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Do you match your mask?

hereforthecake

I have been away from these boards for a few months, as my boss became suddenly ill with Covid and died a month later. It was shocking & life altering in every way & obviously fashion has taken a back seat.

But that's not what this post is about.

I have to wear a mask pretty much all day, every day, as I work with the public. I own about 15 masks now, and try to match them with my outfit that day. People often comment on this, and I'm wondering if I'm the only one who does this?

I don't wear necklaces much anymore, and have had to give up lipstick (which I miss terribly), so am feeling like I have to use my masks as an accessory now.

Anyone else?

General

33 replies

Latest reply was from cjh

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I’m sorry to hear about your boss. How awful.

I am self-employed, and not busy with client work anyway, so I’m not super visible to the public — I stay home most days and most of my time out is necessity shopping and hiking. But I have a variety of masks, and change them to go with an outfit (or at least hopefully not clash too badly). I haven’t been wearing much jewelry and I miss it, and barely any makeup. I don’t mind skipping the lipstick. I think I may be one of those people who looks better in a mask anyway — my eyes are more attractive than the rest of my face, LOL.

rachylou

Veteran

I’m so sorry! Wow. So sorry!

I do like things to *go*. It’s funny. They got more masks for us at work, and while everyone got to choose two - I only got to choose one. Lol, they all decided there was one that *had my name written on it* and would go with my leopard leggings. Lololo!

nemosmom

Veteran

Oh no, how terrible about your boss! What a shock that must have been.

I WFH (since before the pandemic), so my only ventures OITW are for quick errands or walks. I do like to coordinate masks since I am not wearing many other accessories these days, and I feel more 'camouflaged' that way hehe. I was fortunate enough to be gifted a set of masks that coordinate with my wardrobe beautifully, in subtle prints that include colors from my otherwise solid wardrobe.

Joy

Veteran

We are reeling from two deaths from Covid in a week in the extended family and one trying to recover at home and many in quarantine who may get it yet. It is hard to hear of healthy people people whose organs just stop working. This is not the flu and pretty awful. My husband’s sister died this week and her husband of over 60 years could be next. So could her only daughter and family.
To answer your question, yes, I do try to coordinate masks with outfits. RunCarla was so kind as to make some for us and even the little grandchildren and a design my husband can wear with hearing aids. I am not wearing scarves much with the masks and not lipstick either. Lots of daily laundry to keep us in fresh masks.

JAileen

Veteran

I’m so sorry. I know someone who had it, but he recovered.

I have a bunch of masks and wear the same general colors. I’ve stopped wearing earrings because they get kind of tangled up. My masks are not subtle. They are mostly fun prints. The latest ones I made are polar bears wearing casual vacation clothes.

Runcarla

Veteran

Condolences on the loss of your work colleague, HFTC. Shocking, to say the least.

I make masks for family and friends, and anyone who is having trouble finding a source. After working through a rather bright quilter’s fabric stash, I have made an effort to select new fabrics that are easy care, safe, but fashionable and/or fun. I personally have 7 masks that co-ordinate with my clothing (see #1-2). #3-4 is my current fabric stash and sewing area.

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ophelia

Veteran

How horrible & sad about your boss.
I don't match my mask to my clothing. I wear the most unobstrusive solids I can find: black, white & blue. My company issued two masks in our logo color, an ocean blue, which I don't mind. I mostly see either company masks or the surgical blue paper when I'm out.
Oddly, my mask doesn't interfere with my earrings, but my earrings are small.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

So sorry about your boss. I am wearing only the pale blue surgical masks as I have workplace access to them. One of my staff did make some fabric ones and gave me one, letting me choose the colour, so I picked a pretty navy/cobalt swirly fabric. Unfortunately I find the mask quite thick and heavy though so still wear the surgical ones.
I am still wearing my earrings and put lipstick on in the morning before I leave, I don’t wear a mask in the car driving alone so it just feels “ready for work” to add the lipstick.

Windchime

Veteran

What an unexpected and difficult loss; I’m sorry.

Yes, coordinating masks and outfits has become a thing now. I’m glad retail is now offering such a great variety of colors and patterns. It’s the only fun part of wearing a mask!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am sorry for the sudden and sad loss.
I have only three masks: black and white, blue and white and solid blue, but do tend to pick the one that mixes best. If I were in your position I would absolutely do that.

Echo

Veteran

I am so sorry about your boss. What a shocking thing to happen, and it must have been traumatizing.

Regarding masks, I am either incredibly boring or incredibly matchy-matchy. Black is more than a staple in my wardrobe; it is the vast majority. So I have about 20 black cotton masks. They fit well and have soft ear-loops that don't pull or irritate, so I figured why change a good thing? I do, however, usually wear stud earrings and my hair up now because it is easier to put on and remove a mask that way.

As for lipstick, I still wear it. I switched to matte so it doesn't stick or rub off as easily, but I still enjoy wearing it even if no one else sees it. It is kind of like pretty underthings or a beautiful purse lining; no one else sees it, but it gives me a little pick-me-up.

But I love seeing matching masks on others. Another woman at school wears masks that coordinate with her outfits, and they look great.

Staysfit

Veteran

So sorry to hear about your boss!

@Joy, sorry to hear about the losses in your extended family also.

I have been able to coordinate my masks some of the time.....if I have fabric. Since I am sewing them, I get requests. DD, my artist, asked for “every color in the rainbow”! I don’t have that many fabrics, but I am doing my best!

