Dressing up and going out is a lot of fun. It is exhilarating to put on something you feel fantastic wearing and go outside to let the world see it; it teaches us that fashion is a form of expression. We speak frequently about the merits, for ourselves and others, of dressing well and doing so often, especially in a city like New York where you pass by hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people every day just commuting back and forth from the office. This is not to mention happy hour and dinner in the evening.
But you arrive home after that long day, finding yourself in need of a nightcap while you sit in your most comfortable chair and get a few chapters of your latest novel in before bed; whatever do you wear? Or perhaps you’re waking up on Sunday, one too many Gin & Tonics later, with no plans but to take the day as leisurely as humanly possible. The same question still looms; whatever do you wear?
Today, I bring the answer by making the case for inside clothes. Clothes that likely are only to be seen by those you live with, by the few close friends you permit to stay after your dinner party is over, or by the handyman. I mean clothes that help you settle into your home to truly make it a sanctuary, and that help to prepare your mind and body for the segments of the day.
Firstly, it cannot be overstated how important real pajamas are. This is the most important garment in breaking up the segments of the day. Even if you neglect all that comes after this, proper pajamas will change the way you wind down, sleep, and get started the next day. The ritual of fully changing before you take to bed and once again when you’re up the next morning creates a feeling of completeness I didn’t realize I was missing until I was properly equipped. It also gives you the ability to get up in the middle of the night and refill your water without worrying about someone seeing you. In fact, even if they do, they may remark how sophisticated you appear. I recommend Petite Plume or J. Crew. A pair of broadcloth PJ’s for the warm months, flannel for the winter months, or silk for all months will cover your bases.
Bathrobes aren’t just for luxury hotels. This plush way to keep you warm after you step out of the shower and have your morning shave will remind you why this used to be something every gentleman had. The supreme comfort this garment provides gives the assurance that whatever kind of day you’re preparing for is going to be great. Opt for a cotton velour that will trap warmth, get you dried off, and up the sophistication of your morning routine. A monogram is recommended to make it uniquely yours. I like Brown or Petite Plume.
A dressing gown is the luxurious touch that I preach you shouldn’t be without. A bold expression of refinement from a bygone era, a dressing gown still serves many purposes. It is the perfect accompaniment over pajamas for warmth in the morning when making coffee, protects the starch in a shirt before putting on your coat to leave the house, looks devastatingly sharp over a shirt and tie while unwinding at home in the evening, and is a quick coverall should you need to answer the door while indecent. It should be nothing but silk; purchase one new if you have the means, or pick up a gently used gown on the secondary markets (they are undervalued secondhand as few people are in the market for them). While I don’t quite have the means, a gown from Baturina or New & Lingwood is a dream of mine.
Velvet slippers elevate formal and casual style. An accoutrement of the dressing gown and an elevation of the house shoe, slippers will have you feeling like you’ve just walked off a Ralph Lauren runway. They are unexpectedly versatile, and can be worn both in and out of the home (though mine rarely see daylight). They pair just as well with a suit sans jacket as they do with jeans and an oxford shirt while unwinding with a glass of whiskey after a trying day. They are also an easy way to accommodate a “creative/holiday black tie” dress code. You can wear all the other formal, by-the-book stops, but the slippers make it more fun and relaxed, which you should be feeling anyways — you’re at a party, after all. I recommend Shipton & Heneage or Stubbs & Wootton. Both can be found at very reasonable prices on the secondary market; as with dressing gowns, the buyer pool is small and they are thus undervalued for their level of craftsmanship.
Never neglect clothes for labor. While we would all love to be lounging around and having the house keep itself clean, that’s rather impossible. Whether you’re building a new piece of furniture, retiling your bathroom floor, or battling the relentless enemy that is dust, a dressing gown and slippers are not going to cut it. While these clothes do not have to strictly be “house clothes,” having a few pieces that you can throw on for labor and not care whether they sustain a stain, rip, or stray graze with a Sharpie gives you the confidence to get your hands dirty and improve your living space. You’ll thank your Sunday afternoon self for doing the building and cleaning when you come home from a rough Tuesday and just want to sink into your armchair and watch a movie. The best labor clothes are things that your mother purchased for you that you were too nice to return, or something from college that has sat in a spare tote for years. But, if you find yourself in need of new, good work clothes, I recommend LL Bean or Hanes.
And finally, somewhere to pause for the moment or for the hour. If you’re a busy American, as Americans tend to be, you might be stopping at home for ten minutes to freshen up before you go out for the evening, or perhaps you’re running in and out every thirty minutes doing your laundry at the laundromat down the street. Or you’ve done your errands for the morning and are waiting for the pub with your friends in the afternoon. No matter the momentary lapse in the day, a place to set your things without folding, wrinkling, or tossing them about will have you back out the door as fresh as you came in. For that, I recommend a valet de nuit, known in the English world as a valet stand. These are difficult to find new at a decent price, as furniture tends to be about 50% more expensive than it should be - however, there are fantastic vintage options out there, as the market for these is small. I have found mine to be a significant improvement in day-to-day organization, and a great place to keep my cufflinks, tie bars, and other small accessories in the dish, as pictured below. This is also a lost touch of sophistication in a gentleman’s world, and is impossibly cool to have and use.
What I’ve been:
Reading: more Anne Perry (I’ve recently discovered this is not her real name, and she has an interesting past, to say the least)
Watching: Pierce Brosnan’s Bond movies
Listening to: Bruce Springsteen