The Rise of Loungewear: Bridging the Gap Between Comfort and Style
Comfort and style do not need to be exclusive of each other. The old adage of “beauty is pain” is, rightfully, a thing of the past. With the rise of luxurious loungewear, style never needs to come at the expense of comfort. Streetwear, cozy-girl aesthetic, boho-chic, ballet-core, and luxury loungewear have all dominated runways, hallways, and walkways with their signature comfortable style.
So, how did these more comfortable styles come into vogue? Let’s explore the origins of fashion becoming much more comfortable.
Streetwear
Streetwear originated in the 90s within the hip-hop culture of New York and the skater and surfer culture of Los Angeles. Although the very nature of streetwear is complex and highly individualized, there are some defining characteristics to the style. Utilitarian clothing, like workwear, is common.
Practicality and comfort reign supreme in streetwear with stylish outfits meant to carry the wearer through a variety of circumstances. Think strong boots, comfortable sturdy pants, and loose-fitting and unique T-shirts. Comfort, utility, and personal touches all define streetwear.
Cozy-Girl Aesthetic
TikTok has given rise to floods of micro-trends. Blueberry milk nails, vanilla girls, coastal grandmother, and cottagecore girlies are all trends that dominate the FYP of users around the world.
Enter stage left: the cozy girl.
She’s an offshoot of the clean girl or the vanilla girl. Comfortable clothing, practical shoes, and an aura of ‘hygge’ follow her around. She’s seen in women’s comfy loungewear, her water bottle is always filled, and she inspires you to lean into comfort and practicality. However, her style is anything but lazy. The cozy girl can make big sweaters, comfy denim, and practical footwear look fit for the runway. She is the epitome of comfortable style.
Boho-Chic
Looking for comfort, style, and something that feels a little elevated? Boho-chic combines comfortable, billowy fits with bold patterns and colors that can make anyone feel beautiful without sacrificing comfort. The recent release of the latest Hunger Games movie introduced a new heroine: Lucy Gray-Baird. And her style is inspired by traveling musicians, Appalachian fashion, and other bohemian influences.
Boho-chic is dominated by long and flowy silhouettes, sturdy footwear, and bold pattern and color combinations. The style is also dominated by eco-friendly and sustainable fabric choices. Think bamboo toe socks with a well-worn pair of clogs, or a patched-up sweater with a beautifully patterned skirt. Boho-chic is all about sustainability, practicality, and individual style.
Ballet-Core
Ballet-core aesthetic pairs the comfortable off-duty ballerina clothes with soft touches like pastel palettes and bow accessories. Think of the popular NYC designer, Sandy Liang. Her designs lean hard into the ballerina aesthetic with soft comfortable fabrics, dancewear-like cuts, and little touches (like her signature bows) that evoke a ballet-core look.
Ballet-core is all about dressing like a ballerina that has just left her rehearsal. She’s not in her performance costume; she’s in comfortable and sleek clothing that keeps her muscles warm and movement free. Think soft grays, pinks, and off-whites. Sleek sweatpants with satin slippers and beautiful knit wraps.
Luxury Loungewear
Luxury loungewear is the sexier and bolder element of dressing for comfort and style. Fabrics like silk, satin, cashmere, and high-quality cotton dominate this trend. Silky shirts, shifts, and pants have dominated. And these styles are not just beautiful and sophisticated, they’re also extremely breathable and lightweight. Luxurious loungewear evokes a vintage aristocrat galavanting around their estate.
To achieve this look, pair loose-fitting silky clothes in bright jewel tones with long mismatched jewelry. Style yourself in a manner that says “Oh this? I woke up like this” but evokes a sophisticated level of luxury that will inspire envy.
How To Incorporate Loungewear Into Everyday
Are you unsure of how to make these comfy choices an everyday occurrence in your wardrobe? Dressing for fashion and comfort can be a careful balance that takes practice. But here are a few small ways you can diversify your wardrobe with pieces that feel elevated yet comfortable.
- Raid Your Local Thrift Store
Thrift stores are full of formerly loved treasures waiting for the right person to swoop in and claim them. If you’re looking for pieces to elevate your wardrobe with comfortable style, focus on the sweaters, cardigans, flannels, and turtlenecks. You’re bound to find beautiful, stylish, and unique pieces that will become beloved in your wardrobe.
- Start Small
Try little style changes that will make little ripples in your personal style. For example, pair a dress with a practical pair of sneakers, or throw a cozy sweater over a business casual outfit. There are so many small ways that comfort can be infused into your personal style in the day-to-day.
- Feel It Out
What are your favorite fabrics? Some people adore the feeling of silk and others would rather a heavy cotton. If you gravitate to a certain fabric, stock up on it! When you wear things you feel comfortable in, your natural style and radiance will shine through. Invest in fabrics that make you feel good.
Building out a wardrobe is a very personalized experience, but at the end of the day only you can determine what is the best direction for your style to take.
Keep It Comfortable
Whether you want to take big or little steps in changing your personal style is entirely up to you. Elevated loungewear and comfortable style can look a million different ways. Tap into what inspires you, and the rest will follow easily.
