Elevated Downtime Style

Resort season trends always remind us to give our leisurewear as much consideration as we do our work- and eveningwear. For their latest offering, designers from Ganni to 3.1 Phillip Lim have put a sophisticated spin on downtime dressing with collections that are punctuated by luxurious wool separates. Woollen fabrics are perfect for days spent lounging at home – not only does their natural crimp provide amazing insulation, the science behind wool’s next-level comfort really stacks up: unlike synthetic fibres, clothing made with wool has the ability to absorb large quantities of moisture vapour and allow it to evaporate, making it feel looser and less clingy.

For Vanessa Hong – the influential blogger behind The Haute Pursuit – it is the versatility of her off-duty wool pieces that secured their place as her weekend go-tos. “I love how you can wear them at home but you can wear them out, too,” explains Hong, whose chic styling equation is to wear two pieces that smarten her sportswear up for any eventuality. “Wool pieces are great for when you’re just bopping around, and then you need to run errands. Whenever I do yoga, I’ll often wear a wool sweater over my yoga gear in the morning with a nice loafer. Then, if I’m going to meet a girlfriend, I’ll swap the yoga pants for a slip dress and wear the knit over it, or just have it draped around my shoulders. I always feel like you have to put effort into looking put together, and I really take enjoyment out of having such versatile pieces to do that.”

Leisurewear labels that look as chic in the gym as they do for afternoon brunches with friends are adored by women like Hong, who lead multi-faceted and busy lives. One such brand is Australian activewear label P.E. Nation, which recently teamed up with The Woolmark Company to create a dynamic collection that uses Merino wool technical fabrics to create stylish sportswear. It may come as a surprise that wool is a very exercise-friendly material. Thanks to its natural elasticity, it stretches with you – from child’s pose to shavasana – returning to its original shape afterwards. Wool is perfect for an outdoor cycle or a long run; while it may not automatically spring to mind as a cooling fabric, it is keenly reactive to body temperature and can actually feel up to two times cooler to touch than synthetic fabrics because it conducts more heat away from the skin. Win-win.

The Woolmark Company has a long history of inspiring and supporting fashion brands to work with Merino wool. Since re-launching the International Woolmark Prize six years ago, it has supported the careers of designers globally by shining a spotlight on emerging fashion talent, such as Gabriela Hearst. Fashion-forward, comfortable, adaptable and renewable – there is a lot to love about this humble fibre.