Casual Chic

This has been a rough winter.  I'm not sure what causes it, but some years we breeze through with only a little cold here or there and some we get hit with illness after illness.  This has been one of those years where someone has been sick with something big or small or both since November.  Now that spring is nearly in sight I had hoped we'd all start feeling better, but it just isn't happening.  So, today I'm writing this post from the couch.  Last week it was me staying in bed; but this time I'm not sick, but my little ones are...again.  As much as I wanted to spend my day off out doing....well, pretty much anything except sitting around  indoors taking temperatures and heating up bowls of soup, sometimes things just don't work out the way we plan.  Being a caregiver for so many back to back illnesses has worn me down. On days like this we all crave comfort—comfort foods, soft blankets, heating pads, and comfortable clothes.  I thought this would be a good time to talk about one the most fashionable way to weather the toughest of times, but first let's travel back in time for a moment.

One of if not the worst “fashion” trend I've ever seen is people going out dressed in pajamas or “yoga pants” to run errands and live their lives.  I remember when this trend started in the 90s.  Back then, young people in their late teens and early 20s would get groceries or go to casual restaurants like Denny's in their cute pajama pants and hair in a messy bun and it sent a message which was: I'm old enough to be on my own and my parents can't tell me what to wear.  Pajamas in public meant I'm in college and independent.  It was cute and I did it too as soon as I left home.  But then everyone started doing it—everyone.  It's not cute on everyone and it's definitely not cute all the time.  Most of the time it just looks lazy.  When I see a twenty-something shuffling down an aisle in her rumpled pjs or wandering around McDonald's at 11 a.m. looking for an egg sandwich it doesn't say “I'm cute,” it says, “I'm hungover.”  When I see a 35 year old woman dragging through a store in her pajamas with her greasy hair in a top knot the message isn't “I'm independent and my life is going somewhere” it's more like “I'm addicted to meth and this is what my life has become.”   

We all have days when we're feeling tired or just need to be a little more casual, but there is a way to do that and still look chic.  That's what lounge wear was made for.  There are a lot of cute knitted lounge wear sets out there that are comfortable, casual, and still classy.  I like FemmeLuxe's collection of lounge wear sets.  When I was searching for some weekend-at-home-clothes, this Wine Loungewear Tracksuit set really caught my eye.  The fabric is very soft, but not too thick like a sweatshirt, so I can wear it for winter and well beyond.  This outfit would be nice with some cute sneakers, but I really love how it looks with a cute pair of ballet flats and a soft updo (clean hair, please)--it is feminine and chic.  Add a great jacket like a trench coat or a faux leather bomber jacket and a nice bag and this look could even be appropriate for a morning of shopping followed by a casual brunch with friends. 

Things to look for in nice lounge wear are the fit first and foremost.  This set from FemmeLuxe isn't so form fitting that I can't breathe or that it creates an unflattering silhouette shining a spotlight on my problem areas, but it's also not so baggy that it looks sloppy, like I've given up on life.  Something that fits your frame well gives you more confidence and makes you feel better about how you look even when you're just out running errands. 

Then next thing is a great color.  I love burgundy because it is what's called a pseudo-neutral because you can pair it with just about any other color and it looks great which takes some of the work out of putting together an outfit on a day when you just want everything to be a little less stressful.  You'll notice that these bottoms have a tapered leg which I think makes for a more dressy silhouette, as opposed to something baggy, while the slightly loose neckline gives a very classic softness to the look.

The last thing to remember is to accessorize well.  The right shoes and jacket go a long way, but throw in some diamond studs and a scarf and you're chic and dressed your best even on the roughest days.

Shopping Info:  FemmeLuxe Wine Loungewear Tracksuit Set