What is your shopping strategy for lounge wear? - YouLookFab Forum

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What is your shopping strategy for lounge wear?

Neel

Veteran

Clearly ... My demoting items from my *going out* capsule is not helping! I still don't reach for the demoted items because I am either over them or I just don't like them any more. I end up looking like a slob because I just dont feel like getting dressed. I am on super repeat mode with this capsule and I am ready to burn my lounge wear!

Considering I am a SAHM and that I spend about 18 hours in loungewear almost 7 days a week, shouldn't I splurge and buy some good lounge wear? My CPW will always be super low on them. Why am I scouring sales rack for cheap stuff and settle for less than perfect lounge wear? Clearly I need to borrow some common sense from YLF!

So I need some inspiration ladies!

1) How much do you spend on lounge wear every month? Mine is 0!! I buy something when I am in an absolute crisis mode!

2) How often do you replace your loungewear? I have stuff from 6 years back o_O!

3) What does your lounge wear capsule consist of? Mine are harems, palazzo pants and some tracks. Tops are always solid crew neck tees and a few striped tees.

Next month's entire budget would go on lounge wear. Because if you haven't guessed yet ... I am in a crisis mode ;). Thank you for your help!

Shopping

53 replies

Latest reply was from Neel

bella

(website)

Veteran

Not a SAHM here, so take my words with a grain of salt.

If you are spending most of your time at home, I think what you need is not loungewear but a proper casual MOTG capsul: think boyfriend jeans,leggings, cropped pants, soft striped or patterned tees, oversized sweaters, tunics, and some toppers like soft flowy cardigans or knit jackets. You will still be able to tend to your kids and house but feel dressed up.

bella

(website)

Veteran

ETA:
I actually went back to your previous posts. I think your outfits 1-4 in this post or similar should work as your home capsule.
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ching-up-2
What do you think?

Neel

Veteran

What?! That's what I wear for going out! Lol!

OK ... Point taken! I need to be dressier and not in PJ kind of lounge wear. Thanks Bella!

Neel

Veteran

I cross posted with you. Lol! And see that's exactly what I said! :).

bella

(website)

Veteran

I didn't mean to imply you *need* to be dressier, of course feel free to do what feels best for you. From what I see, this is what MOTGs on the forum choose to do.

Neel

Veteran

Yes! You are right! Jackiec's MOTG look for the house that she posted a few days ago is what I wear for going out! Wow! I seriously need an upgrade!

leopardluxe

Veteran

I must sheepishly admit I have zero strategy for loungewear shopping. My loungewear pretty much makes me look like a homeless person. Ratty t-shirts, old sweatpants and hoodies (often times with holes in them) and even rattier ugg boots to keep my feet warm.

I must admit I just won't spend much money on loungewear and I buy the vast majority of my loungey stuff at the thrift store. Since all I'm doing it puttering around the house in it I just want something uber comfortable and don't much care what it looks like.

I even recently took a pair of woven silk sweatpants to my seamstress because they had developed massive holes in the butt area. They were always a bit long on me (I just tucked them into the ugg boots I wear as slippers) and had her remove the excess length and use it to patch all the holes in the butt.

She looked at me like I was a crazy person for repairing such a crappy old pair of pants. But they are lightweight, washable woven silk and I can't find anything like them anywhere. I will wear them them they disintegrate off my body.

So as fashionable as my "I'm leaving the house" outfits sometimes are --everything about my "not leaving the house today" outfits are the epitome of slob

Neel

Veteran

Lol! That sounded like me leopardluxe! I don't have and never had holes in my clothes ... Really ...

kerry

Veteran

I agree with Bella, in that you need to figure out if you want loungewear or something MOTG to wear around the house as a SAHM.

I work out of the house but have a young daughter. When I'm home I spend lots of time on the ground. I don't want to wear even my MOTG clothes around the house because it seems like a waste, it gets covered in cat hair, and it's just not as comfortable.

I've tried to invest in more quality loungewear so I wouldn't feel so sloppy but for one reason or another the items I bought just didn't work. So, my default loungewear is Joe Fresh PJ bottoms, light, repels cat hair (did I say light? I hate to be too hot!), a tank (Gap ribbed - lots of colours and neutrals), and long cotton cardigan or tunic sweatshirt (Lands End). I would never wear any of these items out of the house. OK confession - I have thrown a coat and a pair of Uggs over this ensemble to walk up the street and around our townhouse complex! It positively horrifies my husband!

