The New Standard for Loungewear
A sweatshirt that flatters your frame, communicates your authentic style, is in your color palette and ideally aligns with your values. Here’s one of mine. This one is good for the world and for my style.
An 8-Step Framework for Building a Capsule That’s Comfortable Enough to Sleep In—and Polished Enough to Live In
As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, loungewear is a big topic of conversation. Yes, we’ve all become more casual over the past several years. But, if you live in a wet or cold place, you really know something about the significance of the right loungewear.
While we all want to be comfortable, it’s important to remember the very real and positive impact of wearing clothes that make you feel good. That can easily be confused with what’s comfortable or functional, because those pieces give you the freedom to move freely for whatever opportunity arises. But functionality can only take you so far. Wearing something that is super cozy, but makes you cringe when you look in the mirror does not set you up for success. This is an integral part of choosing the right loungewear.
You don’t need to spend a huge amount of money (although you absolutely can and be happy that you did). You also don’t need to buy a giant collection of pieces (again, you can and likely won’t regret it, especially if you like to mix things up). But you absolutely DO need to remember the bar for loungewear. It is this:
Loungewear should be so comfortable that you can fall asleep in it AND it should look good enough that when someone unexpectedly stops by, you feel good about what you are wearing. Ideally, you should use your Poplin Filters to choose your loungewear. Does it flatter your body, communicate your authentic personal style, is it in your color palette and does it communicate your values when/if possible?
As we roll into the (hopefully) lounge-i-est time of the year, it’s time to up level your loungewear. Need some moral support? You’re not alone in this undertaking. The members of Continuum, Poplin’s exclusive private membership for clients, are elevating their loungewear, too. So, you’re in great company.
If it’s time to take your style to the next level- including your intimates and loungewear, the Absolute 360 might just be for you.
Let’s go!
I wear this at home and out in the world. I also own it in white and black and make good use of both. Feel free to wear it with a strapless bra out in the world, no bra at home or layered over a tank top anywhere.
The right sweatshirt dress can be a major winner. I wear mine with my clogs around the house.
This super affordable pair of barrel leg sweatpants have been good to me. Size up.
If you’re a walker, like me, you need comfort, support and something super cool. It’s an investment, but you won’t regret the spend.
If I could only be guaranteed one clothing item for the rest of my life, it’s highly likely that I’d choose a ribbed tank top…. or ten ribbed tank tops. This one has a flattering neckline (especially for my triangle shape) and is on an insane super sale right now.
I really love silk for lounging around the house or sleeping. A great pair of silk pajama pants can be worn with a cotton tank or sweatshirt and still maintain a polished, incredibly comfortable look.
I LOVE a slim down parka with a removable hood. Fun Fact: I never wear it solo. Instead, I layer it under a rain parka for walks in dumping rain. I also layer it under wool or leather coats to add another layer, if it’s super cold out. Then, if it warms up, I stuff it in my bag. This is an ideal approach if you are traveling, especially in Europe or anywhere you want to maintain a polished look and still be comfortable spending hours walking or on public transportation. This is a crazy deal for a great coat.
I’m not sure there is anything that balances sex appeal with comfort and functionality like the Negative Underwear Whipped Collection. I have this duo and LOVE it. Whipped is also a HUGE favorite of Poplin clients. It’s an investment, but it’s worth it. It’s sheer, so keep that in mind if you have kids running around. I like this with the silk pants or my sweatpants. Either can be tossed on when I roll out of bed. I can also layer my sweatshirt over top when my son is around. These are also dreamy as a base layer for outdoor winter sports.
I’ve been wearing some version of this coat for the past few years. I love it for walks. It’s a flattering cut and is a great deal.
If it’s pouring rain and I’m committed to walking, like today, I’ll layer this over a slim puffer. I’ll wear a beanie underneath and put both hoods up. This keeps the hoods in place and makes me hands free as I walk in a downpour.
I live in my Birkenstock Burkis. They give me much needed support for running around the house or working from home and are effortless to slip off when it’s time to head to the couch. They are also great to run out to the mailbox and can be tossed in the washing machine to freshen them up. Plus they last for an eternity and bring a pop of color to my loungewear collection.
I love a wide leg sweat pant.They are also flattering on most body types- assuming the length works for you. I have multiple pairs from Zara over the years and they continue to be my favorites.
As it turns out, wearing a lovely silk slip dress is comfortable and makes you look and feel incredible. Plus, you can sleep in it or just hang out. Want to be more discreet? Toss a fuzzy cardigan over top.
A cozy cardigan solves a lot of loungewear issues. This one is alpaca. Try it or something fuzzy and synthetic or cotton to avoid pilling.
8 Steps to Your Ideal Loungewear Capsule Collection
Choose a color palette.
Start with identifying your color palette. Yes! You may stick with your overall color palette for your clothing and accessories OR you can opt for something different or more specific for indoors. I have a client who is Afro-Brazilian who asked for bright colors for outside the house and only neutrals for inside, which is common in her culture. You can see her intimates and loungewear list here.
I love bold colors and black for wardrobe and prefer to stick with black for the majority of my loungewear, ensuring that outfits come together easily and look polished without sacrificing comfort. I also wear my loungewear for walks in the neighborhood and pair it with bold sneakers and a black puffer or a reflective jacket that I adore. So, the black blends easily with these final touches.
Choose your palette and commit to it. Over time, everything will work with everything else, simplifying your life.
