Vırginia Chadwyck-Healey What to wear on... Monday morning
As we ditch the wellies and elasticated waists, you can smarten up and still be comfy
Welcome to a new chapter of this column. As we feel the grip of the past year loosen, it seems only right to start thinking about how we dress to re-emerge into the sunlight.
We are all a little apprehensive, I’m sure. Many of us have enjoyed the slower pace – I have certainly relished the looser waistbands. My feet are definitely experiencing a baptism of fire. I think I have worn a pair of heels just six times in the past two years (I bid adieu to the Jimmy Choos in November 2019 when I was heavily pregnant, then lockdown arrived and I embraced the opentoed road in a pair of Birkenstocks). For endless walks my wellies and AllBirds trainers became the new norm.
So we are starting from the top. Monday is the day we start afresh. We wind up. We look forward. For many, it will be a school run dash and then on to work (or home office). For others it’s a slower pace but still with the oomph of a new week. The to-do lists start. The diary comes out. We plan weekends. We book the electrician. We pay that bill. We want comfort, yes, but a step up from lockdown days of comfort.
I am endeavouring to wear more of my wardrobe. Loafers are proving to be my latest go-to. Only smart, clean trainers make the cut. My huge duffle coat can now be swapped for a sleeker maxi coat that has the comfort of a dressing gown but with a lot more grace. Harris Wharf London offers a wonderful range of colourful options (see the pink coat, pictured) that are great if you are looking for a new cover-up for an event on the horizon but also something for everyday wear. The pieces fall and hang beautifully, so the look is never bulky.
The collared shirt is an instant step up – so dig any out of the wardrobe. My vast tote bag is a haven of baby’s rice crackers, masks, hand sanitiser and receipts, so I’ve swapped it for a smaller pouch that carries only the things I really need for a morning of zipping around locally or heading to London. If you don’t have many handbags sitting dormant in your wardrobe that you can switch to for a feeling of newness, look to brands like DeMellier London or J&M Davidson for long-lasting styles that won’t come with too much guilt, price-wise. Switch up the bag and the