Face Fashion

While I'm in no way making light or denying the magnetite of the situation we are living through,

I believe a sense of humour is imperative when facing into the reality of our “new normal” if someone had of told you about this situation a year ago you would have dismissed it as the plot of some dark dystopian movie, yet here we are, in a world where face masks are the norm and hand sanitiser is the new black.

So where is the humour in all of this? The humble Face masks / face covering, a functional item worn to protect others from any potential airborne nasties escaping when we speak / cough / sneeze, has been elevated to a fashion accessory, absurd, hysterical but undeniably true.

We began our face mask journey with bog-standard blue clinical looking disposable masks, early on i spotted a few painters masks, A for effort and resourcefulness. Things evolved quickly with more aesthetically pleasing re-usable masks becoming easily available, neutral colours, fairly innocuous, and then it happened, prints were first, floral, snakeskin, zig-zag, then the flood gates opened.

Monogrammed, novelty, sports branded, my Instagram feed is littered with masks to match your outfit, my favourite has to be the influencer i spotted in a pom-pom trimmed bikini with matching pom-pom trimmed face covering, that my friend is dedication to the cause. Ever the trend Setter Sienna Miller showed off her face-covering prowess in New York by opting for a pretty scarf worn as a facial bandana. I’m betting guess the celebrity by seeing only their eyes will be a parlour game by Christmas.

Websites such a Etsy and Not on the High Street are filled with face masks that bring a little light hearted humour, bearded guy and radiant smile are 2 of my favourites. Prize for the stupidest face covering has to go to one of the big fast-fashion e-tailer who launched a crystal embellished mesh mask which can only be described as neither use nor ornament.