2. Focus on flattering silhouettes.
If it doesn’t make you feel good about your body right now (not the size or shape you once were), it has to go. Focus on items that embrace your body- minimizing parts that aren’t bringing you joy right now and highlighting your favorite attributes. And of course, make sure that the items fit. Don’t let the size number impact you. Sizes vary greatly across brands and have no bearing on anything that really matters in life. After all, no one knows what size you are wearing. It’s more important to go with items that fit and flatter. Here’s a sample intimates wishlist for a client with a diamond shaped figure.
3. Remember your personal style key words.
The right color and fit can only take you so far. Identify what makes you feel like your very best self. Poplin clients identify three words or phrases that they’d like people to use to describe their style. You are the same person no matter the environment, so choose your words and commit to them. Use these as filters when choosing your pieces. Take a look at real Poplin clients and their style words for some ideas.
4.Identify your needs (same clothes for walks, cleaning, working from home)
I love a great walk in the neighborhood and often do walk and talks with friends from far away. This practice has kept me very close with friends who live out of state or out of the country. Highly recommend. (Fun Fact: If you’ve been with us for a while, you know that I’m not on social media because I don’t want to support Meta or Twitter. Meta owns Instagram, Facebook and What’s App. The third one is problematic for my friends overseas as What’s App is the go-to for Europe. Not to worry! I found a work around. I call my friend via FaceTime and after a moment of, “hellos” we turn off video and I head out for the walk using audio only.)
For me, loungewear needs to work for walks, cleaning the house, watching TV with the family and so on. Typically, I change into workout clothes for pilates but sometimes changing means I’ll skip the workout. So, I can glide from fixing breakfast to my workout in my loungewear then toss them in the wash afterward. I also love feminine nightwear so I like loungewear that can easily layer on top of a silk nightgown when necessary. Your needs are all yours, so be thoughtful of what you need and don’t worry about features that don’t resonate with you. I focus on black pieces- typically wide leg or barrel leg sweatpants, cotton ribbed tank tops, cozy cool sweatshirts and Birkenstock clogs that can easily be tossed in the washing machine after a trip to grab the mail. I also have a super cozy fuzzy cardigan that is just right over silk nightgowns. I love this wishlist for a client who takes ballet classes, walks her dog in an urban neighborhood and wants to be cozy and cute at home.
5. Don’t abandon feminine pieces or the right amount of sex appeal.
That portion about silk nightgowns tends to hit folks in one way or another. Some find this appealing and others think it sounds fussy or uncomfortable. Really, you dress for yourself more than anyone else, so understand YOUR preferences. While we’re here, I’m going to advocate for some feminine and/or sexier pieces- whatever that means to you personally. First off, there is a wide array of silk or satin pieces that are flattering and affordable. Spaghetti straps tend to constrict more at night than a standard strap. Silk is softer and feels more luxurious than satin. You can also opt for a silk pant and tank, making each easy to mix and match for lounge or sleep. Consider something soft and sheer for sex appeal without sacrificing comfort. I’ve been recommending Negative Underwear for years and am a super fan myself. Have kids? Just toss a sweatshirt or cardigan over top when you head out of the bedroom. These are also dreamy thermals for winter.
6. Consider the frequency of laundry
As Americans, we wash our clothes much more frequently than needed and our clothes confirm that practice. Items often pill or get stretched out quickly. Higher quality goods are much less likely to do this, so choosing fewer high quality options is helpful. Washing less frequently helps, too. We love our new closet steamer to refresh items and decrease washing. Another approach is to choose a few more affordable sets so that you can build out a comprehensive and useful loungewear collection quickly. Whatever your approach, consider how often you do laundry and be sure that you have sufficient loungewear to have something to wear anytime of the week. Otherwise, you’ll end up in less desirable pieces, turning this adventure as a chore instead of a fun way to reengage with your closet.
7. Remember temperature- opt for pieces that easily mix and match.
Layering is key. Be sure to have a blend of tanks, tees, sweatshirts and bottoms of various weights. Again, if you are sticking with one color palette, it will be easier to build this out over time. While you’ll want lighter weight options in the summer and heavier pieces in winter, air conditioning and heating can make you colder or hotter off season. Having the right pieces that still make a great outfit, will take you far.
8. Be thoughtful about your house shoes.
Whether you wear shoes in the house will impact your house shoes. Some folks opt for slippers. In our case, we do wear shoes inside for two reasons. First, our home is designed to bring the outdoors in whenever possible, so we move between in and outdoor spaces frequently. Second, as a personal stylist, I can’t imagine a world where I would discourage folks from showing off their shoes with their outfits at our house;)
Whether you wear shoes inside or not, you’ll likely need a house shoe. Consider if you need arch support or other features to be kind to your feet all day. Think about traction and the necessity of shoes or slippers with grip if you have wooden floors and especially stairs. I like options that can go inside and out and be washed easily to keep the inside floor feeling cleaner. (I also use the Roomba every morning to clean the floors after I head to work.) If you have a shoeless house, having a basket of slippers for guests is a fun option and much appreciated for women who are sans pedicures at your place.
Ready to build your capsule loungewear collection? If you’re starting small, just get one outfit that fits your criteria and can be worn on repeat. Looking to solve this nagging issue? Remember to be strategic and focus on your needs and preferences. You’ll be glad you did as you relax in clothes that celebrate you.
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