Whilst the nation is undeniably excited about the roadmap out of lockdown, almost three quarters (71%) have anxieties about restrictions lifting
With 17th May signposting a new sense of social freedom, and 21st June hopefully marking the end of all UK lockdown restrictions, there’s plenty for Brits to be both excited and apprehensive about.
New research commissioned by leading clothing brand Tu found that, when asked about lockdown lifting, one in three (33%) women were looking forward to shopping on the high street and returning to their favourite bars and restaurants, but almost half (42%) said they were looking forward to simply being able to hug their loved ones.
Whilst a large proportion (46%) of Brits agree that the enforced lockdown period helped them slow down and add balance to their busy lives, a third (33%) believe that their mental health has improved since the initial easing of lockdown restrictions in April, suggesting a positive mindset when looking forward to the summer ahead.
Although socialising is high up on the agenda, Tu found that 40% of singletons aren’t planning to date this summer, proving that a pub trip with pals is more likely than a romantic meal for two. Spending time with friends and family (45%) came in at the top spot once social restrictions are relaxed, compared to only 20% prioritising nights out (20%) and only 4% getting back in the dating game.
After a year of the same outfit on repeat, and an influx of social events on the horizon, 14.9 million Brits plan to celebrate these engagements with a new wardrobe, as half (50%) also said* their style has changed over lockdown. A third of those surveyed (32%) admitted* to now not being confident when it came to clothes shopping and 39% confess* they no longer know what's on trend.
Despite this uncertainty, over half (52%) of Brits believe that putting effort into getting dressed is something that makes them feel good. Tu has also seen more than a 70% increase in visits to its 'Summer Shop' since 12th April as people proactively look to refresh their look for face to face socialising. Jumpsuits, jeans and cardigans were in the top 10 searches on tu.co.uk last week, as the nation still favours comfort whilst transitioning out of loungewear.
When it comes to work, a staggering 67% of Brits are worried about maintaining work-life balance in a post pandemic life, with the added time pressures of commuting, getting ready and having more social plans. Still, over 40% said that they are looking forward to making the move back to the office and half (49%) plan to socialise with colleagues at least once a week, filling the void of over a year without the ‘work wife’.
Tu is looking to support the nation navigate through post-pandemic life by furthering the groundwork of its Dress Well, Feel Good campaign and partnering with wellbeing experts Honey Langcaster-James and Dr Sarah Vohra to offer customers advice. A series of fashion and lifestyle influencers will also be offering their styling tips to help those who feel like they may have lost a sense of their personal style, and all content will be available on Tu’s Instagram @TuClothing.
Emma Benjafield, Head of Product at Tu comments: “As restrictions ease, there are so many things to look forward to, from getting away with family and friends, reinvigorating our social lives with barbeques and meals out, as well as continuing to spend more time outside as the weather improves. Whatever the occasion, we know that these small changes can spark joy and have a huge positive impact on our own wellbeing. Here at Tu, we want to inspire the nation to rediscover their wardrobes, remembering those old favourites and finding new ones, but always dressing in only what feels good for the summer ahead.”
Chartered Psychologist Honey Langcaster-James and Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Sarah Vohra, both offer their expert advice - from over 25 years’ combined experience in the field – helping to plan and prepare for the months ahead, and navigate the uncertainty.
Commenting on the months that lie ahead, Honey said, “We’re facing a new period of adjustment and many people will go through a kind of reverse-culture shock as they re-emerge from a lifestyle that many of us could hardly have imagined before the pandemic. As resilient human beings, we gradually adjusted to all the changes we had to make, and these things became ‘normal’ but now it’s time to shift things back again. This is bound to be unsettling for us all in different ways, but there are ways you can make things easier on yourself.”
She continued, “You may experience feelings of anxiety as your brain and your nervous system go on hyper-alert. This is your brain’s way of trying to protect you from things that may seem threatening. If you let it, this has the potential to hold you back from enjoying the summer. So, it can be helpful to learn a few ways to steady yourself and ensure you’re feeling as strong and well-prepared as possible. The way you dress can actually have a big effect on how you feel, and that influences how you behave. Dressing well can indeed lead you to feel good, and that, in turn, can help you re-emerge with more confidence and a greater sense of overall security and safety when you’re getting back out there.”
Dr Sarah Vohra adds, “For some of us, lockdown has forced us to slow down, take time off that we perhaps wouldn’t have allowed ourselves otherwise, and allowed us to spend time with family unapologetically. Many have reassessed priorities and so the easing of lockdown may well bring about anxiety, with many of us vowing not to return to the chaos of our pre-pandemic life, but fearful of how those around us may well respond as we put those boundaries in place.
Don’t underestimate the power of social connection as we come out of lockdown. The people we surround ourselves with, particularly in times of stress, can help us make sense of these stresses and reduce the effect it would otherwise have on us - so there is truth in the saying, a problem shared is a problem halved. For many of us, our “uniform” for the best part of 12 months may well have been loungewear or “dressing up top” for a Zoom chat with sweats underneath. As we begin to meet in person, naturally some of us may have some apprehension of “what to wear” and miss the security of our loungewear, being able to hide behind a screen, or having the option to “turn off our camera”. Our inner self critic may well rear its head as we dust off old outfits or brave the shops to buy new ones as well as possibly firing up social comparisons with those around us when we meet up.”
Honey Langcaster-James’ top 5 tips for post lockdown life:
- Suggest real life meetings or walking meet ups with colleagues – there are huge social benefits that come from working alongside others
- Whether it’s a haircut or a new outfit, the way you present yourself can put a spring in your step and make you feel more confident
- Focus on putting others at ease rather than worrying what others will think of you
- Take things one step at a time and only do things you feel comfortable with
- Hold on to pandemic positives such as cooking together more, or having cosy nights in
Dr Sarah Vohra’s top 5 tips for post lockdown life:
- Book time out for yourself, in your diary as you would an appointment that you can’t cancel
- When requests are made of you or your time, think about what’s important to you personally, socially and from a work perspective and use these to guide your response
- When you experience a worry, ask yourself whether you can turn it into a problem to solve, if so, who or what might help you to solve it? Or are you worrying about something that might not even happen?
- Move away from the comfort of your loungewear and ‘shop your wardrobe’
- Each morning over breakfast, get everyone in the family to share what they are “most looking forward to” and what they are “most worried about” for the day ahead and check in how they’ve got on come the end of the day