As we approach month five of COVID-19-imposed isolation, we’ve all most likely become intimately familiar with virtually every form of comfortable, at-home dressing. From oversized T-shirts to tie dye sweatsuits to all-day pajama pants to our beloved leggings and more — we’ve tried it all, so what else is there?
Enter the house dress.
The idea of dresses as comfortable casualwear isn’t actually all that ridiculous — the idea originated in the late 19th century and quickly became popular with housewives throughout the 20th century. The “house dress” was a lightweight, washable frock that women would throw on when they did chores around the house so they could maintain comfort and mobility while still looking presentable enough to see to any visitors that might show up at the house during the day, or for a quick errand run.
While house dresses started off as purely utilitarian garments — like the wildly-popular “Pop-over” dress designed by Claire McCardell in the early 1940s — they grew to be something more stylish over time with flattering silhouettes, eye-catching prints, and large, convenient pockets that blended form and function.
In the year 2020, months-long quarantines and the sudden switch to remote working has changed many of our dresscodes and has hastened the return of the house dress to the forefront of at-home fashion. While today’s dresses don’t typically come with a matching oven mitt or giant pockets for carrying all of your cleaning supplies, they are still crafted to be comfortable above all else, while still incorporating stylish elements. My favorite house dresses have oversized silhouettes, are made from breezy materials like cotton poplin, and feature romantic details including ruffles, large collars, bows, smocking, and puff sleeves.
Personally, I’ve been waiting for the return of something like the house dress for my whole life. I’m a dress lover and will always wear a dress for any occasion (given my legs are shaven and it’s not too cold!). On top of being ultra-feminine and fun, dresses are a zero-effort outfit that only requires one piece. What could be simpler than that? They’re also a lot less restrictive than other clothing options (*cough* pants), making them a severely-underrated choice of loungewear that actually looks put together. Here’s to hoping that this trend will stick around longer than this virus will.
Are you ready to jump on the house dress trend? Check out some of my favorite options below and get ready to get comfy — no pants required!
