It’s time to dust off those glad rags

LADIES, it’s time to dust off the glad rags … and no, you don’t need a special occasion to wear them.

It’s been more than a year since I’ve attended an event that requires one to wear something glamorous: a complete make-up look and heels.

Scrolling through my pre-covid Instagram grid, it often featured images of myself attending fabulous fashion events wearing outfits from my favourite local designer, my make-up flawless and hair done to perfection. I recall the pre-event excitement of finding the perfect outfit and figuring out how to style it.

Whether I was spending the day sipping Veuve Clicquot at the Masters Polo in Franschhoek, or rubbing shoulders with celebrities at the Sun Met at Kenilworth Racecourse, even daytime events required a touch of glam.

Sitting front-row at fashion weeks, exclusive luxury brand launches at the Zeitz MOCAA and awards ceremonies on beautiful wine estates were all opportunities to ditch the jeans and sneakers and dress up and feel like a star for a night.

Even though it’s only been a year, those days feel so long gone.

I look at all the beautiful garments I’ve collected over the years and it saddens me that they haven’t seen sunshine or moonlight. Some of them have only been worn once, because one doesn’t dare wear the same outfit twice.

The grand over-the-top, floor-sweeping Imprint gown, the bold coloured sheer Ruff Tung kimono,

the vintage black-sequined butterfly top, stare back at me practically begging to be worn and shown off once more.

I know I’m not the only one out there who has special occasion outfits just hanging there dying to be worn.

Unless you have an intimate wedding coming up, you might still be waiting a while to rock your glad rags!

If, like me, you’re tired of waiting for things to get back to “normal”, wait no more.

Make leaving the house an occasion. We leave our homes so seldom these days it practically is an occasion.

Are you going to the supermarket to stock up on groceries?

Throw on that gold sequined skirt, slip on your highest heel and strut your fabulous self down the baking goods aisle.

Picking the kids up from school? Give the sweatpants a break and pull on those black leather pants that you know hug your bottom perfectly.

One doesn’t even have to leave home to dress up.

Celebrities have been “attending” awards ceremonies from the comfort of their homes via virtual link-ups and still giving us all the red carpet looks we live for.

Couture designers continued to dress their favourite stars even though their gowns won’t be making it past their front gates.

Sarah Paulson twirled in a garden wearing a black Prada gown, while Regina King shimmered on her balcony in a silver and black Louis Vuitton dress.

Follow in celebrities’ glam footsteps and play dress-up at home even if it’s just for those stylish Instagram shots or Tiktok outfit videos.

There are, in fact, Tiktok fashion challenges that will have you wearing your entire wardrobe in one video!

Who says you can’t watch your favourite movie in your shoestring satin dress wearing long, fake lashes and bold, red lipstick?

Let’s be glamorous once more, even if it’s just for a moment.