Business Lounge Is Your Fancy Pajama-esque Winter Aesthetic

When you work from home, you get used to people and articles telling you to still dress as if you were in a more traditional office setting. For some people, that might help with productivity; but for others, like myself, it’s perfectly easy to be productive and cozy at the same time. (I do try to avoid working in my actual pajamas, because I have to draw the line somewhere.)

Over time, I have cultivated a look just one notch more formal than pajamas — cozy loungewear that’s comfortable, but still makes me feel like I put an effort into getting dressed for the day. You’ve heard of “business casual”; now I introduce to you, “business lounge.”

Slippers

  1. Print Slippers 2. Slipper Boots 3. Loafer Slippers 4. Eyelash Slippers

Comfort starts with the feet. If you have a drafty home, get some slippers! I swear I’m more productive when my feet are cozy. I tend to prefer slippers with a little more support to them, like the loafer-style ones.

Also, these are on the expensive side but worth looking into if you have perpetually cold feet: wool boots. They’re warm and durable enough for outside, and you can throw them in the washing machine! I’m obsessed.

Sweatpants-Adjacent Bottoms

  1. Pearl Sweatpants 2. Joggers 3. Cuffed Lounge Pants 4. Quilted Pants

If you haven’t gotten yourself a pair of joggers yet, you’re missing out on some of the comfiest pants out there. Here are some casual options that are basically sweatpants, but fashion.

Leggings

  1. Knit Leggings 2. Mesh Insert Leggings 3. Adidas Striped Leggings 4. Metallic Contrast Stripe Legging

Even leggings don’t have to look like pajamas with the right style and pattern.

Turtlenecks & Mocknecks

  1. Basic 2. Ribbed 3. Tunic 4. Fleece 5. Cashmere 6. Super Soft

I love turtlenecks and mocknecks more than any other kind of winter clothing. It’s like having a sweater and a scarf all in one!

Very Velour

  1. Velour Joggers 2. Velvet Bomber 3. Velvet Wide-Legged Jumpsuit 4. Velour Track Jacket 5. Velour Hoodie 6. Velour Pullover

Velour and velvet: just as comfy as fleece, but a little more fun.

Cardigans

  1. Chunky Knit Cardigan 2. Cardigan with Faux Fur Pockets 3. Mix Knit Cardigan 4. Sweater-Coat

Listen, maybe there’s a day when you don’t really want to change out of your pajama top, and I’m here to tell you that’s okay. It happens to me sometimes, too! Just throw a cardigan on it, and suddenly you’re looking fresh.

Wearable Blankets

  1. Argyle Blanket Cardigan 2. Striped Cardigan 3. Slouchy Cardigan 4. Collage Cardigan

These are also cardigans, only cardigans that look and feel like your most snuggly throw blanket. They’re basically blankets that you can wear, but much more stylish than a regular old Slanket.

Enjoy being cozy!

Via NBC

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Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya

Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya is the managing editor of Autostraddle and a lesbian writer of essays, short stories, and pop culture criticism living in Orlando. She is the assistant managing editor of TriQuarterly, and her short stories appear or are forthcoming in McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Joyland, Catapult, The Offing, and more. Some of her pop culture writing can be found at The A.V. Club, Vulture, The Cut, and others. You can follow her on Twitter or Instagram and learn more about her work on her website.

Kayla has written 885 articles for us.

7 Comments

  1. This article is extremely relevant to my interests! Btw, the wool boot link is broken and i would really like to look into this phenomenon

  2. Thank you! I often tell people “if I can be in bed right now, I’ll do anything to feel like I am”. Wearable blankets have made many hard days better

  3. Yes! As a freelancer, my everyday work aesthetic is “comfy enough to curl up in bed, stylish enough to receive guests or run an errand without embarrassment”. Some of these looks are a little too pyjama-adjacent for the latter in my culture, but I’m soooo here for the concept.

  5. I’m at a fun point in my life were my body may go all puffy and my hands nearly useless at random with no real warning, but I still need to look respectable and competent instead of slob in ill fitting gym clothes.

    My respectable easy to be one wardrobe for winter is the most vulnerable point at the moment so uh thanks for this. <3

  6. Popping by to say my new style is lounge-of-center after reading this brilliant article

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