What Is Loungewear? 5 Ways to Style Loungewear

As their names suggest, loungewear and sleepwear are worn at two different times of day. Sleepwear is worn at night, and is designed to be worn comfortably in bed for sleeping – not in the presence of others in public view.

Loungewear, is quite literally for lounging around - designed in mind, similarly to sleepwear, to be comfortable and not noticeably restrictive, but its designs have a certain level of formality and style that wouldn’t be ideal for bedtime. For example, a jumper is probably too warm for most people to sleep in.

Loungewear can be worn while watching TV, reading, running errands, or – depending on the type – even worn during exercise. They’re much more sociable than nightwear, and can be worn when having guests over or during informal gatherings.

Loungewear has become increasingly popular in recent years for both men and women, thanks in part to the skyrocketing increase in working from home that started during COVID-19 lockdowns – a trend that continues to this day.

Loungewear can be worn to a majority of informal outdoor activities, as they are very much casual everyday clothing. They are ideal for spontaneous outdoor activities, as they easily transition from home to outdoor wear with ease. Although not one piece of loungewear suits every outing, loungewear as a clothing type can be worn while shopping, attending the gym, meeting with friends and family, going on walks, and many more activities.

As loungewear varies so much in style and type, they are suitable for all weather types, and can easily layer up or down when the weather changes, adapting to almost all outdoor pursuits.

A monochrome palette is a singular colour scheme, and not just black and white, as it is commonly described. Many loungewear options come as part of matching sets, particularly for the top and bottoms, so a monochromatic look is easy to achieve without the trouble of finding shades that are an exact match.

Opting for one colour rather than two keeps the look more uniform, rather than the more disheveled or thematic look that pyjamas typically evoke. Even though they’re an easy, comfortable option, matching loungewear gives the impression that more effort was put into the look.

Loungewear does not typically include shoes, with the exception of mostly slippers or sliders that can be worn in the home or for shorter trips. Although a monochromatic look is good for the top and bottoms, matching shoes can be overkill.

Opt for shoes that contrast in colour or shade to avoid looking like you’re ready for bed. Everyday shoes, such as trainers in particular, work well for a look that stands out, and can be worn on almost any location or occasion.

If you don’t want to be too matchy, an extra outer layer – such as a jacket, hoodie, cardigan, or or a shacket (a button-up shirt that acts as a jacket), can add an extra level of formality to differentiate your outfit from sleepwear. It can also add an element of extra thought put into an outfit, even if it’s something as simple as throwing on a jacket to keep warm.

Accessories are another good way to break through the noise and look chic. Jewellery, or a fashionable bag, for example, are items that aren’t really worn in the home, so it creates the impression of a planned, well-put-together outfit.

Loungewear is designed to be worn on a number of occasions – so if you have a matching set, the pieces are not inherently wedded to one another. Loungewear is typically quite plain in design, so they would match and contrast well with other clothing. Different colours and patterns can break up the uniform look in a positive way, if you’re concerned that your loungewear will look too much like sleepwear when outdoors.