5 Ways To Get Dressed Up While Still Feeling Like You’re Living In Your Sweats
It can be done.
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by The Candidly Team
We love the idea of getting dressed up to go out. LOOOVE it.
But the keyword here is “idea.”
Because when it comes to actually getting dressed up - with all the trying on and sucking in and matching this and wanting to burn that - we tire very easily. Two outfits in and a part of us just wants to crawl back into our coziest joggers and retire to the deepest corner of our sectional.
Sure, when we were 22, we would have fastened ourselves into a caged corset and pelvic-bone bearing skinny jeans if we thought it would make us look good (Ok, maybe we did do that, but Moulin Rouge had just come out and whatever - give us a break). But if the years have taught us anything it’s that we don’t have to sacrifice comfort for style. And listen, we really mean it.
In fact, there are five outfits in our closet at this very moment that are practically athleisure in terms of comfort, but we wear each of them out out ALL the time. To dinners. Drinks. Date nights. We feel our best in every single one. But we also look our best. The dream!
You ready to take a peek into the going-out wardrobe of a lounge-loving lazy gal? Come on in. The water’s warm - a bubble bath practically.
1. The House Dress And Jean Jacket Look
The Maxi Dress That Feels Like Buttery Leggings
Skims Soft Lounge Long Slip Dress*
About 72% of our closet is “house clothes” at this point, so the thrill of a softer-than-heaven “lounge dress” that fits like a smoothing couture gown hit us square in the heart. So much so that we wrote a whole homage to this dress. The fit is so flattering - holding us in like literal shapewear, so we don’t feel self-conscious that it’s fitted. However, we do pair it with a jean jacket for a little balance and extra coverage/ 90s cool factor.
Price: $80
The Spacious Jean Jacket
J.Crew New Classic Denim Jacket In Bianca Wash*
Both the shape and the length of this jacket are perfection. It looks incredible over a long, slinky dress, balancing out bigger hips and nipping the waist. Plus, it isn’t stiff like most denim jackets and has enough space for us to move our arms.
Price: $59.50
The Platform Slippers You Can Wear Into Town
A long dress means we can get away with what is essentially a big, luxurious slipper and still look chic. Also, have you ever gotten this much height without having to suffer the torture of a heel? Never. It is wildly worth it.
Price: $171
2. The Gloriously Stretchy Suit Look
The Stretchiest Suit Pants That Still Look Proper And Tailored
Z Supply Do It All Flare Pant*
No “going out outfit” is as commanding or as classic as a tuxedo look. But these chic little pants have actual stretch and get this, an elastic waist, so we don’t feel at all like we’re in a suit. More like a lounge set. The shape is so good on curves. Like we had them tailored just for us.
Price: $79
* Gifted
The Breathable Ballet Flats That Weigh Nothing
Vivaia Melia Pointed-Toe D’Orsay Flats*
We’re convinced a Vivaia flat is what Audrey Hepburn would wear in 2024. It’s flexible and breathable and yet, so pretty and graceful and elegant that we gasp every time a new color or style comes out. Right now, we’re wild about this leopard print, which elevates any all-black look. But every solid color it comes in is equally to die for.
Price: $159
3. The Luxely Accessorized Leggings Look
The Coat That Immediately Makes Your Outfit "Quiet Luxury"
Aritzia Wilfred The Only Coat*
Yes, you can wear literal leggings and a sweatshirt and UGGs and just toss on this coat on your way out the door and suddenly, you’re an icon in terms of street style. The tan sells out often, but we have one we love just as much HERE*.
Price: $350
The Chic, Striped Sweatshirt
Amazon Essentials Women's French Terry Fleece Sleeve Detail Crewneck Sweatshirt*
Stripes make everything 17x chicer. That’s just how they work. But add this sleeve and you have yourself a sweatshirt that looks like you spent 10x more than you did on it. Fun, no?
Price: $19
The Best Leggings On This Planet Period
Beyond Yoga Spacedye Caught In The Midi High Waisted Legging*
Some of you won’t be sold on the notion that your best, butteriest leggings can translate into dress-up clothes, but trust the process, because these leggings aren’t thin and flimsy or pilling and distressed after 2 wears. They melt over bumps and smooth everything, sort of like an excellent suede legging substitute.
Price: $97
The Platform UGGs
UGG Classic Ultra Mini Platform*
All the coziness of your traditional UGGs but with butt-lifting, leg-lengthening height. Wheeee!
