The Very Best Women’s Loungewear

Whatwe’relookingfor

Best loungewear set overall

Best (less-expensive) loungewear set

Sizes:S–3XL (men’s) |Fabric:Cotton and polyester |Design:Quarter zip, back patch, ribbed cuffs |Price:$

Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo is a sweatshirt collector, but this Comfort Colors quarter-zip is the one shewrote an ode to. “From the moment I pulled it on, I had my new favorite sweatshirt,” she says. Corsillo compares the pajama-soft sweatshirt to one you’d steal from a college boyfriend, though it’s substantial enough for when the temperature drops, too. Which makes sense when you consider that the brand was started by Barry Chouinard, cousin ofPatagoniafounder Yvon Chouinard.

Sizes:XXS–XXL |Fabric:Cotton, modal, spandex |Design:Scoopneck, sleeveless, tank straps |Price:$

Tank topsfrom the Hanes boys’ section are a favorite of Maggie Rogers,Paloma Elsesser, and severalStrategist staffers. But I happen to think Gap’s are much, much better. I own multiples of this version. It has thick-enough-to-hide-a-bra-strap straps and a scoopneck that sits neither too low nor too high on the chest. But it’s really about the fit for me — I’m not one for things that are too tight and cropped — and the tank is fitted without making me feel sucked in and longer, hitting right at the top of my hips. It has just enough stretchiness, and is infinitely layerable, acting as a non-fussy base. The tank itself is made from a supersoft cotton-modal blend, and it hasn’t shrunk in the dryer.

Sizes:XS–XL |Fabric:Cotton and recycled polyester |Design:Encased elastic waist, side-seam pockets |Price:$$

DesignerClare Vivierloves her Richer Poorer sweatpants so much that she actuallygets excited to wear them. The fleece pants have an ideal not-too-thick, not-too-thin weight, along with an elastic waistband and ankles that add to their overall comfort. And for practicality’s sake, the deep side-seam pockets keep her phone firmly in place. (If you want a complete set, amatching hoodieis also available.)

Sizes:2XS–2XL (unisex) |Fabric:Cotton |Design:Drawcord waist, side pockets, elastic cuff at ankle, no outer side seam |Price:$$

Strategist writer Erin Schwartz recommends basics maker Everybody World — which has repeatedly appeared in our archives, including in our guides to thebest white T-shirts for womenandbest black T-shirts for men. Schwartz thinks of these as more formal sweats, to be worn on vacation or when they’re having “a more luxurious weekend,” as they feel simultaneously “chic and comfy.” Schwartz has especially high praise for the cotton the company uses, which they say is in the “elite tier of organic cotton” (and comparable to that ofMaggie’s Organic crew socks) with a heavyweight and plush feel that isn’t “crunchy.”

Sizes:S–3X (men’s) |Fabric:Cotton, polyester |Design:Covered elastic waistband with drawcord, elastic cuffs |Price:$

Strangers stop Strategist contributorStephanie LaCavato ask about these logoless, old-school-style sweatpants that look like ’70s dead stock. The reality is that these are the standard-issue, half-cotton, half-polyester trousers you’ve probably seen on “your elderly neighbor out for a jog, terrycloth towel around his neck.” LaCava cites the gathered ankle as part of their appeal, given that you can push the stretchy cuff up and down to create different silhouettes, like a pirate-style peg leg. Though, she suggests, the most fun is to wear them with lace-up heels to a cocktail party: “Take them out of their expected context and be discomfited by the glares.”

Sizes:XS–3X, with petite options |Fabric:Cotton and spandex |Design:Pull-on waistband, side and back patch pockets, scalloped hem |Price:$

I’ve been on the hunt for above-the-ankle, hits-around-mid-calf sweatpants for a long time. As a petite person, it’s an oddly challenging request; I’m around five-two-ish, and joggers usually pool at the bottom on me, while even styles marketed as “cropped” tend to go well past my ankles. I stumbled onto this pair in L.L. Bean’s sale section (and they’re still marked down to the price I paid for them). They’re as close to perfect as I’ll get. The sweats actually hit cleanly above my ankles, with a slim cut that doesn’t go into culotte territory. (The petite inseam is 21 inches compared to the regular’s 23 inches — I bought the former.) But what I like most is how versatile they are — the bottoms go with acashmere sweaterjust as well as with a rattyT-shirt. The cotton they’re made from has that traditional and sometimes hard-to-find thickness that you can toss in the dryer and have it come out unscathed. Plus I now own them in every color they’re sold in (charcoal, navy, black, and gray).

