Masks: The Latest and Greatest Accessory By: Kaitlyn Cioc

  

 Masks: The Latest and Greatest Accessory By: Kaitlyn Cioc

American Eagle, Nordstrom, Gap, Old Navy, and Forever 21 are just a few examples of many big-name clothing brands that are now selling their own face masks. Next time you shop at your favorite store, add a matching mask to your bag.

  Since the Covid-19 pandemic started, everyone has been wearing masks when out in public. However, many people dislike having to for various reasons, comfort and style being two examples. Now 8 months later, countless brands have created their own mask lines for their consumers. These masks are typically different colors, patterns, and materials compared to the classic blue surgical masks we all started out with.

Athleta Masks

    My mom, being a pharmacist who has worked through the pandemic, was able to have access to surgical masks to bring home to my family for us to use in public. However those masks don't come in very many sizes and often times didn't fit comfortably on my sister and I. For me in particular, the adult masks were too big and didn't have a tight enough seal on my face to be effective, but I was constantly having to adjust children's masks to be able to cover my mouth and nose properly. My aunt then showed us that Athleta had come out with their own masks and she loved them, but they were too big for my mom, sister, and I. My mom and I did some more research and then found Caraa, another brand that started to sell face masks. We looked at the measurements, colors, and price and decided to purchase a set. We have now had these masks for a couple months and I love them. They fit great with a wire nose piece and adjustable ear loops which is perfect for fitting the mask to your face correctly. They also have a large variety of colors which are fun but subtle, and the fabric is thick while still being easy to breathe through. Now that we have these masks, I get excited to pick out a color to use whenever I go out and while other masks bother my face and are hard to breathe through, the fabric ones are actually very comfortable.

  It's important to use washable fabric masks. These are usually the ones that come in more of a variety than white and blue paper-thin surgical masks. Some have wire nosepieces which are important for a proper, safe fit, adjustable ear loops which are great for younger children and full-grown adults, and some even have pockets where you can choose to add an extra filter if desired. The most important part about fabric masks is being able to wash them. Most fabric ones found online in packs are washable and simple to do - just wash regularly and air dry. If you can wear the same masks over and over again, it eliminates having to throw away dozens of masks a month if you go out in public regularly. Fabric masks can be stylish, better fitting, and better for the environment so why not get some?

    People should make masks more exciting to wear by purchasing ones with colors and designs they enjoy more than plain blue surgical ones, and choosing the best shape style for their safety and comfort. 

CARAA Masks

The brands I mentioned in the beginning of this blog have dozens of options and multiple mask shapes on their websites and some even have an online shopping category dedicated to masks. Instead of making them a hassle to wear and "annoying" because they aren't stylish, buy your favorite color, pattern, and mask style so they can be an accessory you get excited to add to your next outfit. If more people had ones they enjoyed wearing, they would be more willing and happy to wear them in public, which would benefit them and the people around them. Make masks fun to wear, so you'll want to keep wearing them even after the pandemic, for the safety of yourself and everyone else around you.