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Some things make for a restful Sunday afternoon: A cup of tea, a no-fail podcast, and your favorite pair of sweats. Sub “sweats” for a slouchy knit pant, cashmere set, or a one-piece workout bodysuit, and the idea remains the same — the interchangeability of pieces in that sentence is because a cozy, pared-down aesthetic can be, well, whatever you want it to be. That’s the beauty of loungewear. 

Beyond the sofa, loungewear has become a go-to option for everything from casual daywear to workwear and sleepwear. Justine Liu, Chief Merchandising & Product Officer at Girlfriend Collective, says the importance of rest coincides with great sleepwear. "We all know how important sleep is for your mind and body, and great sleepwear is another way to help you reap all the benefits of a good night’s rest,” she tells InStyle.

And because we take comfort very seriously, we’re not rounding up just any cute loungewear styles — no. We’ve rounded up the brands that our editors have personally shopped and worn to share with you.

Girlfriend Collective

Girlfriend Collective not only makes you feel good in its comfortable clothing but through its sustainable business practices as well. For one thing, you can recycle your pieces directly through the brand, and all of its materials are made using recycled materials, including the packaging it arrives in. InStyle Associate Photo Director Kelly Chiello owns this cotton sweatshirt and the coordinated joggers, and she confirms that “they’re soft, but very flattering to the female form.” Rather than having your sweatsuit swallow you whole, she describes them as “fitted and not bulky, making them great for airplane travel.”

When Director of Content Strategy Samantha Brash was looking for something to wear while doing her wedding glam, her “first priority was comfort and the second was style.” It’s what led her to Lunya's Washable Silk Robe. “It checked both boxes — and the fact that you can wash it at home with ease is an added bonus,” she says. Lunya truly covers anything that touches sleep and lounge, whether it’s through its intimates section or the silky dresses. It’s probably one of the few destinations where we can shop via fabric type, and that includes silk, organic pima cotton, and soft modal to name a few. 

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  InStyle / Alexander Huang

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  InStyle / Alexander Huang

Aerie isn’t just the sister brand to American Eagle we all grew up loving. It’s evolved with the times to match the trends - particularly athleisure and cozy-chic styles. I own several of its pieces. Most recently, I got my hands on these street leggings and this long-sleeve bra top, and I've been racking up compliments whenever I wear them. On top of being well structured, supportive, and soft, they’re surprisingly affordable, so you’ll get more bang for your buck when shopping for anything from cold-weather knits and socks to tanks and T-shirts.

Skims doesn’t need much of an introduction, but if you feel like you do, check out our review of the brand's offerings. In short, though, it’s hard not to love the Kardashian-founded loungewear, or as Kim calls it, "solutionwear." It’s pretty safe to say that a good chunk of the team here at InStyle owns at least a couple of Skims items that we love. As a matter of fact, I’m wearing this dress as I write this blurb. And if not the dress, then the boxers, or the bra, or the bodysuit. Everything we’ve ever owned from Skims has been extremely flattering, soft, and comfortable, putting it pretty high up there on our favorite loungewear brands. 

Spanx may be more known for its shapewear, but it has an impressive line of lounge items as well. Brash, who has been wearing Spanx shapewear for over a decade, only recently discovered its apparel and is “completely obsessed.” The AirEssentials collection is made of the softest, most buttery fabric, which is probably why this half-zip sweatshirt is her go-to for travel or running around on a chilly day. We would definitely categorize its designs as elevated loungewear, making them appropriate to wear during at-home Zoom meetings and casual outings, like a weekend farmers market haul.

Negative Underwear

Every time I wear the Whipped Baby Tee from Negative Underwear, people want to know where it’s from. It has a very form-fitting appeal that doesn’t feel restricting or uncomfortably tight. Instead, it’s whisper soft and has a delicate stretch to it that simply hugs me in all the right ways. The brand has made some of the team's favorite underwear and tank tops as the material is so incredibly soft. They could be considered an extended part of a skincare routine — that’s how good they feel on the body. And its styles are cute and versatile.

Uniqlo has been our go-to for everyday basics for over a decade now. The Japanese label rules the realms of heat technology and good-quality basics more accessible. We’ve loved everything from its wide-leg pants styles to its heat-tech turtleneck as they allow us to stay lounge-y without looking too sloppy. And because the prices are so reasonable, it’s been easy to stock up on several colors of our favorite styles without thinking twice about it.

We don’t know about you, but we trust the Italians when it comes to at least two things: how to relax and how to make good clothes. This label marries the two with its Italian-made loungewear. The label originally began by making luxury socks, but has since expanded to making pajamas and silk boxers, too. Admiring the genderless quality, I purchased the classic cotton boxers and now consider them the most stylish lounge shorts in my loungewear lineup. They're perfect for hanging around the house, and they also look great layered under baggy jeans.

