CORONAVIRUS

Designer masks are the new face of fashion

Facemasks seen in Manhattan and Paris
Facemasks seen in Manhattan and Paris
GOTHAM, EDWARD BERTHELOT/GETTY IMAGES

Forget an It shoe or handbag, this summer the style set wants a facemask to match their designer dress.

With a hot label, lengthy waiting list and the same designs as ready-to-wear, protective gear is the latest way to make a fashion statement. In France and Italy, LVMH and Prada, the luxury fashion conglomerates, have turned over their production lines to making medical-grade masks and hand gel. The British take on PPE is a little more trendy.

These are not the plain blue and white three-ply type made for health workers. The Vampire’s Wife, the A-list dress brand, has sold more than 700 silk masks in six minutes. They come in floral prints with scallop ruffle edges and elegant names like Heidi and Jana, just