Couple recreates pop culture icons using what's already in their closet

Chloe Mead and Harriet Clare are making the most of their self-quarantine.

April 1, 2020, 4:15 AM

As millions around the world continue to self-quarantine, two British women are finding creative ways to make the most of their isolation.

Chloe Mead, 28, normally works as a dancer and performer in London. So when the United Kingdom announced last week that everyone “must stay at home” due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, she naturally wanted to find a way to keep busy.

“I woke up one morning and put my hair up and thought, ‘I look like Little My from ‘The Moomins’ right now,'” said Mead.

She began rummaging through her closet until she found a red coat, pink bow and boots to complete the look. Mead’s girlfriend, Harriet Clare, 29, is a photographer and snapped a few photos of the get-up so they could share with friends on social media.

PHOTO: Chloe Mead transforms into pop culture icons to stay busy at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Chloe Mead transforms into pop culture icons to stay busy at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Harriet Clare

“Everyone thought it was so funny,” explained Clare. “So we said, ‘Why don’t we make this into a challenge for people to dress up at home?'”

Deeming it the Covid Closet Challenge, the pair began posting polls asking users on social media which pop culture icons they’d like to see next.

Requests came flooding in for characters like Mary Poppins, Miss Trunchbull from "Matilda" and Jack Sparrow, just to name a few.

PHOTO: Chloe Mead transforms into pop culture icons to stay busy at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Chloe Mead transforms into pop culture icons to stay busy at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Harriet Clare
PHOTO: Chloe Mead transforms into pop culture icons to stay busy at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Chloe Mead transforms into pop culture icons to stay busy at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Harriet Clare

Even Joe Exotic from the wildly popular Netflix docuseries “Tiger King” got a shout-out.

PHOTO: Chloe Mead transforms into pop culture icons to stay busy at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Chloe Mead transforms into pop culture icons to stay busy at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Harriet Clare

“As creatives, we felt a little redundant and helpless at the beginning of our quarantine,” said Mead. “This has excited us so much because we've been able to use both of our skills and it's just a fun way to lighten the mood.”

PHOTO: Chloe Mead transforms into pop culture icons to stay busy at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Chloe Mead transforms into pop culture icons to stay busy at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Harriet Clare

Mead and Clare also revealed they spend up to seven hours each day designing costumes, shooting pictures and filming. Several of their recreations have now gone viral on social media, with many users praising Mead’s uncanny resemblance to the iconic characters.

Although each outfit seems to be more elaborate than the last, the couple only uses clothes and props found around the house.

PHOTO: Chloe Mead transforms into pop culture icons to stay busy at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Chloe Mead transforms into pop culture icons to stay busy at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Harriet Clare

“I don't really throw things away so I have lots of bits of clothes to work into new costumes,” said Mead. “We have a lot of crafts stuff.”

Clare added the pair plans to continue dressing up each day until they stop enjoying it.