Several current fashion trends are extremely comfortable to wear. I’m talking about the oversized trend, sassy sweatshirts, silky track pants and sassy sneakers. Wear these trendy items together in one outfit and that’s about as comfy as it gets. 

This got me thinking. Are we moving towards a fashion era that makes comfort the top priority? And if so, to what extent will the result of these trends be a sloppier looking society. An overly casual world. A lack of fashion flair. And ultimately, a lack of style. 

I wholeheartedly advocate comfortable dressing because you couldn’t pay me enough money to wear itchy wool and shoes that hurt my feet. I am constantly concerned that my clients feel comfortable in their outfits. Furthermore, I actually love these current high-comfort fashion trends because they allow us to create interesting outfit juxtapositions that feel fresh and new. That said, I do take care to wear them with polish and luxurious fabrications, some structure, and mix them up with dressier pieces so that I can achieve a sense of sophisticated chic. If I don’t do that I feel unstylish. 

If I could jump into the future I would hate to see the complete absence of tailoring and structure. If sloppy casual becomes the new chic, fashion won’t be as fun and I’ll definitely look dated.

I’m torn. I enjoy new fashion directions and love outfits that convey a sense of casual chic, relaxed polish and easy elegance. But I will fight to preserve a little bit of dressy so that things aren’t merely casual and easy. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Are the current high-comfort trends a good or bad thing for the future of style?

A reader recently asked this question, which I thought could use general clarification. I use the two terms, “outfit” and “ensemble”,  throughout YLF. They are often thought of as interchangeable, but over the years we have come to use them to distinguish between two specific things. 

An outfit is a complement of clothing, footwear and accessories that is on your body. It is more personal, and the wearer is an integral part of the whole. Their hair, complexion and body all participate in making a great outfit. 

An ensemble is a complement of clothing, footwear and accessories that is off the body. It is less personal and does not include the wearer. When I present an ensemble I might talk about how it would work with different body types and colourings, but that isn’t essential.

Whether it is on me or one of my clients, I like showing outfits because it is a more complete picture. But I like ensembles just as much because I think presenting the items without the wearer leaves more to the imagination. 

So wear an ensemble and it becomes an outfit. What you are wearing right now is an outfit! Take it off, assemble it on the bed, and it becomes an ensemble. This isn’t really a strict definition, but it is the way we use the terms at YLF to keep things straight. I hope that all makes sense.

Silky track pants are trousers made of dressier woven fabrications that are cut like fleece sweat pants or “track pants”. They are NOT made of knitted jersey. They usually have an elastic waistband and drawstring, are tapered at the ankle, and are roomy right through the leg. Some of the hems are cuffed, or have zipper and elastic detailing. The style drapes well, and is attractive in patterns and solids. The baggy fit is about relaxed comfort and a small amount of slouch. 

This trouser style started filtering through to retail stores a few years ago, but the silhouette stayed fringe. It gained popularity this season, but isn’t quite as mainstream as I thought it might be. The hybrid trouser is a combination of two trends, namely the sporty trend and the modern slouchy trouser trend. Styles are either full length or cropped, and the waistband can either be worn on the waist or further down on the hip. 

Silky track pants needn’t be made of silk, although those are an option too. I’ve seen them in equally drapey silk blends, rayon blends, nylon blends and 100% polyester. They are one solution to covered dressing in warmer weather when you don’t want to wear jeans, dresses, skirts or shorts. They are also ridiculously comfortable, and a nice way of adding something different to your trouser capsule. Remember that an entirely new bottom or top silhouette can change the landscape of your wardrobe. 

They are supposed to be worn in a fairly dressy manner, or smart casual at best. They are ideal matched with equally drapey tops, worn either untucked, or semi-tucked. I like the look even more when a structured jacket is added into the mix, and a dressy shoe, be it a high heel, low heel or flats. That said, I’ve seen silky track pants look delightful with a tank top, mesh sweater, gladiator sandals and casual handbag. 

I adore this trouser style and vote yay. The outfits below exude the type of “unstructured structure” that is so directional in fashion at the moment, and a look that is close to my heart. Loose, but not too oversized, with tailoring in all the right places. The effect is one of easy elegance, casual chic and relaxed polish. I don’t have a pair yet because I couldn’t find a pattern that I liked last year, and this year they will make my Summer shopping list, and probably in a solid. I’m still working through my Spring shopping list, and since I’d only wear these in warm to hot weather, there is no need to purchase them now. 

My clients have a mixed reaction to silky track pants, but I’ve been encouraging them all to at least try on a pair because they can thoroughly refresh your style. And this is comfort! Some clients are happily sporting the look while others are warming up to it. And some flatly refuse because to them they look like and feel like pajamas no matter what. Unstructured and not so fab. 

What’s your verdict on silky track pants? Yes, no or maybe.

Peplum tops have become a mainstream item, and I’m pleasantly surprised at how well the silhouette has been received at retail. My extra curvy clients have been very pleased with the fit of their peplum tops. By “extra curvy” I’m describing ladies who have a particularly defined waist, hence the side contour of their bodies from bust to waist, and from waist to hip is super curved. In other words, they are extremely hourglass-y.

This peplum sweater from Banana Republic is one good example. It’s knitted and drapes back onto the body so the peplum is more subtle. It looks better on my curvy clients than on the model because they can “fill out” the top above and below the waist. The curves add attractive interest to the top.

Wear it over slim trousers, jeans or a pencil skirt. I liked the peplum top over bootcut pants and trouser jeans. And it unexpectedly also worked over a full skirt because the peplum section of the top flows seamlessly into the flare of the skirt.