Lounging around in style
In today’s times, baggy clothes are staples to have around to relax in, but loungewear has gone through many stages and styles to look the way it does. Different decades brought about various silhouettes and types of comfortable clothing, so here’s how certain time periods dressed down for staying home.
1920s - silk pants
Many trends in this decade were inspired by East Asian clothing, and silk pants were no exception. These bottoms flared out dramatically, ending at the ankle, and women usually wore them in solid colors. Although the trousers were initially popular among celebrities to either perform or sit around in, they eventually became a go-to look for most people in the latter part of the 1920s. Some paired silk pants with a tunic while others opted to wear them with velvet jackets that mimicked men’s smoking jackets. Similar to most clothing in the ‘20s, these pants were made to be styled in a shapeless and loose-fitting manner. Along with wearing them at home, they even became popular to wear on vacations to the beach.
1940s - robes
Fashion experimentation started to become popular in the 1940s, and loungewear was considered the perfect clothing category to take risks in. Many women wore robes that cinched at the waist to emphasize their femininity, and the majority of them had zippers or wrap-arounds to make the garments appear as if one was wearing a dress. These came in a variety of prints, from polka dots to florals and lengths, with some coming down to the ankle, others draped over the knee. While robes were considered appropriate if a woman had guests over, lounging slacks, which were flowy pants made from a heavier material than regular pajamas, were popular for solitary leisure, and were often paired with a blouse, robe, or tunic.
1980s- sweatpants
Robes and lightweight slacks remained popular pieces of loungewear throughout the next few decades, but in the 1980s there was a new leisure trend popular amongst both men and women: sweatpants. Previously, sweats were most mostly worn to work out in, but sportswear eventually became much more common to relax in the 80s. The bottoms were made from parachute fabric since this material retained heat well and was breathable and featured bold colors in striped patterns.
2020s- bike shorts
The athleisure trend of the ‘80s carried into the next few decades, which can be seen in the rising popularity of cycling shorts. These fitted bottoms come in a variety of colors and lengths and are often worn with baggier tops, such as an oversized crew neck or a graphic tee. Alternatively, some have been styling bike shorts a bit more unconventionally with a cropped shirt and a blazer, which dresses up an otherwise casual piece of clothing. However, if bike shorts seem too intimidating to wear on their own, wearing them under dresses or skirts is still a great option to relax around the house in.
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