Staying Inside And Wearing Pyjamas Is All Fashion Wants For You Right Now (Which Is Just As Well)

At this time of year, the promise of spring usually lends a healthy dose of optimism to the air around us. The weather's getting warmer, days are getting longer and our wardrobes are usually becoming more interesting (goodbye, oversized jumper that I've been wearing every day for four months). But these are strange times, in which we're all living with daily anxiety regarding coronavirus and what this will mean for us all. This seems like a great opportunity, therefore, to revisit fashion's recent penchant for JOMO dressing, as coined by Grazia before Christmas in relation to the new breed of clothes built for staying in.

While many of us now don't have a choice of whether to stay inside or not, it seems like the perfect opportunity to make this something to celebrate rather than wallow in, lest we all fall into despair and end up struggling with the mental and emotional implications of self-isolation. So, with that in mind, here's why staying in doesn't have to be a bad thing., as explained by Laura Antonia Jordan...

The allure of staying in has become irresistibly tantalising, thanks to the unstoppable ascent of app culture (peak convenience) and the cultural flex of streaming services. Why would you tolerate tedious small talk during a night out when you could be at home watching The Morning Show on Apple TV+? Why risk navigating the night bus when you could drift off with an Urban Massage in your bedroom? Why waste time queuing at an overcrowded, overpriced bar when you could have Pasta Evangelists’ fresh truffle butter ravioli delivered not just to your door, but through your letterbox? There has never been a better time to lean in to the Joy Of Missing Out.

But where we’re really feeling the JOMO right now is in our wardrobes. Clothes worth staying in for are fighting for top billing thanks to a wave of lines built on the idea of lazy luxury. ‘Every summer I long for winter and the promise of months of being able to say no to plans,’ says former fashion editor Charlotte Lewis. ‘I’m really not sure any new restaurant can top a night of binge-watching TV or reading a book on my sofa with a candle burning, drinking wine and wearing cashmere.’ Indeed, she’s so dedicated to the cashmere cause that she founded her own brand, Ven, last year. If indeed you are in self-isolation, the Ven tracksuit (and matching socks) are so deliciously cosy you might actually get a case of FOGO (Fear Of Going Out).

The key to nailing JOMO dressing is the idea of loungewear that sparks joy: you want slouchy and snuggly, not sloppy and stained. We might all have to stay in but we're doing it in style. Rosetta Getty is one of several designers leading the movement. ‘Comfort and luxury have played a key role in my design process since I launched my brand five years ago,’ she says of her eponymous line, which includes sheepskin slides, hooded cashmere capes and cashmere pullovers, or essentially, as she says, ‘Beautiful clothing you’ll want to hibernate in.’

At Matchesfashion.com cashmere tracksuits and supersized hoodies from Jil Sander, Raey and Allude are going strong.

‘People crave comfort but still want to look chic – luxurious cashmere knitwear is a way of doing that, in a way that feels more elevated than a cotton tracksuit that you might wear to and from the gym,’ says senior buyer Chelsea Power. ‘It’s an elegant way to be comfortable.' Granted, these pieces don’t come cheap – but just think of all the money you’ll save on taxis.

The ultimate in haute hibernation gear is, of course, sumptuous sleepwear. ‘When I started the brand I set out to make the world’s best pyjamas,’ says Olivia von Halle, whose silk PJs are a mainstay in every fashion editor’s wardrobe. She likes to slip in to hers after a hot bath with Jo Malone oils and a G&T. ‘It was and remains about putting real thought and effort into these often-forgotten-about pieces and trying to make them the best they can be.’ Testament to the rising relevance of this market, Emilia Wickstead and Alexa Chung are the latest designers to launch their own sleepwear collections.

‘Time to hibernate,’ announces Alexa, who recently binge- watched Chernobyl (‘not one to be paired with delicious dinner’). She does admit, however, ‘It’s much easier to stay in if a) You have a partner and b) You’re over 30.’

But why has doing nothing become an event in itself? Well, last year it could be blamed on political and social tumult, on fake news and real fears, which all led to an almost visceral hankering for comfort. Now that we're faced with a global pandemic, we're all looking for small things to make us feel better and reassured.

So, if you are confined to the house and longing for something to make you feel better, allow us to suggest the ultimate investment: a luxury blanket such as an APC quilt, Loewe mohair throw or Tekla merino wool design (read all about Harry Styles' surprise love affair with the brand here). No control pants, clutch bags or coat required – in fact, no good reason we can think of worth going out at all.

SHOP: The Ultimate Hibernation Edit