The days of social distancing and mask-wearing may be behind us, but the pandemic taught us a lot: to take things at a slow pace, the importance of friends and family, and that comfortable loungewear doesn’t have to be exclusive to your WFH wardrobe. Post-pandemic, luxury loungewear has been cemented as a dress code in its own right.

But for us, women’s loungewear has always been written in our DNA. As a mother with two young kids and three older step-children, ME+EM Founder Clare Hornby desperately wanted clothes that were comfortable for running around in but still flattering enough to be seen in on the school run or opening the door to the postman.

Thus, ME+EM and two of our most notable icons were born: the Palazzo Pant and the Icon Cashmere Crop Box Hoody. Over a decade later, collections may have grown and diversified, but those two styles remain steadfast, year-round best-sellers that always have been and always will be at the heart of what we do.
 

R+R: Relaxed and Refined

We design our loungewear with the same focus and attitude as we do structured tailoring.

You’ll find our signature design devices carried right through into our lounge lines, from the placement of side stripes (a little forward, visible from the front to sculpt the leg) to deep cuffs that can be turned up or down to work with your height. The goal is comfort that makes absolutely no sacrifices on style and pieces that can be endlessly mixed and matched, so that whatever you choose to throw together, the end result is always relaxed yet refined.

Working exclusively in luxury fabrics not only gives these loungewear styles a superlative hand feel, it ensures that they don’t give up the ghost after a few wears. Retaining their flattering shapes is crucial for casualwear that still makes you feel confident.

Here, we decode how to master luxury loungewear, from the styles to invest in to styling tips, for off-duty style that is always on the mark.

The Palazzo Pant

When building a luxury loungewear collection, this ME+EM icon is essential.

The flattering wide-leg cut is crafted from a fluid, stretchy modal jersey so that the fabric falls in just the right way, skimming legs and allowing a generous amount of movement.

Available in full and cropped lengths to cater to all heights, the true genius of the Palazzo Pant is found in the roll-top waistband. It is elasticated for comfort and a snug fit (it will hold you in around the tummy, smoothing and sculpting), making it a particular favorite amongst new and expectant mothers, as the waistband can be rolled up to go right over a bump.

For a truly polished lounge look, style the black Palazzo Pant with our Cashmere Silk Barely There Cropped Tank and the navy colorway with our Micro Jacquard High Neck Layering Sweater. For a WFH look of unrivalled comfort, team with a cashmere sweater and finish with a blazer for structure.

The Cashmere Hoody

Can you think of anything more luxurious, sartorially speaking, than cashmere loungewear? While a hoody might be synonymous with off-duty style, when it’s crafted from softest midweight cashmere it is transformed from a sporty staple to a sports-luxe essential.

Our take on this knitted loungewear staple includes a drawstring hem that allows you to pull it in at the waist for a more fitted shape and a button-up front that is neatly concealed by a placket so that you can wear it open or closed.

Available in a spectrum of hues, from the basic to the bold, the Icon Cashmere Crop Box Hoody is a versatile layering piece to go over tees and under a leather biker jacket, the clash in textures acting as a shorthand for luxury style. And because the length is slightly cropped, it will sit at just the right height to meet the elasticated waist of a sweatpant.

The Loungewear Co-ord

Naturally, the easiest solution to mastering the luxe lounge look are loungewear sets.

Matching tops and bottoms that have been designed to go together offer a ready-made outfit; all that’s required of you is to pick your size.

Look to our Check Point Wide-Leg Pant Co-ord for inspiration. Crafted from polished mid-weight ponte with a soft brushed finish, it combines a zip-up top detailed with a high neck and a wide-leg pant signed off with contrasting side stripes.

Celebrating a bold check in a monochrome palette, the pieces can be styled together for an easy head-to-toe ensemble or separately to create either smart or more sporty looks. 

The Sweatpant

Relaxed and youthful, a sweatpant embodies effortless lounge style.

But to ensure that laid-back stays closer to luxury rather than lazy, balance is key. Think about fabric: a sweatpant in a casual fabric can be styled with a crisp cotton shirt and cashmere knitwear, whilst a style in an elevated fabric - a velvet-touch cord, for example - can simply be paired with a jersey tee and sneakers for a look that is comfortable but still suitable for public consumption.

The cut of a sneaker makes this style particularly appealing to those who are shorter. Ankle-length fitted and elasticated cuffs ensure they can also be styled as a comfortable full-length pair on petites while allowing them to be worn with a sneaker and still reveal just enough leg to create the illusion of extra inches.

The Cashmere Throw

Nothing says luxury like cashmere loungewear. Enter the Cashmere Throw, an oversized scarf-meets-blanket that you can envelop yourself in on the sofa or long journeys.

Re-released every year, hues are selected to reflect the palette of the season, meaning it will go with the entire loungewear collection, an especially smart finish to a perfectly curated collection.

The Sneaker

If you find yourself forced to leave the house when you’re off the clock, then the only shoe to complete a luxury loungewear look is the perfect sneaker.

Crafted in Italy from supple Italian leather, our lace-up and slip-on sneakers have been designed with the same precision as our clothing, with a rounded toe, a low cut that highlights ankles and elongates legs, and a thick rubber sole to offer support and just a little extra height. Contemporary yet classic, our Velvet Slip On Sneaker introduces eveningwear elegance to sports-luxe styling, offering a fresh finish to a fine-tuned silhouette and off-duty outfit.