My going out/work clothes are very casual. I have one wardrobe for both work and weekend. So what most people might wear casually around the house and out to run errands is what I wear most of the time. Maybe we're all on a casual-dressy spectrum and want our at-home clothes to be one-step down from our casual stuff. For me, compared to most, that's quite a step down!

Neel

Veteran

Kerry - An MOTG capsule for the house sounds fun. But I too like you fear *spoiling* my clothes. But I could possibly upgrade my lounge wear to say stretchy ponte pants and better tops ( instead of the two in one packs). Lol! Or may be linen draw string pants?

My life is definitely on the casual side like yours. Even the going out outfits are mostly very casual. If I wear that for home I would have to upgrade my going out clothes :D. Hmmmmm

ramya

Veteran

I can never wear good clothes home coz I am a champ when it cones to how to get roti dough or dosa dough or gasp haldi stains on your cloth even when u wear a apron. So when I go home to India I get those cute pjs the one with crew neck and pants kinda thingy. In winter I wear my demoted denims and tees home.
But I am not home a lot like u. Also you know the Indian training of get off your good clothes as soon as you reach home is deeply ingrained in me.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I don't really have any loungewear, per se. As a work-from-home MOTG, I just build my actual wardrobe around what I'll be doing, so the casual looks I post are in fact the looks I wear all day at home -- usually without shoes and topper while in the house. And with an apron added if I'm in the kitchen, LOL.

Back in the days when I was often getting down on the floor with my daughter, it was the same. Jeans, shirt or sweater, boots or sandals, a topper if weather demanded it. My jeans wore out a little faster in those days because I found I was often down on one knee on pavement to scoop her up or chat with her face to face. But that's really the only issue I had -- and that was outdoors. Indoors I just got down on the floor and didn't worry about it.

Of course I do have PJs. And a robe. And I often wear those first thing in the morning while I'm getting my daughter up and ready for school. (And then prepare myself for the day after she has gone.) I also have a long cardigan that I will wear over my PJs in lieu of a robe on the warmer days. (My robe is one of those big fluffy ones that can get quite warm). And I have slippers.

If the day is unbelievably miserable and I plan only to cuddle on the couch, or if I am sick and I won't be going out, I usually wear something like this:

Yoga pants
Comfy tee (long or short sleeved, in decent shape -- I renew these every year so they are reasonably decent)
My cashmere hoodie or long cardigan or a loose-fitting cashmere pullover.
Socks in winter plus slippers if I haul myself off the chair, LOL.

And that's it! So my shopping strategy, if you can call it that, is a once a year inspection of tees/ cardigan/ yoga pants and possible purchase of same.

abc

Veteran

Ponte pants can be as comfy as pjs but look way more pulled together. Good luck on your style journey.

jackiec

Veteran

Hi Neel!

Like you I'm a SAHM and MOTG. Although I've posted my MOTG looks, and that's usually what I wear for the day, if the top (or bottom) is kinda "good" then I'll switch into a hoodie to cook dinner & walk the dog. Having said that, a ton of my stuff really isn't that "good" so I wear it all day. Clarification, when I get up I throw on my workout gear which is a mix of lululemon and other local brands. I get the kids off to school, workout, then shower and change into my MOTG stuff. Sometimes I stay in my workout gear to hit Costco or run errands and change later if I have to look decent for a school meeting or running the kids to hockey etc. Ever since the kids were little I'd make an effort to shower and change "for the day". Kind of helps me feel "legitimate" as a SAHM, does that sound bad? Somehow I don't feel my best in sweats, although like you I never spend money on loungewear! Maybe if I did, I'd wear it a lot more! I have a couple of pairs of black sweats, a few hoodies, and lots of long sleeved tees. I also have some demoted jeans that are definitely my go-to's for crappy days at home for cleaning or hacking around when I don't have to go out. Yep, seems my loungewear consists of demoted items too. Stuff I do buy is always on sale, and the lulu stuff is all from the outlet (before they closed it here).

Not much help? I will follow this though, very useful. I like your style and think we have lots in common

Neel

Veteran

Ramya - I totally forgot about our ingrained Indian mentality! Lol! I think if I work on that, wearing BFs and tees at home won't feel that daunting after all!

