Cotton pj pants could be a good foil to your summer wardrobe

The best way to test an outfitting theory is to try it on 20+ ways

by Leandra Medine Cohen

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Cotton voile pajama-style pants are to a city in the summer what beach pants are to the beach and sweatpants are to the winter. What I mean by this is that they’re a comfortable, easy, no-brainer solution to the question of what to wear when you feel…any which way you feel: like hot shit, lukewarm caca or frozen feces.

But how many ways can you wear a pair of pajama-style pants? And within how many contexts? Allow me to attempt a demonstration with the following photographic representations, articulated in a pithy, rhyming poem.

Wear them on your coffee run,

Deiji Studios halter top, which maybe I should have ironed, Toteme white cotton-voile drawstring pants (worn throughout; these with the drawstring hem are a go too), Havaianas x Rotate flip flops

Or when you’re going out to dine,

Bode jacket, Maria McManus shirt, Toteme pants, Doen heels (like these flats so much too)

Choose them for a fancy stroll…

Dries van Noten choker thing (something like this is much more practical), Gianfranco Ferre sequined top (found it on The Real Real some years ago), The Row sandals (but as far as black sandals go, I think these are the best bet for summer in a city). How do you like these as a drawstring pant alternative?

Or beachside with a glass of wine.

Straight-up pajama pants, ideally that you already own, will work.

Try them while you’re city-side,

Rosie Assoulin straw top (anything spaghetti strap or peplum-y will do), Sebago boat shoes — here are some good cat eyes

Or when you’re sure that it might rain…

Soeur shirt, Dior boots. Maybe khaki (Matteau, on sale for $110) could have been a more fitting drawstring pant accent here, but you work with what you’ve got! The hat says “Caviar as garnish” - I like the colors! And Nora Ephron!

Take them to the office too,

Attersee vest, Church’s ‘Kara’ loafers (not the same at all, but would produce a good overall effect w this look), and here’s a bandana

No, wear while in the party lane!

Wardrobe.nyc blazer (single breast version here), Dolce and Gabbana slip, which I got from The Outnet a bunch of years ago and have surprisingly worn every season in some new way (here are some comps), Balenciaga sandals, but these will do!

Put them on to self-express, to wear your style proud…

Pucci top, Jigsaw clogs, Oliver Peoples sunglasses from TRR

Pair them with a makeshift top,

It’s a square scarf that I tied around my neck and then belted! The back is completely open! Gabriela Hearst shoes and Altuzarra bag (this pink one is $145! There’s a bigger one in brown too); have had it for years and it’s the perfect size (to the extent that a 500-page book fits inside of it)

Or one that’s plainly loud.

Hello, welcome to my sequins. St. John jacket, Jamie Haller flats

Just know no matter what you wear—nightgown,

Loewe jacket, Salter House nightgown (this U.K. brand makes great nightgowns too) and Manolo Blahnik ‘Susa’ sandals, also from TRR.

Beads,

Matteau striped shirt (fully restocked, baruch Hashem), Soeur pants, Leandra Medine shoes — from that 4-season stint I made them

Red, white and blue…

Yali Tribe hat, LMND shirt, Toteme pants (lest you choose a pair the exact same color as the shirt), Rene Caovilla sandals

You’re in it for the thrill of clothes!

Lizzie Fortunato turquoise beads, Rosie Assoulin green tank top (this dress is a dead ringer!), Saks Potts skirt (only seeing the dress around, but wowwwwwwww I love this skirt too), old Celine sandals (Khaite’s kind of do the same thing)

The thrill

Of being you.

Polo RL denim shirt styled with a jean jacket around my waist and La Double J wedges (on sale for $364 here; the sunglasses are Oliver Peoples

(And btw, just to be clear,

The pants are from an old pj set, the jacket is one of the best Real Real finds I’ve ever made, the tank is Live the Process and the belt is Khaite

Although I’m sure you knew —

Femme Maison top, TK pants (from an actual pajama set!), Rene Caovilla sandals and Michael Kors bag (here’s the closest I could find — the chain strap is coming back fast and hard; but maybe one of us needs t his one too)

It’s fair game here, all ‘round these parts

Here’s a great black shrunken tee, Deiji Studios pants, Manolo Blahnik slides

Any pj “pants” will do.

Bode sweater, Cafe Leandra x Soeur shorts, Doen heels

Gabriel Forsach terry halter top (it’s also a wrap skirt/sarong!), Cafe Leandra x Soeur shorts, Chanel striped wedges (not the same, but I love these too, and these lace up, but they seem v practical)