[[Before I get into today's post, I want to clarify something. I'm going to be talking about wearing a face mask from a stylistic perspective. I'm not going to be discussing reasons why you should or shouldn't wear one; instead I'm going to be looking at it as a potential generational trend. You've been warned.]]
When I wrote my post about wearing a mask with style back in March, I was partially kidding around. I didn't actually think masks would become trendy, but since then, I have seen many different companies trying to sell masks and dozens of people even making their own.
And here we are.
Recently, a friend mentioned how masks are going to be the "accessory of our generation," and I agree with that to a degree. I'm not sure if masks will be around for the entire decade-- I actually hope they won't-- but they surely have a place in history for 2020 and even perhaps 2021, depending on what happens in the near future with the virus.
But regardless, rather than completely reject them for being annoying, which I'm sure most people will agree they are, I think that it makes sense to look at them in a more positive, potentially beneficial way.
Now, I'm not saying that you absolutely need to get or make a fancy mask to look good while wearing them, nor do I think it will diminish your look to only wear the basic surgical mask. To be completely candid, that's the only one I have and will probably continue to use.
Whereas a mask is an accessory, what really matters is the rest of your outfit. Remember: accessories are secondary pieces meaning that they will compliment your primary pieces like your shirt, jacket, et cetera. More times than not, an accessory is not going to be the centerpiece of an outfit.
Of course, having a fancy mask will make you stand-out, so you could use this to your advantage.
If you do decide to upgrade your mask, I would apply the same rules I would for any accessory. I would keep it simple and classic, but maybe try some different cuts and material. I wouldn't wear anything tacky, which a lot of the masks I'm seeing for sale are. For instance, one I frequently see is a mask with the mouth of a cat printed on it.
Maybe if you're a teenager that would work, but for someone in their 20s or 30s, it's just going to look callow and out of place.
In terms of colors, I would get a white, black, blue, and red. I wouldn't go too overboard like I have with pocket squares, but if you have the money and desire to do so, go for it. In fact, you could actually make the mask your signature piece.
I would try to match your mask with your shirt color, just like you would do if wearing a pocket square. So a white mask with a white shirt, black mask with a black/dark colored shirt, blue mask with a blue/light colored shirt, et cetera.
You could have a lot of fun with wearing a mask. Just note that when the virus has passed, masks will likely no longer be socially acceptable to wear, or rather than standing-out in a good way, you'll stand out in a bad way.
That's why I think four masks max is the ideal number. I don't see them becoming classic pieces like pocket squares. Therefore, I wouldn't spend more than $50 USD on masks.
But again, if you have the money and want to, then go ahead!
One last thing about wearing a mask, which I find to be strangely attractive, is how much it highlights a person's eyes. It has a very mysteriously alluring appeal to me.
While I think women can take the most advantage of this factor-- by using make-up to accentuate their eyes-- I think men can also benefit from this by wearing the right outfit. Make sure to check out my initial post about wearing a mask with style to find out how exactly to do it. Hyperlink above.
Overall, I personally don't view masks as particularly stylish, at least on me, but I definitely see their potential. While I've seen a lot of basic masks, which I don't really take notice of, I've also seen some really cool looking ones like the one my friend has.
Some people have even been wearing scarves instead of masks, which I think is also really cool, especially if you're a big scarf person during the winter. In fact, if you are a scarf person I would highly recommend buying scarves instead of masks because, unlike the mask, scarves will likely always be a classic piece to wear during the winter.
But what do you think? How many masks do you own? Do you wear a scarf instead of a mask? Would you consider doing so?
Let me know in the comments!
-Ryan S.
No comments:
Post a Comment