The Very Best Women’s Loungewear

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 she wrote 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 of Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard.

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

Tank tops from the Hanes boys’ section are a favorite of Maggie Rogers, Paloma Elsesser, and several Strategist 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: $$

Designer Clare Vivier loves her Richer Poorer sweatpants so much that she actually gets 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, a matching hoodie is 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 the best white T-shirts for women and best 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 of Maggie’s Organic crew socks) with a heavyweight and plush feel that isn’t “crunchy.”

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 a cashmere sweater just as well as with a ratty T-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 beloved bras, but late in 2022, the brand launched its Any Wear collection (which is available at Nordstrom and on Amazon), 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 our bathrobe 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 from All 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 at Lululemon, according to Strategist social editor Kathy Li, who owns them in multiples. They’ve become part of her “everyday uniform,” replacing the leggings she 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, two New York staffers directed us to Suzie Kondi. Vulture writer Devon Ivie says 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: 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 writer Chloe Anello was surprised at how much they didn’t look like sleepwear, or like traditional 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 the best pajamas. They feel I’m wearing nothing — which is exactly what I want when I’m doing nothing.

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 the grandmother-chic nightgowns from Brooklyn-based general store Salter House. Café Forgot co-founder Lucy Weisner considers 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 a replica of the first nightdress that founder Sandeep Salter owned featured in our guide to the best pajamas, but I’m recommending this nightdress here since I happen to own it myself. I’ve joked before that it’s what I’d wear as an Emma extra, 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 a robe over 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 rushed hand-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 of silk pajamas, sent me this jumpsuit to try out. I tend to stay away from jumpsuits because 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 writer Dominique Pariso both 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 an underlayer when worn out, acting as “one smooth column of color that eliminates the need for distracting and uncomfortable paraphernalia like camisoles, slips, or tights.” It was Maroukian’s review that helped persuade Pariso to start compulsively shopping for unitards. The nylon-Lycra blend moves with her when she’s roller skating or doing Pilates, but since it’s sweat-wicking and antimicrobial, she doesn’t feel the need to take it off when she’s done.