I want nice house clothes

[heliana]

Hello,
Ive decided, being home a few days a week, I need some nice house clothes that I wont be embarressed to go outside in Something I can get up and get dressed into, but not want to immediately get back into my trackies.
What do you wear around the house?
Can anyone give me ideas for comfy, but still flattering items of clothes?
Also some warm ones, our house is freezing!
Ta xx.

[Jellyfish]

Around the house I wear thin, baggy, black pants and a black nursing singlet (I have 4-5 of each). When I want to head out somewhere I just chuck on something nice over the nursing top and I am ready to go. Works well for me because I am comfy around the house but I can easily dress the outfit up if company is coming or I need to go somewhere.

[BrightSparkles]

I love yoga pants. They look great with a nice top and flat shoes if you go out and are comfy for around the house.

xxx

[luna moth]

Stretch jeans. Wrap around cardigans, long cardigans too.
I am living in leggings at the moment, not even 8 weeks and I can't stand pants! So I wear dresses and skirts over leggings, then I find you can wear the daggiest old jumper and it still looks OK.
I also have the most beautiful pair of grey pants, I got them from an op shop, originally from Jay Jays I think. Everyone comments on them, but they are warm, and comfier than tracky daks. Slightly too big for me at the mo due to summer weight loss, but they'll fit again soon!

[Nelle]

I'm the Anti-Tracky, I'm a bit 1950's like that (pity I don't have the 50's house pride), I wear jeans (agree with K, I think stretch jeans are a comfy option), and then a comfy top. Tshirts with a warm cardi are a great way to go in winter, and shoes are a must (I know that's very flylady of me) but they keep you warm, and make you feel dressed and ready, unlike slippers, which are warm but make you feel a bit snuggly and can't be bothered-ish.

If the weather's warm, how about skirts? Some skirts can be really comfy (on the cooler days you could even wear leggings underneath), and a tshirt, cardigan and ballet flats would be pretty cute.

[Bathsheba]

I've been a SAHM for over 5 straight years now and have gone through several styles including:

Cargo pants in a variety of colours: taupe, pale grey, navy being my favourite. NOT army print... ewww.Wear it with T-shirts. Avoid wearing loose tops with cargos... it becomes unflattering. Cargos are good with babies, lots of pockets for all the bits and pieces. Trans seasonal.

Soft worn-in stretchy denim jeans. I find light blue denim is more functional when you are doing house work... baby powder and bleachy spills don't seem to show up on them as much.

In winter I like corderoy with hand knits. At the moment I am "wearing to death" a black square-necked tunic style vest (goes down to the hips in a straight line) over a variety of long sleeve tops.

I don't generally wear skirts around the house in winter. I find that stockings/tights are too expensive to replace unless I am working.

I rarely wear trackies Mon-Fri. They are more of a weekend thing.... and I never wear them to the shops. Call me a snob but unless you have actually been playing a sport or been at the gym I think trackies are best just worn at home. Also when I wear them I feel lazier. I wear them as a cue to relax.

I think the main thing is that you wear comfortable clothes that allow a fair degree of flexible movement if you are doing the domestic duties thing. I Try not to be too precious about my "at home" clothes. I buy most of them second hand. I generally only buy brand new clothes if they are for special occasions/going out.

Also with shoes I try to avoid wearing runners all day. I'll pop on a pair to walk my DS to school... but take them off when i get home in favour of leather slip on shoes... ETA: but yep, not slippers, for the same reason Nelle mentioned.

[Erin_25]

I am also a fan of jeans, I have several different styles & pairs. Comfy ones for home, others for going out.

I think a nice top & a pair of nice flats can dress up any jeans. I also have a couple very nice Puma & Adidas jumpers. There were exp, but look very nice with the jeans around the house & I don't feel daggy heading out in them. I'm always out once a day to get mail etc.

I always find smaller details always make me feel nicer & get me motivated for the day. For example I always put on a Mineral powder & lip gloss & on even my daggiest days I pop on my nice earings etc. That always makes me feel great. Even when taking DS for a walk I pop on my powder & earings LOL.

[alioops]

Jeans and cargo's here too!! I do have some fitted trackies that are ok for a quick trip into the shops (not the daggy styles) but I dont live in them like my jeans. I love my Havianas though, and wear them ALL the time (helps being in the tropics). I also live in singlets or short sleeved t-shirts and can easily grab a jumper when I need it.

It's not just the items, but how they are put together that makes it worthy of going out in for me. Like I wouldnt go anywhere in trackies with a jumper that matched perfectly (like a suit) or didnt compliment (Like blue trackies with a orange jumper ) but I would wear blue trackies with a purple, white or black jumper, if they were the fitted style.

[Lolli]

I am a big fan of jeans, layers of short and long sleeve tops and cardigans- when I'm not pregnant. Atm as soon as I get home I change into trackie daks- but I won't leave the house in them (except to walk the dog, but that doesn't count).

Shoes all the way (as Nelle said) and always a little bit of mascara and a smudge of eyeliner. And some nice perfume. I ahte sitting round in pyjamas or daggies clothes all day.

