Surrey Frills pick their favourites for stay-at-home style from top Surrey boutiques
How do you define ‘feelgood’ fashion?
Is it standout silhouettes and shimmering sequins or dressed to chill in soft, sumptuous loungewear? Life in lockdown has taught us many valuable lessons. Doom and gloom aside, as a nation we are shaping up, being kinder, counting our blessings, paying attention to our communities as well as our planet and reflecting on what really matters in life.
Whether you’re on your way to the perfect capsule wardrobe, don’t buy fast fashioh, or thrive off a rich closet, for many of us, clothes have become a kind of panacea. Amongst the discombobulated corona chaos another quieter revolution is taking place. Surrey Frills’ fashion tips keep in mind the fact that, above all, we are looking at our daily personal style and the value of elegant yet effortless pieces.
Uncertain times call for comfortable and covetable clothes in feelgood and skin friendly fabrics; silk, cashmere, cotton. Somewhere between nightwear and ready-to-wear fashion friendly casual wear offers up some sartorial hope. In an ever-changing world, loungewear is steadfast.
Odd Molly Can-Can Knit Cardigan, Number Six, Cobham – £145
St Berts Falling Star Sweatshirt + Sweatpants, Signature Style Boutique, Epsom – £40 + £38
Grace and Mila Rio Shirt, Sollo, Reigate – £69.99
Rails Graham Trousers, Peek Boutique, Virginia Water – £140
Looking good and being comfortable isn’t mutually exclusive. After weeks of casual stay-at-home attire and dressing from the waist up the need for easy stylish dressing is more popular than ever. Those pesky zips and endless buttons require multiple limbs and by the time I’ve shimmied my way through my wardrobe I’m too danced out to go out and party!
Yes we’ve seen the high-octane drama of mowing your lawn in your wedding dress or taking out the bins in a tiara but c’mon that’s just for Instagram – or is it?
Looking Back
Over the years there’s been various manifestations of loungewear. Original PJ advocate Coco Chanel started the trend in the 1920s by borrowing her lover’s luxury nightwear, inspiring her classic simplicity. And who can forget the Juicy Couture tracksuit? The inescapable velour two-piece mass-produced in a variety of supersaturated hues became a global sensation. In 2015 the V&A Museum displayed the Pepto-pink version thus sealing its status of bygone decadence. Nowadays, contemporary loungewear strikes the balance between nonchalant luxury and polished perfection. Synonymous with freedom and flexibility and cut to a fluid silhouette, loungewear evokes Sunday morning vibes but still fits the brief for that zoom meeting or some viral mingling. The late Karl Lagerfeld may have dismissed sweat pants as ‘a sign of defeat’ but hey – what did he know!
One Hundred Starts – Apples & Pears Kimono, Serendipity, Chilworth – £42.95
Easy breezy style
Contrary to its name, loungewear is not restricted to the lounge. Nor does it mean donning your boyfriend’s paint splattered jeans or the crumpled tee that moonlights as a duster.
Take cargo-pants for example- no longer capacious in shape or worn low on the hips like 90’s girl band All Saints. Today they are designed to a slim silhouette. Never Ever did I think I’d be wearing cargo trousers but the more tailored shapes and softer fabrics make them surprisingly sleek and comfortable and who doesn’t love a pocket or two!
Dresses aren’t immune from the easy-breezy look. Surrey Frills’ instagram feed features local street-stylers from all corners of the county. Surrey’s rural runway tells us that this Summer’s statement dress has tiers of joy and voluminous sleeves. From relaxed bohemian to pretty prairie shapes they evoke escapism and inspire wanderlust- you have to dream – right?
Oui Lurex Shimmering Long Cardigan, Catwalk, Godalming – £199
Like dresses, jumpsuits are an easy one-and-done option. The ubiquitous jumpsuit translates as a boiler-suit, play-suit or culotte style for a chic look. Jane Fonda, Hollywood’s most stylish red-carpet octogenarian regards the jumpsuit as “the epitome of a modern woman’s wardrobe” and I couldn’t agree more. Dressed up or down the sartorial ease of a one piece is always appealing. From busy days to balmy evenings an all in one or dreamy slip dress is ideal. Style it up by cinching in your waist with a colourful scarf or a slim chain belt. Add a roomy tote and a wide brimmed hat and you’ll be Riviera ready. The options are endless.
If you prefer separates, choose tonal colours. Classic shades in camel, cream, beige and blush are calming choices but happy hues, energising prints and zingy stripes have their place.
Head-to-toe shades work best when you mix up the fabrics. Silk and cashmere, cotton and tweed, denim and lace- toying with textures gives your outfit that special touch. A crossbody or wrist handle bag will complete your look.
Layering also offers flexible solutions. Pull your look together with a ballerina wrap-cardigan- it’s all about elevating the everyday.
Shrowbing anyone?
For artful off the shoulder styling, go armless and slip your jacket or cardigan over your shoulders. Synonymous with 1950’s couture, the look even has a name for it ‘shrowbing’ as in ‘shoulder robing’. For cool effortless chic shrowbing is simple but there are rules! Fluid fabrics work best, heavy textiles just won’t cut it. Nor will shoulder bags for obvious reasons.
Whether your sofa style is more Chez-Moi chic than in-da-house laid back cool, you won’t have to compromise comfort for style. Great quality loungewear is an investment so buy the best you can afford- you won’t regret it.
Let’s hear it for the Boys
When it comes to men’s casual wear, the default look is no longer confined to jeans, tees and trainers. The classic pique polo shirt comes in a variety of designs – choose contrasting collars for added flair. Pair with clean-cut cotton twill shorts in versatile shades – think tan, navy, khaki. Go for quality tees with a hint of stretch – guaranteed to keep their shape whether you’re zooming 9-5 or bossing your daily walk. Elevate your feel-good casuals with luxe, breathable knitwear; light merino wool will see you through those chillier summer evenings.
C.P. COMPANY Blue T-Shirt With Sailor Silhouette Print, Robert Fuller, Banstead – £95
Gant Twill Shorts, Jeremy Hobbs, Cobham – £60
Accessorise and invest in ambience
Lockdown has renewed our love for our homes: inscape is the new escape. Creating a relaxing space for some soul soothing solace with joy-inducing treats will make staying at home feel like a choice rather than a mandate.
Neom Happiness Home Mist, Alligator Pear, Tadworth – £18
A Year of Living Kindfully, Anna Black, No 44, Oxstead – £12.99
Crystals, Gerrards, Reigate
Surrey Frills started out as a project of passion and has evolved into a powerful platform showcasing and celebrating the very best of fashion and style in Surrey. We champion Surrey’s finest independent boutiques, creatives, personal stylists, bloggers and more.
Our inspirational hub comprises a full directory of fashion boutiques and services and a unique Surrey fashion map. Add to that all shopping and styling events, new brands & stock-lists, discounts and offers- Surrey Frills is your one stop destination for Surrey’s savvy stylish fashionistas.
Surrey Frills helps businesses to grow and thrive by creating, collaborating and producing exciting experiences that are as smart as they are effective. With Love Local and sustainability at the heart of our work, our goal is to win national recognition; putting Surrey on the fashion map and mega-boosting our spirited high streets- now more than ever. We’re all about turning this challenge into an opportunity.
We are that dream team- a mum and daughter duo – with a combined experience of thirty plus years in fashion marketing, branding, promoting and writing. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions. We are super friendly and always open to discussing new projects, interesting ideas and opportunities to be part of an event.
Marie and Claire x
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