Suz - Your at home wear is better than my going out wear. Lol! My lounge outfit is precisely what you wear when you are sick! o_O. Oh dear! Not good!

Neel

Veteran

abc - thank you! And yes I would look out for those ponte pants. I am on a mission!

Jackiec - your Motg at home wear is just brilliant! I wish I was that pulled together at home. And its perfectly alright to feel the need to dress up for home. I could try, once I update my lounge wear next month. And a comfy pair of BF jeans are definitely now on the list :). I think I should refresh my 3 yr old crocs too ... With another pair of crocs

jackiec

Veteran

Hi again! I should clarify that I for sure make more of an effort when I have something on the agenda for the day - kids to dentist, ortho, school meeting, etc. If not, then it's definitely a step down. I'll post those too. I like the Gap long sleeved tees and rotate through the blue, white, and black waffle ones regularly at home.

Susie

Veteran

Last fall I specifically bought several pieces to be loungewear. It's only my husband and doggies at home now as my daughters are grown, but I want to look decent for him.

So for fall/winter, I had 3 or 4 pairs of nice leggings and several tunic length tops- lightweight sweatshirt, a couple of sweaters and 2 knit tops. I didn't spend a lot on any of the pieces but I did buy them new and chose things I liked well enough to wear often.

I'm still working on my spring loungewear capsule but it will include knit shorts/Capris and tops.

Diana

Veteran

Most of my loungewear is old jersey dresses, yoga pants, and sloppy tees, but I like it that way. However, in Beth's recent thread about working from home, I think it became clear that those of us who shed our "real" clothes the minute we walk in the door and put on ratty old clothes are those who wear the "real" clothes and work outside the house every day. So I get "dressed" every day, and a loungewear day is kind of a vacation or treat. I think it's different if every day is a work-at-home day.

For the record, my favorite loungewear is loose jersey dresses. I like ones with no waistband. I wear demoted ones, but if I were working at home, I'd wear the new ones for sure. And ha, people think you're really dressed up because you're wearing a dress!

ETA: I do actually buy my lounge pants new because I don't wear that type of pants out of the house much so I don't have old ones to demote. I buy a pair or two each year, and they last several years. These are my favorite right now (they were an Angie pick a while ago):

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ze.....;contextua

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, I think "sick" is "lounging" (or at least I lounge when I am sick!) So I honestly see nothing wrong with wearing that type of outfit at home if it's what makes you feel best! Angie wears American Eagle sweats and a hoodie at home for her loungewear. And she just updates once per year to make sure they are not ratty and unpleasant. I think it's a great way to go, myself!

The main reason (s) I try to put on real clothes:

I went for years wearing nothing but yoga gear or one pair of jeans (inside AND outside the house) and I felt awful about myself and I think it allowed my weight to creep up without my noticing it for a long time.
I often have to run out at a moment's notice for something, or the UPS guy comes to the door or similar.
I have video conferences with my colleagues several times a week and sometimes daily, so they are going to see me!
"Real" or "regular" clothes tend to be a bit warmer and I need the warmth for a big portion of the year where I live.
I feel better about the amount of money I spend on my clothes if I wear them more frequently. My cost-per-wear goes down radically on items like jeans and knits, making me feel okay about having a medium sized, fun, wardrobe. If I wore loungewear at home all the time I would move towards Clearly Claire's 10 item seasonal closet (or something similar). But that in turn would pose problems for me because I also hold a number of other roles besides MOTG, and for those parts of my life I truly need clothes as well. So it is better for me if most of the clothes can work across multiple capsules in a flexible way.

unfrumped

Veteran

I think it helps to take a moment to list the elements of clothing that you find super comfortable and practical- we all know at some level what our " aahhhh" zone is and it's like fighting nature to be out of it. For example, most jeans are out of my loungewear comfort level as I have to belt most of them. Then compare fits and silhouettes for what is really frumpy- dumpy vs. is at least
" just flattering enough"-- such as, a typical wide- leg pull on elastic waist sweatpants or such looks lame on me but a slightly fitted yoga pant or tapered track pant style is better. Same for tops-- instead of " t shirt," label that item "pullover knit top" and look for what looks good but is still comfortable. Shop different makers for your own best fit for your purpose-- roomy/ comfy in the right places but still with some style/ flattery and a good fabric. If you identify what are your aspirational styles and fits you can watch for sales. Add in your best colors or perhaps required colors( pet hair!).
Interestingly , because of the shift toward fluid and oversized fits, a lot of trendy items are suitable for loungewear! Many of them would not work for me due to fabrics( not real wash& wear) or price, but I did realize a new potential source of home casual/ loungewear is deeply discounted items by certain makers that don't fit my work or vacation lives but are great for at- home.

