Trend watch: cosy loungewear

A female model wearing a cashmere hoodie and silk shorts in front of a Christmas tree — Model wears cashmere hoodie £280, shorts (part of set) £130, and socks £38, all from thewhitecompany.com Photograph: PR

It’s officially the time of year to get cosy; think tactile fabrics that inspire a relaxed atmosphere. Forget itchy sequins and Christmas jumpers and pull on a look whose only criterion is to offer a sartorial hug. It might be your favourite well-worn PJs or joggers with a new pair of socks, or a gifted piece of elevated loungewear for the festive in-between bit (when declining social engagements isn’t just OK but is actively encouraged).

Choose ultra-soft knits and cashmere blends for a relaxing curled-up day on the sofa. The White Company (above) excels at this brief, as do newcomers and B Corp certified Rise and Fall (3, below). Reliably, Marks & Spencer Autograph cashmere rollneck (£95) works at home with leggings, or can be a sweater- shaped comfort blanket out and about with jeans, or even dressed up with tailored trousers to the office after the holidays. Socks are a key component to achieve maximum lounging comfort so, hopefully, the bearded guy in red brings you a new pair, but should you want to treat yourself, a pair of cashmere bedsocks are the ultimate for indoor lounging. Try pairs-scotland.com’s lambswool bedsocks (£20) or Base Ranges’s organic cotton beauties (5, below). Top tip: cashmere socks wear terribly on the heel if you put on with shoes, but will give a Christmas stocking a run for its money in longevity if reserved for use with slippers only.

In an ideal world, every sofa would have a blanket scarf laid across the back, ready to throw on in the chillier evenings. The British Blanket Company has a vibrant selection of colours, from buttercup to berry (£85). Arket’s triangle scarf (7, below), meanwhile, is made from a blend of cotton, wool and alpaca, and is the perfect shape to wrap around your shoulders as a top layer. Hallmark movie and roaring fire optional.