The Obtainer - 8/15/22, Monday
↦ Lounge Around in Style
Monday,August 15th Edition
What better way to start a Monday off by wishing we were still in our PJs? We’re back from our week off with a loungewear roundup. Anyone buy anything while we were gone?
- Leon Hedgepeth, Shopping Editor ⋯ @leonhedgepeth
BuyingGuide
Lounge Around in Style
Getting ready for bed should be no different than preparing for your day in the morning. My morning routine is basically identical to my nightly routine. I guess predictability and symmetry keep me even keel since life can be chaotic. In the morning, whenever I'm thinking about what to wear, I keep it pretty streamlined with thoughtfully chosen basics. I wear something similar every day—just in a different color, fit or fabric. Then when it's time to get ready for bed, I throw on an old gym tee with a pair of basketball shorts that you can barely see the logo. Reliable? Yes. Stylish? Not so much.
But I recently tried out some pajama pants and they've changed my outlook on bedtime/lounge attire. They're navy (one of my favorite colors to wear) and even have two handy pockets. They're lightweight and breathable, meaning I can sleep under a duvet and not sweat throughout the night. They also look great while I'm hanging around the house on weekends or taking the dog out in the morning in some slippers or Boston clogs.
Looking to step up your loungewear game? Remember that flowy and airy is the best fit. You don't want something that's going to be clingy or restrictive while getting some beauty rest. If you're a uniform dresser then a matching set works—they all come in great fabrics for summer and winter so you can stay cozy year-round. Are matching sets not really your thing? Then break up your boring loungewear fits with some luxe cashmere shorts, silk shirts or a comfortable waffle-knit. Don't be afraid to wear these out of the house. Some loungewear can be worn from dusk to dawn and back again. We've selected a few that you can wear while it's still hot or some heavy-duty ones that'll keep you cozy and casual in the colder months. Take your pick.
4 of Our Favorites
Enjoy a well-tailored suit? This is that, just in pajama form. Both pieces can be worn separately, in the bedroom or out.
$198 bySleepy Jones
A comfy combo that transitions to an easy WFH fit. Who says you can't wear shorts to the (at-home) office?
$50 byAbercrombie & Fitch
If you run cold, a waffle knit fabric is always so cozy. Pair it with the shorts or pants of your choice.
$68 / $34 byFlint and Tinder
From bed to morning coffee to walking the dog, these garment-washed linen shorts do it all.
$49 byParachute
I keep seeing hair powders mentioned everywhere. What’s so good about them and which one should I get?
- Sandy
Thanks for your question, Sandy. Personally, I use a dry clay pomade for my hair since it is coarse and wavy, but after doing some research, I may be hopping on the hair powder train with you. Hair powders seem to be the Swiss Army knife for a fail-safe hair routine. Part dry shampoo and part styling product, they’re ideal for traveling or post-gym because it won’t take much to give your hair a bit more depth and texture.I asked Chuck Falk of Principle Barbershop, who told me, “Powders add a weightless texture to the hair that pomades and creams are unable to produce. They are also used to add a natural-looking volume.” He also suggests the best way to use hair powder, “Apply to dry hair close to the root and manipulate until the desired style is achieved.”
Since this is new grooming territory for you, we have selected two hair powders worth a try. The first is recommended by Chuck and his clients swear by it. The hair styling powder from Slick Gorilla works for most hair types and gives off a medium to strong hold—this will be your best friend whenever you need to style your hair in a quick time crunch. But the texture hair powder from Alder New York is the only bottle of hair powder you may ever need to purchase. The mixture of rice powder, sea clay and kaolin clay works wonders on medium to long hair that tends to get frizzy, but quickly becomes wilted or oily with heavier hair creams.
⋆ Have a style question you'd like answered? Ask The Obtainer
Test Drive
The Botanical Dyed Painter Pants
In previously written articles I have made it known that I stick with elevated basics, great denim and sturdy outerwear. I like being able to wear the same clothes repeatedly without having to feel like they are “too precious.” Although having a uniform is great, I sometimes feel like I can get into a style rut. Not that I am missing out on trends, but maybe it is time for my closet to get a refresher. It’s not an overhaul of entirely new items, but an injection of a piece that stands out on its own or even a one-of-one.
Workwear has been hot for a few seasons now and doesn’t seem like it’s going to slow down. I’ve even indulged in quite a few fatigue pants and a pair of double-knee pants. I try to get both styles of pants in muted tones so I’m not looking like the latest fashion guys on your Instagram explore page. Understated is and will forever be my motto, so if there’s a trend I like—I tend to dip my toe in, but not fully dive in headfirst.
I recently picked up the botanically dyed painter pant from Alex Mill and they’ve given my wardrobe the update that it needed. Although the pant itself is a grey tone, the exact color is hard to pin down. When I received the pants, they came with a tag that said 10 out of 54—the exclusivity of the pants is something that appealed to me right from unboxing. Each season, the brand works with artist Maddie Provost to overdye medium- to light-colored clothing from overstock using colors from nature, creating their Botanical Dye Collection.
The specific dyeing process for the painter's pant uses carbon biochar (charcoal-like substance) to achieve the cool, faded finished shade of grey. The pants fit true-to-size, but if you are in between sizes I’d suggest sizing up. I’m between 29-30 and I probably should’ve gone with the 30. But the fit of the pants is great—straight throughout with a slight taper towards the bottom, which looks great with loafers or a pair of boots come fall. Since these are dyed grey, I did not wash them right away, but if you plan on purchasing anything indigo from the collection, be sure to wash separately and hang to dry so you are not getting the dye all over the house. I’ve worn these for four days a week over the last month and have washed them just once and let them air dry outside. They’ve already started to get lighter and have a unique tint to them from drying in the sun. Maybe it’s because they’re one-of-one or created from a unique dyeing process, but these won’t be the last thing I get from the botanical dyed collection. The pants are that good.
Botanical dyed painter pant,$195 by Alex Mill
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
This minimal Bluetooth speaker will play all of your favorite playlists while also having the capability of charging your devices.
$249.99 / $149.99by Tivoli Audio
Cut from organic cotton-poplin with plenty of mobility and finished with a handy cargo pocket, these shorts are fully equipped to handle anything.
$78 / $42by Wellen
Constructed of solid wood and powder-coated steel, this side table makes for the ideal nightstand or a perfect companion to your accent corner chair.
$249 / $199by Article
The three best stories from around the web.
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He named the brand Stone Island, and to symbolize its ruggedness, used the wind rose—usually seen on compasses—as its logo.”
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Serving up dark, riotous glamour and challenging orthodoxy are his line of business—and he’s been doing it majestically for almost 30 years.”
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I hope that the craftsmanship involved in making clothing isn’t completely replaced by technological advancements and that we slow down and make less clothes with better quality that can be worn for a long time.”
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Today's style. Denim and leather shoes for the first time in a while because it was cool. @holkstore and @tf_gohongi custom @ooe_yofukuten denim will be at @premio.gordo.shoes next weekend.
August 8