Embracing loungewear in your everyday life means embracing possibility in your everyday life. Whether you need the flexibility to chase your kids around, want to be comfortable for a long work day, or just prefer stretchy pants, there is a stylish and elegant way to embrace loungewear for everyday and (almost) every occasion. 

The Rise of Loungewear

Many probably upgraded their loungewear during the lockdowns of 2020. When we were all stuck at home, it didn’t make much sense to wear anything else! But the move towards loungewear as a trend started long before then. Streetwear and the popularization of group fitness classes have brought athletic wear and loungewear into the mainstream. And artists like Ice Spice and Pink pantheress are re-popularizing the Y2K tracksuit, proving that comfy sweatpants can be just as fashionable as a cool pair of jeans. 

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• Streetwear Influence

Streetwear has become mainstream for everyday fashion in recent years. Comfortable, but curated, sweatpants, sweatshirts, and T-shirts probably make up the majority of most people’s closets these days. Sneaker culture plays a big role in this shift, as well, with most people opting for sneakers every day, and big fashion houses pairing the comfortable shoe with their looks. 

• Fitness Wear

More people take fitness seriously these days as both a lifestyle choice and a hobby. Whether you’re a pilates princess, marathon runner, or zen yogi, you’ve probably devoted some part of your wardrobe to athletic wear meant for it. And often pieces from that section of your wardrobe can be worked into other parts of your everyday wear! Think of block-printed flowy yoga pants. They can give you a superb boho-chic look. Or, biker shorts, when paired with a big state T-shirt or oversized hoodie, can automatically give you a casual and cool skater look. 

As our culture has shifted and changed, so has our attitude towards loungewear. Fashion, especially women’s fashion, used to be restrictive and required extra hands to wear. However, advances, like the zipper, helped clothing to be more accessible and easier to wear. 

In the mid-1930s, Elsa Schiaparelli, of the iconic Schiaparelli Fashion House, popularized the zipper in dress designs. Giving women a way to easily and casually dress themselves was a step in the direction of independence. As the years have worn on, we’ve all gained more independence in our abilities to dress ourselves, making loungewear a staple in most closets. 

How To Elevate Your Loungewear

So, we’ve covered why loungewear is important and how it came to be, but how can you elevate your own loungewear to take it to the next level? It may be hard to visualize, but we are here to help you. 

We have two simple tips: accessorize and layer. 

• Accessorize  

You can absolutely transform an outfit with a few well-chosen accessories. Want to go right from the gym to happy hour with the girls? Leave your gym bag in the car, layer on some gold necklaces, throw on a longline jacket (a la Hailey Bieber), and grab a cute shoulder bag to pull it together. Want to move from shavasana right to dinner with your sweetie? Throw on some mismatched bracelets, a sweater, and some statement earrings to take you from yogi to boho-chic cutie.  

• Layer

Especially in colder months, this is a surefire way to be able to take your look seamlessly from a cozy work-from-home day to a night out. Wearing a tank top and bike shorts? Throw on a mini skirt and some strappy sandals for a great going-out outfit. Wearing some cozy sweats and a cool T-shirt? An oversized cardigan can tie the whole look together and give you an effortless cool factor. 

Whoever said loungewear couldn’t be chic? Years later, we are still imitating the iconic bike short/sneaker/sweater combo that the late Princess Diana sported all over London on her way to and from her workouts. And with a few small tweaks, you can elevate almost any loungewear outfit to be something cool and flattering that will make your friends wish they looked as good and felt as comfortable. 

Be Comfortable & Be You

Our favorite thing about the rise in loungewear is that it can bring personal and emotional comfort. When you are comfortable in your clothing, it can be easier to be comfortable in your skin, and, thus, your personality can start to really shine through. We live in a world where you can and should show up as yourself. Opt for cozy sweatpants, sweatshirts, and matching sweats, and live that comfortable lifestyle.

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