Tracksuit take 2: how to liven up your loungewear

You’ve had a bikini wax and stocked up on red wine, but is your lockdown wardrobe sufficiently joy-sparking to help you survive round two?

The trick to making this winter of hibernation feel less incarceration and more celebration is to invest in some seriously vibe-enhancing sweats. 

From feather-trimmed PJs to cashmere co-ords, here are four easy ways to bring the pyjama party this winter. 

Calling all cashmere addicts. No doubt you’ve already pulled your cosiest jumpers out of storage, but have you considered the super chic snuggle of a top-to-toe look that is the cashmere jumpsuit? Hong Kong-based knitwear designer Madeleine Thompson does a beautiful button-front balloon-leg version in camel and black (£540, Netaporter.com) that looks as brilliant with Birkenstocks as it does with a strappy heel. “I'm always trying to walk the line between designing something super chic yet really comfortable and I think our lives nowadays need this more than ever,” says Thompson, who also has a fabulously extra white floor-length cashmere cape (£495, madeleine-thompson.com), for days when you need added superpowers. Those looking for something sportier meanwhile might look to French label Le Kasha’s black cashmere ‘Lima’ jumpsuit (£788, farfetch.com) which has a drawstring waist and tapered leg that’s great both tucked into knee-high boots or paired with a bomber jacket and trainers.  

The emptiness of our diaries has only exacerbated our longing for a party, and with it a desire for fashion frivolity in all its razzle dazzle extremes. While splurging cash on a feather-trim cocktail dress might feel outlandishly optimistic right now, a party-ready pair of feather-trim PJs is a sound mood-boosting investment for a winter set to be spent shimmying to the Sonos.

Super glamorous London label Gilda & Pearl do an ostrich feather-trimmed Ivory silk pyjama set (£440 for the shirt, £495 for the trousers, Harrods.com) so fabulous you’ll be cracking open the Champagne on a Tuesday, while London label Kitri do excellent leopard print PJs with a black marabou trim (£125, Kitri.com).  

Cult brand Sleeper have made waves with their feathery trimmed viscose pyjama sets, but it’s the brand’s new Weekend Chic set (£220, the-sleeper.com), a recycled polyester long sleeve top and leggings combo with detachable feather trims, that’s really upped the ante. "We wanted to create a loungewear outfit suitable for a yoga class and a party, even if it’s just a virtual Zoom party", says co-founder Katya Zubarieva. Got a bar date post-barre date? Pop on the fuzzy cuffs and you’re good to go.  

Should general ‘grammability be a deciding factor in your loungewear selection, you can’t go wrong with a knit co-ord. Cemented in the fashion hall of honours by Katie Holmes’ viral grey Khaite bra and cardi moment in 2019, a knit set is the next gen way to work granny chic – which goes some way to explaining why fashion search platform Lyst has seen searches for matching cardigan sets up 25 per cent since the start of October, with "cashmere bralette" and "knit bra" up 71 per cent collectively.

LA label LESET deals almost exclusively in the look, and has a floral cashmere crop, cardi and joggers combo (LeSet.com) that’s just gagging to be ‘grammed. "The trend was already leaning to versatility and comfort and Covid expedited those concepts,” says Lili Chemla, founder & CEO. Kitri has also launched a similarly profile pic-worthy alpaca-blend short (£49), zip collar sweater (£95) and slipper sock (£19) set inspired by seventies gym gear, and a brilliant black floral embroidered knit top, cardigan and joggers co-ord that’s founder Haeni Kim’s personal favourite: “It’s comfortable like loungewear but the floral embroidered details make it look more put together,” she says.  

Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton launched a sell-out velour range for Kim’s loungewear label SKIMs last week and, according to Lyst, searches for velour tracksuits spiked 54 per cent in its wake, with "velvet sweatpants" up 80 per cent week-on-week. Juicy Couture’s quintessentially noughties bum-bedazzled classics are evidently due a major resurgence, but if that level of 2000s nostalgia leaves you cold, try London label Serena Bute’s elegant velvet wide leg joggers (£380, Serenabute.com) and matching velvet shirts (£350, Serenabute.com), which are as comfortable as they are ‘working lunch’-friendly.  

Suzie Kondi, an exciting new loungewear label to hit Net-a-Porter, makes velour track pants and matching sweatshirts in bright hues and classic neutrals that are perfect for pubbing and park walks, while the belted lilac velvet ‘Bon Vivant Robe’ (£280, Netaporter.com) and matching wide leg velvet trousers (£169, Netaporter.com) from Australian label Sleeping with Jacques are perfect for a glamorous night in. “There really is nothing that exudes luxe hedonism like this ensemble,” says founder Jacqui Hoang. “It is our purpose in life to take our pleasure seriously and discover our joie de vivre.” Well, quite.