A Chic Paris Lockdown – Part 2: Day 7 – “Confinement” Chic
November 9, 2020
In chapter (“Day”) 7 of 30 Chic Days At Home, Fiona discusses how we care for and present ourselves as a way to keep our morale boosted. She wrote her book during New Zealand’s first “lockdown” month which started 25 March 2020 and lasted until the end of April-mid-May. This was Autumn in New Zealand so Fiona’s style preferences were directed towards cold-weather friendly clothing. The main point that she makes in this chapter is that how we dress ourselves influences our emotional setting. We want to be especially intentional in building “mood-lifters” into our day when we are going through tough times. It doesn’t really matter that other people may not see us – WE see ourselves. Whatever we do to prepare ourselves for our regular outer environment, we should do much the same for our “in lockdown” environment. Fiona evens adds in some thoughts on taking the opportunity to enjoy some of the benefits of “at-home time” by putting together her own version of a chic-casual capsule wardrobe that is more particularized (for her own preferences) for her at-home environment.
This Paris Lockdown 2 takes place in late Autumn-early winter. The weather dictates most clothing choices. (My darling apartment is a bit drafty. There is no running around inside wearing gym shorts and thin cotton shirts when it’s cold outside – not unless we want to be pretty chilly!) I haven’t changed my self-care or dressing routine because of lockdown. My life is pretty casual so a pair of skinny pants, boots or tennies and a long sleeved turtleneck is my daily uniform. I get up, wash & moisturize my face, apply eye liner, brush my teeth & hair and then put my earrings and clothes on. (The whole process takes about 10 minutes.) After that, I make a cup of coffee, pour it into my insulated travel mug, put on a down jacket and go for a walk (with, of course, the obligatory facemask and attestation form). This has been my basic, every day, early morning routine (minus facemask & paper) for about the last 15 years. Note: When I worked in an office environment, the dress standard was “casual” so I basically wore the same thing.
Life here in Paris also requires more out-of-doors activity than my US habits. One must go out on foot every day for fresh bread and a small grocery run (Parisian kitchens and refrigerators are much smaller than their American counterparts.). I also do a 1-hour “exercise” walk (for my mental health!) every day. There is no real ability to hole up inside the apartment for days on end wearing pajamas and eating frozen food.
Gretchen Rubin points out that the “what we do everyday matters more than what we do once in awhile.” In her book, The Happiness Project, she has the concept as one of her Rules of Adulthood. Fiona gives an example of living this idea with Day 7’s advice when she consciously sets up her schedule (for a scary, stressful time like national lockdown during a pandemic) to support her own emotional well-being. By taking a few moments every day to put on what she considers a stylish and comfortable “casual-chic” outfit and do a few extra steps like do her hair, put on earrings or a light spritz of perfume, she gives herself an easy mental lift. She knows that she is dressed in a way that appeals to her own sense of style.
Whether I wear earrings today or not has no effect on the number of people in France admitted to a hospital today. It does, however, elevate my mood – which is one of the very few things that I can have a positive impact on right now.
Note: Fiona’s excellent books can be found at Amazon.com