Ashley Graham on What a Year of Working From Home Taught Her About Style
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Before the pandemic, I was a fashionista—even while I was pregnant. Don’t get me wrong, while I was carrying my son, I was wearing anything stretchy and expandable I could possibly find. But even then, I was doing fittings all the time with my stylist, and I was still into wearing pants—like, actually putting pants on. And wearing shoes. Remember shoes!?
I was always on the go, always at an event, always at the airport. I was trying on a million outfits before I left the house. It was fun, deciding which girl I wanted to be each day.
And then in the blink of an eye, just like for the rest of the world, that changed. But for me, it began just before the pandemic hit and quarantine began. I gave birth to my baby boy, Isaac, on January 18; two months later, my husband Justin and I were driving across the country (without stopping!) to quarantine with my mother in Nebraska. Suddenly, I was a person who had to consider comfort and functionality in ways I never had before, as both the mother to an infant, and someone who was working remotely.
Most days, I wouldn't even get dressed in the morning. If I had a Zoom for work, I would throw on a button down. You’d be lucky if I put a bra on; I got used to not wearing one, especially knowing I’d be popping a boob out at any given moment to feed Isaac. My go-to became oversized button-down shirts from R-13. They come in blue, pinstripe, and white, and I would just mix them up. But what the people on the other end of my Zooms couldn't see is that I was almost always not wearing anything on the bottom.
Gradually, though, I began to find a new normal. After a few months, I realized, "You know, the few times I have put on clothes for a Zoom...it actually changed my mood. Maybe I should try actually...getting dressed!” I started buying cozy sweatsuits in every color you can imagine. I had tie-dye, I had pastels...beiges, grays, blacks, everything. That was when I started to have a little fun with clothing again. I realized, you can wear a "look" and be cute and fun, but still casual and comfy.
Before I knew it, I was adding chunky jewelry or a sexy hoop earring to my outfits, because those small additions made me feel more pulled together. A necklace or a pair of earrings are not uncomfortable when you’re at home the way pants or a bra can be. Next came the makeup. It started with a brow and a lip. Suddenly, I was jazzing up my eyes.
A year later, my wardrobe has done a complete 180 from before the pandemic, and before my pregnancy. Of course, I still have baby weight—let’s be real! But it got to a point where I told myself, "Okay girl, you can not wear sweat pants all the time. It has to only be sometimes." To be honest, I felt frumpy constantly seeing myself in sweatpants. I know my husband doesn't care at all about what I wear, but it was truly about not wanting to constantly see myself in saggy bottoms anymore. I needed that for me to feel better about me.
I found these comfortable jeans from this company called Commonry, and they fit me so perfectly. (They're not a skinny jean Gen Z’ers—calm down. They are a slim fit called "relaxed girlfriend.") They're light wash, and they have a pocket, which...oh my God. I mean, Isaac's always got this and that and this and that...so as a mom, I absolutely need a pocket. Throw in my phone and some snacks, and we're good to go.
I learned a lot about getting dressed during this past year. When it comes to clothing and the things we put our bodies, I think we all now feel more comfortable with being...comfortable. But you can do it in your own trendy, chic way. The cloud has lifted just a tiny little bit, and I think many of us are combining the tricks for comfort that we picked up in the pandemic with remembering how to have fun with clothes.
Even me, someone who was basically born in heels and could walk a plank in them and not fall off, I stopped wearing heels this past year. Now it’s all about the sneakers—maybe some Air Force 1s or Jordans. Even for a cover story for WSJ Magazine, I wore a chunky, gorgeous sweater from Khaite over a bra, with nothing on the bottom. I felt very stylish. But would I have worn that look for a photoshoot before the pandemic? Probably not.
And yes, I’m still wearing those button-downs. My style inspiration is now a combination of comfort, functionality, and also from looking at old photos of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. I don't know why I love them so much, but their style is just so chic. They dress like chic tomboys. I think of my style as like...a little Tracee Ellis Ross...mixed with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley...mixed with a Teyana Taylor...and a little dab of Lori Harvey. Translation? I want comfortable, oversized, and baggy, but still dressy—with a sneaker.
A year ago, I was repeating a lot of affirmations about not standing in fear—about leaning in and helping each other so we didn’t completely give in to the coronavirus taking over our lives. If there was one beautiful thing about that time, it was seeing the way people were taking care of one another: supporting essential workers, starting funds for their neighbors, being nicer and kinder in general. A year later, there’s something in the air. People feel a little bit lighter. I wake up and I feel hopeful—I remind myself so much has changed for all of us in a year, but today’s a new day. I’m starting to feel hope again, for the first time in a long time.
The greatest lesson the past year taught me is to Slow. Down. I was always so on-the-go that I think it was turning unhealthy. I’ve since had the time to slow down, to actually take the time to figure out what it is that I want and need for my mind, my soul, even for what I put on my body. And I’ve never spent this much time with my family. Now, family time is a staple—it's no longer an, “Oh, I’ll get to it,” but something I work with my team to ensure is on my schedule, no exceptions. I'm so grateful for that, because I'm creating moments left and right, not only with my son and my husband, but also my mom, my sisters, and my extended family. I think that's paramount.
But I’m also really prioritizing myself, carving out moments in my schedule for Mommy time, like yoga. And when I look in the mirror, whether I’m wearing saggy bottoms or a pair of comfortable but perfect-fitting jeans, I know how important it is to do something for myself. More important than how something looks is how it makes you feel, and this year, I’m all about wearing and doing all of the things that make me feel good. I think we all deserve to focus on that.
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