Sizes:XS–XL|Fabric:Modal, cotton, and elastane |Design:Wide waistband, wide-leg |Price:$$

True & Co. is best known for their belovedbras, but late in 2022, the brand launched its Any Wear collection (which is available atNordstromand onAmazon), and when they asked me if I wanted to try out a couple of pieces I happily agreed. Its All Day Robe is already a favorite of mine — I included it in ourbathrobe guide— and these pants feature the same ultrasoft modal, cotton, and elastane blend that I’ve really come around to. They feel substantial, without being heavy. Funnily enough, they remind me of the yoga pants of my youth with the cumberbundlike waist and legs that flare out only slightly. But the pair is decidedly more modern — with a butt-flattering fit and less swishy legs.

Sizes:XS–4X |Fabric:Polyester and spandex |Design:Elastic waistband, zippered and cargo pockets, four-way stretch |Price:$

These joggers fromAll in Motion, Target’s in-house athleisure line, are sportier than the ones from Everybody World — with cargo pockets, four-way stretch, and a drawstring. The pants are meant for being on the move, and are even a supposed dupe for ones atLululemon, according to Strategist social editor Kathy Li, who owns them in multiples. They’ve become part of her “everyday uniform,” replacing theleggingsshe used to live in: “They’re just so much more comfortable while giving me the exact same range of motion.” And when she doesn’t feel like walking around in pajamas all day, these are what she reaches for. Li also notes that while the joggers are on the baggier side, you might want to size up to get the right looseness.

Sizes:XS–XL |Fabric:Cotton and polyester |Design:Drawstring waist, harem-style shape |Price:$$$

For an updated take on the Juicy Couture track pants, twoNew Yorkstaffers directed us to Suzie Kondi. Vulture writerDevon Iviesays these “very groovy, very flowy” velour sweats are her favorite for when she wants to “pretend my apartment is CBGB and dance around to Talking Heads ’77.”Emilia Petrarca, senior fashion writer at the Cut, also approves of the label’s velour loungewear, describing them as her “fancy sweatpants.” Petrarca told us that she debuted a now-sold-out red pair at a holiday soirée she threw — and has since gone on to wear them while hosting several dinner parties.

Sizes:XS–XL |Fabric:Cotton and polyester jersey |Design:Elastic, roll-down waistband, V-notch leg opening |Price:$

Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens’s stint as a cheerleader introduced her to Soffe shorts, which “signaled ‘cool-girl’ far more than thetwo-tone Umbros”she used to wear to practice. These are probably too light to wear anywhere that might involve a subway trip, but are ideal for staying in when even denim cutoffs are too much, Kitchens says. But if youdowant to take them out, she calls them an acceptable dupe forPatagonia Baggies. Just remember to leave them unrolled, she suggests, for a look that’s moreDazed and Confused, less early-aughts.

Sizes:XXS–3X |Fabric:Cotton |Design: High waist, pockets, logo waistband |Price:$

And if you’d like a short that’s even lighter, consider these J.Crew boxers. Though they’re technically pajamas, former Strategist writerChloe Anellowas surprised at how much they didn’t look like sleepwear, or liketraditional men’s underwear, as these have pockets and no front opening. (One of her neighbors was incredulous when she explained that these were boxers until she showed them the waistband.) “While they may not look like them, the shorts are exactly what you want from a boxer,” she says, adding that these swing out from her hips to keep her legs cool and don’t grasp at her waist if she sweats. Though they’re a touch see-through, that hasn’t stopped her from buying them in bulk. I’ve also previously sung the praises of these shorts in our roundup of thebest pajamas. They feel I’m wearing nothing — which is exactly what I want when I’m doing nothing.

Sizes:S–XL (men’s) |Fabric:Cotton and polyester |Design:Tagless, logo waistband, boxer-brief style |Price:$

A couple of other panelists named men’s boxers and boxer-briefs as go-tos for wearing around the house, with Hanes mentioned twice. Abrão recommends the Comfort Soft shorts in particular, as their slightly high waist and mid-thigh hem makes them “likebiker shortswithout the tightness.” She notes that because of the “enormous amount of room in the crotch area,” wedgies are not a problem, calling them an “in-between from being in yourunderwearand being in real shorts.” Jenni Lee, founder of luxury-sock brandComme Si, is another Hanes devotee. She opts for the now sold-outfull-cut boxers, which are similarly tagless, made from cotton, and come in a pack of four. For video conferences when she’s in “business up top, comfortable on bottom” mode, she’ll wear them with abutton-downshirt.

