With face coverings to be compulsory in shops from next week and already mandatory on public transport — there’s a fine of up to £100 for those who don’t comply — never has the need for masks been more vital.
We’re encouraged to use coverings made from reusable fabric so that we don’t eat into the supplies of medical-grade masks needed for frontline health workers or add to landfill. But which material is best? What are the A-listers wearing? Can you really make one from a sock? And how do you stop your glasses steaming up? Here, Sarah Rainey delivers the ultimate guide to staying safe with style…
Scrowled over: Supermodel Bella Hadid donned a black bowler hat
All the colours of the rainbow: Model Cindy Crawford in matching blouse
Peaky blinder: Joan Collins cuts quite a dash in her dark mask and cap
ALWAYS OPT FOR TOTALLY NATURAL MATERIALS
Everyday cotton offers the best protection. ‘I use 100 per cent cotton, which is tightly woven but also breathable,’ explains designer Isobel Ridley. ‘You wouldn’t want something artificial next to your mouth, as you’d be breathing in all sorts of micro-plastics.’
If you’re unsure whether or not a piece of fabric is suitable, hold it up to the light: if you can see holes, the weave is too loose.
For the ties, fabric should ideally be stretchy to ensure a tight fit. If you can’t source elastic, use an old pair of leggings or tights. Ideally your mask should have a minimum of three layers, according to the World Health Organisation — though the more layers, the harder it may be to breathe. One of these could be a sheet of kitchen towel that you replace each time.
Trish Greenhalgh, an Oxford University professor who recently completed a review of face masks, says kitchen paper makes an adequate filter. Other options include vacuum cleaner filters — which are efficient at catching microscopic particles — or coffee filters.
Another trick online, is the ‘flame test’. If you can blow out a match flame with your mask on, it is not effective and you could still be exhaling — and inhaling — contaminated water droplets.
Lady in red: Amber Heard arrives at ex Johnny Depp’s libel trial in a bandana
Friendly advice: Jennifer Aniston urges her fans to don a face covering like her
Star spotting: Kerry Washington, of TV’s Little Fires Everywhere, in animal print
WHAT TO DO FOR CHILDREN
While the under-11s will be exempt from the new rules, many will still prefer their children to use masks (though the under-threes should not wear them. Experts don’t recommend them for young children, as they have smaller airways and may find it difficult to breathe. It may also encourage them to touch their face).
British company Lancashire Textiles is selling colourful reusable kids’ masks for £9.49, while Tickle Tots has a range of fabric masks adorned with animal patterns for £9.99.
DO HIGH-TECH MASKS WORK?
Sportswear brands are getting competitive with masks of their own. Today, Under Armour launches its sportsmask (pictured) in the UK. Aimed at athletes who want to maintain face protection even while exercising, it sold out in under an hour when it launched in the U.S.
At £26 it’s not cheap, but it promises technology that will improve air flow to make breathing more comfortable, as well as a mouldable nose bridge to help prevent glasses fogging. The outer layer of fabric has an anti-bacterial treatment and it can be washed and re-used. Sportswear brands Reebok and Adidas offer less high-tech masks for £14.95 for three.
For the ultimate smart mask, a Japanese company called Donut Robotics is developing a mask that can translate what the wearer says into eight languages. It aims to be on sale in Japan in September before coming to Europe.
Tory blue: Sam Cameron matches a mask to one of her own fashion designs
Roaring success: Judi Dench in wildcat mask at her partner’s animal sanctuary
YOU CAN STILL BE HEIGHT OF FASHION
Metallic, leopard-print, floral, neon, gingham, leather, satin. Whatever your style, designers up and down the country are using their skills to stitch masks in an array of fabrics, vibrant colours and patterns.
Isobel Ridley, founder of sustainable British brand Lavender Hill Clothing — a favourite of Meghan Markle — says demand for her £25 three-pack of cotton face masks (in denim, stripes and hot pink) is in the ‘thousands and thousands’.
Alternatively, label-lovers can buy monogrammed masks from designers including Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Fendi, whose £178 ‘anti-pollution’ face shield has already sold out.
Then there is the ‘trikini’: a mask and bikini set, sold by Italian brand Elexia Beachwear.
Meanwhile, couture label Voravaj Bangkok has made a series of dazzling masks with crystal and bead embellishments — each of which takes up to 84 hours to complete.
CELEBRITIES WHO GET IT RIGHT . . .
As the ultimate status symbol during lockdown, it’s no wonder celebrities — from Dame Joan Collins to Bella Hadid — posed up a storm in haute-couture masks. Gwyneth Paltrow, Selena Gomez and Kate Hudson are among the A-listers who won praise from fans for donning masks early in the pandemic — and encouraging their followers to do the same.
Does the mask you choose reveal anything about your personality? Jennifer Aniston, for example, wore a plain black Wolford mask, while actress Kerry Washington recently chose leopard-print.
. . . AND THE ONES GETTING IT WRONG
Some famous faces have been criticised by experts for spreading misinformation. Not only have they been sporting essential PPE surgical-grade masks rather than cloth coverings (such as Naomi Campbell in full hazmat suit), but many are wearing them incorrectly. A picture shared by fashion designer Vera Wang — showing her posing in her garden in an orange ballgown and matching mask — revealed that her mask was gaping.
According to official guidelines, fabric masks should fit comfortably against the sides of the face; not gape at the ears or cheeks. They must be secured with loops or ties, usually around the ears, and fit snugly over the bridge of the nose.
Bandanas have become a celeb must-have, with actors Amber Heard and Johnny Depp wearing them to their libel trial in London, while Jane Fonda, Kristen Stewart and Margot Robbie have also been seen in a bandana.
While a double thickness of cotton will offer some protection, it must be tied securely round the face to be effective.
Taking cover: Italian beachware company Elexia’s ‘trikini’
CAN YOU REALLY USE A SOCK?
Yes! YouTube has several videos but simply put, you need one clean, lightweight, sock. Hold it up and cut off the toe section. Then turn it the opposite way and cut off an amount from the top (include the ribbing) to leave the heel at the centre and an equal amount of sock on either side.
Cut open on the opposite side to the heel. Open into a rectangle with the heel in the middle, which will go over your nose.
Make incisions two centimetres from each of the long ends. These will form the loops that go over your ears. If too big, trim to size and make the incisions slightly further towards the heel.
KEEP SPARES AND WASH AT 60c
You’ll need at least three masks to rotate after every outing, or when they get damp. Virologists say keep clean masks in a cotton pouch, and put used ones in a ziplock bag. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after putting on or taking off your mask — and touch only the straps. Hygiene experts recommend washing at 60c. Tumble-dry on a high heat.
STOP YOUR SPECS STEAMING UP
Try dipping them in soapy water and leaving to air dry. This is said to form an anti-fog film. Alternatively, optician David Hutchfield, of Glasses Direct, suggests pulling your mask up under your glasses and using the frames to weigh it down and form a seal.