Jane

Veteran

I am so sorry to hear about your boss. These are very tough times.

Yes generally I like to wear coordinating or similar colours face masks. I wear them for at least 2 hours each day (commute), so it makes me feel better to look thought through.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Very sorry to hear about your boss. How awful. I’ve been teaching from home since March 13th, so I’ve only needed to wear a mask for grocery shopping or the occasional Target run. Starting tomorrow, however, I will need to wear a mask daily for in-person teaching at school, and I’ve been sewing up a storm making masks to go with my outfits. It honestly never occurred to me NOT to match my masks to my outfits!!

hereforthecake

@Joy - I'm so sorry about your losses. How overwhelming.

@JenniNZ - I love your idea of wearing lipstick on the way in, just to feel "ready" for work. I may start doing the same.

I feel better knowing i'm not the only one who tries to make my mask coordinate with my outfit. Most people I see are just wearing the paper ones, and I wondered if my vanity had reached an all time high.

Thanks to everyone for your kind thoughts. I have been feeling like I've been living in another universe and even opening the forum again has made me feel like maybe I'm slowing coming back.

The Cat

Veteran

Sorry to hear about your boss' death.

Matching your mask to your outfit sounds very nice. I don't do it so far, as I seldom have to leave the building where I live and work, other than for walking trips in the nearby wood. When I have to do some errands, I wear surgery blue & white paper masks. By the way, many of my outfits include blue and white, so it doesn't look too bad.

If I had to wear a mask every day, I would absolutely want to match it to my outfit.

Question to you and others who wear fabric masks: How do you launder them (one by one, or several together?), and where do you keep used masks before laundry?

Echo

Veteran

The Cat: we put used masks in a paper bag on a shelf in the laundry room. To wash, I dump the bag into the machine. I sometimes wash the masks alone and other times with other laundry. I figure all the masks and clothing have potentially been exposed, so why separate them?

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

My sympathies to you and Joy.

We have a couple masks each. We wear them on public transit and in stores, so a little over an hour a day for my son, and often less than that for me. We don’t particularly match the masks to what we wear, but we both have very specific palettes, so our masks don’t clash with anything. Our masks have different fabrics inside and out; we keep the same sides facing out. I toss them in with laundry a couple times a week.

My son doesn’t like the double-layer cloth masks, is considering paper disposable ones, but they are wasteful and the price would add up. I need to find some that will be easier for him to breathe in.

Runcarla

Veteran

Similar to Echo, masks go into a basket in the laundry room, then into a regular wash with regular clothes. I usually hang to dry, but occasionally one will go through the dryer. No biggie, but they hold up (and look) better If air dried.

Anonymous

Yes , without going to extreme effort though . If I have to wear it all day I sure am going to make it work with what I’m wearing .

Jules

Veteran

Take a look for MsMary's posts - she has some great coordinating mask outfits!
Personally I work at home and only need a mask for outings. I started with some randomly acquired Marvel comics ones. Then I ordered one in a lime green with polka dots fabric which made me happy, but I realized it's no great match for my outfits - or my face! Now I am looking for neutral khaki/olive colours and subtle patterns. If I did have to go the office wearing "outfits" I would be having fun with coordinating masks too! Instead I'm a bit more focused on something flattering for my skin tone and eyes. I appreciate the opportunity to support local makers including people who are donating proceeds to local charities. Gotta get out later today to stock up for my kids who go back to school this week.

anchie

Veteran

So sorry to hear about losses. How awful.
I don’t match mask to the outfit because it is difficult to find nice masks that are minimum 3 layers, which is required to be effective. Most textile masks are only 1 or 2 layers.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My condolences, hereforthecake. That's sad and tough. Glad you're having fun with your mask style at least. Take care.

Oh, Joy. I am so sorry. My sympathies. Heartbreaking.

I don't match my masks to my outfits because I wear altered masks with a filter that I can insert. That was hard to get right so I am sticking with it. Washable, protective, and fit well, finally. But I wear ones that are very low contrast to my skin and hair so they work as a neutral and match well enough. My eyewear and bags pull it all together. I feel good in my masks!

Masks are mandatory here in the state of WA, so as soon as I leave the front door, I wear a mask. Black masks and medical masks are the most popular in my neck of the woods.

JAileen

Veteran

Angie, what kind of filters do you use?

Laurie

Veteran

@hereforthecake, @joy - shocking when the daily statistics become people who you know and love, and people of the people who we know and love. Huge condolences. (it also needs to remain shocking...we cannot get used to this).

I still haven't found my perfect mask, but mainly wear plain, off white cloth masks from a company Janet recommended a few months ago. I like them, but you have tie the top tie. Best for when you will have a mask on for an extended time, not on and off. Often using blue surgical paper masks. I do like, and applaud, matching mask wearing.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

JAileen, these. They last 2 to 7 days depending on the exposure. Greg buys them on Amazon:

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The Cat

Veteran

Echo and Runcarla, thank you for your replies to my question.

Anonymous

My masks are neutral so they coordinate well with my relatively neutral wardrobe.

I don't match them beyond that but I think matching indicates a good attitude, and even a progressive mindset because it implies that you've accepted them as long term accessories rather than temporary.

hereforthecake

@The Cat: At the end of each day, I soak my mask in the sink in very hot water & a little Tide, which I keep in a jar in the bathroom. I rinse it while I'm in the shower each day, then hang from the towel bar overnight to dry.

I also have filters, similar to those you've used, Angie.

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