Vuori has everything from activewear and outdoor clothing to lounge-worthy hoodies and sweatpants. Writer Irene Richardson particularly loves its leggings, because “they’re super soft and easy to slip on and move around in, as opposed to really skin-tight spandex” that pretty much cut off your blood circulation. For both men and women, one can find everything that falls into the category of athleisure here, be it a sports bra or a full-on jumpsuit.

We adore shopping at Aritzia for loungewear and athleisure. Associate Editor Hayley Prokos and I share a love for Aritzia’s butter line. As the name suggests, the tops, leggings, jackets, and unitards feel buttery soft and stretchy. Even outside of this line, though, we love Aritzia's knack for creating effortlessly cool pieces, such as knitted sweaters and cardigans, that feel so cozy, too.

Elsewhere in Richardson’s closet one will find this cardigan and pants look from Soma. “I love it because the material is lightweight, breathable, and incredibly comfy so I can easily fall asleep in it, which makes it a great pick for traveling,” she says. “Mainly, I'm impressed with the thoughtful design details that give it a streamlined look, such as the tapered pant leg and classy taupe shade. This keeps the stretchy pants and oversized cardigan from looking sloppy and gives me more confidence to wear the set out in public without feeling underdressed.” It’s the kind of vibe you feel glorious walking around sipping on coffee slowly.

Aviator Nation

Senior Editor Kaitlin Clark was never much of a sweatpants girl before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the shutdown made her fully embrace the cozier things in life, such as these sweatpants from Aviator Nation. “I love these sweatpants because the materials feel exceptionally soft and utterly comfortable, yet the designs look retro and cool,” she says. The stripes down the legs are part of the brand’s signature look and can be found on the hoodies as well. The best part? They’re unisex, so you and your partner can mix and match, share, and bond through the pieces all the more.

Our Testing Process

We asked the fashion team at InStyle to share their favorite loungewear brands based on personal experience. Every single brand and recommended item on this list has been tested and worn by someone on our team. We asked what specifics made these brands stand out to them — whether it was the fit, the comfort, the affordability, or all — and included their thoughts, here.

What to Keep in Mind

• Material: Since it’s loungewear we’re talking about here, picking the right material is of utmost importance. Stylist Elisabeth Kassab recommends “diagonal French terry, cashmere, Tencel, and cotton” as the most cozy materials. Lunya, for example, has a cashmere jogger that you’re never going to want to take off. Meanwhile, Comme Si’s boxer pants are made of Italian cotton poplin, which has a higher thread count and therefore more durability and comfort than regular cotton. 
• Occasion: Different garments have their own time and place. For sprawling out on the couch, the sweatshirt and joggers formula Chiello swears by would be best. While working from home, on the other hand, when you’re looking to feel comfortable but appear professional and unstylish. Pick something from an activewear brand that feels a little more put-together—a knitted crewneck shirt or cashmere sweater to pair with your go-to leggings would suffice. If you need to step out to run some errands, you can’t go wrong with a cropped T-shirt and flare stretch pant. Add a zip-up hoodie to keep you warm in the evenings.

Your Questions, Answered

How should I wash my loungewear?

When it comes to loungewear, we know how important (and difficult) it is to maintain that pristine softness from when you first got the item. It’s important, therefore, to follow the wash instructions carefully. Delicate materials, like cashmere, should be kept out of the washer and dryer and only be dry-cleaned. Anything that’s considered fluffy won’t weather well against harsh heat and should be handled with care.

Is loungewear meant to be worn outside?

We get it, the lines have gotten a little blurry over the years. What was once reserved for the great indoors can now be sported on the streets as well. When Kassab takes her loungewear outside, she likes to style a crew-neck sweatshirt with leggings, Uggs, and a long coat. She recommends accessorizing with a beanie and a pair of crew socks in the colder months for a big ’90s vibe. “Adding a long coat to any loungewear set automatically makes the look chicer and more put together,” she says.

Stylist Alayna Licardi has a similar take on bringing loungewear outside. “I like to add some jewelry to make me still look put together, wearing my favorite sneakers with a tall sock, and pairing it with a super cute purse.”

Why Shop With Us

Bianca Kratky is a commerce writer at InStyle with three years of experience covering fashion and beauty brands. Philadelphia-based freelance writer Morgan Sullivan also contributed to this roundup.

For this story, they tapped into the rich resource of style experts at InStyle to learn which loungewear brands everyone is shopping for and loving. They also interviewed Justine Liu, Chief Merchandising & Product Officer at Girlfriend Collective, as well as fashion stylists Alayna Licardi and Elisabeth Kassab for their shopping tips.

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