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I guess that fashion is usually about what you wear in public and how you present yourself to other people. But I am here to take a look at something that is very important to me; fashion at home. I am the queen of lazy clothes--when I am at home I want to feel good, and I don't mind looking good too. I know that a lot of people don't care what they wear at home, and I think that is in the right spirit--if no one is looking at you who cares what you look like, right? I think that is true, but I also know that I feel best about myself when I think I look good. Even when I am at home, I want to feel cute and sexy in my pajamas, for example. Is this necessary? Obviously not. Do I let this compromise my comfort level? No way. The trick is, to find clothes which are absolutely cozy, and look good.

I am a student so when I am at home working a long day I want to be cozy. I think this is why I have so many comfortable clothes. I think my collection of "lazy clothes" is as big as, if not bigger, than my "outside" clothes collection. I spend long days at home at my desk, studying, drinking coffee, and curled up trying to be comfortable. It's just not the same if you, for example, go to the library and have to sit in the cold air conditioned study hall (in the winter!) on a hard wooden chair and work at an enormous table (the only really fantastic thing about working in a library or classroom--but anyway, that's another story). I like to be at home, generally wrapped in something (in the winter) or wearing almost nothing (in the summer).

There are lots of options for lazy clothes that make you feel good and still look good on you. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a pair of flannel pajama pants that is covered in some crazy design. I have those too! But I like "cozy" cloth pants that fit me a little better, just to make me feel a little spruced up. They are also very comfy because they fit my body well. This is something I think is worth finding for the serious "lazy clotheser". I think I bought them at a drugstore, anyway, so we're not talking about something fancy here. Just something that makes me feel a little more pleasant than "I don't care who sees me" wear. I have several pairs of these pants that I trade around day to day depending on my mood. I know not everyone is into this, but when I'm at home all day I tend to change my clothes a couple of times throughout the day. Plus, I have very thin pants if I'm feeling hot (or if I feel like turning the heat up), thicker ones if I am cold, and homemade pants crafted by Native Americans that I wear if I want to feel arts-y, for example. Equally important are some cute shorts (who cares how short they are? You''re alone!) to keep you cool in the hot summer or when doing housework (ugh!).

Another fantastic lazy staple, for you girls out there, are skirts. Now I know that a skirt doesn't necessarily sound cozy - in fact, to me it sounds like something which means dressing up and going somewhere uncomfortable - but there is another side to them, really! All you have to do is find the right one. A long, full skirt, for example a broomstick skirt or layered skirt - like the ones that are so popular today - are absolutely versatile in the home. Cozy, not restricting, cool in the summer and (with long and/or fluffy ones) warm in the winter, skirts are one of my best friends in my home laziness and cozy fashion world.

But pants and skirts are not the only things we wear, are they? Shirts are another important matter. Personally, I prefer tank tops, in any weather, for any task, under any circumstances. There is nothing cooler in the summer (except nudity and bra-only, both possibilities if you are home alone but both probably a little bit on the uncomfortable side), and if you are cold, it's absolutely simple to put something over a tank top, and still look great. Tank tops are a staple for me in all cases. Barring that, I would go for an extremely soft (and extremely thin, because those are the softest) T-shirt, or maybe a long-sleeved T-shirt if I am cold. Long-sleeved T-shirts are absolutely cozy if you are chilly. They are better than sweaters, for example, which can be itchy, bothersome, or even too hot. A T-shirt material that covers your whole arms provides the perfect level of comfort.

Next on the list of extremely important requirements for comfort at home are socks and/or slippers. Naturally, we are talking about Winter in this paragraph. In the summer, I want nothing more in the world than to have my feet completely free and contacting all manner of surfaces. But in the winter, you get those pesky cold toes if you're not careful, and unless you've got your own fire to warm them in front of you'd better wrap those babies up. Socks have thousands of varieties and incarnations. One of my favorites is the knee-high sock. If you live in a cold climate, this is something you should already know about. I love them, because they just give you that little extra level of warmth, not only keeping your toes out of the cold air but cozying up half of your leg at the same time. Know how warm you feel when you layer a couple of comfy shirts (this is another master lazy clothes technique)? Imagine that feeling on your calves. Put on some knee-highs and bam, you've got it. Even pantyhose can foster the same effect, but since most of the time they are too tight, uncomfortable and falling down, I don't recommend it, unless you have to be outside for a long time in the cold and want to be sure you are warm enough. Slippers and slipper socks also provide excellent comfort. Slipper socks are usually made out of some ridiculously soft or fluffy material, and in general provide excellent warmth and make the skin of your feet feel really happy against the material. And slippers come in the same varieties. I abandon my "looking cute" regimen when it comes to slippers, but that's basically because I think that anyone looks extra cute in any kind of slippers. Go for bunnies, or bears, or snoopies. Or, go for normal, straightforward slippers that they make for "normal" people. In my opinion, slippers can be nice because they usually have a solid bottom and can be good for working in the kitchen, for example, where the floor could be wet, or for stepping out on the balcony for a few minutes, or for getting the morning paper. Some slippers even do an excellent job of supporting your feet and arches. Definitely something to consider for your at-home collection.

And of course, the most important accessory for at-home fashion - the robe. You need a robe! Your neighbor needs a robe! Everybody needs a robe! From answering the surprise doorbell ringing in the morning to getting to and from the shower, the robe is the most useful piece of lazy clothes you can have. It's acceptable to walk outside wearing a robe, for example, even if you aren't wearing anything else, and it's absolutely simple to put it on in a jiffy. I recommend one for the winter (a big fluffy one) and one for the summer (a lighter, shorter one). They can be a little pricey but be honest - how many robes will you need to buy in your lifetime?? You won't regret it.

My last suggestion for home "lazy clothes" fashion is ... blankets. Yes, I know it's not clothes, but it's a critical point! Blankets make you cozy! Blankets make you warm! Blankets bring us together with other people! (When we have to share them while watching TV) And, there ARE even blankets that you WEAR on the market. They are usually called Cuddle-Wraps, and they have zippers and buttons that allow you to surround yourself in blanket as if it were a robe, and you can even walk around comfortably without losing your blanket.

Before I go I'll mention one more important point. Could I be this crazy about being comfortable at home and just wear "normal" clothes, aching with discomfort, when I go outside of the house? Of course not! But do I look good when I leave the house? Of course! A few points I made stick outside the house...wear comfortable cloth pants (if you look around a bit, it's not hard to find dress pants that look fantastic and will be way more comfortable than jeans...especially keep an eye out for stretchy fabrics), and my advice about tank tops in all places at all times still goes...it is absolutely simple to dress up a tank top (always useful just like a camisole, unless you're into really fancy stuff) by putting a jacket, sweater, or even a nice t-shirt over it. And the best thing is, if you're hot, you can always strip down...it's wearing layers every day and always feeling the temperature you want to feel. (Personally, I am always fluctuatiing between hot and cold, so I have to have a solution - and I'm young! It's just how I am.)

So, I hope for those of you out there who spend long hours just like I do at home, and need a little comfort, I hope these ideas help. I love my lazy clothes and I love feeling and looking good. It really helps productivity, believe it or not. I don't know how I am going to survive when i have to work outside the house all the time! But I think it will just make me appreciate my comfy time at home more. Sorry to all of you who can't be at home in your pajamas all day.