BIPOC fashion designer, Brandon Hunt, release pandemic-inspired collection that will be sure to keep you cozy and stylish for any situation! Visit his brand Livintage Apparel via their website, Instagram and Facebook for more information and to make a purchase!
Our lives will never be the same again. We can tell generations to come that we lived through a worldwide pandemic. And if you’re reading this now, you are one of those survivors. Now that’s a reason to start to Liv a little more! Never in my life would I have imagined living through a global pandemic. It has not only shook up the whole world but it has also affected the world of fashion in a major way.
Fashion has started to go digital due to COVID. Now that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For me, I was able to really connect with my clients on a personal level through zoom calls or FaceTime. I grew better bonds with clients during the pandemic. I even created new components to my business that included more virtual interactions. Wardrobe stylists are very hands on.
The 6 foot social distancing rule just doesn’t apply to us. If we aren’t adjusting a model’s clothes during a shoot, we are more than likely doing the creative direction. There’s even times where we have to physically shop for a client in the store. Another hands on job stylists usually have are fittings prior to the fashion show and making adjustments to clothing if needed. The pandemic changed all of my normal day to day interactions. I did not take this as anything negative. I brainstormed for hours coming up with ideas on how I could pivot and still be successful during COVID. I decided I would take full advantage of one of many styling services of mine which is personal shopping. This is where I personal shop for clients. It’s as simple as getting their sizes in clothing and shoes along with a budget for clothing. I do FaceTimes and send photos of outfit ideas until we build several complete looks within their budget. This service could be for a specific event, photo shoot, vacation, or even as a gift to someone who deserves to add some new pieces to their wardrobe. Stylists take note because this was a major contribution to my success during the pandemic.
The pandemic trapped people in their homes for months. We may not have been able to get out like normal and be social, but we were on our phones. Everyone was plugged in. This was the perfect time to interact with followers. During this time I did live interviews, tv segments, YouTube’s, podcasts and more. I even had sales online to drive more traffic to my website. I also sent out email alerts updating people on when the collection would drop. I wanted to give my viewers an opportunity to get to know me better. I used the quarantine to connect with my followers. I did polls to see exactly what they liked. I took time responding to as many people as I could. I reached out to hundreds of people daily to build my clientele. I was eager to work with new people. Though I got turned down by many, it only made me want to work harder. I used social media to conduct research on clients and learn more about them. Social media was a major tool to use during the pandemic in order to stay afloat in the industry.
The pandemic may not have been such a bad thing after all for the fashion industry. The pandemic actually opened up so many opportunities for people. This was a great time to get in your zone and focus on whatever it is that you love doing and do it. For me, that was creating. Others ventured out and started businesses, learned new trades, and even invested in things they never thought they’d invest in. I took my time to build a men’s and women’s collection I knew would be comfortable, edgy, and classic considering no one was getting dressed up to leave the house. I also included glasses as an accessory because as a stylist, one of the most important things to me is accessorizing. You can build looks based off of the most basic outfits by adding the perfect accessories.
Anytime you’re going to be front and center, you’d better make sure you’re looking your best. So I understand how difficult it is to get dressed for that zoom meeting or virtual date. You don’t want to overdo it and you don’t want to under dress either. These decisions could make or break you but here are some tips that should help ease the stress of choosing that next outfit for your zoom meeting or virtual date.
Your clothes do speak you know. Have you ever gotten dressed and someone asked you what you’re getting all dressed up for? Whether it was for that interview or that hot date, clothes say a lot about who you are and how you carry yourself; so it may be important to put a little more effort into your next outfit choice whether that’s booking a personal stylist or being a fashionista yourself.
Styles differ when it comes to a virtual date or a zoom meeting. You want to be more conservative when it comes to meetings. For males, I’d really stay away from t-shirts but if you must wear one, make sure it’s plain so that people don’t focus on the words or message. For women, I’d suggest not wearing anything that’s too revealing on the top. No lace, no see through, or spaghetti straps. Follow Livintage Apparel via their website, Instagram and Facebook.
Pieces I would suggest for men and women are button down shirts or polos for virtual meetings. When it comes to virtual dates, you can get a little more creative. Do focus on being yourself and not wearing anything that is out of your comfort zone because you want to be confident on camera. For video purposes, I’d suggest not wearing anything too bright or too much bling as it can be distracting. Lastly and possibly most importantly, please please please don’t get caught not wearing any pants. We all know how easy it is to roll out of bed and throw on a work shirt paired with your favorite pj bottoms but that’s a big no no. Don’t be that person that stands up while on video and forgets they aren’t fully dressed. Fashion is forever changing and has been for ages. No matter what’s thrown our way, we must be able to learn from it and become better. Now that the pandemic is over, let the fun begin. It’s time to pull out your best clothes because it’s time to go outside!Follow Brandon Hunt, the CEO and designer at Livintage Apparel, at his Instagram!
