IT WAS quite a welcome revelation at 8am this morning, when a last minute appointment with the store manager at my local Homebase popped up.
With just 20 minutes to hot foot it over to the DIY store, I felt incredibly smug that I didn’t need to get dressed.
Opting for comfy outfits, Erica can hop out of bed and get on with her day immediately[/caption]
A third of adults pop to the shop in their PJs and there’s been growing sightings on both catwalk and the red carpet of pyjamas as outer-wear with everyone from Selena Gomez to Chrissy Teigan opting for both style and comfort.
But I arguably am one step ahead of the trend as I am not stepping out in pyjamas, but skipping them all together and getting dressed the night before.
My wardrobe is so geared to comfort and loungewear that it’s quite common I can now leave home for early appointments or a pint of milk in the outfit I slept in.
Today, I was ready to go in a Majestic Filature black cashmere vest and Loop Cashmere sweater and pants.
Tomorrow night I’ll dress for the next day in my khaki velour lounge suit from John Lewis ready to spring out of bed and straight out of the door at a moment’s notice.
I love popping to the shops in my loungewear I wore to sleep in the night before – just throw on my trench and pumps and go.
I don’t need to worry about getting dressed ‘properly’ till 1pm, after making lunch.
For those wishing to follow in my very casual footsteps I suggest loungewear or slouchy
trousers without buttons, jerseys and loose cotton T-shirts or cashmere vests for added comfort in bed.
It’s low-key and lo-fi – much of my ‘daybed wardrobe’ is sourced pre-loved from my local charity shop, too.
Before I discovered that velour loungewear and luxury cashmeres are also so comfy in bed, I once wore my actual striped pyjamas to M&S on a shop.
Never again – I felt naked, exposed and vulnerable.
I could literally feel the cool breeze outside snapping at my bum cheeks as the fabric was so flimsy.
The only real drawback to my daybed wardrobe is simply that I love the feel of the fabrics too much and my partner really needs to remind me to change after a day.
Pyjama dressing has long been a favourite of celebs such as Chrissy Teigan[/caption]
It is also prevalant on the street style scene[/caption]
Erica says that she has been in her same outfit for days at a time[/caption]
But according to designers, it is not just me who is longing to bridge the gap between night and day.
John Lewis design lead, Mark Finerty tells me it can be a seasonal look too – especially suitable for these cooler evenings: “Autumn is a great season to invest in some loungewear staples.
“As the weather gets cooler, we want to wrap up warm and choose pieces that look great worn inside or outside of the home.
“For example, silk pyjama sets that can be dressed up and worn out or velour loungewear sets that you can slip on some trainers with and pop to the shops wearing.” said the fashion designer.”
How to work a ‘daybed’ wrobe
Megan Watkins, Head Stylist at online fashion destination, SilkFred, speaking exclusively to Fabulous agrees that today’s versatility has aided the blurring of day-to night wear.
Speaking to Fabulous she says: “Style today is all about versatility—day-to-night wear blurs the line between casual and chic, allowing you to transition effortlessly from a morning meeting to an evening out. It’s not just about what you wear, but how you wear it.”
“The rise in day-to-night-to-day wear over the past few years reflects changes in both lifestyle and fashion priorities. After the pandemic, lots of us were keen to shed the tracksuits and start building interesting outfits again.”
“Plus, the shift towards flexible work environments and hybrid workspaces can lead to more unpredictable schedules and a more dynamic social scene means that what you wear has to be versatile and adaptable to a variety of occasions. The desire for fewer, high-quality items that blend function and style has driven the popularity of day-to-night wear.”
Megan’s top tips…
Blazer -A tailored blazer instantly elevates any look, from slouchy trousers and a tee during the day to a dress or tailored trousers at night.
Little Black Dress (LBD) –A classic cotton LBD can be styled casually with flats and a cardigan for daytime, then dressed up with heels and statement jewellery for a night out and worn for comfort for a restful slumber.
White cotton T-shirt – White cotton offers a crisp look for daywear and a comfortable staple teamed with pyjama bottoms for bedtime.
Silk Camisole – A sleek cami works under a blazer or cardigan during the day and shines on its own for occasions such as date night or work drinks.It also works with pyjama bottoms for bedtime.
Birkenstock sandals– these timeless slip-ons in enduring suede and leathers can be worn with summer dresses in the day and over socks in your living space as comfortable slippers
Statement Jewellery – give your casual loungewear a glow-up with dazzling necklaces and statement earrings.
I’m a person with a serious mental illness called Schizo-Affectiver Disorder and psychosis and according to Liz Ritchie, a psychotherapist from St Andrew’s hospital in Northampton is employed to help patients like me, comfort is key.
She tells me: “I think comfort is really important and it’s so important to be able to relax in our clothes and say this is me.
“Comfortable clothes help patients shut the world out and return to their selves.
“With loungewear we invest in a time where we’re not caught up in the cycle of life – we can be who we want to be, and accept ourselves as we are – which is very positive for us.”
Erica says her convenient way of dressing means she is never late to anything[/caption]
Writer Erica will simply throw a coat on and she’s ready for her day[/caption]
