Trend Alert: Loungewear

Until fairly recently, the term loungewear was synonymous with nightwear, and not something you would be likely to apply to fashion – at least not the sort that you’d wear outside the comfort of your own home, or at best a furtive early-morning dash to the corner shop. So the sudden popularity of soft, oversized casualwear might require a bit of a mental adjustment. Keep an open mind though – any trend that can successfully combine style with comfort has got to be worth persevering with, right?

Obviously going to work or meeting a friend for coffee in your actual nightie is still going to raise a few eyebrows, so the first  questions you should be asking are what exactly is loungewear, and how can it work for you? The key to the look is soft fabrics and loose fitting clothes. Women’s tops are a good place to start; where previously you might have worn a luxurious long polo shirt with smart jeans, now you can pair them with some equally comfortable lounge pants and still be on trend!

On the other hand, don’t be fooled into thinking you can get away with throwing on any old thing and calling it a loungewear look. The line between stylish and slovenly can be a thin one, and too many baggy clothes can be very unflattering. The key rule of thumb is this: baggy top = skinny pants, or vice versa. This will create contrast and ensure that your outfit isn’t too shapeless.

In addition to the comfort element, another advantage of the loungewear look is that it really lends itself to creative layering. So you could wear a more fitted women’s top over some tracksuit trousers or lounge pants, and then wear a casual summer jacket over the top. This all-in-one loungewear ensemble from Buffalo is a great example of how to hit the trend.