Once upon a time, when life was simpler, we had our ‘going out’ clothes and our ‘staying in’ clothes. Then, something changed. The lines blurred. Inch by elasticated inch, it became acceptable to go to parties and even certain types of meetings wearing the sort of comfy, slouchy and avowedly casual clothes – track pants, hoodies – that would once have been strictly confined to the sofa. No longer is there a delineation between ‘on’ and ‘off’ duty clothes. Loungewear has come out of the lounge and into the mainstream.
 
Which is wonderful news if you love roomier styles and believe that life is too short to do anything in clothes that restrict your movement or breathing. But, for those who err naturally towards more formal attire, the relentless forward march of comfort clothing can feel a little off. Didn’t Karl Lagerfeld have a point when he said that sweatpants were a sign of defeat?

These days, though, joggers no longer signify that you’ve given up on anything. On the contrary, they prove you’re willing to engage with one of fashion’s most seismic shifts. In 2023, luxury has been redefined. It still means beautiful, high-quality things: they just don’t have to look dressed-up. For an increasing number of women, comfort is the biggest luxury of all. 

Rather than being something we shuck on to nip out and buy a Sunday-morning coffee, loungewear is now an essential building block in our everyday wardrobes. Which makes sense: why should feel-good fabrics, such as fleece, cotton jersey and cashmere, be kept at home when they’re so comfortable, versatile and easy to wear? This isn’t the 1950s. Women deserve to be comfortable all-day long – wherever they might be. The trick lies in how to look comfortable without also looking as though you’ve hastily risen from your sofa and forgotten to get dressed.

So, how do you put the luxe in your loungewear? One of the easiest ways is via your choice of colour. You never see stylish women stepping out looking like complete slobs because their loungewear usually comes in soft cream, beige and oatmeal, chosen specifically because these hues tend to look more expensive. Wearing soft, tonally complementary shades also has a smartening effect, even on sweatpants. It unifies your look. For example, wide-leg oatmeal trousers, a coordinating beige roll-neck and calf-length almost-matching coat looks far more put-together than the same items would if they’d come in wildly disparate shades.

Another option is to mix casual items with more formal ones, for a high-low riff that’s super popular among fashion editors and off-duty celebrities, alike. In season one of And Just Like That…, Carrie Bradshaw teamed her joggers with spike-heeled sandals and diamanté gloves – a bold look, yes, but its basic principle can easily be modified to suit your own tastes. Grey joggers look great with white sneakers, but can equally be dressed up with a metallic heel. Or you could approach things the other way round. Instead of dressing up your loungewear, those more comfortable in dresses or tailoring, could simply dress them down. A baseball cap, is an excellent style hack for de-formalising your look. So, too, a down-filled jacket can be an ultra-luxurious choice that still looks lounge.

As with navigating any trend, it’s all in the detail. Cheap, badly-fitting garments will never look good, but when it comes to leisurewear, if you want to look more luxe than lax, it’s especially important to consider quality, fabric, cut and fit. We’re not suggesting you venture out in head-to-toe triple-ply cashmere, but we are gently advising that you are mindful about each component of your look. Not all joggers are created equal. Do they sag after one wear? Do they add unwanted bulk at the waist? If so, jog on – to a pair with a higher Lycra content, in a more flattering fabric. The details are equally important. Look out for carefully finished piping, drawstrings that won’t fray, good-quality zips and eyelets in muted tones.

Finally, counter-intuitive as it might seem to think of loungewear items as investment pieces, they truly are. When you get them right, you’ll indubitably find yourself reaching for these stylish, easy pieces more than you could ever imagine. Whether it’s a belted blanket coat, a cashmere hoodie, or a pair of white sneakers, one thing these super-luxe items won’t be doing is lounging. On the contrary, they’ll be the hardest-working items in your wardrobe.

Laura Craik is a fashion writer and columnist. She is former fashion editor of The Times, The Guardian and the Evening Standard.