6 Best Lounge Pants for Women

How To Choose The Best Lounge Pants For Women

No matter the occasion, season, or weather, there’s nothing more satisfying than chilling in your favorite pair of lounge pants after a long and tiring day. Whether it’s to watch some Netflix or curl up with your latest book, comfy and cozy lounge pants are a universal staple in every woman’s closet.

Lucky for you, more and more clothing brands are perfecting the art of loungewear. Many of the best lounge pants are even so versatile that you can wear them while you’re out running some errands.

Now, choosing the best pair of lounge pants can be a tricky process. If only we can buy them all! But hey, that’s why buying guides like this exist. Read until the end to know more on how you can select the right lounge pants for you.

10 Factors to Consider When Choosing Lounge Pants

Listed below are 10 factors you should consider when looking to buy the best lounge pants for women. Of course, you can always just pick a random pair that looks cute. But here at Faveable, we take our downtime very, very seriously—and so we’re committed to spending it in the nicest, comfiest clothes possible.

Know your options. If you’re serious about upping your loungewear game, don’t be afraid to dive into the nitty-gritty to find your perfect match.

1. Material

One of the most important aspects you should look into is material. It plays a key role in determining how comfortable you’ll feel, as well as how long the pair will last.

Buying a pair of lounge pants in a breathable material is a must if you live in a warmer climate. Looking for moisture-wicking fabrics is also great if you’re serious about combatting overnight sweating. And yes, we all sweat overnight even if you don’t notice it.

Are lightweight fabrics important to you? Or is softness your number-one priority? Each type of fabric or fabric blend will have its own pros and cons. Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each will help you narrow down your choices.

Modal, Polyester, Spandex, Cotton

2. Comfort Level

Why would anyone bother with wearing lounge pants if they’re not comfortable? The main premise of loungewear, after all, is that they put comfort above everything else.

But whether you like it or not, uncomfortable lounge pants do exist. And it’s important to weed them out of your choices before it’s too late. Choose a pair that is lightweight, soft, and gentle on the skin. You don’t want something that has, say, an abrasive waistband that will leave marks on your stomach.

3. Style

Lounge pants come in all shapes and styles. Whether you prefer boyfriend-cut pants for a baggier fit or skinny sweatpants for a sleeker look, we’re sure that the market has something that will tickle your fancy.

Other style elements that you should pay attention to include the presence of pockets, the pants’ length, and other special considerations (more on this below). Full-length pants are ideal for cold winters, while shorter and thinner 7/8 pants are great during the warmer months.

If you plan to wear your lounge pants while running errands, a pair that has functional pockets will surely come in handy. What’s more, you want to find a pair that will go well with other pieces from your closet.

Lastly, you might want to explore your options if you require special clothes—say if you’re very tall or very short. Many clothing brands have a Petites section and/or a Tall section for special considerations like these.

4. Fit

How snug do you want your lounge pants to be? Do you want a high-waist fit? Will it let you move around freely? These questions are super important!

All pieces of clothing should fit you properly—lounge pants included. Even the most comfortable lounge pants will feel weird if you’re wearing the wrong size.

That said, know that some lounge pant styles simply won’t fit right with your body type regardless of the size. This is why buying from a store with a good returns/exchange policy is always highly recommended.

5. Design

Lounge pants shouldn’t only make you feel comfy outside. They should give you all sorts of warm and fuzzy feelings inside, as well.

When choosing a pair of lounge pants, look for a design that resonates with your personal tastes. There’s nothing better than donning a pair of pants that speak to your design senses.

Besides, wearing a pair of lounge pants that you’re not completely satisfied with aesthetically-speaking will never make you feel 100% happy—no matter how soft the material is.

6. Durability

Falling in love with a pair of lounge pants and then seeing it break down after just a few washes is a total bummer—more so if you spent a pretty penny on it.

If you’re the type who practically lives in lounge pants, you want to make sure that whatever piece you end up buying will hold up even after constant use. What’s more, buying durable and long-lasting pieces is not only better for your wallet in the long run, but it’s also better for the environment.

7. Stretch

How much stretch do you want in a pair of lounge pants? Are super flexible waistbands your thing?

Super stretchy lounge pants are ideal if you absolutely hate the feeling of restrictive clothes. If that’s the case, look for pairs that had been made with some elastane (also called Spandex or Lycra). Be careful, though. Stretchy materials, when not taken care of properly, tend to lose their shape faster than more rigid fabrics.

8. Smaller details

It’s not always going to be about big-picture factors like fabric, fit, and style. To successfully find the best pair of lounge pants for women, it counts to inspect the finer details, too.

Look for lounge pants with quality stitching, a well-constructed drawstring, and properly attached design elements. For instance, if your pair of choice happens to have design details like patches, embellishments, or embroidery, make sure that they feel solid and sturdy.

9. Price

We’re all for affordable loungewear, but top-of-the-line luxe pants have a special place in our hearts, too. On the one hand, lounging in a pair of deluxe bottoms is an unbeatable form of self-indulgence. On the other, we know that spending a lot of money on something that you’re probably only going to wear indoors isn’t the savviest idea.

That said, it’s always important to plan your budget and stick to it. If you’re prepared to treat yourself to a pair of expensive pants, go for it! At the end of the day, it’s a matter of finding the best lounge pants that will give you the most value – and that value can be in the form of savings, comfort, or personal satisfaction.

Also, it’s not a secret that pricey lounge pants are likely made with premium materials that will stand the test of time. Of course, there are also affordable pairs that are equally durable. You just have to do your due diligence in figuring out which pair of pricey pants are actually worth the investment.

10. User Reviews

Buying lounge pants in a physical store will enable you to get a feel of the fit and quality of the pair right away. However, we understand that driving (or even walking) to an actual store can be such a chore for many of us.

If you belong to the sub-species of humans who do 99% of all their shopping online, we suggest that  you take time to look into customer reviews before making a purchase.

Caring for Your Lounge Pants

So you’ve finally zeroed in on the best lounge pants for women… now what?

Of course, you’ll want to ensure that they last as long as possible. Aside from sticking to high-quality and durable pieces, the best way to do this is to take care of your clothes properly.

Different fabrics and styles will have different care and maintenance guidelines. The number-one rule, then, is to consult the specific instructions that come with your purchase. However, here are a few tips and tricks that generally apply to all lounge pants. Make sure to keep them in mind!

For cotton-synthetic blends

If you end up picking a pair of lounge pants that had been made with a blend of cotton and some type of synthetic fabric, avoid washing it in hot water. High temperatures shorten the lifespan of cotton-synthetic fabrics and make your lounge pants lose shape faster.

For silk lounge pants

Ideally, silk lounge pants should always be hand-washed in cool water. But if you can’t help but use a washing machine every once in a while, one trick you can do is to use a lingerie wash bag while running the delicates cycle.

For 100% cotton pairs

Clothes that are made of 100% cotton are typically associated with shrinkage issues.

That said, it’s important to note that cotton clothes shrink during the drying process only. High temperatures and rapid drying cause natural fibers to scrunch together. If you want to maintain the shape of your cotton lounge pants for as long as possible, it’s best to stick to air drying them instead of using a heated dryer.

Another concern is color fading. To preserve the color of your cotton lounge pants, wash them using a mild detergent in cold water. Stick to the delicates cycle and don’t forget to turn them inside out to protect the outward side of the pants.

Lastly, if you dry your clothes on a clothesline, it’s best to keep your lounge pants turned inside out. Direct exposure to the sun’s rays can accelerate the fading of the fabric.