Love it or hate it, dread or embrace it, winter is here. It’s the season when we typically turn to our favorite comfy chic outfits to carry us through chillier temps and into the spring thaw. Similar to your most stylish athleisure wear, a comfy outfit should present the best of both worlds: It keeps you snug without looking sloppy, and can be tailored to fit either a lounging sesh or a low-key lunch.
For those who mark winter with an average low of 50 degrees, you might be picking up a matching cashmere short set to wear over your barely-there T-shirt bra. But East Coast and Northern dwellers will depend more on sweats and sweaters, accessorized by a trendy puffer tote or a glint of gold with one of the top 2024 jewelry trends. To eliminate the guesswork, we asked 10 ELLE editors about their go-to cute comfy outfits. So, take your inspo straight from the experts and shop their favorite picks below.
Claire Stern
“As a creature of comfort by nature, I’ve always had a penchant for cozy, throw-on-and-go clothes. Attersee’s pop-over shirt and shorts set has quickly become my favorite vacation outfit, thanks in large part to the relaxed fit and elasticized waistband.”—Claire Stern, digital director
Attersee The Pop-Over Shirt
Attersee The Shorts
Dale Arden Chong
“I recently came to the realization that my comfy outfits, for better or for worse, all include jeans…except for this one. Usually I reserve sweatpants for my indoor occasions, but these? They’re meant to be seen—and for good reason. I’m a huge fan of YanYan Knits for a multitude of reasons, but once I saw BLACKPINK’s Jennie wearing them, I knew these would be my next piece from the Hong Kong label. They’ve proven to be the hero piece of my comfy wardrobe, as the knit is so soft. Finish them off with a classic white T-shirt, this delicious leather jacket, and a pair of beloved Birkenstocks, and you have my go-to coffee run ensemble.”—Dale Arden Chong, senior fashion commerce editor
By Malene Birger Beatrisse Leather Biker Jacket
Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew
YanYan Embroidered Checkerboard Knit Wool Sweatpants
Jenny Bird Aurora Studs
Danielle James
“The coat is a thrift find—it has a hood, which is my favorite part (plus the length). The jewelry is from an Ethiopian brand. I love them and the way they incorporate history into modern designs. And my other ring is [from] a designer in Ft. Greene that I met during the Sunday market…she makes jewelry out of [thrift] finds—this is an NYC token from the 90s.” —Danielle James, beauty director
Lingua Franca “What If” Sweatshirt
ASOS Curve Balloon Jean
Yenae Tsirur Rings
Yenae Tsirur Earrings
Leah Romero
“My go-to ensemble for practically any occasion is a cozy outfit that I can easily dress up or down. This typically involves a vintage men’s tee for its soft quality, paired with stretch pants. In this look, I’ve opted for an oversized Guggenheim Hoodie from Fantasy Explosion, combined with stretchy pleated pants from Uniqlo for that ideal comfort vibe. Don’t forget the loafers or sneakers—they’re essential! Toss on some jewelry, and you’re all set.” —Leah Romero, senior digital designer
Fantasy Explosion Reggae In France Tee
Uniqlo Pleated Straight Pants
G.H. Bass Whitney Super Lug Weejuns Loafer
OSOI Folder Brot Bag
Alyssa Bailey
“I’ll be honest: Most of the time, I don’t dress cozy unless I’m just running errands because I love dressing up. But when I am in my rare casual style moment, my go-to for the colder months is an oversized sweater, Under Armour’s cold gear running leggings (look, I get cold easily), and New Balance sneakers. I am particularly in love with Daydreamer’s New York sweater. It is so cute on, the lining in it is so soft, and it feels like wearing a hug. Additionally, when I want to make the look a little more publicly polished (and warmer), I’ll toss on a lady coat from J.Crew.” —Alyssa Bailey, senior news & strategy editor
J.Crew New Lady Day Topcoat
Daydreamer New York BF Crew
Under Armour Women’s UA Base 3.0 Leggings
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080
Lauren Puckett-Pope
“If I could dress in winter clothes year-round, I likely would. There’s something about being continually swaddled in fabric that just makes my brain hum. And as someone whose skin rebels against materials that look like they’ve, perhaps, thought about being itchy, I gravitate toward comfortable staples. For this look, I drew upon a couple of the more accessible 2024 trends—monochromatic dressing and gender-neutral styling—to elevate a sweater and wide-leg pants. I paired my beloved green Carve Designs organic-cotton sweater with similar sage-colored trousers, and worked in a few black accessories, like my belt and beanie. I topped it off with my husband’s wool coat, which he bought off of eBay; statement sunglasses; rings I inherited from my grandmother; and the Overland Kanda boots, which I adore because they’re water-resistant and wool-lined but neither heavy nor oversized. I could just as easily wear these clothes to dinner as I could take a nap in them—and, knowing me, I’d probably do both.” —Lauren Puckett-Pope, culture writer
Carve Designs Cayden Crew Sweater
Dior MissDior B2U Sunglasses
Now 71% Off
Overland Kanda Wool-Lined Leather Boots
Carine Lavache
“I love pulling out all the cozy items in my closet when winter comes around. For work, my style is all about comfort and warmth.” —Carine Lavache, senior content strategist
Urban Outfitters East West Cropped Roll Neck Sweater
Madewell The Slouchy Boyjean
Now 57% Off
Thursday Boot Co. Legend Platform
Ashley Achenbach
“For me, comfy dressing is very much synonymous with low-maintenance. Right now, I’m loving my heavy knit sweater dresses—something very one-and-done I can throw on and be out the door. Usually I’ll pair it with my cherished Urbanima boots (which are vegan, so I can wear them guilt-free), or my Puma Teveris Nitro sneakers if I’m really dressing down. I’ll add an oversized scarf or fuzzy socks for warmth, and I always have a hint of gold jewelry on me somewhere, because gold huggies always do most of the heavy lifting in terms of style points.” —Ashley Achenbach, contributing fashion commerce writer
Mejuri Chunky Medium Huggie Hoops
& Other Stories Flared Rib Sweater Midi Dress
NA-KD Soft Braided Tassle Scarf
Urbanima Disco Vegan Leather Knee High Boots
Madison Rexroat
“For ultimate comfort in the winter, I love to layer soft cashmere knits and accent with statement accessories and personal jewelry. Knit bottoms from Naked Cashmere and a polo sweater from LilySilk are loose-fitting, flattering and warm. Paired with metallic or colorful sneakers and a soft puffy handbag, you’re effortlessly stylish and comfortable at the same time.” —Madison Rexroat, fashion & accessories assistant
Lily Silk Cashmere Polo Shirt
Naked Cashmere Ribbed Charcoal Pants
Puma Rihanna Fenty Aged Silver
W 78 St Medium Burgundy Nappa Leather Cloud Bag
Nerisha Penrose
“SKIMS has devotees and detractors alike, but even the biggest hater can’t deny how good it is. The easiest way to my cozy little heart is through a two-piece set, so I was on cloud nine when a recent gift bag I received included the Soft Lounge Sleep Set. This set is super soft, plush yet breathable, and so lightweight that I sometimes forget I’ve been wearing it for my entire WFH shift. I typically pair the set with my grey CozyChic Barefoot Dreams Robe, which is easily the softest, warmest robe I’ve ever worn IN MY LIFE. A cozy girl through and through, Hanifa’s Miya Knit Cardigan Dress helps me extend my snuggle sesh to the great outdoors and keeps me toasty in NYC’s brisk chill.” —Nerisha Penrose, beauty commerce editor
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic® Solid Robe
Skims Sleep Set
Hanifa Miya Knit Cardigan Dress
Now 15% Off