A World of Cozy Chic

I recently discovered the phenomenon of “nap pants”, also known as aggressively fluffy leggings. If you’re lugging yourself out of bed for your 9am (or your 1pm, that’s okay) and you feel like there’s absolutely no way you can make it through the day, try investing in a pair of these soft, fuzzy pants that will literally envelope you in coziness and warmth. You’ll be sitting in class thinking about how much you want to be back in bed or about how you don’t understand a single word your professor is saying, but at least you’re in complete comfort thanks to your nap pants. Sure, they might not be the most fashion forward item, but who says fashion has to be uncomfortable? Cozy chic has been a long time coming, and it’s here to stay.

Now this is a NAP PANT (Etsy, $179)

Relaxed fashion is primarily associated with athleisure, which initially faced some pushback from people who did not equate workout clothes with fashion. Now, with so many celebrities and stores promoting the trend, it’s completely acceptable (fashionable, even) to walk around with Lululemon leggings and an exercise top. I for one am completely in support of fashion as a balance between comfort and style—as much as I want to be stylish, I am too lazy to squeeze myself into anything mildly uncomfortable. Everything I own is either stretchy or oversized, otherwise it’s collecting dust at the back of the drawer.

You know what will never collect dust in my drawer? Chunky knit sweaters: the ideal way to dip your toe into cozy chic. There’s something so satisfying about putting on a pillowy, thick sweater—the softer, the better. Here, Alexa Chung, the poster child for effortless style, pairs a chunky knit turtleneck with a casual outfit, amping it up with leopard print booties and a fun plaid knit beret. But let’s be real: college students don’t have Alexa Chung money. If you’re looking to invest in a multi-season chunky knit piece, try out this appropriately fall-colored mustard turtleneck that looks incredibly soft even in the picture. It's not Forever 21 prices, but we’re looking for ultimate comfort for a workable price.

$49, Nordstrom

If none of these options meet your coziness standard, look no further than this mohair catsuit. We all know that feeling of rolling out of bed and immediately regretting that decision. With this mohair catsuit, you never have to get out of bed—you’re already in a burrito of love and warmth. Look at how fluffy it looks! Now that’s cozy. Is it chic? Debatable. But who really cares, as long as you are wearing the physical version of a nap.

Ultimately, cozy chic is about wearing whatever you want while finding ways to add stylistic flair—it’s the perfect trend for Northwestern students who put comfort first but still want to be fashionable. Winter is rearing its ugly head, but I have my thick sweaters and fleece nap pants to fight it.