Back in the mists of time – early February – I wandered down Auckland's main drag where I was on holiday visiting my sister, when we spied a heap of "hygiene" masks designed by New Zealand fashion designer Karen Walker in a shop window. How cynical, we scoffed. What crass opportunism. When we passed back six hours later, they'd sold out.
Now I sit surrounded by sample masks that have been sent in by designers for me to trial. There are vintage Liberty prints from Brora, tasteful washed-out blue linens from Plumo, couture French lace backed with cotton, original patterns designed in-house that were originally destined for long dresses from Belgian label Bernadette, and even some silk masks which feel beautiful, but which I fear won't get worn other than for decoration, because if you can't wash silk above 30 degrees, the "hygiene" element becomes questionable.
Did I just say decorative? In March, when a woman wore a mask to the Chanel show that she'd customised with three white camellias (Coco Chanel's favourite flower and an emblem of the famous brand) she was widely mocked on social media, although not by everyone. Some gushed over its loveliness and said they wanted one too.
It turns out they were the prescient ones: gluing a few fake flowers onto a mask was merely the start. This week, Cindy Crawford posted a picture of herself in a matching blouse and mask set she'd been sent with the caption "Social Distancing but make it fashion".
