With salons and hairdressers closed, some of us are probably considering doing some DIY touch-ups at home. Here are tips for what to do and not to do:

• How to wash wigs and extensions at home.
• Stylists share tips for how to remove your hair extensions at home.
• 8 women on why they don’t blow-dry their hair (and what they do instead).
• If you’re thinking about touching up your roots at home, here’s what you should and shouldn’t do.
• Allure shares the 7 best root touch-up kits according to colourists.
• Some colourists are offering virtual consultations and sending custom hair dye kits to clients.
• Dazed shares tip on how to care for afro hair in quarantine.
• Everything you need to know before cutting your own hair at home.
• Here are more tips for cutting your own hair with some helpful videos.

Fab Links from Our Members

Bijou thought this article captures the joy that dressing up can have in these strange times.

“Jewelry and Coronavirus: What to Know About Washing and Safety.” Nuancedream says: “I only wear my gold wedding band on a daily basis, but I decided to give my gemstone rings a rest precisely because of the frequent hand washing, sanitizing, and moisturizing.”

These two articles on DIY haircuts were enough to convince Runcarla not to pick up the scissors or clippers!

Fashintern wonders if any Australian Fabbers have spotted or worn costumes like the ones in this article.

La Belle Demimondaine has learnt so much about fashion history, and the ‘tranformation gown’ in particular, by watching these YouTubers trying to recreate the March sisters’ outfits in Little Women.

On the topic of Little Women, Jenn found this article about ‘cottagecore’ pretty interesting: “I’ve definitely seen this look on Instagram, and it makes strange sense in this unusual time.”

Nemosmom wanted to share an article that talks about how fashion changed after the depression, and theorizes how fashion might change when Corona-craziness dies down.

Mystery writer Laura Lippman started wearing unexpected things from her closet during the quarantine. Janet loves that she’s having fun with fashion at a time when many of us (herself included) are actually taking a break from it.

Vildy enjoyed this video on “how to steal the outfits for less, Free People edition“. Vildy thought they really pulled it off by also duplicating the stance and the expressions from the product photos.

Here a tunic is any long top that is worn over long pants or jeans. A dress can function as a tunic when it’s worn as a top. I have three dresses that function as tunics when I pop them over cropped straight or cropped flared jeans. Here they are with the jeans I’ve worn underneath them.

Topshop

Floral Print Mesh Skater Dress by YAS

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Boden

Cambridge Ankle Skimmer Jeans

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20

COS

Shirt dress with irregular hem

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20

Custom Find

by Angie

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Boden

Eleanor Dress

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Nordstrom

Citizens of Humanity Elsa Ankle Skinny Jeans

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It might seem odd to wear pants under a dress to create the effect of a tunic, but if you run cold like I do, it creates an effective form of insulation. This works especially well in air conditioning, mild Summers, and warm Springs. I adore the drama of the silhouette. It conveys a sense of relaxed elegance that is practical and chic.

In these outfit examples all of the tunics are fairly covered, most of the bottoms are cropped, and none of the bottoms are leggings. The “long over lean” silhouette is at play.

1. Playfully Maximal

A playfully bright tunic is paired with trendy relaxed straight cropped jeans. The look is finished off with strappy sandals and a bag in a second pattern. I would have preferred a more casual sandal, like an espadrille or classic wedge in a light or bright colour, but it’s a lovely outfit nonetheless. I LOVE the dramatic length of the tunic. I bet those high side swooshing slits are magic in motion.

2. Neutrally Graphic

A much shorter neutral, graphic and dressy satin tunic is paired with skinny jeans and strappy ‘90s throwback thong sandals. The easy volume of the shiny oversized shirt creates a fun juxtaposition with the casual jeans. A pair of black cigarette or Ponte pants could work well too.

3. Casually Boho

Wearing mismatched patterns that are essentially the same on the top and bottom grabbed my attention. Tie-dye squared! A top with draped volume in a soft dressy fabric creates an elegant ease that is comfortable and breezy. The closed-toe wrapped flats are an unexpected touch. I can see metallic sandals that echo the arm candy work well too.

4. Architectural Dressy

This is the dressiest rendition of the four and could pass for cocktail wear because the fabrics and footwear are formal. An architectural and asymmetrical tunic worn over high-contrast bottoms is visually punchy because the contrast accentuates the drama of the hemline. I like that the pants are soft and tailored, and not hard and tight. The shoes pick up the palette perfectly. Add jewellery, watch, eyewear and bag as desired.

