To hate the idea of masks as a fashion accessory

[Ghostlyglow]

I'm not anti-mask - just thought I should say that. Just no, though to masks that match outfits and "designer" masks - I saw some on a jewellery website for £35!

@BadEyeBri

I've some nice animal print ones. I'm a vet.

Any why wouldn't you!

I love fun masks, makes a shitty situation slightly more bearable

@RufustheSniggeringReindeer

This was a thing on Jeremy Vine last week (C5); as in, people shouldn't be wearing anything other than a plain mask because it's trivialising the virus and making people forget how serious it is

Really

I suppose its true

Dh working from home
Dd not taking her A levels
Ds2 having no college for months
Social distancing
Not being able to see my friends
Staying apart from my dad
Queues in shops
MN with a special covid board
Lockdown

But the second i put my nice flowery mask on and I forget just how serious a pandemic is

(Sarcasm by the way)

That's exactly what I thought when I read the post!

I wear my flowery ones and my disney ones because I know we are in a pandemic. This is new and not normal but a necessary new normal.

I just figure if I have to walk around town or supermarket, or theme park or museum in it then why not colour co ordinate and make myself feel good the same way I do when I choose the clothes I'll wear for the trip?

Yesterday I went to a theme park. Masks required for lots of rides.

Wore tapered trousers, t shirt, matching jumpier and shoes and a coloured co ordinated set of masks came.

I have loads of photos of ds and I out and about this summer. At least I match in them

@BeyondMyWits

Looking forward to festive mask day instead of jumpers this Christmas 🎄

That's a good point.

My auntie makes them.

I'll need to get my orders in early!

I've got a panda face mask. I love pandas 🐼

I do find it really weird. Those bejewelled ones do crack makeup. And some of the ones which are scarves that turn into masks with tons of frilly bows. But then I think diamante and frilly bows look very silly at the best of times.

Turning something that you are only wearing for medical/legally mandated reasons into a fashion accessory is quite odd. And it makes it seem like we are all enthusiastically making them a permanent feature of our lives by making them fashionable. I don't want to think masks are permanent.

Those bejewelled ones do crack makeup
Gaaahhhh. Crack me up. Obviously.

I've made several for me, DH, and friends, in a variety of syles and colours. At first I was just using fabric from old clothes/pillowcases, but recently I bought some pretty patterned fabrics to make masks, as I think we'll be wearing masks for months so we may as well have attractive ones. Also, it makes the sewing process more enjoyable when you use pretty fabrics.

I find making the masks a bit fiddly at times, partly because my ancient sewing machine has a tendency to jam up, especially when sewing multiple layers. Machine issues aside, they are fairly labour intensive, if you're fussy and like to make well shaped masks with top stitching and a casment for nose wires, so I wonder how anyone can make money selling fabric masks for £3 each. They are probably thrown together and may fray at the seams after a couple of washes. That said, charging £80 for a mask is extortionate, but it's great that a cottage industry has sprung up, to offer choices for people who are unable and/or don't want to make their own.

Does anyone remember when a mobile phone was considered an essential item / for emergencies only? Then it became a fashion statement :-)

Well, to me, it's a 'life hands you lemons, make gin and tonic' kind of thing.

I guess we could suck all the misery out out, really roll it round our moths then spit it out, or we could just try and have a little bit of fun with it.

For us, we've put a national symbol on ours. I just got some fabric paint, some black masks, did it. And so far we've had three people who just had a blast telling us about their travels to our country.

My mum delivered me some grinch masks today ready for Christmas. I agree if we have to wear them then I will have fun with it.

Why, because if masks are strictly functional and not remotely amusing, pretty, whatever, we aren't taking this seriously?

I've got paw prints on mine, and flamingoes on another, OH has got bright yellow smiley faces.

No ones forcing you to do that though, wear boring ones if you want.

Turning something that you are only wearing for medical/legally mandated reasons into a fashion accessory is quite odd. And it makes it seem like we are all enthusiastically making them a permanent feature of our lives by making them fashionable. I don't want to think masks are permanent.
Yes @DappledThings, this.

“And it makes it seem like we are all enthusiastically making them a permanent feature of our lives by making them fashionable.”

Well I mean, I could sit and embroider - I am wearing this because I have. On them... but I mean, I don’t really see that it’ll make any difference tbh.

The way I see it people with walking sticks /wheelchairs etc often jazz them up, why is this any different? Far better to add some cheer to gloomy times. I know several Covid nurses who all wear colourful and fun masks when out and about on days off and they definitely can't be accused of not understanding the severity of the pandemic.
No different to doctors having fun coloured stethoscopes etc, or wards being decorated with murals. Just because something is functional doesn't mean it has to be dull.

I don't think fashion equals permanent - quite the reverse often.

Love the idea of Grinch masks

My 4 year old asked if she could have a unicorn one we saw for sale today. She's been wearing it loads today just for fun. I'd rather that than her be afraid of the whole thing.

Anything that makes people more comfortable wearing them is ok with me.
I don’t see an issue with this at all.

Purchasing these masks often means supporting small local businesses which is another big positive in my book.

Don't worry @Ghostlyglow I'm with you on this. I've heard people getting excited over websites and ordering loads. I can understand maybe one novelty one or something but I'll stick with the standard medical ones. I just don't get it 😂 but each to their own.

I wouldn’t spend lots of money on one myself, but I do like the ones I do have to go well with what I’m wearing.

Some are plain black (bought) some are white or dusty pink (made).

If it’s something we’re going to be wearing for a while, why not incorporate them into taking pride in your appearance?

Agree with you 100% OP. went on a shopping trip yesterday and saw masks designed with football teams, batman, Spiderman, fort nite......we really dont want them to become 'trendy' and actually the sooner they are gotten rid of, the better...

@somm

This was a thing on Jeremy Vine last week (C5); as in, people shouldn't be wearing anything other than a plain mask because it's trivialising the virus and making people forget how serious it is. I have a few masks, a couple of them Liberty print made by someone who has her own small business operating from her home. I also have a mask that says 'This is not normal' on a black background. The other one from the same company says, 'My Dog For President'. I would argue that having a mask with words on, when the words are 'This is not normal', is emphasising the mask wearing, reminding us that's what we need to do it at the moment. Okay, 'My dog for President' is trivial, but even my idiot would do a better job.

But it is trivial now. It's just an expected part of life.

I bet you don't ever worry people arent taking their shoes seriously enough but you never see people forgetting them.. .

@Ghostlyglow

Turning something that you are only wearing for medical/legally mandated reasons into a fashion accessory is quite odd. And it makes it seem like we are all enthusiastically making them a permanent feature of our lives by making them fashionable. I don't want to think masks are permanent. Yes *@DappledThings*, this.

Why is it odd?

Everything we have to wear we make into a fashion accessory simply because we have to wear it.

May as well make it look decent.

Or do you carry your things around in an old Tesco shopping bag?

@Nquartz

There was a photo on the homemade masks thread of.One made out of the same fabric as a dress, I think it looked nice. If I have to wear one i 'd rather it looked nice!

Seasalt are selling masks in same materials as their dresses