Whether a feather accent or a full-on look, their ideas resonate with me deeply—especially now that I’m confined to my 500 square-foot New York City apartment. I consider my everyday style as simple, but with a strong eye for accessories and texture, and I felt myself losing that in the early days of our collective quarantine. I love the way a crystal-embellished mule can elevate a pair of distressed denim, or how a chunky turtleneck can tone done a leather pant. My everyday rings are big cocktail rings—so feathers, in that sense, fit squarely in my wardrobe. As soon as I realized this, and started incorporating embellished pieces into my #ootd’s again, I felt so much better about going to work (aka heading to the kitchen table to pull out my laptop). I sit up straighter, I write more confidently, I feel (somewhat) normal.
Karishma, Roshni, and Deeya Khemlani, founders of the London-based brand Izaak Azanei, add an important observation: “Back in the ’20s, feathers were a decorative statement, as they still are now. The difference is, however, that now we can effectively look back upon a time exactly 100 years ago and think, here we are again, still protesting for feminine rights in a modern world.” It’s true that fashion has always mirrored what’s going on in society. And with everything happening right now, I think of feathers as my antidote to the fraught news cycle, the collective social distancing, and the total overhaul of our lives. The attention to detail and craftsmanship that go into creating these pieces offer a welcome respite during especially trying times. “I’d imagine that our feather pieces, which are definitely more playful, instill joy in the woman that wears them. Our feathers are an intentional and additional bold accent to our pieces—they serve a constant reminder to the woman who wears them to be as bold, despite what the news may say or what society may suggest,” says the Khemlani sisters.
Indeed, there’s something to be said about the joy a beautifully-made dress or accessory can bring, which is what led Zubarieva and Varetsa to launch their feather-trimmed pajamas in the first place. “We came up with this idea because we wanted to create a uniform for happiness, for dancing with the glass of champagne during the most cheerful, life-affirming moments in life.” If fashion is about dressing for the way you want to feel—and not how many likes you want on your next post—then social isolation is the best time to play around and experiment with personal style.
And so, as I slowly draw inward with the rest world, I’d rather do so thinking of feathers. I’m not saying we should all drop hundreds of dollars on some crazy trend, but rather find joy in the small, sometimes frivolous, things that make you dream and make you happy. It doesn’t have to be feathers. It can be whatever you want it to be, as long as it lifts your spirit. And if you do care to see the feathery fashion distracting me right now, here are some plumy pieces I can’t stop thinking about.