If you have dry and sensitive skin like me, I can highly recommend these moisturizers. Some of them I’ve been using for decades, and others more recently. I am very prone to rashes and dry tight skin, so I have to moisturize a LOT. These products have been incredible at keeping my skin soft, supple, smooth, rash and flake-free, and shiny. 

Amazon

EltaMD Intense Face Moisturizer for very Sensitive Skin, 2.8 oz

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5

Amazon

Caudalie Caudalie Vinosource Overnight Recovery Oil 30ml, 1 Fluid Ounce

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Amazon

Cutemol Emollient Cream 2 oz by Cutemol

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Amazon

Nivea NIVEA Extended Moisture Body Lotion, 16.9 Ounce

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8

Amazon

Blistex Silk & Shine, .13-Ounce Tubes (Pack of 12)( Pack May Vary )

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5

1. EltaMD Intense Face Moisturizer

Wow, this is an excellent facial moisturizer for dry and sensitive skin. It’s greasy at first, but absorbs beautifully. You don’t think it’s going to absorb – but it does, and quite quickly. If you have dry skin you will feel a difference after a day’s use. I apply this to my face and neck twice a day. It’s scent-free.

2. Caudalie Vinosource Overnight Recovery Oil

This recovery oil is an extra product that I generally use at night. If my skin is very dry, I use it in the morning too. I apply it before the moisturizer because it allows for even better absorption of the oil and moisturizer that way. It’s not scent-free, yet very gentle on the nasal passages. It smells fresh rather than floral.

3. Cutemol Emollient Cream

Since our hands are extra dry from excessive washing these days, effective hand cream has become all important. Cutemol was recently recommended by one of our forum members and it WORKS. It’s more effective than my current favourite hand creams, so I’ve added it to the mix. It’s greasy but absorbs fast. It moisturizes your cuticles beautifully when you massage them, and lasts. It’s scent-free, and I use it several times a day.

4. NIVEA Intense Healing Body Lotion

I have tried many, many body lotions with varying success. I always come back to Nivea because it feels best, works best, lasts, is fast to apply, and smells nice. I’ve been using Nivea body lotion since I was a teen, and over the decades the texture of the lotions have improved tremendously. I apply body lotion once or twice a day after a shower, and like the fresh scent.

5. Blistex Silk & Shine Lip Balm

I use a range of lip balms, but when my lips are very chapped, Blistex is best. I like the “silk & shine” formula because it puts a little shine on your lips, which looks like lipgloss.The balm is slippery, which I quite like, but you might prefer a more matt balm. Polished and moisturizing. It’s scent-free.

The other fab thing about the first two facial moisturizers is how well they moisturize dry hands when you apply them. Handy!

Companies in the fashion industry are helping our heroic healthcare professionals on the front lines. After all, it’s the world’s top priority, and every available resource helps. Personally, I feel good supporting companies that are making a difference during the pandemic. It gives new meaning to ethical fashion. 

Here are the examples I know about:

Nordstrom is sewing more than 100,000 face masks for healthcare workers.

Boden is partnering with British charity Helpforce by donating their lovely clothing to front-line healthcare workers and recovering COVID-19 patients who might need them.

Karen Kane, who we have visited in California and hold in very high regard, is also making and donating facial covers. I LOVE their message. 

“Help us help our heroes. Karen Kane is donating facial covers made from repurposed fabric to healthcare workers on the frontline of COVID-19. We are also offering these for sale on karenkane.com to continue paying our cutters and sewers while we pause the production of our clothing. We will match every face cover purchased with a donation to a healthcare worker in need. We will not make any profit on these – our only goal is to keep our workers employed and do everything we can to help healthcare professionals in need. We’re all in this together. Please share this with anyone who needs a face cover or wants to help donate to healthcare workers on the frontline. Purchase quantity limited to 3 per order.” 

We have purchased their facial masks, which will arrive next week.

Citizens of Humanity are producing masks too.

Brooks Brothers is converting a suit factory into a medical supply producer. They are hoping to produce 150,000 masks a day.

Gap, Eddie Bauer, Uniqlo, Vera Bradley, Reformation, Zara, and Canada Goose are transforming their workshops into production centres for masks, scrubs and more core products to fight the Coronavirus.

Under Armour is producing masks and fanny packs for healthcare workers.

Allbirds, Brooks, and Crocs are giving away their very comfy footwear to all healthcare workers.

Many fashion brands across the spectrum, from Burberry, LVMH, Christian Siriano and Prada, to H&M and Mango, are doing their bit to help prevent and cope with the spread of COVID-19.

This list is by no means exhaustive. Please add other examples you know about below in the comments. Thank you to everyone in the industry who is pitching in.