This is definitely a post that I never thought I would write. But 2020 is just full of surprises. Like asking the question: What brand of mask are you wearing?
Some of us live in communities that require masks, but we all should be wearing them. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hot, uncomfortable and annoying. But I choose to wear one as a sign of respect and appreciation for the essential workers who don’t have the option to socially distance while doing their job.
Also, to offer yourself a bit more protection, you can add HEPA filters, pieces of vacuum cleaner bags, coffee filters or another option that passes the light test to your store bought or home made mask.
This basic mask from CB2 is made by Steele Canvas. For every mask purchased, Steele will donate one in the Chicago area.
Alice + Olivia Stace Face Mask ($10) uses the Stacey logo in a new way. For every mask purchased, one is donated.
Sanctuary Face Masks (Set of 3, $24)
Old Navy Variety Pack (5 for $12.50)
Rag & Bone Stealth Mask Pack (3 for $55)
Amadi Diamond Loop Face Mask ($14)
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I bought some from For Days (https://www.fordays.com/)! They are arriving on Wednesday so I can’t speak to the quality yet, but I love the concept behind them. For Days is an attempt at a circular system for clothing – you pay a fee up front to purchase the clothes and then every time you need a replacement, you send your old clothes back and they send you new ones for a minimal cost that are made from recycled old clothes. They primarily have basics. In response to COVID they have started making masks out of recycled fabric and for every purchase of 5 masks, they donate 5 to front line workers. I was overwhelmed by the number of options out there for fabric masks, but went with For Days because I support their business model, and I liked that it also included a donation. As an added bonus, it was only $25 for 5 masks. I encourage folks check them out in addition to the great options above!
Our For Days masks took about 10 days to get here; they’re very well made, and I find them easier to keep on when I wear my glasses (but that’s true for all masks). They wash well. I’m very pleased with them for my husband and I.
I was hoping for a review on these as there are no pictures online.
I ordered a few tees from them when the company started up, and they proceeded to change their business model three times within the year. I haven’t seen nearly as many changes since but still wonder about their business model long-term.
Just a head’s up- I ordered the Alice and Olivia mask on April 14th and it STILL has not even shipped out yet.
Has anyone used the denim style face masks? I’m just wondering how they are on the breathability scale, especially with summer coming around. Thank you for the list of cool options!
Thank you for this post! Thinking about returning to work means that it’s time to have a few extra face masks on hand!
Any thoughts on how best to wash the cloth masks? Mine has makeup all on the inside and is pretty grubby.
I put mine in a mesh laundry bag and wash on the delicate cycle. A couple of my masks were too big, so I put them in the dryer (in the bag) so they would shrink up a bit.
“A Roundup of Stylish Face Masks” . . . words you probably never thought you would type as a fashion blogger, or as a person. I placed an order for the Old Navy face masks which are on back order through June 7. I received a middle of the night e-mail from The Gap a few weeks ago advertising face masks in a pack of 2 for $10 – they sold out in less than a day but the site promises more are coming. Same for J.Crew’s pack of 3 masks for $18. In the meantime, I have a custom batch courtesy of my mother who got creative with her fabric remnants and tried out various mask patterns. My favorite is a purple paisley one, followed closely by an old-style chintz pattern that looks like curtains. Moms for the win (always).
Homemade using the CDC pattern. Finally a use for all that quilting fabric that was a hobby that never materialized! We also pre-ordered the Disney ones since the kids are obsessed. Sadly, I’m assuming we’ll still need them in July.
I’ve had very mixed results with masks ordered online. Masks should be washed on hot and dried on high temperature after every use (kill that bacteria!), but I found that several I purchased on Etsy were clearly not pre-washed before sale, and shrunk a fair amount when I washed them the first time. Several I bought also turned out to be made of stretch fabric, which is really detrimental for blocking particles.
It can also be tricky to find the correct size that ensures minimal gapping, covers enough of your face, and fits at the ears without being too loose or tight. For fit, I’ve found it’s very helpful to have a flexible nose bridge–I haven’t tried any with a filter pocket yet, so can’t attest as to how those work (or don’t!).
After ordering and getting increasingly frustrated with several different models, I threw up my hands and began sewing my own with this pattern (https://www.craftpassion.com/face-mask-sewing-pattern). It’s a bit more involved than the simpler patterns but allows for a lot of customization. If you have the supplies and patience to sew, I really recommend it!
I bought some of our masks from an Etsy shop:https://www.etsy.com/shop/PeonyBloomsCo. They were a little more expensive than I would have liked, but there were masks for Adult Women, Adult Men, Adult Unisex, and kids’ masks in two sizes (small — 3 to 5 years and big — 6 to 10 years). They’ve machine-washed well in a mesh bag on delicate with cold water, although the site suggests hand washing (as if I have time for that. . .) They arrived quickly, whereas the ones I ordered from Karen Kane took almost 3 1/2 weeks. I’m currently eyeing some of my cotton blouses and scarves and wondering if they would benefit from upcycling. Guess I’d better get my sewing shears sharpened!
Has anyone looked into the washing instructions for the masks? My GP recommend boiling the masks for 5-10 min between uses as viruses and bacteria may survive normal wash cycles. Standard cotton should to my understanding tolerate boiling, but of course colors may fade, but perhaps not the rubber bands, does anyone have experience on this?
Just a heads up- I purchased the Alice and Olivia mask on April 16. It has still not shipped- the estimated shipment date is May 25. Not the mask to order if you need it soon!
Mo’s Bows is a small business in Memphis that usually makes custom bowties–they have adult and youth sized facemasks available for pre-order now!
https://mosbowsmemphis.com/collections/go-mo-face-mask