TMI: I Think I’m In Love with Loungewear
When it comes to personal style, I tend to have more opinions than not. My mother once described me as, “You’re not so much high maintenance, Sarah. Rather, you’re high strung.” Sharon, like Pinocchio, cannot lie. Perhaps, more simply put, I don’t care about every little thing, but when I do care, I’m all the way in.
One such thing I care a lot about is when to wear what type of clothing. For the most part – excluding weather - it doesn’t really matter. In this modern time, anything goes. Do you boo, boo. As long as it fits, flatters, and makes you feel good.
Except maybe on a beach, a ski hill, or at the gym. Those are all times when the activity requires functional wear. Sure, I’ve jumped into a pool with my clothes on more times than I can count, but wearing a swim suit happens way more often than not. Yes, I’ve taken my snow pants off as a gag riding down tush out on the ski hill. I will say that when I cruised near to the bottom, the pants came back up. Same goes for gym wear. When working out, yes, I have the stretch fabric on. But I take it off and put on other clothes to go about the rest of my day. I like to think you wouldn’t wear a tuxedo to the gym so don’t wear gym clothes when not at the gym. I know I’m the tiny minority millennial on the let’s-NOT-wear-athleisure-all-the-time thing and that’s just something I have to live with.
See I love lounge wear – that sweet spot somewhere between sports gear and pyjamas – but I’m not into workout wear out and about. Some of the pieces may overlap but if you look closely, the pieces don’t have to. Lots of people wear old t shirts and sweats when lounging about but I encourage you to wrap yourself in something even better.
You won’t find me indoor cycling in a luxe fabric like silk, but you’ll sure find me watching a movie at home in it. Silk camisoles, silk pants, silk robes, and silk sleep masks are all welcome in my home and on my body. So, too, are cosy knits. There are few things better than being swaddled in cashmere from head to tippy toes. Mix and match a silk and a knit and I’m in textural-in-my-home heaven.
As a huge fan on Marie Kondo. She makes it so simple - admittedly not easy - to streamline you life all with the goal of happiness. I recently came across this article interviewing Kondo about the loungewear portion in clothing section of her book.
Market Watch: The book also mentions that time at home should be special, and we shouldn’t designate clothing to “loungewear” that really wouldn’t be worn otherwise. What should we wear at home? Why is it important to make time at home special?
Marie Kondo: Just a point of correction: the book actually says that “we shouldn’t designate clothing that doesn’t spark joy to loungewear.” (If it sparks joy, it’s absolutely okay to designate clothing to loungewear).
The way you treat yourself when you spend time at home relates strongly to your self-image. By wearing something that sparks joy even when there is no one around, your self-regard will improve, and you will become confident in your daily actions and words — you will feel relaxed.
You should wear something with a design you love, which is comfortable, ideally made from natural material, and raises your self-image just by wearing it.
Ah joy. A new-to-me item has been creeping into my consciousness and its allure can no longer be denied. I’m taking about leisure suit sets. My current taste veers more to Run DMC Adidas vibes than say “The O.C.” Juicy Couture. Rihanna’s Fenty for Puma is so good I can feel it in my bones. Beyoncé’s latest Ivy Park drop did not do anything to minimize my coordinated leisure thirst. No, I’m full on into it. Give me a matching suit and I’m delighted AF.
With a catch. To make it really me, I need to add a touch of glamour. I say, no thanks, to wearing a puffer jacket over top or a sneaker on my feet. Nope. I need a juxtaposing sartorial moment. What counts as a juxtaposition, you may ask? Maybe it’s a dainty bejewelled necklace or a high heel shoe. Red lips and big earrings go a long way too. When in doubt with my assembled combo, of course I think about Rihanna and Beyoncé, but I also think of another street style star: Tracee Ellis Ross. She just knows how to make her clothes come alive with styling.
As I strut around in my leisure suit I take great joy in knowing when out and about I have the look locked down and when I get home, my slippers and couch are waiting for me too. The equivalent of having my cake and eating it too.
