From corsets and blazers to mini-dresses: How fashion is embracing the ease in COVID-19 restrictions

WHILE the pandemic put homewear at the top of the trend agenda for more than a year, its domination of the fashion sphere seems to be on the wane.

Joggers, sweaters and slippers are now heading back into closets, as people aspire to more sophisticated fashions and a more dressed-up, dynamic style, at a time when many countries are starting to ease COVID-19 restrictions.

It looks like game over for joggers, leggings and baggy T-shirts, unless you're working out, as fashion -- real fashion, that is -- reclaims closets as covid-19 restrictions begin to ease. In fact, around the world, blazers and mini-dresses are proving popular once again, according to the latest data from the global shopping platform, Lyst.*

The blazer is back

Synonymous with elegance, the blazer is making its way back into everyday looks, despite the fact that working from home at least some of the time is likely to become a new norm in many countries worldwide. With jeans, a skirt or pants, a blazer can bring an instant style boost to an otherwise casual silhouette.

And, as spirits start to lift along with restrictions, blazers are looking more colorful than ever. The Lyst platform reports that page views for "neon," "bright" and "colorful" tailored blazers increased 22% collectively over the past month. In detail, web users have been searching for neon-green (+57% searches), bright yellow (+66%) and hot pink (+35%) blazers in the last month, as they shake off this gloomy period from which the world could finally be emerging.

But this isn't the only indicator suggesting that homewear could be on its way out. In fact, dresses and skirts of all kinds have been looking popular in recent weeks. Spring bringing warmer weather to many global regions could play a part in this sudden uptick. Searches for denim miniskirts were up (+48%), as well as smocked mini dresses (+45%), while general searches for short and mini-dresses have been growing too (+44%). Other popular searches were "knit mini-dresses" (+21%), "pleated mini skirts" (+33%) and shorts (+36%).

Corsets shape up as a trend

This retro fashion item started making a comeback early this year. It may seem strange at a time when women's bodies are freeing themselves from all kinds of constraints, and yet, the corset is making a comeback. Kim Kardashian and the wider shapewear trend have helped bring the corset back into fashion in less restrictive versions not to mention the hit series "Bridgerton," which landed late 2020 on Netflix.

Now, it's the American singer Billie Eilish who has put this historical garment back in the spotlight. Since the "Bad Guy" singer graced the cover of Vogue UK in a corset, global searches have been on the up (+74% in 48 hours). All in all, it's a trend that's looking stronger by the week.

*The fashion shopping platform Lyst analyzes searches from its 150 million annual users to understand how they react to the latest events that drive the fashion world.