MuseumGal

Veteran

Neel, what do you like to wear? If you like and feel comfortable in harem pants and Ts, then by all means go buy some more of them just for home. Same if you prefer jeans. Also I don't think that upgrading your home capsule means you have to upgrade your going out capsule. It's perfectly fine if the two are interchangeable.

Now that I'm at home alone most days I tend to wear ridiculously bright things like harem pants or even those ancient surfer pants - just because I find them cheery.

Anonymous

I don't do loungewear, never have even as a SAHM. I get dressed immediately and it's usually jeans or clam diggers most days. If I don't pull something on right away I may not be able to get back to it later.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I wear 'in house' stuff a lot here in FL since I have no job to go to. But my true lounge capsule is stuff I could also crawl into bed in - pj type things. For kicking around the house it's a step up and I could go get the mail or take out the trash and run into a neighbor or answer the door without feeling embarrassed.
Maxi skirts, shorts, and any number of knit tees and tanks are the basic formula here in the warm weather. If I'm heading out, I can put on a piece of jewelry, shoes, and off I go. I buy these items with an eye for wearing them out in the world, not specifically just for 'in home', but they all are either very easy to care for, quite reasonably priced (so if I ruin it I'm not bummed), and/or very comfortable.

Neel

Veteran

Susie - leggings sound good. I need to invest in some cotton leggings and oversized tees to go with them. That sounds doable to me.

Diana - jersey dresses are fun. I only worry about accidently flashing everyone at home. I am not a lady at home

Suz - I do remember Angie's post. I Had promised myself that I would get working on my lounge wear. I have started wearing my demoted jeggings and have upgraded a few tees. I think I need a few more refreshers to update the capsule.

Unfrumped and MG - I love my harems and those are the only ones I love for now! I have 2 that I regularly rotate and I think all I need are new harems and new tops! I think wearing the same thing over and over again for years just makes you sick of it!

Neel

Veteran

Joy - I find jeans restricting and too warm for my climate. But I could do linen or cotton pants or chinos. You inspire me

Mo - your climate relates to mine the most. Thank you for the jewellery and cute shoes tip!

Aziraphale

Veteran

Neel, I think you are right to say that if you're spending a lot of time in your lounge wear, you should have decent items. My one question is, when you say "lounge wear", are you talking about clothes you don't leave the house in, or clothes that you wear both at home and out and about at the park/grocery store/playdates etc? In other words, do you change from your lounge wear to your jeans before you leave the house? If so, you probably need fewer items of lounge wear and more "MOTG" capsule stuff.

Anyway, to answer your questions:

1. How much do I spend on loungewear per month? Very little. Loungewear, for me, means baggy yoga pants (I dislike the ones that are tight across the butt) and a tee. Or pajama bottoms and a tee!

2. I buy two or three new lounge tees about once a year, and I can't remember the last time I bought yoga pants. The darned things last forever if you don't wear them outside the house (which I don't) and you don't put them in the dryer. I have decent ones though. I think the last time I bought a pair of yoga pants or pajamas was about three years ago. My pj bottoms are actually wearing out now...need to replace them.

3. answered in #1! Hope that helps.

Neel

Veteran

Thank you Azhiraphale! I don't wear my lounge wear out of the home. I change into *decent stuff* before I head out. Most of my WIWs here are MOTG looks that I wear outside the house. I mostly sleep in my lounge wear ... Occasionally change into shorts when I am wearing anything that sticks to my skin. So I don't have a separate sleepwear capsule.

I do have a good MOTG capsule, but my lounge/sleep wear sucks!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Oh, well if it's sleepy loungey stuff, I score a lot of sets at TJ Maxx and Target. Modal is a dreamy fabric to cuddle up in. Rayon can be nice and soft, too. BF rounds out the capsule with a Victoria's Secret flannel set each xmas.

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