February challenge - days 11 & 12

This is my extra casual at home weekend style. Really nothing to write home about, I would never post it here if not for this challenge. I never plan my casual wardrobe, I just get some random sweater here, and some jeans there. More often it is work sweater that is past its prime, and some comfy sweatpants, but I made some effort
I think I need to get better in planning my casual wardrobe. I especially notice this when I am traveling or on staycation and need to wear my casual wardrobe for more than two weekend days. I get easily bored with it, every outfit feels like variation of the same.
Maybe because there is no third piece, and I don’t wear any accessories or jewelry, and shoes are also not always part of the outfit. It is just 2 pieces of clothing, I would not even call it an outfit.
What are your strategies for casual wear?

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1 year ago

April

Veteran

My strategy for casual wear is to join your challenge and think about it for longer than ten seconds.

Since my whole life is casual, I base "at home" outfits on what I'll be doing that day as well as the weather. Cooking? Being in my workshop filled with inks, paints, and adhesives? Those require washable clothing. Is it raining? I don't want long squishy hems dragging in the mud.

Vildy

I struggle with anything too identifiable as casual, unless it's maybe
buttoned up twill skirts a la 40s or 50s safari style. Have lots of those. I do love your green top, though.

kkards

One of my biggest takeaways from my Jan Challenge was that my at home/weekend wear was more about staying warm and being comfortable-style if it happened was a distant 3rd. But I will also say that doing the challenge and making myself post even those outfits did make me think about them and but a little extra effort in.

Anyway, I like both of these, and they look like perfect weekend outfits

Tanya

First, both of those outfits look very good on you.

Regarding casual wear, that can mean several things to me. If it is out and about, running-errands casual, that for me usually means putting a proper outfit,. e.g. jeans, sweater, booties, coat etc. that play well together. If at home, and just relaxing, I wear loungewear. However, with the pandemic and many days of WFH, I recently started an effort to dress up the said loungewear for WFH ( I can't stand jeans or similar at home, it is a weird phycological thing). For example: nice track joggers with a knit blazer (if I have to have a Zoom meeting, which I do on most days). I am actually planning to post about WFH dressing soon in more detail, as I noticed several forum members were interested in the topic.

Val

Active Member

At-home casual has been a lot of my life in the last two years. My strategies for making it a bit more fun and happy:

1) coordinated sets rather than mix-and-match separates (my non-casual wardrobe is mostly separates)
2) pieces that are interesting and maybe a bit out there, such as joggers with an unusual cut

Dee

I understand how you might not even consider these real outfits but even if you just threw them together without too much thought, they do come together very nicely. Smart idea wearing those older work sweaters with your casual jeans getting even more wear from them.

Since retiring, I wear some type of jean almost daily during the colder months, but I’ve upped my casual sweater/ shirt game so that it’s much more fun to get dress even if it’s just around the house.

I hardly ever wear sweatpants, even during the darkest days of covid. I just don’t feel properly dressed for the day unless I wear something with a bit more structure like my jeans.

Stagiaire Fash

Your comment about just random top and bottom matches my issue with my winter style in general. Honestly though, I’m not sure why we need to put thought into this. You look great and like you’re ready to get to work. I assume you’re focused on whatever you’re about to do, even if it is sipping a relaxing cup of tea while daydreaming on the couch. You work hard and deserve a break—from the mental load too.

But I’m also familiar with the other side of the argument. I was glad for the hoody and herringbone pattern leggings that I slipped on when I needed to get up quickly to greet a relative & his wife who I scarcely know a month ago. Lately, I’ve been unpacking, assembling furniture, etc mostly in pjs (a Lanz of Salzburg flannel nightie today), but when my friend calls to say he’s on his way, I drop the hammer, might take a quick shower, and put on, say, my black Champion zip-up hoodie with those same leggings or my pinstriped jeans. Believable as home chores clothing, but absolutely comfy and easy. Yesterday I laid on my back on the floor under he sewing machine table while he held the machine over me & I screwed it into place, climbed a ladder to drill holes to hang the curtain rod, and sat on the mattress on the floor to assemble the bed. I didn’t want to think about my clothing during any of that, aside from it not being in the way, & doubt he did either. If he wants eye candy, I guess it’s available elsewhere. I did, however, have an underwire bodysuit on underneath. Didn’t show at all, but makes me feel more put together.

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Helena

You look amazing as always Anchie... Beautifully polished casual outfits.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Perfectly fab at home weekend looks!

Kate

That is pretty much my winter style, and I think it's fine. That green sweater is a beautiful color on you, but I really like both outfits. If I'm going out to buy groceries or run errands, my statement pieces are my outerwear and my footwear. Also my muffler, if that's required. Those tend to be my investment pieces anyway.

Joy

I wear a casual wear almost every day as a retired person. My strategy is to make opportunities to dress up. It is mind boggling to me how everyone thinks you are dressed up if you wear a frock, no matter how casually it is worn. A skirt or dress is a big part of my summer dress with slip on athletic shoes or flat espedrilles or canvas sneakers. For winter I wear mostly full length warm pants and a sweater under a cardigan or felted jacket or puffer vest and booties or loafers. How is that dressy? I try to wear a dress or skirt two days out of the week as much to keep in practice as to dress up. I do wear scarves almost daily and earrings. I wear stockings under my skirts and dresses for warmth.

Any suggestions?

SarahD8

I'm struck by your polkadot socks in the first outfit. Would assembling a little capsule of fun socks (amusing prints, or maybe colors that match your current crop of "casual" sweaters) be an enjoyable way for those at-home outfits to feel a little more intentional and put together?

Sal

These look good Anchie - I guess if you happen to go out to see a friend or to an activity you can add a coat, scarf, bag etc and you are set!!

In the weekend I wear a mix of
- sports gear
- home and gardening clothes
- casual - similar to your outfits
- smart casual - maybe less practical pieces or elevated fabrics

There is lots of cross over between these groups though and also my work clothes.

Jonesy

I think you look great! Casual wear at home is tricky. Like Tanya and others, I mostly wear loungewear (but I did buy some sort of nice loungewear things during Covid, so I could mix and match and not stay in flannel pajamas all the time!).

Jaime

Anything white is a winner on you! My lounge wear currently is a Daffy Duck sweatshirt, sweatpants, and Uggs. I like to be warm and unafraid of stains at home.

Anonymous

Both look great!
I don't feel good in more than 1 casual piece at a time, even if just running errands. Often I'll add heels or more makeup or jewelry, anything to feel a bit more properly dressed.

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