Sizes:One size (fits sizes 2–12) |Fabric:Cotton |Design:Square neckline, bell-shaped sleeves, embroidery, button placket |Price:$$

If floating around the house in a nightgown is more your taste, turn to thegrandmother-chicnightgownsfrom Brooklyn-based general store Salter House.Café Forgotco-founderLucy Weisnerconsiders the brand a favorite for its “Victorian, Picnic at Hanging Rock” vibe, comparing its soft, semi-sheer cotton to that of 19th-century undergarments.Lauren Mechling, a writer and the creator of@thecloglife, previously described Salter House’s aesthetic as “very sleepy Portuguese aristocrat.” There’s areplicaof the first nightdress that founder Sandeep Salter owned featured in our guide to thebest pajamas, but I’m recommending this nightdress here since I happen to own it myself. I’ve jokedbeforethat it’s what I’d wear as anEmmaextra, but it really does make me feel dressed up on days when I’m mostly relaxing at home. It’s really refreshing to wear, especially during sun-dappled afternoon naps in the summer. (You can layer a sweatshirt over it in the winter.) The cotton is definitely gauzy — I’d have to put arobeover it to pick up my mail — but I don’t mind that much for lazing around. And the delicate embroidery, which includes a little boy holding a lamb and a plum tree branch, hasn’t lost one thread, even after a couple of rushedhand-washes.

Sizes:XS–XL |Fabric:Modal and spandex |Design:Drawstring waistband, side pockets,keyhole back cutout |Price:$

Quince, makers of one of our favorite pairs ofsilk pajamas, sent me this jumpsuit to try out. I tend to stay away fromjumpsuitsbecause they never seem to hit me where they’re supposed to, especially lengthwise and at the waist. Though this one reaches my ankles (so it isn’t as cropped as seen on the model), its proportions feel intentional — the jumpsuit fits everywhere else just right. I can adjust the waistband a little higher or lower, if I’m trying to look more laidback and looser, and then tie it in place. The modal-and-spandex fabric blend means it’s breathable and stretchy. But it’s definitely a sleeker — a word I usually don’t associate with loungewear — one piece. I can wear it outside the house and no one would bat an eye.

Sizes:4XS–4XL (or 00–40) |Fabric:Nylon and Lycra |Design:Contoured waistband, adjustable straps |Price:$$

Strategist contributor Francine Maroukian and writerDominique Parisoboth approve of this Universal Standard unitard. Maroukian describes it as “simultaneously utilitarian and luxurious,” with never-slip straps and an upper-rib-cage seam that supports the chest. The fabric hugs the body in a way that’s still liberating. She adds, “If I didn’t appreciate it so much, I might actually forget it was there.” It’s probably best as anunderlayerwhen worn out, acting as “one smooth column of color that eliminates the need for distracting and uncomfortable paraphernalia like camisoles, slips, or tights.” It wasMaroukian’s reviewthat helped persuade Pariso to startcompulsively shopping for unitards. The nylon-Lycra blend moves with her when she’sroller skatingor doing Pilates, but since it’s sweat-wicking and antimicrobial, she doesn’t feel the need to take it off when she’s done.

Sizes:XS–3X |Fabric:Turkish cotton |Design:Gauze-y texture, waist tie, hidden side pockets |Price:$$$

Sometimes when you’re home, only a robe will do. And the Cloud Cotton Robe from Parachute is one of thebest house robeswe’ve found. It has a pleasant hotel-room effect, says Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler’s articles director and co-host of the podcastWomen Who Travel. Since it doesn’t look like the standard terrybathrobe, Arikoglu says she doesn’t “feel particularly ashamed if I’m still wearing it at, say, 3 p.m. on a Tuesday.” It’s light enough to wear when temperatures are higher, or to layer when it’s colder. Josie Maran, founder of an eponymousskin-care line,describesthe supersoft texture as “luxurious,” living “up to the ‘cloud’ in its name.” Her routine involves showering, slathering on body butter, and then wrapping herself in the robe while doing her skin-care steps.

[Editors’ note: Some sizes are sold out, but you can sign up to be notified when yours is back in stock.]

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