Am I Ready to Buy a “Formal Mask?”

I recently had a thought that, eight months ago, would have seemed dystopian: maybe I should get a formal mask. Back then, “formal mask” would have probably been something I’d wear to a masquerade ball, where my eyes would be covered but my mouth would not be. I would unknowingly be spewing germs while dancing to “Masquerade” from Phantom of the Opera (disclaimer: I have never been to a masked ball).

When the coronavirus first hit the U.S., the advice was to not buy masks so as to avoid a shortage of medical masks and N95s for healthcare workers. Most masks available were medical-grade. Over the ensuing five months, that advice has changed: everyone is either encouraged or required to wear masks, bandanas, scarves, or some other cloth face covering in public spaces. And to be clear, masks work. I bought a pack of masks in various washes of denim, and received a black and white swirling printed one. I’ve developed a preference for the black and white one. A preference for the comfy elastic straps that make me think “I’d want more of these.”

The idea of a mask as a fashion statement does make me feel a bit queasy, but the more I unpack that feeling, the less intense it becomes. Queasy is preferable to my other feelings about the coronavirus: rage, depression, and paralyzing fear. Masks are now a fact of life; they already were for many people across the world. Looking forward to next year, I find it more likely that I will find myself at socially-distant gatherings: weddings, birthdays, parties where exes may be present. I’m already comfortable matching my shoes to my outfit, so why not a mask?

It helps that there are some really gorgeous masks out there. I define a “formal mask” as one that is embellished or made from a high-quality fabric that feels special. My boss, Chioma Nnadi, was actually the first person I saw wearing a truly show-stopping mask: an embellished one from Gypsy Sport that she wore to her friend’s wedding. It was beautiful, and it made the outfit all the more exquisite. “It’s the kind of fashion treasure you buy just to have,” she says. “And the fact that it bore witness to the bizarre moment we’re in was a bonus. Now I feel like I want to have a mask for every occasion.”

Azeeza Khan, the founder of Chicago-based brand Azeeza, has added colorful and embellished silk masks to her offering of vibrant, $1,000 dresses and wedding gowns. They come in the same colors as key styles, and the same fabrics. But she also felt anxious rolling out the masks originally, “At first I was timid to roll out the masks because I didn’t want to profit off of this pandemic,” Khan said. As a result the prices for the plain silk masks are $48, the embellished ones go up in price to $198 for masks embellished with pearls and Swarovski crystals. They’re giving masks as gifts with purchase too. “We’ve gotten the request for masks already and we’ve been making them on request for our top private clients,” Khan said. “People are slowly starting to dress up again and leave the house for small gatherings. So now there’s more of a request for creative ones.”

Ultimately, a beautiful mask brings some pleasure to something that otherwise would feel clinical. And maybe that’s part of building a “normal” life again—seeking out beauty if you can. If you’re in a position to buy clothing, it will likely be a mask. Or at least, buying a mask feels like a good use of your money. I’ve found that an ounce of frivolity often takes the weight off, too. Getting dressed up with nowhere to go makes me happy. It’s why I’ll wear sequins to the grocery store. Next time, maybe I’ll have a mask to match. So below are 17 masks we’ll classify as “formal” for whatever events you have in store.