Level 1
Dabble in this trend by treating your feet to a fresh pair of Allbirds shoes, made from natural materials such as merino wool and eucalyptus fibre. You will earn brownie points from all members of your family, and if you opt for a dark colour (I rate the Wool Runner style) they can appear extremely smart rather than mid-life crisis. Barack Obama wears them – enough said.
Level 2
Tip-toe lightly around the tracksuit look. Perhaps veer only so far as a navy blue sweatshirt. The unisex brand Colorful Standard would be a good starting point. In a few weeks, you can label it as gardening attire – come spring, it will be useful for sailing or as a layer for fishing in.
Level 3
Go full Madeleine Thompson. The British designer has channelled the charm of her cashmere designs into a new range of women’s cotton tracksuits. More than good enough for the sofa, they will also hold their own come the first school run of the new term or the first visit to the supermarket (just don’t get flecks of Ferrero Rocher on it – you aren’t a slob).
I am not stating anything groundbreaking by suggesting you dress for maximum comfort at this time of year. Indeed, really, you should never feel uncomfortable in what you wear – clearly something is not quite right if you do. But if you are one for throwing on the same look over the coming days as we emerge from the fog of Christmas excess, then just know that the tracksuit is no longer Mr Motivator; it’s much more norm-core. Mother of Pearl has even taken the tracksuit to new heights (and lengths) with a full-length hoodie. This is a brand that has masterfully created garments good enough for Twixmas, yet the same piece could just as easily work on the front row of Fashion Week. I’ve also discovered Crush cashmere, whose trousers are pretty much like wrapping your legs in cotton wool. In these you are very much going for the languishing-by-the-fireside-in-a-White-Company-catalogue look.
If you are heading to a beach for some post-Christmas sun, then you’ll be looking more for bikinis and kaftans over bed socks and cashmere – in which case I would absolutely check out Pippa Holt, Asceno or Three Graces. One day I will be one of those people who head to Heathrow on December 26 with a sun hat on, jetting off into the sunset, but for now I’m really quite happy in my trackies at home.
As I always say, tap into this trend at the level you can afford and the point on the style barometer that feels comfortable for you. Then settle down with a bowl of turkey curry, another glass of wine and an episode of The Good Life. No pressures, no diets, no homework, no Zooms, no meetings, no commute, no rat-race. A chance to just be.