[Liviam]

OMG you ladies have put me to shame. I am one of the ones who lives in trackie dacks. You have all got me thinking that I need to change this. I'm going to have to look into it when this little one is out in a few weeks.
I've never even worn shoes around the house. I live in slippers. OMG I feel like such a slop. I'm going to take note of all your suggestions.
Keep them coming. Thanks for the thread Halianna.

[Curly]

I second! Great suggestions. I have recently banned myself from wearing trackies at home because I was fed up with feeling so frumpy and dowdy and I hated walking past a mirror with my messy hair all scraped back into a bun or ponytail. And the trackies have bleach stains on them because I have cleaned the bathroom wearing them and spilled Domestos on them. I was embarrassed to go outside and check the letterbox in my house clothes.

I am making the effort to get dressed in jeans and do my hair and put on a bit of makeup every day. I feel so much more "together" and ready for a day of mummying.

[DoubleK]

im the biggest dag going at the moment! after ive had this bub, i plan to THROW OUT my 'house clothes' that i currently live in!
old trakkies, long singlets and dp's jumpers/jackets! i look a treat oh and my betty boop slippers (yep, i wear them out lol like if im running to the bakery or post office etc)

normally i like to wear trakkies around the house, i like the yoga type, coz i feel they're ok to go out in, all you need is a zip up jacket or a jumper. i also live in my plain cotton on tops- the ones they always have on there sale table, i have one in each colour, as well as the longer sleeve ones. i just alternate my layering colours... lol

[Bathsheba]

I forgot to add that like the domestic goddesses of past (think pre-1970) I am also a huge fan of aprons, especially when working in the kitchen. I have made most of mine myself... cotton ones that cover most of my front to just above my knee. Aprons really save me so much time and washing. Having babies etc obviously makes you tired and when I get tired I get clumsy. By wearing an apron you save having to change into another top (or even pants) before stepping out the door if you have spilt your coffee, beetroot or even getting damp from scrubbing a pot. Making an apron is THE simplest thing to do... I highly recommend it... and wearing one every time you are doing anything significant in the kitchen. Oh and in the past they often had a pocket on the apron... yes very handy! I also find that once I put on an apron it's a cue to stick with the task in the kitchen... it's the opposite cue to putting on my slippers IYKWIM?

[Liviam]

I can't believe I've never thought of using an apron when I'm cooking. I'm such a grub when I cook especially at the moment with my rather large protuding belly. I need suggestions other than jeans because I'm a pear shape and can't get jeans to fit me.
I'm loving these ideas.

[Bathsheba]

I can't believe I've never thought of using an apron when I'm cooking. I'm such a grub when I cook especially at the moment with my rather large protuding belly. I need suggestions other than jeans because I'm a pear shape and can't get jeans to fit me.
I'm loving these ideas.

Yep, my sister didn't have a proper apron, only an uncomfortable plastic BBQ type one.... so I sent her up a cotton one, pale pink with cupcakes... I hope she wears it... I nearly kept it for myself!!!

I am also VERY hard to fit in jeans. I have a small waist (about size 8 - 10) but a big butt (12-14) which usually results in this big gaping waist line Which is why I used to wear cargos alot... they had a drawstring! ATM I am wearing jean style pants that have a rare cut that works for me... one is the Brown Sugar brand... the other which i am wearing right now is by Postie (made in Australia)... both bought from op shops for about $6 each.

Dan: you need to get an apron this week.

ETA: I have started a thread about aprons HERE

[Sequoia]

^^ I'm with you on the apron. I have a small selection of laminated canvas Harrod's aprons. Perfect for cooking or dishes and they easily wipe clean.

As for the OP, I do wear trackies, but nice ones, mostly Sportsgirl and Nike with a fitted Bonds hoodie. All my other clothes are a bit too nice for around the house. I agree with Nelle about wearing shoes (Flylady!). I instantly feel like I am ready for the day.

[Nelle]

When we move house and I can re-set my sewing machine up, I'm going to make some cool aprons, just short ones for around the waist. I love my big aprons for cooking, but if I don't have an apron handy I'm known to tuck a tea towel into my jeans so I have something to wipe my hands on.

Can I just forbid anyone with a newborn to feel frumpy in trackies - comfort is the key then! Although, having said that, when you have a newborn, a shower, nice outfit and a bit of makeup goes a loooooooong way towards making you feel human again! I remember that. I guess balance is the key, I had 2 pairs of awesome yoga pants that I could sleep in, then just put a cardigan on and I was dressed! Haha. Great for those early days when day and night kind of blur and you sleep whenever you can...

[Kazbah]

I like outdoors pants, like from Rays, Anaconda or Kathmandu etc - easy to wear, non-crease and seemingly non-stain! Plus they dry really quickly ...

For tops I like t-shirts and always a warm singlet or under-shirt ... shoes - well, I'm a barefoot girl but if it's chilly then a pair of Colorado chunky shoes (or the runner style). If I wear baggy jumpers then I slob around more.

A bra is a must, I feel like I can't get anything done unless I'm wearing a bra! And clean hair!