This has been the weirdest year for me since starting my business 18 years ago. And, to be honest, the fact that I am sitting here still in business is a miracle in itself. The day we went into lockdown I panicked. Not only would the pandemic be a hardship on small businesses, but I am also in an industry that had suddenly become irrelevant.
Add to that, the timing of the lockdown couldn’t have been worse. My business has a seasonal element to it. While I am always working, I am busiest in spring and fall. I had already gotten through a lean winter and the spring season evaporated before my eyes I feared the worst.
Yet, despite all that, while it has been a tough year, I am pleased to say that I worked quite a bit. This is the first year I didn’t step foot into one store all year and I was so incredibly grateful that I had established a virtual business over a decade ago. When I reflect back on 2020, I realize just how much worse it could have been.
Interestingly, most of my client work this year was with new clientele, not existing, which gives me hope for the year to come. If I could manage to grow my business during one of the most difficult years on record, the future looks bright. I was also supported by many of you in so many generous ways, including buying me cups of proverbial cups of coffee, booking services that weren’t critical, and keeping in touch. I will never forget the warmth and encouragement I got from so many of you.
A Year In Review: Most Requested Items by Clients in 2020
You may be wondering what clients were primarily looking for when they hired me this year. It may surprise you, it wasn’t just joggers and leggings. Here are the top ten requests I got from clients in 2020.
Joggers
Joggers weren’t requested by everyone but they were still requested. Everyone at some point was in need of some sort of comfort, particularly my clients who were used to going to work every day. Clients who requested joggers were the ones who were caught flat-footed by suddenly finding themselves at home with nothing to wear.
Blazers
This is where it gets surprising, just how many tailored items were requested by clients. Despite most people working from home, not everyone did and many women used this time at home to work on developing their style and tweaking their image.
Blazers were a big request because they could be worn to the workplace in a professionally casual manner with jeans and other comfortable pants. They were also useful for clients to pop on for video meetings when they wanted to look professional.
Midi-Skirts
It has been a while since skirts have been in the spotlight. Normally, they are too much of a pain to deal with because, unlike dresses, you need to think about what to wear with them. However, this year, I got a surprising amount of requests for midi-skirts both professionally and for mid-casual.
Kimonos
This was more of a summer request and not as much of a request as a suggestion by me for clients who were looking for easy ways to look polished during the very casual summer we had. Kimonos were also helpful for video calls when clients were looking for pretty and prints and colors to look more lively and pulled together.
T-Shirts
Finding the perfect t-shirt is like finding the perfect jeans. It takes time and a lot of trial and error. I spent a great deal of time this year on the search for the perfect t-shirt style for clients there weren’t too sheer, were figure-flattering, had the right neckline, and more. Unfortunately, what is perfect for one client doesn’t work for another, so this search for something so simple can be exhaustive.
Zoom-Friendly Tops
Not surprisingly, clients needed tops they could wear for work Zoom calls. They needed to be easy-care, colorful but not too optic or bold and comfortable.
Easy Drapey Blouses
Easy silk and silky-looking blouses were very popular this year, particularly by those who needed to spend some time in the office but they were also worn casually with jeans.
Pleated Pants
It’s been a long time since any client was open to pants with pleats, but they’ve been gone so long they actually look fresh. Pleats give a rounder shape to the body which fits with the more relaxed pants styles in stores these days. Be it in tapered pants or wide-leg styles, clients are open to pleats.
Colorful Suits
You would think that I didn’t get one suit request this year given the fact that most people worked from home. However, as I mentioned, many clients were proactive this year and used this time to think ahead. Clients who were interested in suits were very interested in suits that were colorful and more interesting in the staid classics.
Straight Leg Jeans
The number one jeans silhouette for 2020 was straight leg jeans. They can look super cool or like bad mom jeans, depending on how they are styled. They’re not for everyone and this shape takes some getting used to after years of skinny jeans but I do take comfort in finally being able to breathe a bit after years of squeezing my body into skinnies.
Top Brands for 2020
Here are the top brands I shopped most often in 2020
What were your top brands and trends for 2020?
What about you? What brands did you shop and styles did you prefer? I’d love to hear.
I didn’t buy a lot this year since I’m not working. But I still like to get dressed everyday. I tried the dream pants from everlane and love them. They feel like sweatpants but dress up nicely with ankle boots and a sweater. I also bought some brown corduroy straight leg pants. I’ve been wanting chocolate brown pants for ages and couldn’t pass these up.
I might have to get a pair of these dream pants! Happy holidays to you!
I’ve been retired from a 36-year teaching career for almost five years, so my wardrobe is becoming more and more casual. I recently replaced some faded yoga pants and purchased new cognac loafers and a Fair Isle sweater. I shop a lot at Talbots. My biggest challenge is finding petite tops and sweaters that are classic, in “winter” colors, with vee or scoop necks, that aren’t clingy. Good-quality petite sweaters are apparently unicorns, and petite departments seem to be shrinking in size. Talbots has become my go-to since they carry a good selection.
I enjoy and appreciate your blog posts and have learned so much! Enjoy the holidays!
Thanks Barb! It gets more challenging every year to find petite clothing. A lot of petites I know who shop at Talbots shop there not because it is their first choice but because they make clothes that fit.
Wishing you a happy holiday and thanks for your loyal readership.
Hello Bridgette…I was successful at finding tshirts at Uniqlo that had the close crewneck style I like. Bought both short sleeve and long sleeve. Also bought their cotton turtleneck which worked with my short neck. Then bought 2 pairs, black and blue, straight-legged jeans by Gap because I thought they looked best on my senior, retired, short-leg body. Now that I’m looking at your examples, I’m thinking of shortening the hems to look more up-to-date.
Though our holidays are much different this year, my husband and I are so thankful for health, thoughtful adult children, and loving grandchildren. Surprisingly, my sister and I agree that this pandemic has given us the gift of time. We are not compelled to run around to shops, appointments, coffees, errands, etc. Technology has certainly helped and we are enjoying times of peace, with books, in hobbies, and in our kitchens. I hope this doesn’t sound smug. We are well aware others are in uncomfortable and challenging circumstances. Through prayer and church community, we are trying to help.
Hope your Christmas was sweet and your New Year will be celebratory! Thank you for your continuing inspiration, fashion eye, and Industry knowledge. 🤗
Thanks for the reminder about Uniqlo. I always forget them and then remember how great they can be for things like this. I swear by their lounge pants for home. I agree with you. I really enjoyed the slower pace as well. I spent it with my husband and we ate great food and drank lots of wine. I read a lot too and knitted a lot. You’re right, a lot of people have had a terrible time of it this year but I think it does just make us appreciate the small things even more than we did before. Sadly, my best friend just lost her 53 year old sister to COVID and it was tragic and didn’t have to happen. It does make us all reflect on the little things we take for granted. Wishing you the best 2021 and thank you, as always, for your loyal readership!!