Can a mask be chic?

Masks are our lot, so let's put them in the window. I was amused to see, almost immediately, a contingent trying to make them chic.

My first masks set the bar very high; they were made by my longtime friend Jeanne, trained in fashion design, and possessed of a lavish stash of Asian fabric. Jeanne generously sewed for friends and family but somewhere past one hundred got sick of the repetition and stiff neck, so retreated to her usual pastime, master point level bridge.

In today's window, masks accessible to you—with the usual yada-yadda that these are not medical-grade and that fit is more important than pattern. Or should be.

Elastic-snap to the marvellous blogger and branding expert Nancy Friedman (who writes Fritinancy) for telling me about her favourites from independent artists, offered on Bungalow6 by the writer of the much-loved Brainpickings, Maria Popova—so that's an extra fillip of serendipity.  

Photos: Maria Popova on Society6.com 

Left: Double rainbow photo print; upper right, fishes; lower right, owls. Price, about $US 14 plus shipping. The entire mask collection (all are "pleated" style) is here.

When I met Jeanne for a walk, she was wearing not one of hers, but one made in Montréal by Jeanne's son's friend, Crissy Barbosa, whose Etsy shop is here.

These "centre-seamed" styles are breathable, come with a removable polypropylene insert, and available in three sizes, with either round-the-head or ear loop elastic.  The selection changes seasonally.

Photos: CrisXochitl.com

Top: Renaissance Mask, $CDN 30; bottom, Fable Florals from the Art Print series, $CDN 20.

Wild women

The National Museum of Women in the Arts offers a small but intriguing collection. I immediately wanted "Mujeres Muralistas" by Scarlett Baily, showing five Mexican women muralists. (Price, $US 16). The black and white works with everything!

Photo: National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C. 

A flirty finale

The finale is from Montréal's MaisonRaphaelle.  The designer is a Passage reader who contacted me to show her designs made in luxurious silk and cotton sateen.  I immediately ordered one. These are a bit pricier than some, but made with superior fabric, a wired nose, and a selection of sizes (from Youth Small to Adult XL). (The difference between mine and the ones shown is that the elastics on mine were in two pieces, so I tied them to fit my ears.)

Photos: MaisonRaphaelle. com  

Left: Bedside Manner; upper right, Masquerade Ball; bottom right, 24 Rue du Faubourg St-Honoré, all in cotton sateen. These are $US 25 each, and each mask comes with the option of two PM2.5 filters at no additional charge.

Maison Raphaelle make a selection of scarves and matching masks in kimono silk, definitely a siren call to up one's mask game. 

And consider the cheeky mask and panty set, (shown, the lush Dripping Blossoms pattern); would this not be the saucy gift of 2020?

Photos: MaisonRaphaelle.com 

Despite stunning fabrics or sexy add-ons, I still see masks as gear; however, even gear can display elevated design. And after wearing them for half a year, I appreciate careful construction that holds up to repeated laundering, and pretty fabric. They have become like throw pillows for the face.

I have not adopted matchy-masky, myself. The notion that one's face covering must assiduously coordinate with one's attire is yet another way to drive consumption and I think, Leave women alone, dammit. Pandemic crabbiness, I guess. But, if a mask made from an interesting print or a pattern that has personal relevance makes us endure them with more equanimity, why not? 

Please contribute any favourite sources that will fulfill online orders.