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1-2: Dressing through Pandemics
  • ISSN: 2050-0726
  • E-ISSN: 2050-0734

Abstract

This study is the first of two parts, investigating relationships with clothing during the COVID-19 pandemic by surveying 576 emerging adults in Canada. Clothing engagement, fashion involvement and the use of clothing for mood enhancement are examined in Part I. The pandemic led to increased or decreased clothing engagement, with main themes of reduced appearance management, exploration of fashion and style and new practices adopted for the COVID-19 lockdowns. Fear of COVID-19 was positively related to fashion involvement and mood enhancement practices. Emerging adults coped and improved mood through clothing by enhancing comfort, affect, body image, self-concept, self-esteem, self-expression, connection and motivation. The findings demonstrate that clothing was used to meet emotional and psychological needs of the wearer and cope with stressors during the pandemic. Clothing is proposed to be a significant tool in bolstering mental health. Part II of the study relays more findings centred on the effects of clothing on emerging adults’ mental health.

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2025-07-18
2026-04-13

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/content/journals/10.1386/fspc_00347_1
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Coping with fashion for mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Part I on engagement and mood
Fashion, Style & Popular Culture 13, 101 (2026); https://doi.org/10.1386/fspc_00347_1
/content/journals/10.1386/fspc_00347_1
/content/journals/10.1386/fspc_00347_1
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  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): appearance management; clothing engagement; consumer behaviour; fashion involvement; fashion psychology; lockdowns; style

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