COVID’s Biggest Night Out
There’s no denying that being in quarantine for more than one year has changed the way we look at fashion. It seems like just yesterday we were told there would be no more dinners, parties, or big events to dress for. Functionality and livability of clothing are more important than ever, but as the pandemic remains are worldwide problem and as new variants emerge the defeat of Covid-19 across the globe is still a long way away. With the number of people receiving their vacations increases and the number of people unvaccinated and unwilling to do remains a sizeable percentage of the population Americans are now thinking about the future, one not focused on the pandemic. President Joseph Biden has promised a surplus of vaccines and is working on producing a sufficient international supply. Given the background, the nation is starting its return to normalcy and Americans are turning their vaccine appointments into COVID-19’s biggest night out.
Like many other Americans, the vaccine was the biggest event Brooklyn-based actress Ashlie Atkinson, best known for her role as villain Connie Kendrickson in Academy Award-winning “BlacKkKlansman, “attended in over a year.” She dressed for the occasion, in an emerald-green sequined evening gown, white boots and earrings passed down from her grandmother. She told Refinery29, “I was fully representing all of my loved ones.” She live-tweeted her whole experience, creating an analogy between getting the vaccine and attending an event like the Emmys. Atkinson inspired people across the country to show up and show out to their vaccine appointments.
Dolly Parton received her first dose on March 2, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She wore a sparkling navy-blue dress, of course equipped with vaccine-accessible cold-shoulders. She received her second dose earlier this week, in yet another cold-shouldered, sparkling ensemble. As if we needed another reason to love her, in November of 2020, the country music star and long-time philanthropist donated $1 million to Vanderbilt for COVID-10 research. Listed as funding source for the Moderna vaccine, the “Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund” sparked social media attention. She rewrote and performed Jolene as “Vaccine,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjfT6H6QUIA. Others have performed this song as well.
Designer Marc Jacobs dressed to the nines for his vaccines as well. For his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, Jacobs sported hot pink pants, black platform boots, and a strand of pearls. He received his second dose again wearing pink sequined shorts, white platform booties, a pink button up, a cheetah-print jacket, and his signature strand of pearls.
Celebrities aren’t the only ones dressing up for their vaccines. TikTok famous surgeon, Nancy MD and her ICU doctor husband called their vaccine appointments “pandemic prom,” and they attended the event in full glam. She told Cosmopolitan that she sees the vaccine as “a reason to celebrate, a momentous occasion.”
For the past year, the most fashionable thing many of us have indulged in is a mask. Comfort and wearability have become a priority in fashion, but many of us expressed ourselves through masks. Finally, there is an occasion to dress up for. Whether you choose to go all out glam like Marc Jacobs or Ashlie Atkinson, or you opt for an even less-conventional look like the man did, wearing a cow costume, make your vaccine appointment a day to remember.
Article by Katie Harkey, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Destina Marotta, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
