LOOKGOOD, FEEL GOOD

Fashion is both for the body and mind

- Kalwyna Rathod

COVID-19 impacted the world in ways we could never have imagined. For one thing, working from home in PJs became cool, which soon led to even professionals not bothering any more about their looks and the way they presented themselves. Which eventually took a toll on mental health for many individuals.

Khushboo Sewak,  a 32-year-old financial advisor in Bengaluru, works from home four days a week and goes to the office one day. For this former pageant participant and social media fashion influencer, dressing up is an integral part of how she feels and carries out her tasks. “Dressing in formal wear, wearing makeup, putting on accessories and grooming my nails are simple and routine tasks but they make me feel confident when showing up at virtual meetings or staying connected with others,” she explains. “If you are in your PJs and not looking presentable, chances are you will skip video calls. Not presenting yourself well can also make you feel disconnected from colleagues and clients, which can then impact the quality of your work and, of course, your mental health.”

Ahmedabad-based counselling psychologist Parita Sharma recalls the attention she drew in kindergarten on Wednesdays, which used to be a “free dress day;” her aunts used to dress her up in trendy clothes and style her hair. “It is a 40-year-old tale, but I still remember it as if it were yesterday,” she says. “Hardly anyone would talk to me every day when we were all in uniform, but, on Wednesdays, the girl who was not very popular suddenly started getting attention. Why? We were just five-year-old kids who didn’t even know what fashion was, but its impact was remarkable, to the extent that these experiences shaped my entire personality.”