Price: $170
The Petite Bag That Makes Anything Look Fancy
Again, all we have to do is strategically accessorize loungewear with wildly chic accents, and poof, we’re transformed. This is the best accessory of them all. The petite bag that comes in so many lustworthy colors and patterns, we add one to our Pinterest on a monthly basis.
Price: $385
4. The Stretchy Column Dress
The Knockout Dress That Holds You In
Cara Cara Mesa Striped Strapless Midi-Dress*
As you can see from the above photo, this is one of those standalone dresses that’s maaaade for a date night. However, what makes a stretchy column dress like this so magical is the fact that that it holds us in in all the right places, hoisting and smoothing and flattering all our curves. And because of all this support, we feel completely comfortable in it.
Price: $595
The Supportive Platform
We tend to distrust anyone who tells us they’re comfortable in heels, but by god, if these platforms aren’t deeply supportive and walkable and stunning all at the same time.
Use the code CANDIDLY15 to get 15% off.
Price: $229
* Gifted
The Jean Jacket
Gap Pin-Cuff Crop Icon Denim Jacket*
She also wore it with THIS* jean jacket, one of life’s laziest hacks for looking cool while feeling comfy:
Price: $59
The Accessories That Make All The Difference
The Essential Curve Medium Shoulder Bag and Gia Anklet*
In this case, the dress is special in and of itself, but we can pretty much get away with wearing a sack if we have the right accessories. We have to mention these two unique statement pieces which instantly elevate a look: THIS* fringe bag and THIS* chunky ankle bangle.
Price: $198 for the bag,
* Gifted
5. The Slip Skirt And Button-Down Look
The Elastic Waist Skirt You Could Sleep In
Quince 100% Washable Silk Maxi Skirt*
We cannot lie. We were originally inspired by THIS iconic look from Sharon Stone at the '98 Oscars. But then we realized that a slip skirt and button-down are basically pajamas in terms of how they feel, and it became our go-to event uniform. The elastic waist and maxi length makes it a winner in our ongoing slip-skirt competition. Not to mention it’s washable silk for a fairly bananas price.
Price: $80
* Gifted
The Oversized Button Down
Anthropologie The Bennet Buttondown Shirt by Maeve*
We write often about THIS button-down. The way it drops off the shoulder is so flattering and effortless. And it’s crazy comfy with tons of room for rolling up the sleeves and tying any which way. It’s a staple in our closet in general but the perfect way to balance this exact look.
Price: $98
The Deeply Supportive Clog Heels
We’ve been writing about how comfortable and supportive these shoes are since WAY before they went madly on sale. So if you’ve been looking for height without foot pain, now is the time to pounce.
Use the code CANDIDLY20 for 20% off.
Price: $20
* Gifted
The Cashmere Cardi To Toss Over Your Shoulders
Quince Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan Sweater*
A luxury cashmere cardigan is one of like 8 things we think a woman should actually splurge on: 1) because it feels like heaven and 2) because it makes everything else we wear look like we spent more money on it. And since this one is a third of the price of a certain other famous cashmere cardi, yet almost identical, we bought it in two colors. Cream is one of them.
Price: $150
* Gifted
6. The Cozy Cashmere Cardi Look
The Magically Flattering Pants That Feel Like Joggers
Anthropologie The Colette Cropped Wide-Leg Pants by Maeve*
Before we get into these pants as part of an outfit, let it be said that if you want the most comfortable and flattering going out, going to work, going to grocery shop on the weekend pants, THESE are them. They’re made of the most melting material known to man. They feel incredible on every curve we have, and we literally don’t shut up about them. Alright, rant over. Point is, they’re the best pants to dress up. Which we do with…
Price: $120
The Cocooning Cashmere Cardi
Quince Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan Sweater*
Yes, this is the same divine cardi from above in a different, perfect color. But how brilliant is it to wear it as a top and tuck it? We actually use THIS belt-like contraption, which makes it so you don’t have to stuff the bottom of the sweater into your pants, and you always have the perfect tuck. It’s honestly life-changing.
Price: $150
* Gifted
The Most Comfortable Heeled Sandal Known To Man
Nisolo Stella Go-To Block Heel Sandal*
Finally, we dress things up with a heel. Hopefully, we’ve established by now in showing you two pairs of UGGs that we are not the sort of people who would recommend a heel unless it’s incredibly comfortable. This is the heeled sandal of our dreams in terms of support and ease and feeling like we can walk 24 blocks.
Price: $170
* Gifted
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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