wool overshirt and Zara’s oversized check coat add shape and structure while remaining comfortable and easy to wear.

C: Colour can be an instant moodbooster. How uplifting it was to see Dr Jill Biden, Kamala Harris, the vicepresident, Michelle Obama and Amanda Gorman in brilliant coats at the US presidential inauguration this year. “Clothing affects how we feel and act,” explains fashion psychologist Prof Carolyn Mair. “Colour becomes associated with emotions and characteristics – for example, yellow is associated with summer, fun and happiness. When we need a boost to our mood, a pop of colour in our clothing can make all the difference.”

Obviously, there’s more to wardrobe TLC than putting on a pink coat. Dressing to feel your best requires care, consideration and input. I’m a firm believer in taking control of your clothes. See this as an act of self-love, another kind of TLC. If an item isn’t right, it’s never going to make you happy, so what’s it even doing in your wardrobe? Figuring out what you like to wear, what’s right for you, and the moment, are the fundamental principles of feel-good fashion. I’m happiest in the combination of a tailored jacket and slightly slouchy jeans or trousers. In this outfit I feel comfortable and confident, I feel like “me”.

Style is a work in progress and understanding what’s effective – from the shades that suit your complexion and the silhouettes that suit your body shape to identifying the clothes that bring you joy – takes commitment and flexibility. Now is the perfect time to put the effort in, to increase your wardrobe TLC and re-emerge looking more stylish than ever.