The birth of Covid Casual: Lockdown has changed people’s habits for good as a quarter of Britons admit they no longer shower daily or bother using deodorant and 61 percent of workers swap their suits for pyjamas
- EXCLUSIVE: A quarter of Britons admit they are less likely to shower daily since the start of the pandemic
- Half of women have ditched make-up and styling hair but 18 percent apply it when appearing on video calls
- Two-thirds of Britons agree most people are dressing more casually since Covid-19 struck this year in March
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Britons are less likely to shower daily, style their hair or bother with their general appearance as a result of coronavirus pandemic, according to new research today.
The decline of formality means we are more likely to be found unshaven, with unkempt hair and a face free of make-up – which many admit they will now only apply for a Zoom meeting.
Since the start of the pandemic, some 61 percent of workers say they wear business clothes less often, with 35 per cent admitting to staying in pyjamas all day.
It’s a tale of two halves for some – with a quarter of people dressing smartly on the top, whilst keeping it casual on the bottom
Keeping up appearances doesn’t seem worthwhile when there isn’t an audience to parade in front of
Britons are less likely to shower daily, style their hair or bother about their general appearance or wear smart clothes since covid hit (file image)
And more men are opting for the unshaven look as they spend less time getting rid of facial hair.
According to the new research by Ipsos MORI, as lockdown has continued, our mindset has evolved and lifestyle habits have shifted.
As fewer people are leading normal routines, a quarter of those surveyed said they didn’t see the point of taking a daily shower and 14 per cent admitting they forgo deodorant, too.
A third are content with ‘bed hair’ as presumably styling it doesn’t seem justified without an audience.
Almost half of those who identify as male have gone unshaven for more days than before the pandemic started, while a third have grown a beard (32%).
Since the start of the pandemic, 61 percent of workers say they wear business wear less often these days with 35 per cent admitting to staying in pyjamas or night clothes during the day.
In the research two-thirds (67%) of Britons said they are dressing more casually since the Covid-19 pandemic started.
Two-thirds said this means they can exercise their personal choices more while 63% say they are happy that they can dress more casually.
Six in ten (59%) feel confident about knowing how to dress in a more casual way, the same proportion say working from home makes it easier to do so.
Just over half of Britons felt they rarely see people at work in business suits these days (54%).
Brits are embracing a more casual look by donning joggers and leggings in favour of smart attire since the first lockdown began
People are happy they can exercise their personal choice when it comes to wearing what they want since lockdown with 63% say they are content that they can dress more casually
A number of men have gone unshaven for more days than before the pandemic started, while a third have grown a beard (file pic)
Almost half of men are embracing the stubble as fewer bother to shave in lockdown. A third have gone the full hog and grown a beard
The bare-face chic look triumphs until some of us need to make a video call and the make-up bag comes out
Among women, half (52%) are wearing less make-up than usual and six in 10 (62 per cent) females said they have kicked off their heels in favour of casual footwear.
But a fraction of us are hanging on to some dignity with two in 10 (18 percent) revealing that the only time they wear make-up is for video calls with friends.
The research firm Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,093 people aged between 16 and 75 online between October 21 and 23, 2020.
Billie Ing, Head of UK Trends Ipsos MORI, said: ‘There has been a trend towards less formality for many years, but this has been accelerated by the pandemic and people subsequently working from home.
‘Heels are being ditched, sportswear is on the up and people are embracing casual work wear. For some, however, it is a tale of two halves – with a quarter of people dressing smartly on the top, whilst keeping it casual on the bottom!’