Critically Curated: Loungewear Sets

But, like, elevated

I like to think that newsletter content fits in a few buckets - ones that I’m trying to better determine in 2025. At a high level, I’ve tried to provide a mix of my personal updates (style and otherwise), longer-form Taylor-centric essays, and shoppable moodboards. Today, it’s the third one. But I’d really love to hear about the content that you look forward to most. It’s super helpful!

In the literal sense, the month of January is 31 days.

In the metaphysical sense, the month of January is actually 9 years.

I have a theory that there are two types of January people in the world. The first camp subscribes to the idea that January is made for fresh beginnings. Turning over a new leaf. Making plans to take on new habits. A time for goal setting and reevaluating and action plans.

Then there are those in the second camp who are exhausted from the social, financial, and emotional marathon of the holidays and view January as a time to collapse with one pinky on the other side of the finish line and who will circle back to leaf turning come February.

*raises arm from position on the floor*

As I work to hone in better on my style in 2025 (more on that later, see above re: February), a part of that is dressing and buying clothes for the reality I live in and the preferences I have. I currently have a hybrid work schedule, spending three at an office and two days at home. Speaking to the latter, I have never been capable of spending all day in pajamas. Not even on weekends and certainly not on workdays. I’m also the type of person who thinks jeans are comfortable and would happily wear them and other “hard pants” in circumstances some might find crazy (planes, long car rides, at home).

In 2025, I’m working on refining the style uniforms I need for each of my ongoing functions. Typically, my WFH go-to outfit is a knit and the most worn-in pair of jeans I have. While I’ll never write this combination off, it also doesn’t necessarily make me feel the most “chic” and put together. Which is how I came to discover the highly niche category of: the elevated loungewear set.

These occupy a strange, diaphanous overlap in the “soft” clothes category. They are more than the sum of what those other comfy clothes can offer. More daytime than pajamas. More polished than sweatpants. More snuggly than leggings. They are their own thing! A thing of chic-ness! I think it has to do with the daytime fabrication and silhouette. A pajama set might comprise a long sleeve tee and pants in a brushed cotton. The ideal loungewear set, in my mind, is made from a more luxe material like cashmere or a knit and might borrow daytime clothing details like a turtleneck or a pleated front to give them a more-clothing-less-PJ vibe. Despite retaining all the stretch, comfort, and coziness of something you could theoretically nap in.

Is this bougie and needlessly elaborate? Sure. But I know myself and I know that the power of the matching set is, well, unmatched. It’s why most of my sports bras and leggings are years and years old and I still love getting dressed for my workouts 4 days/week. I’ve built an “athletic capsule collection” of coordinating tops and bottoms (that I could, in theory, mismatch if I so chose) in colours that I love and feel confident in that fit the function and fabrication my workouts demand. I want to take this same utilitarian approach to my work from home capsule collection. Items that just do the work that I need them to.

And with that …

So cozy. So chic. So cashmere. Ahhhh.

Grey Crew / Pants: A crew is a classic cut and I really like this mid-tone shade of grey.

Taupe Hoodie / Pants: With the hoodie aspect I like that this also becomes something you can probably layer over thinner tees or thermals with jeans or, yes, leggings for errands.

Oatmeal Turtleneck / Pants: See what I mean about “daytime” silhouettes? You’d never find a pajama turtleneck which is what firmly puts this in the “lounge” category. This set also comes in a beautiful mocha brown!

Black Ribbed Collared Button Up / Pants: A ribbed, collared polo that’s also cozy? Alexa play “Best Of Both Worlds”

Camel V Neck / Pants: The top on this one looks like it runs a *tad* more oversized and slouchy than I’d prefer. I think the way to master sets like this is to make sure they’re cut in an elegant way to really push them into elevated loungewear. But! This is a really classic shade of brown.

Chocolate V Neck | Pleated Pants: The pleat on the pants really makes it, imo.