With Mumbai’s COVID-19 cases seeing a spike in the past week, and the BMC’s directive urging Mumbaikars to keep their masks on and maintain social distancing, one fact is clear — masks must be our new normal for the foreseeable future. However, masking up doesn’t have to be a dreary and monotonous affair. Fashion lovers around the world have devised ingenious ways of dressing up their masked looks, to strike the right balance between being fashion-forward and socially responsible. 

Layer up 

At the US Presidential inauguration in January, many dignitaries including First Lady Dr Jill Biden and poet Amanda Gorman wore two masks — the top layer was more aesthetics-oriented and the second layer was a simpler, more functional variant. “Just as people opt to have garments tailored for their weddings and social dos, many are also using leftover scraps of fabric to have a matching mask stitched. This makes the look more cohesive,” explains designer Murshida Kotyad.